The best in Canadian business

Tonight, four outstanding figures in Canadian business will be inducted as Companions into the Order of the Business Hall of Fame at a gala dinner hosted by Peter Mansbridge in support of Junior Achievement of Canada.

Seymour Schulich, whose historic gift of $20 million created the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in 2009, will be inducted with three other prominent business leaders: Aldo Bensadoun, Guy Laliberté, and Galen Weston.

These awards are the highest honour in Canadian business and “inductees have been chosen for the significant contributions they have made to Canada’s economy, its citizens and the examples they have set for others.” says Tom O’Neill, Chairman of the Board, Bell Canada and Chancellor, Order of the Business Hall of Fame.

Joining Mr. Schulich for the induction celebrations is Dean Kim Brooks of the Schulich School of Law. “We are delighted to be celebrating Mr. Schulich’s induction,” says Dean Brooks. “He has made extraordinary business and philanthropic contributions across this country. I am only surprised that he wasn't named an Order of the Business Hall of Fame Companion before this year!

Supporting young people

It seems only fitting that these awards are also in support of Junior Achievement, which prepares young people for leadership, developing financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness skills—attributes Mr. Schulich is keen to support. As Mr. Schulich said in an interview with Marilyn Smulders last year: “If you’re going to advance Canada, we have to promote successful young people. They’re the ones who’ll make the policies, find the cures, start the businesses.”

Mr. Schulich’s support is already proving transformational for the law school and for dozens of Schulich scholars. For Lia Bruchetta and Alison Hopkins, two of the first Schulich scholars, the standout values of the faculty – the importance of volunteering, leadership, and community service – are values also recognized in the scholarships. “As soon as we realized what (the gift) would do, well, it makes perfect sense,” says Ms Bruchetta. “I believe it is completely reinvigorating our law school.”

William (Wai) Wong, one of the Schulich scholars profiled in the Bold Ambitions campaign, has been working on policy-related academic research at the law school. He wants to continue to do work that will influence policy. “I’ve seen how academics can help make meaningful changes. To solve problems, there needs to be sustained policy changes, and I want my career to help me do that,” he says. And to Mr. Schulich, he adds: “Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to do what I really want and need to do. I don’t know what I would have done without it.”

The Canadian Business Hall of Fame was established by Junior Achievement of Canada in 1979. Companions are nominated by their peers and are chosen by an independent selection committee representing Canada’s foremost business, academic and media institutions.