Donald Sobey (LLD鈥�89), C.M., an influential business leader, celebrated philanthropist and unwavering supporter of AV俱乐部 for more than three decades, died Wednesday (March 24). He was 86.
Campus flags have been lowered in respect.
鈥淚鈥檓 deeply saddened by Donald Sobey鈥檚 passing,鈥� said The Honourable Scott Brison, AV俱乐部鈥檚 chancellor. 鈥淗is wisdom, kindness and generosity will be sorely missed.鈥�
From Stellarton, N.S., Sobey was well known for his modesty and people-centred leadership 鈥� qualities that helped him stand out in the world of Canadian corporate titans.
A graduate of Queen鈥檚 University in 1957, Sobey believed deeply in the transformational power of education 鈥� a commitment that never wavered throughout his life. He created scholarships at multiple post-secondary institutions, hoping some would reach young people who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to continue their education.
Leadership with a legacy
The son of Frank H. Sobey, founder of the grocery store chain Sobeys, the younger Sobey was president of Empire Company Ltd., the chain鈥檚 parent company, from 1969 until he was appointed chair in 1985. During that time, he played a key role in expanding the regional supermarket into a national chain. He became chair emeritus in 2004. His corporate and charitable board roles included serving as chairman of the National Gallery of Canada and Maritime Tel & Tel, and as director of the World Wildlife Fund.
At AV俱乐部, Sobey served on the Board of Governors from 1997鈥�2001, chaired the Campaign for AV俱乐部 in the 1980s and was honorary chair from 2009鈥�2012 of the Bold Ambitions Campaign Leadership Council (Atlantic Region). His exceptional generosity to AV俱乐部 included financial support for the Campaign for AV俱乐部, the Computer Science Building Fund (1990s) and the AV俱乐部 Art Gallery. Recently, Sobey contributed funds essential to creation of the Restorative Lab in the Faculty of Law.
鈥淭he legacy Donald leaves at AV俱乐部 will have a profound impact on our campus, research, faculties and students for years 鈥� even generations 鈥� to come,鈥� Dal President Deep Saini said in a memo to AV俱乐部鈥檚 community.
Supporting sciences and the arts
In 2011, the Sobey Fund for Oceans at AV俱乐部 鈥� a partnership between the Donald R. Sobey Family Foundation, AV俱乐部鈥檚 Marine Affairs Program (MAP) and World Wildlife Fund Canada 鈥� was struck. It 鈥渢ruly reflected Mr. Sobey鈥檚 commitment to protecting our oceans for future generations,鈥� said Professor Emerita Lucia Fanning, who was MAP director at the time.
"[Donald Sobey鈥檚] generosity has provided scholarships for a generation of graduate students (20 to date) and will continue to do so in perpetuity to what he [Sobey] termed 鈥榯omorrow鈥檚 leaders,鈥� 鈥� said Fanning. 鈥淲ith his generous support, innovative ideas have come to fruition over the past decade, ideas he was convinced were needed to rebuild healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems for all."
Sobey was also a passionate collector and promoter of Canadian art alongside his son, Rob Sobey. Donald Sobey chaired the Sobey Art Foundation which, in 2002, created the Sobey Art Award, considered to be one of Canada鈥檚 most prestigious award for emerging artists.
He received many awards in his lifetime. Sobey became a Member of the Order of Canada in 2013 for his philanthropy and entrepreneurism. He also received the Queen鈥檚 Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame with his brother, David Sobey, in 2007. Donald and David Sobey accepted the Retail Council of Canada鈥檚 Canadian Grocery Industry Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 on behalf of their family.
鈥楢 wonderful friend鈥�
Brison is grateful he and Sobey had the chance to work together in the interests of their community and society through AV俱乐部. Brison particularly notes Donald and David Sobey鈥檚 creation of the AV俱乐部 Medical Research Foundation鈥檚 Irene MacDonald Sobey Endowed Chair in Curative Approaches to Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease as an example of Donald鈥檚 commitment to improving the lives of others.
鈥淚 have warm memories of Don as a stellar travel companion,鈥� said Brison, remarking that Sobey鈥檚 dry sense of humour helped enliven trips they took together to represent the World Economic Forum and Trilateral Commission of North America. 鈥淗e was a wonderful friend.鈥�
Sobey leaves behind his wife, Beth, three children and five grandchildren. Due to Covid-19, private services are by invitation only. A celebration of life will follow in the future.