Graduation Address

"Notes for an Address by George S. Petty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Repap Enterprises Inc., Ceremony C." (23 May 1996). (UA Case 67, Box 3)

Learning has never been more important. Centres of higher learning, especially, are assets increasingly crucial to the achievement of all our collective goals—be they economic, social or cultural.

We will serve our families, our community, this Province, and our national well, if we each here today lend every effort to further and expand UNB’s contribution to learning, and the university’s strong record of academic excellence. This task is an ongoing work, one never completed.

One defining characteristic of any society is the extent to which it invests in learning. Learning is not only the most civilizing activity. A civil society is also, fundamentally, a society committed to learning.

It is through learning that we, as individuals and as a collectivity, reconcile and bridge differences, gain greater degrees of shared understandings, choose a common destination and fashion together means for getting there. As individuals, it is through acquiring knowledge of ourselves, and of our common heritage, that we can contribute best to our community and to ourselves.

I grew up in Montreal. Throughout my high school—and most of my university years—I much preferred playing hockey than focusing on getting good grades. My father was a clerk with the Canadian Pacific Railway. My mother was a high school teacher. My parents instilled certain values in me through teaching and by their example. Mom taught me the value of a good education. She would tell me, "George, study hard, because whatever else happens to you in life, a good education is something that could never be taken away from you and will always help you."

The guiding philosophy in my life is rooted in strong core values first conveyed by my parents, and later strengthened and reaffirmed, through years of experience and reflection.

As I look out today to this graduating class, from this vantage point in my own life, I am moved to share with you, in a few brief moments we have together, a little more of what I have learned, since I stood in your place quite a few years ago.

Instead of attempting to talk in the abstract, I would far more prefer to reveal to you, one person’s beliefs, search, and the sometime slow but exciting journey of discovery. For those of us who truly want a taste of life—to gain understanding, and shape our own destiny, and the world beyond—we must know our beliefs, eagerly search, and deliberately choose our path and pursue it.

We each can come to this task—to this search, and to the ultimate choices we make—in a very reactive kind of way, as so many do. You know well, how easy it is to fall into that trap—which limits horizon, instead of expanding them.

Those who build their lives by reacting tend to allow events, and others, and all kinds of external developments and constraints, to shape them, and their life choices. Too often, they also are vulnerable, and can succumb to anxieties and fear, instead of being guided forward by hope and optimism. Fear itself can breed defeat. As a result, one is a lot less likely to achieve whatever success they seek, or to gain personal fulfillment. Don’t be afraid. Let your ideas—and ideals—transform you from where you are, to where you want to go. Take a chance and risk what you have for those precious dreams.

The central idea that has guided my business career and personal life is:

"Better to try and fail, than to suffer the immeasurable loss of what might have been."

That was the quote in my college yearbook almost forty years ago, and stands today as a core belief of the five thousand people that make up Repap Enterprises. Twenty years ago, Repap was an idea. Today, it’s the lifeblood of several communities across Canada and the United States and a world-class competitor in the global forest products industry.

We are, and we become, what we think…what we believe…what we dream. Powerful ideas, strongly held, leads one to engage the world, not react to it…to create and build, not to simply wallow in what may exist—only struggling to make the best of what is there. Your ideas are only limited by your imagination. But, ideas alone are not enough. They’re a good start. Ideas are nothing without resolve. It is their foundation. And your true measure is not whether you have ideas; but rather if you’ll defend them during prolonged periods of great challenge between their conception and reality.

Winston Churchill delivered a college commencement speech in 1952. Sir Winston was asked to advise his young audience on the personal traits necessary for success. When his time came to speak, Churchill went to the podium and delivered the following counsel: "Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever…ever…ever give up." He then returned to his seat. Few have stated the essence of their accomplishments with such clarity.

Determination—dogged determination—let us take strong ideas, to make the best of what is there. Optimism breed energy. Determination—dogged determination—lets us take strong ideas and run with them, with optimism and energy. We put anxieties and fear and failures of yesterday behind. We move forward with a clear mind to tomorrow. I tell our employees that there is no use in looking down, the job gets done by looking up. The cup is not half-empty, it’s half full. We call that possibility thinking. People will always tell you why something can’t be done. If I had listened to them, I would not be standing here today, nor would we be ready to commercialize a revolutionary solvent pulping technology that will transform this industry. We call it Alcell, and we are making this vision a reality today, right here in New Brunswick.

At the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit—and entrepreneurship is not narrowly confined to business alone: equally, it can prosper in the Church, charity or public sector—is one deep belief: not to accept things as they are, but as we can imagine they could be. And then make what we imagine come true.

This spirit can ignite your own lives in whatever vocation you choose. And if it becomes more part of you, and thus more prevalent throughout Canada, it will trigger a new age of growth and "prosperity" in our country, and I am thinking of the broadest definition of the word "prosperity."

Entrepreneurship is a spirit, for it is more than a way of seeing the world. It is a mindset—an attitude. It is an energy that catapults it possessor and all around her to grasp what may seem the impossibly, and realize it. If fear and doubt are our guides, the impossible dream remains exactly that, with insurmountable barriers standing in the way of any accomplishment.

What propels a person forward into uncharted territory, with optimism and determination, is not unlike what propels an organization or a society forward. It is strong belief—knowing and acting consistently on a core set of values, including faith and trust—and powerful ideas, that with determination and leadership, and the spirit of entrepreneurship, can readily convey any group to its chosen destination. Again and again. For the individual, so for the organization and society.

Look around at the country we all love so deeply. Look at it as if from afar…way in the distance, across a vast ocean. Could most people of this world imagine a more immense country, richer in every human and material resource, blessed with peace and order and civility, than Canada. What are we to make of it? What will you make of it?

Are we a nation faltering somewhat, turning more to the past, in a preoccupation with what divides us, than focusing on the enormous promise of what lies ahead? Is our vision of our own potential dimmed by our very proximity to all that we are and possess? Let us together imagine and then focus on a future we desire, and most certainly that future will best be realized by linking our arms together—however, we must redefine those linkages—rather than by casting each other apart.

What a world awaits you…a world to fashion, a world to lead. Think of Canada of the future—the country that we can imagine and desire, twenty or forty years from now, and your place in it…

Make it happen!

If each of you, each of us, rises to this personal, and to our national challenge, with conviction and faith, confidence and optimism…with our eyes firmly fixed on a future destination…we will gain ourselves, our country, and for all of humankind, incalculable benefits. We will continue to set as a nation, a powerful example of the human spirit, resolve and accomplishment. We will become more fulfilled individuals. We will fulfill the full promise of our country.

One final thought. Popular culture tells you that for someone to succeed in business or public life, you have to somehow let go of your humanity. In fact, I strongly believe, and know from my personal experience that the exact opposite is true. You can only truly make it out there with confidence in yourself and your value system. Stay true to yourself and the positive values that must become the bedrock of a successful personal and professional life. I have always found that compassion, honesty, integrity and respect for people are basic and essential preconditions to both personal growth and professional accomplishment. Don’t ever believe that to make it out there you have to compromise on your values. In fact, as an employer, I can tell you that people who consistently demonstrate strength of character and who steadfastly adhere to positive values are the ones that will make a meaningful difference.

I wish you all godspeed as you now endeavour to make your dreams come true.