Vancouver-based mining company Goldcorp Inc. has donated $500,000 to the University of Victoria’s business school to foster social and sustainability efforts.
The donation to the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business was announced Tuesday.
“Goldcorp is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where we are located,” said Chuck Jeannes, Goldcorp president and chief executive officer.
The company’s assets include five mines in Canada, including the Red Lake and Porcupine operations in Ontario. Goldcorp also has mines in the U.S., Mexico and Central and South America, its website says. Goldcorp’s proposed operations include the Cochenour project in Ontario and the Éléonore gold project in Quebec.
It also has plans in Argentina, Chile and the Dominican Republic. Goldcorp has more than 14,000 employees worldwide.
UVic’s business school set up its Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation (CSSI) in July 2011. It has embarked on a number of research and education initiatives and Goldcorp’s donation means it can “significantly increase its activities and opportunities for both students and faculty,” a UVic statement said.
Close to 30 per cent of the faculty teach and research business topics, including social and environmental issues.
Sustainability goes beyond recycling. UVic’s centre focuses on matters such as business ethics, climate change, health, poverty, discrimination and carbon emissions.
“Our investment in the CSSI aligns with our commitment to operating sustainably, acting responsibly and to growing educational opportunities for young people,” Jeannes said.
Saul Klein, dean of UVic’s business school, described the donation as “important support for the centre, which has already helped us examine our own practices and connected Gustavson students, faculty and staff – as well as the entire UVic campus – with sustainable business expertise and scholarship.”
Added UVic president David Turpin: “The centre and Gustavson School of Business are helping today’s students and tomorrow’s business leaders learn to think in new ways about addressing complex problems in the changing world of business.”
Past donors to UVic include retired Victoria businessman Sardul Gill, whose $5-million donation to UVic in 2011 established a permanent endowment that disburses funds for scholarships and financial awards, international projects, teaching and research.
Other major donors to UVic include the estate of Michael Williams ($17 million); Bob Wright, head of the Oak Bay Marine Group of Companies ($11 million); businessman Peter Gustavson ($10 million); and the Mearns family ($5 million) in honour of their father, William C. Mearns.
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