History

About Haskayne School of Business

History

For nearly 50 years the School has supported the development of future leaders, as well as advanced business knowledge and practice through its academic research.

Here are just a few of the significant historical milestones of the School.

2020s

2020

  • On May 1, 2020 construction began on the Haskayne Capital Expansion Project, including the new Mathison Hall and renovations to Scurfield Hall. 
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most courses and programs temporarily transitioned to online learning format.
  • Haskayne formed the first-ever Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee
  • Haskayne hosted the inaugural Distinguished Business Leaders Summit, where nearly 1,000 participants engaged online on the topic of ethical leadership in a crisis.
  • Dr. Sandy Hershcovis, PhD named to the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. A national recognition for emerging Canadian intellectual leadership

2010s

2019

  • Dr. Anup Srivastava, PhD becomes Haskayne’s first Canada research chair.
  • Trico Foundation Social Entrepreneurship Centre established. 
  • Richard and Lois Haskayne Legacy Scholarship has its first recipient.
  • Haskayne Doctor of Business Administration program launched.
  • Haskayne Master of Management launches to jump-start the careers of recent non-business graduates.
  • Rob Peters, BA’67 gifts $5 million to support Mathison Hall project.

2018

  • BMO Mentorship program established.
  • University of Calgary announces planned construction of Mathison Hall, thanks to $20 million gift from Calgary business leader Ronald P. Mathison. 

2017

  • Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies established at the Haskayne School of Business.
  • Progress Energy International Speaker Series launched featuring Ernest Moniz, the U.S. secretary of energy from 2013 to 2017.
  • The Haskayne School of Business and Schulich School of Engineering unveil Western Canada’s only combined engineering and business degrees program.

2016

  • The Hal Kvisle Leadership Adventure Education Fund was created to support transformational personal leadership development and experiential learning opportunities for students.

2015

  • The W.E . (Bill) Richards classroom, Haskayne’s first active learning classroom, opens to students.
  • A team of Haskayne School of Business students takes first place at the prestigious Berg Cup.
  • The first RBC Fast Pitch Competition takes place and involves 12 student teams competing for more than $100,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.

2014

  • Launch of the Guided Path system, a unique leadership development tool for students, created by CCAL.
  • The first Energy New Venture Competition for would-be energy sector entrepreneurs takes place in downtown Calgary.

2013

  • The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was created.
  • The Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies was launched.

2012

  • The Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership in Business (CCAL) was launched to develop ethical business leaders.

2011

  • The Haskayne School of Business became a member of the European Foundation for Management Development
  • Two Bachelor of Commerce students from the Haskayne School of Business took first place in the Western Canada Chartered Accountant Case Competition
  • A group of Haskayne Bachelor of Commerce students finished at the top of the star-studded Western regional of the Hult International Global Case Challenge, second only to a team of Stanford MBAs.

2010

  • The Global Energy Executive MBA program is launched.
  • A team of five MBA students from the Haskayne School of Business won the prestigious John Molson International MBA Case Competition, beating out 35 other teams from Canada, the U.S. and around the world.
  • The Economist magazine of London ranked the Haskayne School of Business MBA in its Top 100 list for the first time, placing it at #82 worldwide (#42 in North America, #3 in Canada).
  • New Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi earned his BComm at the Haskayne School of Business. Voter turnout was at least double than originally expected during the municipal election that swept him into office in October 2010.
  • For the 33rd consecutive year, Haskayne Bachelor of Commerce students finished in the top two overall in the Inter-Collegiate Business Competition (ICBC), finishing in a first-place tie in the 2010 regular season.
A team of five MBA students from the Haskayne School of Business won the prestigious John Molson International MBA Case CompetitionCompetition, January 2010.

L-R: Student Karena Thieme, faculty advisors Arif Mulji and Leo Donlevy and student Chuck Warnica with the trophy they won at the John Molson International MBA Case Competition, January 2010.

Photo Credit: Ken Bendiktsen


The 2000s

2009

  • For the 32nd consecutive year, students from the Haskayne School of Business finished in the top two overall in the regular season of the Inter-Collegiate Business Competitions (ICBC).
  • Haskayne Bachelor of Commerce program accredited by CMA Canada
  • The Haskayne MBA and undergraduate programs ranked second among 35 MBA programs and 47 undergraduate programs from across Canada in the Knight Schools 2009 ranking, which measures how well business schools integrate social and environmental impact management into their curricula.

