$10-million gift to drive futuristic learning
The University of Lethbridge today announces the transformation of its Faculty of Management to the Dhillon School of Business, which will have a strategic focus on finance and business innovation. 
Navjeet (Bob) Dhillon, President and CEO of Mainstreet Equity Corporation, pledged a $10-million gift to the University of Lethbridge, the largest donation in the institution’s history. In recognition of Dhillon’s generous contribution, the University is renaming the Faculty of Management to the Dhillon School of Business.
Along with a new name, the business school will build on its current curriculum by expanding its focus on finance and business innovation, entrepreneurism and internationalization. For example, the Dhillon School of Business will emphasize futuristic learning through innovative subject areas and new technologies such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies and new growth industries, including artificial intelligence and robotics.
As an innovative and transformational entrepreneur, Dhillon created a real-estate empire by identifying an underserved niche in the market, supporting it with resources and nurturing its massive growth. He sees the same opportunity and potential in the University of Lethbridge.
“The future of Canada depends on education,” says Dhillon, who holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University. “I wouldn’t have achieved the success I’ve had if it wasn’t for education. I’m a first-generation Sikh immigrant and I’m very fortunate that I’m in a position to make this contribution. This is my way of giving back to Canada. Supporting innovative education is key to launching Canadian talent in today’s connected world.”
University of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon sees Dhillon’s support as transformational.
“Our university was founded by forward-thinking mavericks, people who identified a need for a university in southern Alberta, and who pushed ahead with a wholly unique model that set the University of Lethbridge apart,” says Mahon. “Here we are 50-plus years later and we’re still looking ahead, pushing boundaries and creating an educational experience like no other. This gift, this commitment from Mr. Dhillon, will help drive us forward.”
Dr. Bob Boudreau, dean of the Dhillon School of Business, says that both the Lethbridge and Calgary campus will offer the latest in hands-on training technology with a focus on integrating theory and research into practice.
“Our faculty has a history of creating transformational opportunities for students including: providing them with flexible learning options at our two campuses; creating access to cutting-edge technology like the Centre for Financial Market Research and Teaching, the best equipped academic trading centre in Western Canada; and immersing students in experiential education through professional development programming, co-op, international exchanges, work studies and more.”
Through the U of L, Dhillon eyes opportunity in an underserved market. With strong connections to the region’s business sector through industry partnerships and investment, innovative academic programming and a vibrant and growing immigrant population, he sees the framework of a destination university town rivaling any in Eastern Canada and the United States.
“I was very fortunate that the importance of education was drilled into me by my family, my parents, my brother, really everybody around me growing up,” says Dhillon. “Education is what drives successful global nations and Canada is unique in that there is so much opportunity here. The U of L is a world-class university that the world needs to discover.”
Dhillon is keenly aware of his position as an industry leader and similarly a pioneer for his community. He does not see his philanthropy as a solo act but rather a call to action.
“I am an immigrant and a businessman and I’m extremely thankful for the opportunities I’ve had growing up here in Canada,” he says. “We all have a chance to give back to this country and to do so through education is critical for our country’s young people. I want to see our youth succeed. I want to see Canada prosper. We can do that through education, by making the Dhillon School of Business a leader in financial and business innovation and Western Canada’s destination for finance and business education.
Photo and logo available on request.
To view the Lethbridge Livestream announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0dMyYCpySQ
 |
The University of Lethbridge invites you to the largest gift announcement in the University's history. Join us as we celebrate this landmark gift for the Fac...
|
|
-- 30 --
Contact:
Trevor Kenney, News & Information Manager
403-329-2710
403-360-7639 (cell)
trevor.kenney@uleth.ca
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
THE GIFT
A $10-million gift to the University of Lethbridge – the largest donation in the 50-plus year history of the institution.
In recognition, the University is renaming the Faculty of Management to the Dhillon School of Business.
DHILLON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
With campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary, the Dhillon School of Business provides an engaging and immersive business education for undergraduate and graduate students. Western Canada’s destination for financial education, the Dhillon School of Business is at the forefront of emerging technologies, providing global perspectives, state-of-the-art facilities and unique opportunities for students to integrate theory and practice with industry experiences. Home to renowned thought leaders, the Dhillon School of Business advances knowledge through original research that innovates industry and inspires the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
WHAT WILL THIS GIFT ENABLE?
Programming that is focused on:
Finance and Technology
- Emerging Financial Technologies (FinTech)
- Business to Business applications including cybersecurity, digital identity, and cognitive banking
- Blockchain and electronic payments
Wealth Management
- Robo-advice and digital wealth management
- Peer-to-Peer lending, equity crowd funding, and raising capital
Industry Disruptors
- Insurtech
- Digital currencies – e.g. Bitcoin
New Growth Industries
- Private Space industry
- Food Security and Agribusiness - smart and precision agriculture applications
- Artificial Intelligence
- Clean technologies and clean energy
- Water resource development and conservation
NAVJEET (BOB) DHILLON BIO (from Mainstreet Equity Corp.)
Bob Dhillon is a first-generation Sikh immigrant, respected community and business leader, a generous philanthropist and the founder, President and CEO of Mainstreet Equity Corporation.
Mr. Dhillon launched his storied career in real estate while still a teenager, buying a pair of houses in Calgary, renovating them and selling them for a profit. He soon moved into developing larger residential buildings. As he built a private property portfolio from the ground up, he perfected a model of acquiring under-valued properties and renewing them to a higher quality market standard.
An industry leader, Mr. Dhillon owned and managed, on a collective basis, over 11,000 multi-family units and $1.63 billion in assets, growing organically since creating Mainstreet, which he took public on the TSX in 2000. His focused leadership and guidance has led Mainstreet into a position of market prominence. Mainstreet has been one of the best performing real estate companies in Canada over the last two decades.
Mr. Dhillon holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. The recipient of many awards and accolades, he was recently appointed to the board of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Lakehead University. He is the Honorary Consul General for Belize in Canada, owns a private 3,000-acre island in Belize that he is developing into a world-class tourist resort, and is the author of the published book “Business and Retirement Guide to Belize,” which released a second edition in February 2018.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Alberta’s Destination University was founded in 1967 and attracts approximately 8,700 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to our campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary each year. We offer more than 150 undergraduate and 60 graduate programs in seven Faculties and schools: Arts & Science, Education, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, Management, Graduate Studies and Liberal Education.
Spanning 500 acres, our Lethbridge campus is known for its signature Arthur Erickson Building, University Hall, which is nestled in the southern Alberta coulees and overlooks the Oldman River. The U of L will soon be home to a new science and academic building – the Destination Project – which will advance research and learning opportunities for generations to come, and will shape the future of the University of Lethbridge and southern Alberta.
The U of L is home to leading research centres and institutes across disciplines, including the Dhillon School of Business and the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience.
