William Gairdner is a best-selling author, university professor, businessman, philanthropist, independent scholar and former track and field athlete. His most recent books include The Book of Absolutes: A Critique of Relativism and a Defence of Universals, Constitutional Crack-Up: Canada and the Coming Showdown With Quebec, The Trouble With Democracy and The War Against the Family: A Parent Speaks Out. From 1994-2000 he was Chairman, The Gairdner Foundation. Founded in 1957 by businessman and philanthropist James A. Gairdner, the foundation gives annual international awards to research scientists who have made discoveries in medical science that lead to the relief of human suffering. As of 1999, fully 254 scientists had won this award, 54 of whom subsequently won the Nobel Prize for Medicine. In 1997 he became founder and president of Civitas, a national organization of 150 prominent academics, journalists, authors, and interested citizens. Civitas was founded to promote and deepen understanding of the problems of freedom and order in modern society. In his career as an athlete, he won a silver medal in the decathlon in the 1963 Pan American Games in Brazil and placed eleventh in the decathlon in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964.