The UBC Sauder School of Business is renowned for its world-class business education and focus on sustainability, social responsibility, and innovation. Named after Canadian business magnate and philanthropist Dr. William Sauder, the school has evolved significantly over the years due to his generous contributions. Despite its successes, controversies in the forest products industry have raised questions about the school’s namesake.
The UBC Sauder School of Business is at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. It is one of the leading business schools in the world. Established in 1956, the school offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs, including the prestigious MBA.
UBC Sauder has a strong emphasis on sustainability, social responsibility, and innovation in business education.
The school was named after Dr. William “Bill” Sauder (May 27, 1926 – December 19, 2007), a Canadian business magnate, philanthropist, and former UBC Board of Governors Chairman. He graduated from UCB’s commerce program in 1948 and received his honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university in 1990.
Dr. Sauder and his wife, Marjorie-Anne, have eight children and 24 grandchildren (12 boys and 12 girls).
Dr. Sauder was well-known for his contributions to the Canadian business landscape, serving as Chairman of Sauder Industries Ltd and International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor). Dr. Sauder and his wife Marjorie-Anne, were dedicated UBC patrons. Their philanthropy included funding several endowed faculty chairs in the university’s medical sciences. His philanthropic efforts extended beyond education, as he also supported healthcare and arts organizations in British Columbia.
In 2003, Sauder and his family donated $20 million to the school, the largest private donation to a Canadian business school at the time. The Sauder’s generous donation prompted the renaming of the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration to the Sauder School of Business.
While Dr. Sauder’s philanthropic work in higher education is widely praised, the forest products industry he was involved in has faced several controversies over the years. These include issues such as deforestation, habitat destruction, soil erosion, and chemical pollution.
In 1993, Interfor’s, along with MacMillan Bloedel’s, operations in Clayoquot Sound became the site of the War in the Woods. The grassroots protest over the clearcutting of B.C.’s old-growth forests grew into one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in Canadian history. Over three months, more than 800 protesters were arrested, and in August, plans to clear-cut the forest were cancelled.
Since then, MacMillan Bloedel has gone out of business, while Interfor has grown into one of the largest forestry companies in the world. And Interfor continues to be criticized for its logging in old-growth forests.
As business education shifts focus to having a positive impact on society and the environment, it is worth examining other UBC graduates with a less burdensome legacy.
The UBC Sauder School of Business has produced numerous successful graduates. Should the possibility of renaming the school in honor of other influential graduates arise, there will be plenty of options. Here are a few notable alumni who could potentially have the school named after them in the future.
Carol Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business. She is the founder and CEO of Linacare Cosmotherapy, a skincare company, and Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. Lee’s entrepreneurship and dedication to revitalizing Vancouver’s historic Chinatown make her an inspiring figure for future generations of business leaders.
Sarah Morgan-Silvester also graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business. She has held leadership positions at prominent financial institutions, including serving as the Executive Vice-President of the Bank of Montreal and the President and CEO of HSBC Bank Canada. A dedicated community leader, she has been a board member of numerous organizations, such as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and served as the Chancellor of UBC from 2008 to 2014.
Nolan Watson graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC Sauder School of Business. Watson is the founder and CEO of two successful companies worth over $1.1 billion and is passionate about philanthropy. In 2006, he and his wife founded Nations Cry to provide free education to children in Sierra Leone.
The UBC Sauder School of Business acknowledges the substantial contributions made by the Sauder family, which have been integral to the institution’s development. The school’s continued success and the achievements of its alumni open the door to new possibilities for honoring those who have made a significant impact on the institution and the wider business community.
Looking ahead, the UBC Sauder School of Business aims to maintain and enhance its strong foundation of excellence in business education, research, and innovation. By focusing on the commitment to develop responsible, sustainable, and ethical leaders, the institution aspires to sustain its prominence at the forefront of business education for future generations.
The EDI Committee reinforces UBC Sauder’s dedication to promoting a culture of collaboration and respect, aligned with the university’s strategic objectives concerning Indigeneity and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). These objectives are reflected in UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan, Inclusion Action Plan, and Focus on People 2025.
Recently UBC launched Third Space Commons, its latest teaching and learning facility. Students designed this one of Canada’s first institutional buildings with the aim of achieving near-zero embodied carbon.
In conclusion, the UBC Sauder School of Business is poised for a bright future, and it deserves a name that can stand well into the future.
