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.
Born in Saint John, Richard Currie, O.C., C.B.H.F., M.B.A., LL.D., P.Eng., began his studies in chemical engineering as a Beaverbrook Scholar at the University of New Brunswick in 1955. After completing his degree, he worked as the refining superintendent for Atlantic Sugar Refineries in Saint John before pursuing his MBA at Harvard. In 1972, he joined Loblaw Companies and became its president in 1976. Over the next 25 years, he expanded the company’s market value to $15 billion. Dr. Currie was later named president of George Weston Limited, Loblaws’ parent company, where he increased the company’s share price more than seven-fold during his six-year tenure.
Dr. Currie has served as a corporate director for many prominent Canadian organizations and was named chair of Bell Canada Enterprises’ board of directors in 2002. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2003. His contributions to Canada’s economic and social well-being extend beyond his professional career, particularly through his strong support and advocacy for the University of New Brunswick.
In May 2003, Dr. Currie became UNB’s fifth modern-day Chancellor. That same year, he enhanced the Blake-Kirkpatrick renewable undergraduate scholarships (now known as the Currie Scholarships) he established in 1998, making them among the most valuable in Canada.
In July 2008, Dr. Currie’s patronage enabled the largest capital building project in the university’s history: the Richard J. Currie Center. This generous gift not only transformed the physical landscape of the campus but also provided a renewed vision of wellness and excellence.
During the May 2013 convocation ceremonies, Dr. Currie was honored as chancellor emeritus at the University of New Brunswick.
Dr. Currie currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, and Rothesay, New Brunswick, with his wife Beth.
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