2008

  • Executive MBA programs ranks #38 in the Financial Times (UK) international ranking of Executive MBA programs

2006

  • Financial Times ranks Alberta/Haskayne executive MBA program top in Canada for career progress of graduates and the extent to which alumni fulfilled their most important goals or reasons for doing an EMBA
  • Student competition teams on unprecedented winning streak
  • Introduction of energy concentration across all degrees

2005

  • Haskayne is the first business school in the world to be granted certification for its PhD in tourism management by the World Tourism Organization (WTO)
  • University of Calgary announces first appointee to chair in Business Ethics
  • Financial Times ranks Alberta/Haskayne executive MBA program top in Canada for career progress of graduates

2004

  • ICD Corporate Governance College launches Directors Education Program at Haskayne
  • Faculty members attain $500,000 in research grant funds

2003

  • Direct entry into BComm program established

2002

  • Haskayne School of Business named in honour of Richard F. Haskayne, OC, AOE, FCA
  • Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development program commenced
  • Suncor Chair in Sustainable Development and Competitive Strategy established

2001

  • Full-time MBA program ranked 87 out of 100 by Financial Times

2000

  • Haskayne Alumni Chapter formed
  • Establishment of MAX Award program
Richard (Dick) Haskayne and his wife Lois at the renaming of the faculty of management to the Haskayne School of Business, May 2002.

Richard (Dick) Haskayne and his wife Lois at the renaming of the faculty of management to the Haskayne School of Business, May 2002.


The 1990s

1996

  • MSc in Sustainable Energy Development Degree program starts

1995

  • Bachelor of Hotel and Resort Management created in cooperation with SAIT
  • Executive MBA program created in cooperation with the University of Alberta

1994

  • MBA program established in Poland

1993

  • Academic staff peaks at 100
  • DBLA established

1991

  • New strategic plan focuses on faculty development and research
  • $2.4M Endowment for Chair Insurance and Risk Management

1990

  • 4th Floor added to Scurfield Hall
  • Delivering Results campaign raises $14.7M
The official opening of the Scurfield Hall expansion, March 1991

The official opening of the Scurfield Hall expansion. (L-R) President Murray Fraser, Minister of Advanced Education John Gogo, MLA Pat Black, Chancellor David Smith and Minister of Technology, Research and Telecommunications Fred Stewart, March 1991.


The 1980s

1989

  • Bachelor of Commerce program is expanded

1988

  • Future fund exceeds $12M

1986

  • The Faculty of Management moves into Scurfield Hall on January 1
  • Full-time MBA program begins

1985

  • The Faculty of Management becomes the second Canadian University to be accredited by AACSB International
  • PLM program established
  • Executive Development program starts
  • Future Fund campaign launched

1984

  • Future Fund Endowment created to provide a "margin of excellence" for the school's future

1981

  • Ralph Scurfield, his family, and NuWest Group of Companies make private donations to begin construction of a new management building
  • Establishment of Carma Chair in Business
The opening of Scurfield Hall, April 1986.

The opening of Scurfield Hall, April 1986.

Photo Credit: Communications Media


The 1970s

1978

  • Faculty of Business becomes Faculty of Management

1977

  • Management Resource Centre established
  • Career Development Office established

1975

  • Part-time Master of Management Studies starts
  • Major reorganization as per BAB recommendations

1974

  • Proposal for establishment of a graduate program approved by General Faculties Council
  • First meeting of Business Advisory Board

1970

  • Commerce Internship Program begins
Faculty of Business students checking a bulletin board, October 1977.

Faculty of Business students checking a bulletin board, October 1977.

Photo Credit: Jim Peacock


The 1960s

1969

  • Faculty offers summer courses
  • Significant revisions made to undergrad program

1967

  • Faculty of Business is established

1966

  • University of Calgary is formed
Students in the Faculty of Business playing a computer game, February 1967.

Students in the Faculty of Business playing a computer game, February 1967.

Photo Credit: Neil Chrichton