The Currie Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to cater to the integrated wellness needs of the University of New Brunswick and the greater Fredericton community. The center offers fitness, recreation, and high-performance athletic facilities, as well as space for community research activities and services. It houses three full-sized gyms, two for recreational use and one high-performance gym for varsity athletes and events such as graduation ceremonies.
Richard Currie, O.C., C.B.H.F., M.B.A., LL.D., P.Eng., was born in Saint John and started his educational journey as a Beaverbrook Scholar at the University of New Brunswick in 1955, studying chemical engineering. Post-graduation, he served as refining superintendent for Atlantic Sugar Refineries in Saint John and subsequently pursued an MBA at Harvard. In 1972, he joined Loblaw Companies, ascending to its presidency in 1976. Over the next quarter-century, he spearheaded the expansion of the company’s market value to an impressive $15 billion. Later, as president of George Weston Limited, the parent company of Loblaws, he helped increase the firm’s share price over seven-fold during his six years of service.
Dr. Currie has held directorship roles in several of Canada’s leading organizations, taking on the chair of Bell Canada Enterprises’ board of directors in 2002. His accolades include being an Officer of the Order of Canada and an inductee to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2003. His dedication to Canada’s socio-economic progress is evident not only in his professional achievements but also through his staunch advocacy for and support of the University of New Brunswick.
In 2003, he was appointed as the fifth modern-day Chancellor of UNB. The same year, he amplified the value of the Blake-Kirkpatrick renewable undergraduate scholarships, which he established in 1998 and were later renamed the Currie Scholarships, making them one of Canada’s most prestigious awards.
In 2008, his patronage facilitated the biggest capital building project in UNB’s history: the Richard J. Currie Center. His generous contribution not only revamped the university’s physical layout but also ushered in a new vision of wellness and excellence.
UNB honoured Dr. Currie as chancellor emeritus during the May 2013 convocation ceremonies.
He currently divides his time between residences in Toronto, Ontario, and Rothesay, New Brunswick, where he lives with his wife Beth.
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