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Wesley & Patricia Armour Foundation donates $3 million to ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s Going Beyond campaign

A proud ½ûÂþÌìÌà alumnus is investing in the next generation of business leaders through a $3 million gift to the college’s Going Beyond campaign.

The Wesley and Patricia Armour Foundation’s gift is the largest from a private donor in ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s 50-year history. The investment will establish the Wesley Armour School of Business, create new programs, upgrade facilities and technology, establish a speaker series, and provide Learning Opportunity Grants to students. The building that hosts business programs on the Moncton campus will be renamed the Wesley Armour Building.

Wesley "Wes" Armour graduated from ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s Business Administration program in 1966 and then joined the family business—Moncton-based Armour Transportation. Mr. Armour was just 22 years old when he took over the company in 1968. He grew a fleet of 10 vehicles and 11 employees into a freight giant of nearly 2,000 employees, 26 freight terminals, and more than 600,000 square feet of public warehousing space when it was sold in 2021. The company extended service to all of Canada, the United States, Mexico and beyond.

This historic gift supports ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s vision of driving economic and social wellbeing through education, said Mary Butler, President and CEO of ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. 

“Through their spirit of collaboration and community leadership, The Wesley and Patricia Armour Foundation is inspiring future generations of ½ûÂþÌìÌà learners to achieve success, both in industry and in the community,” she said. 

“We are truly grateful and honoured to further the Armour legacy of dedication, leadership, and engagement. Their generosity will have an impact on our learners and communities throughout New Brunswick for decades to come.”

The Wesley and Patricia Armour Foundation gift adds to the family's legacy by fostering the growth and modernization of the college’s business offerings, including:

• The development of two new programs: Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership and a Professional Development Certificate in Board Governance, both of which will help fill an identified need in the province.
• Upgrades to training spaces and technologies, including the creation of “Living Labs,” new collaborative spaces designed to inspire innovation and creativity in students.
• The establishment of the Wesley Armour Speaker Series, bringing leaders in business and philanthropy to ½ûÂþÌìÌà to speak on relevant topics of the day.
• The creation of Learning Opportunity Grants to support learners in the Non-Profit Leadership and Board Governance programs. 

More than 1,300 students are currently enrolled in ½ûÂþÌìÌà business programs, which are offered at each of its the college’s six campus locations.

“½ûÂþÌìÌà plays a vital role in the post-secondary education of today’s young business leaders,” said Mr. Armour. “We are pleased to play a part in the success and growth of the School of Business at ½ûÂþÌìÌà and are thankful for the programs and many opportunities which the gift from our Foundation will create.  

“I attribute many of the skills that enabled me to be successful as a young person to the education I received many years ago at the Saint John campus. There is no doubt ½ûÂþÌìÌà prepared me for my business career, and I am grateful to play a role in creating similar opportunities for our province’s future leaders.”  

The $16 million Going Beyond campaign, launched in June 2022, invited communities to help transform New Brunswick’s workforce as the province faces a critical moment. The campaign charts a course for ½ûÂþÌìÌà to:

• accelerate skills development by creating fast, flexible training opportunities such as microcredentials and shorter pathways to certification;  
• innovate educational delivery by creating modern, connected spaces, and introducing new technology such as accessible HyFlex classrooms, surface hubs, and simulation labs; and
• reach unprecedented numbers of New Brunswickers by reducing financial barriers to post-secondary education through targeted bursaries for under-represented groups such as Indigenous students and women in trades.
  

About ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ: As one of New Brunswick's largest postsecondary education institutions, ½ûÂþÌìÌà drives social and economic wellbeing across the province. ½ûÂþÌìÌà welcomes 11,000 learners each year through quality-assured, relevant training -opportunities. Supported by the campaign, ½ûÂþÌìÌà is committed to accelerating skills development, innovating educational delivery, and reaching unprecedented numbers of New Brunswickers. Find out more at: www.nbcc.ca.

About The Wesley & Patricia Armour Foundation: The Wesley & Patricia Armour Foundation was created to support Atlantic Canadians through charitable giving in health, education, and children and youth initiatives. Wesley and Patricia Armour are generous philanthropists who have actively supported their community for more than 50 years. Wesley, a celebrated entrepreneur, has been awarded the Order of Canada, Order of New Brunswick, and Order of Moncton for his leadership in business and dedication to the well-being of his community. Patricia, a former high school teacher and an active community volunteer, received the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award for her lifelong dedication to social causes. Together, they are champions for the betterment of Atlantic Canada.

Contact:
Karen Rawlines
Campaign Communications Coordinator, ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ
karen.rawlines@nbcc.ca