Laureates


Biography

DonaldTaylorAfter obtaining a Master of Science degree in engineering from the University of Alberta in 1960, Don Taylor started his working career with Canadian Western Natural Gas Company (CWNGC). While at CWNGC, Don gained a strong understanding of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry and developed the view that a market existed for custom designed HVAC equipment.

In 1966 Don left his secure job at CWNGC to become president of Engineered Air, a struggling HVAC equipment manufacturing business located in Calgary. Since joining the company Engineered Air achieved steady growth, never experiencing an unprofitable quarter. The company's success is attributed to a commitment to the custom and innovative design, manufacturing, sales and marketing processes Don was instrumental in developing. Over the years the company has developed into a market leader by expanding its product offering through continuous research and development and selected industry acquisitions.

Don is still active in Engineered Air and has seen the company grow to over 1200 employees, including 130 engineers and technicians, located throughout 26 sales offices or nine manufacturing plants across North America. Current annual sales are $200 million with cumulative sales exceeding $2 billion.

Don has a true entrepreneurial spirit and has used the financial resources of Engineered Air to sponsor a number of successful business ventures. In the 1980's Don founded and built Resman Oil and Gas, a successful private oil and gas company that was eventually sold to Morrison Petroleum. He has since invested in a number of successful early stage energy companies. In the mid 1990's Don developed a significant real estate organization, which now owns and leases three million square feet of commercial property and also held a 65% ownership in the Three Sisters development in Canmore which was recently sold to Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. Don has helped many other companies in the Calgary area with manufacturing and business expertise through a board positions.

Don's commitment to philanthropy has seen him make significant donations both personally and corporately to education, healthcare, culture as well as an ongoing annual support of a diverse group of charities. These endeavors and others have seen Don receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Calgary.


Biography

EdwardGalvinEdward Galvin significantly influenced the structuring and development of the Canadian oil and gas industry. Respected as a gentleman and a builder in the industry, he became known as a mentor to entrepreneurs and a builder of strong companies.

After graduating from the University of Southern California, Edward Galvin began his prestigious career as a gas analyst and petroleum engineer. In 1954, he moved to Calgary and was appointed General Manager of Pathfinder Petroleums Ltd., which at the time was a small independent company with 30 employees and annual gross revenues of $450,000.

During his time with Pathfinder, he engineered numerous exploration and development projects and saw the company evolve into Medallion Petroleums, then Canadian Industrial Gas and Oil Ltd., and later into Norcen Energy Resources Ltd. When Norcen sold in 1997 it employed over 4,000 people and had annual revenues of $1.5 billion.

Mr. Galvin left Norcen at the age of 65 and founded Poco Petroleum Ltd., which he built into a major independent Canadian oil and gas company. Poco sold in 2000 for $4.5 billion.

He was also instrumental in petitioning the federal government to establish a Canadian oil policy and was a founding member of the Independent Petroleum Association of Canada, which honoured him with a lifetime membership. The Canadian Petroleum Association and the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta also extended lifetime memberships to him.

In 1998, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship, recognizing his many contributions to the community. He also initiated an endowment fund at the University of Calgary for the purpose of battling substance abuse.

Through his efforts with the United Way and the Calgary Foundation, he established a general-purpose community fund in honour of his wife, Frances, which has reached nearly $6 million. It gifts monies annually to a wide variety of community needs and, in part, is administered by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.


Biography

JamesPalmerWith family roots stretching back to Confederation, Prince Edward Island native James Palmer followed in his family footsteps by becoming the fifth generation of Palmers to pursue a legal career. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948 from McGill University and graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in 1952.

Jim and his wife Barbara settled in Calgary where he began practicing law with Burnet, Duckworth in 1955 and became a partner in the firm one year later. With his colleagues, Jim helped build Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, one of Canada's leading law firms, recognized for steering many of the country's most significant corporate deals, and for being a strong supporter of the community and an employer of choice. Jim was instrumental in the development of Alberta's oil and gas industry by acting as a government advisor. His talent for seeing things from a global perspective have brought him international recognition in his field. Among his many professional associations, Jim is a former Governor and Chairman of the Canadian Tax Foundation, and its first Chairman from western Canada.

Jim's significant contributions to business in Canada are paralleled by his commitment to community. An active volunteer, donor and leader, his efforts have benefited many organizations. His appointments have included Board of Governors of Dalhousie University, and Board of Governors and Chancellor of the University of Calgary.

From 1990 to 1993, Jim assumed duties as Chair of the University of Calgary's first major capital campaign, and helped to surpass the campaign's $40 million goal. In 1995, the James S. Palmer Lecture Series was established, and with his wife, he recently made a significant contribution to the University of Calgary through the establishment of the James S. & Barbara A. Palmer Chair in Public Policy.

Jim has been a key supporter of a number of social organizations, including the Calgary Homeless Foundation, United Way of Calgary, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity. He is former Chair of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and has acted as Director for the Council for Business and the Arts in Canada, the Fathers of Confederation Building Trust, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Jim's contributions have been recognized with a number of honours. He became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998 and has received numerous honorary Doctor of Laws degrees across Canada. He received the Weldon Award from Dalhousie Law School for unselfish public service along with the Distinguished Service Award from the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association. In 2002, he was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and in 2003 the Alberta Order of Excellence. In June 2008 he will be awarded the Friend of Education Award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.


Biography

JRShawJR Shaw was born in Brigden, Ontario in 1934, moving to Alberta in 1961. Mr. Shaw founded Shaw Communications in 1966 and continues as the company’s Executive Chair. He is the President and Director of the Shaw Foundation; a philanthropic organization founded by his father, Francis E. Shaw and is Director and Chairman of Suncor Energy, Inc.

Throughout his career, JR Shaw has been recognized for his achievements as an entrepreneur and community leader. Mr. Shaw has received the Entrepreneur of the Year award presented by the Alberta Opportunities Company and in 1988 was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. He has also received the Ted Rogers, Sr.- Velma Graham Award for his contribution to the Canadian Broadcasting system, as well as the Friend of the Industry Award presented by the Alberta Motion Pictures Industries Association. More recently Mr. Shaw was the recipient of the Canadian Association of Broadcaster’s 2000 Gold Ribbon Award for Broadcast Excellence. In 2003 Mr. Shaw was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada and has also been presented with the Confederation of Canada Award.

Mr. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. He has also received three Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. He is also the recipient of the NAIT 2007 Honorary Diploma.

Mr. Shaw and his wife Carol, have four children, Jim, Heather, Julie and Brad and twelve grandchildren. All of the couple’s children are involved in the Shaw business.