Canadian Tire Corporation Limited has donated $240,000 to establish the Stephen Wetmore Award in Sport and Recreation Management – the largest award for MBA students at UNB who want to be corporate and community leaders in athletics. The program, which rewards talented students in the MBA program affiliated with the faculties of kinesiology and business administration, prepares students for careers with sports leagues and associations, recreation facilities, resorts, parks and sport tourism.
This gift honours Canadian Tire Corporation’s former president and CEO, New Brunswick-born Stephen Wetmore, who is one of Canada’s acknowledged business innovators. Under his direction, Canadian Tire has grown into Canada’s biggest sports retailer and become a leader in digital innovation and new business and product development – areas where UNB students excel.
“I’m grateful to Canadian Tire for recognizing UNB’s leadership in educating generations of Canadian sport and recreation managers and for making this generous investment in the future of our students,” said Eddy Campbell, UNB president and vice-chancellor. “This award will recognize some of our most deserving, innovative and entrepreneurial students.”
The award exemplifies Canadian Tire’s commitment to creating an environment where sport can flourish.
“At Canadian Tire, we believe that the power of sport inspires greatness and changes the lives of all Canadians. From parents teaching their children how to skate on a backyard rink to Canadian athletes pursuing dreams of Olympic gold, sport unites families, communities and the entire nation,” says Maureen J. Sabia, chairman of the board of Canadian Tire Corporation Limited. “We are very proud of what Stephen accomplished at The Tire and pleased to see his legacy and commitment to sport will be honoured by generations of students to come.” Wetmore, who was born in Campbellton, NB, retired as president and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation Limited in December 2014 after six years at the helm and is now the deputy chairman of its board of directors.
He strengthened the company’s core business and emphasized its commitment to physical education and amateur sport through a number of initiatives, including partnering with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams. He was recently named one of the Globe and Mail’s 50 Most Powerful People in Canadian Sport.
Megan Chisholm is the inaugural recipient of the Stephen Wetmore Award in Sport and Recreation Management. She was selected for her academic achievement and background in event management, including work for the Canada East Short Track Speed Skating Championships.
