Champions
Cape Breton is renowned for its beauty: it’s one of the reasons staff and students want to be here. It makes sense, then, that our economic health depends the health of the natural world around us.
CSEE is based on this vision of the future: one that acknowledges that the economy and the environment cannot be separated. CSEE believes a commitment to sustainability is also a strategic advantage: offering commercial opportunities for individuals and communities that are positioned to seize them.
That vision is supported by CSEE’s many partners, without whom we could not succeed. We would like to recognize three principal architects in this vision – our champions:
Annette Verschuren
Chancellor, Cape Breton University
Former President, Home Depot Canada and Asia
"Imagine a Cape Breton solution to environmental remediation, born of the island’s legacy of industrial pollution."
Prior to joining the Company in 1996, Annette was president and co-owner of Michael’s of Canada, a leading chain of arts & crafts stores. She began her career as a development officer with the Cape Breton Development Corporation (coal mining). Annette then worked with Canada Development Investment Corporation as executive vice president. She eventually joined Imasco Ltd., a Canadian holding company, as vice president of Corporate Development.
Annette serves on the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) as part of the Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). She also serves on the board of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, on the board of Liberty Mutual Group and as Chancellor of Cape Breton University. In 2005, Annette was recognized with the Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year award given by the Retail Council of Canada. She also was honored as Wilfred Laurier University’s 2006 Outstanding Business Leader.
Annette is actively involved in philanthropic efforts. She chairs Habitat for Humanity’s National President’s Council and spearheads the Corporate Council on Volunteerism. Annette holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. She received honorary doctorates from Mount Saint Vincent University and St. Francis Xavier University.
Purdy Crawford
Counsel, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt
CBU Shannon School of Business Advisory Board Member
Chief Rising Tide – Honorary Chief of Membertou First Nation
"There's no better time to invest in environmental research, approach business in an environmentally friendly way, and respond to continuing environmental concerns."
Support for the higher education sector is a passion for Purdy Crawford and he is a true friend and champion of Cape Breton University.
A native of Five Islands, Nova Scotia, Mr. Crawford obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University before moving on to Dalhousie Law School for his LLB and then to Harvard Law School where he completed his Masters. Called to the bar in 1956, Mr. Crawford began his career practicing corporate/commercial law at the firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, where he would attain status as senior partner.
Mr. Crawford left Osler in 1985 to join Imasco Ltd., as CEO, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Crawford continued as non-executive chairman for Imasco Ltd., CT Financial Services Inc. and Canada Trustco Mortage Company until February, 2000. He currently is working once again with his old firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt as well as serving as chair of Allstream.
Mr. Crawford sits on the boards of many large public companies throughout North America, including Maple Leaf Foods, Petro-Canada and Nova Scotia Power Inc. and is active in fundraising for several major charities. A member of both the Nova Scotia and Canadian Business Halls of Fame and a former recipient of the United Way Canada Volunteerism Award, Mr.Crawford was named a companion to the Order of Canada in 2007.
A founding member of the Shannon School of Business – Business Advisory Board, Mr. Crawford lends more than his name to CBU, he gives his time, his expertise and his experience, which is invaluable to the students, the Shannon School of Business and Cape Breton University as a whole.
J.D. (Jim) Irving
President, J.D. Irving
“This is about people working together to ensure a healthy sustainable environment for the future. CSEE is built on a simple premise: put a great team of people to work on practical challenges – and watch the opportunities multiply.” [TBC]
J.D. (Jim) Irving is President of J.D. Irving, Limited, a diverse, family-owned enterprise with over 125 years of involvement in the business community. Founded in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited has operations in Eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador), and the United States. The company employs a dedicated team of 15,000 associates who operate business units in: Forestry & Forest Products; Road, Rail and Sea Transportation; Shipbuilding & Industrial Marine; Retail; Industrial Equipment, Construction Services & Building Materials; and Consumer Products.
J.D. Irving, Limited is one of the top five private land owners in North America with over 3.4 million acres of freehold land. All of the company’s timberlands are environmentally certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the International Standards Organization 14001 program.
The company leads Canada in reforestation efforts, planting over 770 million seedlings since 1957. J.D. Irving, Limited has been recognized by numerous national and international environmental groups, such as the World Wildlife Fund, for research and conservation efforts.
Mr. Irving is actively involved in leading the company’s efforts in wild Atlantic salmon conservation and research as well as education partnerships with middle, secondary and post-secondary schools. The company has won several national education awards for its leadership in developing business-education initiatives for young people.
Mr. Irving lives in Saint John, New Brunswick, with his wife Lynn. They have four children.
