‘Rugby is their pure passion’
Arthur and Sandra Irving named honourary chairpersons of national rugby championship at Acadia
Arthur and Sandra Irving will be the honourary chairpersons of the 2018 U SPORTS National Women’s Rugby Championship that will be hosted at Acadia University from Nov. 1 to 4.
Arthur Irving served as the Chancellor of Acadia University from 1996 to 2010. Like his father K.C. Irving, and brothers Jim and Jack, Arthur attended Acadia University. When he left, he returned home to Saint John, N.B., where he worked in the family business, Irving Oil, and does to this day. He has more than 70 years of service with the company. He received an Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws degree from Acadia in 2003.
A steadfast and hard-working advocate for students, scholarly excellence and building a better world, Sandra Irving most likes to help students in the realization of their dreams. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John and a Master of Arts from the University of Toronto. Sandra and Arthur Irving were instrumental in helping to establish the Atlantic Chapter of The Royal Society of Canada and she was made an Honorary Fellow of the RSC. Sandra received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Acadia in 2017.
“We are very honoured to be asked to be the honorary chairs of the 2018 U SPORTS National Women’s Rugby Championship,” said Arthur.
A member of Acadia’s Class of 1952, Arthur Irving had a deep passion for athletics including rugby, which he played while attending Acadia.
“I remember well that some of life’s greatest lessons were learned when I played on the rugby team at Acadia. Acadia University is a most welcoming host of this prestigious gathering of our country’s best rugby players and we are happy to be a part of it,” he said.
“It was only fitting to ask Arthur and Sandra Irving to serve as honourary chairpersons for our 2018 U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championships due to their love of sport and university students,” said Acadia’s Executive Director of Athletics and Community Kevin Dickie.
“Acadia is thrilled to celebrate Arthur and Sandra as our honorary chairs. Since Acadia’s founding 180 years ago, no family has meant more to Acadia than Sandra and Arthur Irving and, quite frankly, provided such tremendous support and friendship to me as a coach and athletic director,” he continued.
“They have such an affinity for all the sports in our athletic program, but you know from talking to them, or by looking at pictures in their home, that rugby is their pure passion. It is this passion that makes this year’s championship, and such deserving recognition of Arthur and Sandra Irving being connected to it, so special. It will mean so much to us to have them as well their daughter Sarah be part of this national championship.”
The U SPORTS National Women’s Rugby Championship begins Nov. 1 with quarterfinals play and ends Nov. 4 with a consolation final, bronze-medal game and gold-medal game.