Media Release |
Jan. 6, 2006
Former Scotiabank President and UBC Give $4 Million for Sauder School of Business Undergraduate Centre
The University of British Columbia today announced a $4 million investment in undergraduate education at the Sauder School of Business, sparked by a $2 million commitment from former Scotiabank President and UBC MBA graduate (1971) Bruce R. Birmingham.
His gift, with a co-investment of $2 million from UBC, will serve as the catalyst to help the Sauder School of Business establish a new, revitalized learning facility to house the Bachelor of Commerce program.
“As graduates, we need to step up and give back in the form of time or dollars,” ” says Birmingham. “UBC provided me with a strong foundation for my future. I hope that my gift will offer students an outstanding learning experience so that they may succeed in society and business in the future.”
Birmingham’s gift will support the school’s plans to renovate and expand the existing facility over the next three years and its vision of creating a new learning environment that reflects the innovation and excellence of the Bachelor of Commerce program. Major enhancements will include advanced learning technology that will enable students to integrate more easily with the business environment and flexible teaching spaces that encourage creative and collaborative learning techniques. In recognition of the gift, the new facility will be named The Bruce R. Birmingham Commerce Undergraduate Centre.
“Bruce Birmingham’s generous gift will create an outstanding space for undergraduate students at UBC,” says UBC President Martha Piper. “Thanks to his vision and leadership, the Sauder School of Business can take an important step towards implementing its vision for the future of business education.”
“Bruce Birmingham’s gift will enable us to significantly progress and evolve undergraduate education at the Sauder School of Business,” says Dean Daniel F. Muzyka. “By establishing a new leading-edge facility, the School will continue to be a global leader in innovative teaching, research, and business management thinking. We will continue to strengthen the resources we provide to students and the business community here in Canada and around the world.”
Birmingham is the Past President of Scotiabank. Occupying a number of positions during his 30 years there, he was highly instrumental to the organization’s success and international expansion up until his retirement in 2002. Birmingham received a Master of Business Administration degree from UBC in 1971, and holds an undergraduate degree from Sir George Williams University as well as a Doctorate of Laws from the University of Western Ontario. He has been an active member of the Faculty Advisory Board at the Sauder School of Business and has helped other universities with fundraising initiatives.
The Sauder School of Business at UBC is Canada’s leading academic business school, recognized globally for its contributions to the transformation of business practices, innovative research and teaching. The four-year Bachelor of Commerce, with over 2,000 students, is the School’s largest program and offers 10 areas of specialization including finance, management information systems, marketing and urban land economics.
Backgrounder
Biography of Bruce R. Birmingham
A long time commitment to supporting and fostering education is at the heart of Bruce Birmingham’s background and career.
Born and raised in Montreal, Bruce Birmingham acquired a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sir George Williams University and Master of Business Administration degree at the University of British Columbia in 1971. After leaving university, he embarked on a highly successful 30-year career in international and commercial banking with Scotiabank.
Birmingham joined Scotiabank in 1971. He started his career working in the Corporate Banking offices in New York and went on to hold a number of senior positions in International and Commercial Banking in Canada. He was appointed as Vice-Chairman and member of the Board of Directors in 1992 and served as President and Director of Scotiabank from 1995 until his retirement in 2002. During his tenure, Birmingham was instrumental to the growth and international expansion of Scotiabank and served as director of many of the Bank’s subsidiary boards.
Bruce Birmingham’s commitment to education is reflected by his tremendous support in fundraising for UBC and other Canadian universities. He was active in this area as a Faculty Advisory Board member at the Sauder School of Business at UBC. He has provided support to Concordia University and Brock University, and assumed a leadership role in fundraising as Chair of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
Bruce’s community support extends beyond the area of education. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors for the Stratford Festival of Canada, and in 2004, he provided a generous gift that enabled them to establish a conservatory for classical theatre training. He is a past Trustee of the Oakville Hospital Foundation and helped to finance new operating facilities at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital. He is currently a Director of Cineplex Galaxy and his many past directorships include Luscar Coal and Income Fund and Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Birmingham received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Western Ontario in 2003. He and his wife Betty currently reside in Oakville, Ontario.
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