A year after his passing, we reflect on the life and legacy of Arthur L. Irving

On May 13, 2024, we lost a remarkable businessman and a steadfast champion of Atlantic Canada and its people.

Mr. Irving was an extraordinary leader, recognized as one of Canada’s greatest entrepreneurs and community advocates. And to us – the employees of Irving Oil – he was our champion and our motivator.

Arthur Irving dedicated his life to Irving Oil, which, guided by his vision, leadership and tremendous drive, grew to become the global energy company it is today – more than a century after it was founded by his father K.C. Irving in 1924. Evident in everything he did, Arthur Irving was deeply committed to the business he loved, its people and creating a more prosperous region.

Arthur Irving began his journey with the family business in 1951, upon his return from Acadia University. Working closely with his father, he helped guide the opening of the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, NB, in 1960, which would grow to become the largest refinery in Canada, as it remains today, ensuring energy security for Atlantic Canada and the Northeastern United States.

In 1970, his vision to transform the company’s supply chain capabilities led to the commissioning of the Irving Canaport terminal and Monobuoy on the Bay of Fundy – the Western Hemisphere’s first deep-water crude terminal able to receive supertankers. In 1972, Arthur Irving became President and Chairman of Irving Oil, setting the stage for a remarkable journey in leadership for decades to come. With a savvy eye on one of the largest driving markets in the world and a focus on expansion, he led the company’s growth into the United States, opening its first service station in Maine later that same year. Today, Irving Oil has expanded its presence across the Northeastern United States to include a large network of distribution terminals and retail locations. The company has grown to play a crucial role in this region serving as the supplier to critical infrastructure, as well as supplying jet fuel to major airports and airline companies.

Throughout the 1980s, with the company’s U.S. expansion well underway and with a strong focus on customer service and cleanliness, Arthur Irving’s vision to transform the convenience retail experience began to take shape. Irving Oil’s first Big Stop location in Auld’s Cove, NS, opened its doors in 1984, offering a taste of home on the road with thoughtful and welcoming amenities for Professional Drivers and travellers – including, of course, clean washrooms. With a network of more than 850 retail sites in North America that continue to be known for an exceptional standard of cleanliness, you could often find Arthur Irving stopping by and inspecting the site for himself. He took great pride in the customer experience, with no detail too small.

Irving Oil Whitegate refinery in Co. Cork Ireland

Arthur Irving believed that when it comes to business, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. With this mindset, he oversaw the unprecedented $1-billion expansion of the Saint John refinery in 2000, titled the King of Cats, which involved the construction of a large Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, that allowed Irving Oil to enter new markets and introduce new products. With a supply chain model he had successfully proved in North America, Arthur Irving ambitiously continued to expand Irving Oil, crossing the Atlantic and establishing operations into the U.K. and Amsterdam. In 2016, now as Chairman of Irving Oil, he oversaw Irving Oil’s acquisition of Ireland’s sole refinery, located in Whitegate, County Cork. Shortly after, he stewarded the acquisition of Top Oil, a leading supplier of home heating oil, petrol and diesel fuel in Ireland, increasing Irving Oil’s global workforce to more than 4,900 employees and adding 250 additional retail sites to our network.

While expanding the business, Arthur Irving’s passion for conservation, health care and education were always top of mind. With a deep respect and love for nature and the environment, Arthur Irving was a lifelong supporter of Ducks Unlimited, serving on its board for 32 years, including two as President. His avid support helped advance environmental research across Atlantic Canada, including a special project he championed – the Beaubassin Research Station. Located on border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, this unique facility supports students and researchers in their learning of coastal wetlands conservation.

In Atlantic Canada and beyond, Arthur Irving’s commitment to investing in education lives on. With meaningful scholarship programs across many campuses and geographies, Arthur Irving was always proud to support students in achieving their dreams and enhancing their experience. From 1996-2010, he served as Chancellor of Acadia University, his alma mater. With a nod to the deep respect he held for his parents, he invested in educational projects in their names, with the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia University and the Harriet Irving Library Research Commons and Rose Garden at the University of New Brunswick.

Together with his wife Sandra and daughter Sarah, and in partnership with Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society was established in 2016. This lasting legacy continues to connect faculty and students on current and future energy matters. The family also supported the establishment of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, NS — providing students with access to mentorship from business experts, innovative technology and educational opportunities to help them realize their full potential.

Along with Sandra and Sarah, Arthur Irving’s interest in healthcare advancements led to the development of many meaningful relationships and opportunities to contribute to this field. In New England, they have been dedicated champions of cancer research and care at Massachusetts General Hospital and have supported mentorship programs and a chair position in neurology at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Clinic. In Nova Scotia, Arthur, Sandra and Sarah have supported in the development of the new IWK Health Emergency Department in Halifax, the Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic expansion in Halifax, and the development of a new emergency department at the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater – all aimed at improving the patient-family experience through space design and innovation. At home in Saint John, recognizing that the cancer journey extends far beyond the treatment process for survivors and their loved ones, Arthur and Sandra Irving championed the cancer survivorship program at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Arthur’s legacy of commitment to healthcare lives on at Irving Oil today, with a flagship community giving program, Fuel the Care, that was established in 2002 and provides fuel cards to families travelling for a child’s medical care. This program supports families across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, New England and Ireland, having now reached more than 100,000 families in need.

Mr Irving Standing in front of the irving Oil refinery in Saint John NB

Throughout his life, Arthur Irving was recognized for his transformational efforts in business and philanthropy with distinctions from the Order of Canada, the Order of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. From Acadia University he received a Doctor of Civil Laws and was granted the title of Chancellor Emeritus. He also received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of New Brunswick, Université de Moncton and Dartmouth College. In 2013, Arthur Irving received the Red Cross Humanitarian Award for outstanding leadership and in 2019, the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Saint John, for exemplifying the Rotary motto of "service above self."

In all he did, Arthur Irving was a true champion of Atlantic Canada and New England, passionately supporting education, healthcare and wetland preservation. Through actions big and small, he emulated the values of our company, built on hard work, loyalty, respect and giving back. His legacy of hard work and local investment has resulted in a significant economic impact for Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and beyond, from valuable employment opportunities, quality products and customer care, to lifechanging support for students and the families of young medical patients – woven through the fabric of our communities.

In one of his final acts of service to his employees, Arthur Irving created a stunning home office in the heart of his hometown of Saint John. The idea of “home” held a special meaning to Arthur Irving, as someone who took great pride in living his entire life at his original homestead on Mount Pleasant Avenue in the city’s centre. He also understood the importance of supporting local, with the new home office full of meaningful examples including granite, oak, paintings and pottery that showcase artisans from across our region. At the front door sits a bronze beaver – an animal chosen by Arthur Irving himself in 1989 as the company’s emblem in recognition of its characteristics of ingenuity, resourcefulness and hard work.

While we miss him visiting our offices and facilities across our organization, shaking hands and telling stories, we take solace in the fact that his legacy lives on in all he built and supported. He is our inspiration to work hard and do good, every day.

Thank you, Mr. Irving.