Arthur L. Irving, chairman emeritus and former president of Irving Oil, has died at the age of 93.
According to a news release from Irving Oil, Arthur Irving died on Monday. Born in Saint John, N.B., in 1930, Irving joined the company with his father K.C. Irving (who founded it in 1924) and his brothers Jim and Jack in 1951, eventually stepping into the role of president in 1972.
“Arthur Irving took Irving Oil to new heights,” the release reads. “He grew the Saint John refinery, which became the largest in Canada. He also expertly spearheaded the expansion of the company’s international activities, branching out in the Northeastern United States market and Ireland.
“Under his leadership as Chairman of the Board, the company would be named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in 2017, a title the company has maintained for eight consecutive years.”
Outside of Irving Oil, Arthur Irving served as chancellor of Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., from 1996 to 2010, sat on the board of directors of Ducks Unlimited for 30 years, and founded the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation.
“Arthur was a steadfast champion of Atlantic Canada and its people, and he dedicated his life to creating opportunities for the benefit of the region,” the release says. “He shook the hand of everyone he met, remembered every name, and had a wonderful ability to make every person he met feel a special connection.”
Irving received the Order of Canada in 2002 and the Order of New Brunswick in 2012.
