TORONTO - Apparently, working for billionaire Jim Balsillie has its benefits.
Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd., booked the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night to host a surprise concert for some 14,000 employees and invited guests. One concertgoer said he'd been told in advance only that Balsillie had invited two of his all-time favourite bands to come and perform.
Turns out the bands were the Tragically Hip and the reunited Van Halen, which has earned rave reviews on its current tour.
It's not the first time Balsillie has staged such a show for employees of his Waterloo, Ont.-based company.
He arranged a similar gig with Aerosmith and the Barenaked Ladies a few years back.
Balsillie made news earlier this year when he tried unsuccessfully to buy the Nashville Predators, amid speculation that he wanted to bring the NHL team to Hamilton.
