Associate Dean Gives $100,000 Personal Donation to Okanagan College

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

The Associate Dean of Okanagan College's School of Business is certainly giving back to his school.

Dr. Barry McGillivray is donating $100,000 to help develop a research centre at the college to focus on small business and entrepreneurship in the Southern Interior. “I’m giving back to a region that has been very good to me,” says McGillivray. “Supporting research to benefit small businesses and entrepreneurs is one of the most effective avenues of building our region’s economy.”

Part of the funds that are invested in the Okanagan College Foundation will be directed towards students in scholarships and bursaries. “I have a great and abiding faith in the quality of our students,” says McGillivray, pointing to the numerous student accomplishments in national and international case competitions and notable alumni.

Dr. Barry McGillivray, Associate Dean of Okanagan College's School of Business. (Photo Credit: Okanagan College)

“Research will round out the School of Business’s profile – regionally and nationally,” says McGillivray. “We have a well-deserved reputation for teaching excellence, and for meeting student and employer needs and expectations. We also have a cadre of professors who are undertaking research important to our region; research that focuses on small- and medium-sized enterprises, on the wine industry, on agriculture and on tourism.

“My intent is that the Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research will serve as an incubator for some of our newer faculty to do more applied research, especially with regard to the barriers that entrepreneurs face.”

“Barry’s commitment to this region and to our institution is remarkable,” says Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. “I know he thought carefully about what he could do to help the communities we serve, consulted many people and struck upon developing this Centre as the best investment he could make. I applaud him for his generosity and his foresight.”

McGillivray is hoping that this generous contribution will prompt others to help support the Centre.