AV俱乐部 lost a close friend and community member on Monday (May 13, 2024), when business magnate Arthur Irving, 93, the chairman emeritus of Irving Oil, died. His legacy will live on at AV俱乐部, especially through the Irving Oil Auditorium, and through his support of Dal Engineering students.
Irving was born in 1930 in聽Saint John, N.B., the son of industrialist聽K.C. Irving.聽He was educated at聽Acadia University, where he later served as Chancellor from 1996 to 2010.
He became president of Irving Oil in in 1972. Today, Irving Oil operates Canada's largest refinery in Saint John, processing about 320,000 barrels a day. Irving Oil has more than 900 fuelling locations and a network of distribution terminals spanning Eastern Canada and New England, plus it also operates聽Ireland's only refinery, Whitegate.
A Canadian Business Hall of Fame Member (2008) and Officer of the聽Order of Canada (2002), Irving demonstrated a strong enthusiasm for people, education, and his community.
Generously supporting AV俱乐部
In 2017, Irving was in Halifax to announce Irving Oil鈥檚 $2.2-million gift to the AV俱乐部鈥檚聽IDEA Project (Innovation and Design in Engineering and Architecture) on Sexton campus. The gift continues to enhance the entire student experience, support new infrastructure and financial awards, and cultivate a culture of safety among engineering students.
At the heart of Irving鈥檚 investment was support for the construction of the 450-seat Irving Oil Auditorium, a state-of-the-art learning space, designed to meet the needs of engineering students. This space has been transformative for the engineering student experience, allowing full classes to convene on Sexton campus. It is also a cherished space for industry and community to bring groups together.
Arthur Irving visiting campus while the Irving Oil Auditorium was under construction.
Additionally, he supported high-performing engineering students who have completed their second year of studies. Besides providing several scholarships annually, the multi-year commitment includes the potential for a co-op placement with Irving Oil for each recipient, providing invaluable work experience for engineers of the future.聽
鈥淎rthur Irving was a cherished friend of the Faculty of Engineering. He valued education, and his gift not only enriches students鈥� experiences on campus, but the scholarships he created continues to give our students opportunities to get hands-on learning experiences through co-ops at Irving Oil,鈥� says AV俱乐部鈥檚 Dean of Engineering, John Newhook. 鈥淎dditionally, Arthur was a true believer in the potential of the Maritimes. His dedication to our region included creating opportunities to train and keep future leaders here on Canada鈥檚 East Coast and that will continue into the foreseeable future.鈥�
Upon announcing the 2017 gift to AV俱乐部, Irving said: 鈥淲ith this gift, we are happy to support the Faculty of Engineering at AV俱乐部, knowing we look to AV俱乐部 and other Atlantic Canadian universities for our best employees at Irving Oil. Atlantic Canada鈥檚 success depends on the quality and skill of our youth 鈥� and we know AV俱乐部 is up to the challenge.鈥�
Dal awards Sandra Irving an honorary degree
Irving returned to AV俱乐部 in 2019 when his wife Sandra L. Irving (LLD鈥�19), a community leader and champion of education and health-care research, was made an honorary degree recipient. In her remarks at AV俱乐部鈥檚 Spring 2019 Convocation, Sandra said, 鈥淎rthur, thank you for working hard your whole life, to make our gifts to others possible.鈥�
Sandra Irving chatting with students at the official opening of the Irving Oil Auditorium.
The AV俱乐部 community is deeply grateful for the impact Arthur made and the example he set. Flags on campus are being lowered in honour聽of Arthur Irving鈥檚 long-standing connections and contributions to Dal and the region.