UPEI extends condolences on the passing of generous donor Lou MacEachern, LLD
The UPEI community was saddened to learn of the passing on February 20 of Dr. Lou MacEachern, a caring and passionate supporter of youth and post-secondary education as well as a generous donor to the University and many other charitable causes. Dr. MacEachern received an honorary degree from UPEI in 2011.
A native of Hazel Grove, PEI, Dr. MacEachern was a well-known Calgary entrepreneur and contributor to community organizations. He was president and owner of Fortune Industries Ltd. and was involved in a number of publicly traded companies. He served three terms on UPEI’s Board of Governors from 2003–2009, was a founding member of the Global Associates of the former UPEI School of Business (now McDougall Faculty of Business), and was a long-time board member of the Confederation Centre of the Arts. He was involved in numerous community organizations in Alberta, including the Calgary Rotary Club, The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, the William Booth Society, and the 1988 Calgary Olympics. He was a founding supporter of the Calgary Friends of UPEI group that has raised funds to support Alberta and PEI students at UPEI through scholarships.
UPEI recognized the long-standing support and leadership of Dr. MacEachern at a reception in 2011, naming a busy indoor concourse in Don and Marion McDougall Hall in his honour. Louis W. MacEachern Market Street is located along the full length of the building and connects students to lecture theatres, classrooms, and study/breakout rooms.
Dr. MacEachern studied at both Saint Dunstan’s University and Prince of Wales College. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University. He gave back so much to UPEI because he realized the necessity of an education early in life and attributed much of his success as an entrepreneur to his investment in his own schooling.
In 2011, Dr. MacEachern said, “I moved to Calgary the first time in 1952 after I quit school in Grade 7 to work. I soon recognized that I needed to further my education and returned to the Island to do so. I am pleased to be able to support students who also realize that a university education is so valuable and will lead to their own success.”
UPEI extends sincere condolences to Dr. MacEachern’s family, friends, and colleagues.
