Black, James Thompson

CONVOCATION, OCTOBER, 1986
JAMES THOMPSON BLACK
to be Doctor of Laws

Pleasant though my tasks this afternoon were, I am delighted this evening to be able to begin by saying "Let us now praise famous men," and to turn to Jim Black, Chairman of the Board of The Molson Companies -- who like this University -- have been "Partners in Canada's Future for 200 years. Perhaps I feel easy with Mr. Black because he and I share some things -- we were both born in the same year and both served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In fact Mr. Black trained at the RCAF Navigation School in Chatham. Since then, I am afraid, our careers have diverged.

Jim Black was born and educated in Montreal, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1949, and in that same year he began a career with Molsons which led him ultimately to the top: he has held, sometimes concurrently, the ranks of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of The Molson Companies Limited. In the early years he worked in the accounting and financial areas, and he has written that his "happiest day was probably in 1961 when I was given my first general management assignment as Vice President and General Manager" of the Molson operations "in the four provinces of Western Canada." He was excited by the challenge presented by the problems of his new job, and goes on to write:

That, plus the fact that it involved relocating to Calgary, made it a very exciting move for me. I had for some time hoped to get a crack at general management and I had always wanted an opportunity to live in Western Canada. I enjoyed both very much and was sorry to have to move back East after six years.

I think one can sense the zest for life, and all its challenges, which has marked the career of this man; his enthusiasm and energy overflow, and I believe this evening he will be sharing with us his thoughts "about making life meaningful within the framework of a working career."

He has also written to me that his greatest non-working pleasure comes from his involvement in a small antique business in Oakville, but during a recent working visit to the PCA potash mine in Sussex, he managed to attend an antique auction at Sackville; I suggest that the Property Manager here at the Playhouse watch the furniture. As a Canadian, Jim Black has a special interest in Geography, and I believe it is appropriate and right for us to make him an Honorary Doctor of this University, and as a bonus that we accept him as an Honorary Herring-Choker.

Insignissime Praeses, Amplissima Cancellaria, Tota Universitas, praesento vobis Jacobum Thompson Black ut admittatur Honoris Causa ad gradum Doctoris in Utroque Jure in hac Universitate.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2