Graduation Address

"Speaking Remarks for Derek Oland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Moosehead Breweries Limited, Ceremony C." (21 May 1998). (UA Case 67, Box 3)

Your Honour, Mr. Chancellor, Madame President, members of the Board of Governors and Senate, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen and especially graduates, good afternoon!

I can’t tell you what a pleasure—and what an honour—it is for me, as an alumnus of this university, to be here with you today on the occasion of its 169th Encaenia.

I must admit that I come here before you feeling some nostalgia, and a touch of envy. I am reminded that thirty-seven years ago I was seated where you are now. Well, not quite, for in 1961—the year in which I graduated—the ceremony was held at the Lady Beaverbrook Rink.

On that occasion the guest speaker was the Honourable John Diefenbaker who served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party for many years, and as Prime Minister of this country from 1957-1963.

Now Mr. Diefenbaker was a man of flamboyant—one might even say evangelical—style. He didn’t so much speak as he preached. And he preached with such a fire and brimstone sense of mission and command that people hung on his every word.

The "chief," as he was known—in fact, he was called "Dief the chief"—preached to us (or I should say at us) for forty minutes. In fact, his exhortation "My Fellow Canadian" still ring in my ears.

At the ceremony’s end I ran into one of my business profs who chuckled and said, "Wasn’t that something? Diefenbaker is the only politician I’ve ever heard who could make a walk to the washroom sound like a rendezvous with destiny!"

The professor was certainly right about that.

But please don’t panic. I shall not attempt to imitate Mr. Diefenbaker in any way but as I stand here today the memories do come flooding back.

If you’ll pardon the nostalgia, I cannot help but recall that moment in my own life when I ventured into the world not quite knowing what to expect of it, but fairly certain that it would put all my resources to the test.

If you were to ask me if I’d be willing to go back to 1961 and have those resources tested anew, I would be tempted to consider it.

Life with all its disappointments, setbacks and frustrations, and the often difficult decisions it forces us to make, is nevertheless full of splendid adventures and breathtaking joys which might well be worth a repeat performance.

Given such an opportunity, however, would I—do things as I did them before? To that question, I would have to say "no."

The world as it is today differs so dramatically from the one in which I grew up that I would be faced with a whole new set of challenges that would put all my resources to the test. Would I be up to those challenges? I’d certainly like to think so.

Maybe I would be, if—as that old country and western tune has it— "I were just a little bit younger, and knew what I know now."

But armed with what I do know now, I shall continue to deal with the challenges I have yet before me, and trust that you will meet enthusiastically the new challenges—and opportunities—which now await you.

I do envy you just a little. Because the world has changed since I graduated from this university and has become more exciting and challenging.

This is a natural turn of events as one generation gives way to the next. Excitement and change create the energy and enthusiasm which, as new graduates, you will need as you embark on your careers.

When I entered the brewing industry following my graduation there were major changes taking place.

New legislation legalized taverns, bars and licensed restaurants in New Brunswick for the first time. This meant there were many new outlets for beer in the province which previously only allowed sales in legions and clubs. We had to scramble to make sure we got our share of business in these new outlets.

On a national and international scene there was concentration and consolidation of the brewing industry which continues even today. In 1984 there were 38 conventional breweries compared to 25 in 1994. Moosehead is now Canada’s oldest and largest independent brewery.

Brewers have recognized their responsibilities to consumers and employees in the areas of health and safety. The new attitude to drinking which was initiated by the brewers through their responsible use campaign has for instance resulted in only one half of drivers being charged with impairment in 1996 compared to 1981.

I recall the excitement of being in the thick of many of these changes and perhaps, because of the adaptability and open-mindedness of youth I was well suited to handle many of them (in spite of the "good" advice I received from "old hands" that the old ways were the best!)

As we reach the end of the 20th century you have the opportunity to continue to build strong social structures in which people can become engaged in challenging projects and productive employment which can be of immense benefit to mankind as never before in history.

Just think of what has happened in the past 30, 40 and even 50 years.

Who, for example, would have been able to predict then that great advances in science and technology would move ahead with such remarkable swiftness as to change the way we work, the way we do business, the way we think, the way we live?

And who would have thought that after centuries of largely unchecked technical, scientific and industrial progress a great consciousness would arise in respect to the protection of our environment.

Who would have thought in the aftermath of the Second World War that one day two major geopolitical events—first the tumbling of the Berlin Wall and, later, the collapse of Soviet Communism—would pave the way for expanded ventures (not to say adventures) in Western democracy.

This, surely one of the most momentous issues on today’s global agenda, is important not just to you who are graduating today from the faculties of Forestry, Environmental Management, Science, Engineering and Computer Science, but of extreme importance to all the generations destined to succeed you…to succeed all of us.

Now admirably equipped with highly specialized skills and talents essential to today’s world you will be in demand. And you will be in increasing demand as the 20th century gives way to a brand new one to appear on our calendars, incidentally, in just over 20 months from now.

As you consider your options I would suggest that you not forget the world of business where so many opportunities exist offering a wide range of choices. You may wonder why I would make this recommendation to you, and not reserve it for graduates from the business school.

And to that I would answer that you—just as much as the people who will leave here with a business degree—have interesting opportunities which you should explore to the fullest.

And when you survey your opportunities do not overlook "entrepreneurship"— starting your own business. That I say this should not come to you as a surprise. The history of entrepreneurship goes back along way in my family…all the way back to 1867, in fact, when my great-great-grandmother, Susannah Oland, started a family brewing business which continues successfully in the Maritimes to this day.

As an entrepreneur, Susannah Oland was not alone in the history of Atlantic Canada. Before her, there was Samuel Cunard who was born in Halifax in 1787 and died in England in 1865 just two years before my great-great-grandmother started her business.

In his long life, Cunard—from humble circumstances, and with instinct more than training to guide him—built and ran a fleet of steamships that criss-crossed the world’s oceans for decades, thus making astounding contributions to commerce, business and trade, and to human interchange, understanding, and well being. His was—a remarkable story.

But Samuel Cunard’s story and the story of Susannah Oland were not unique in the annals of entrepreneurship in this part of the world. We of course have the Irvings, McCains, and the Sobeys. But I would like to give you a list of firms which started from small beginnings and toady are flourishing in New Brunswick. Firms like: The ADI Group of Fredericton, Bel Tek Systems of Moncton, EMR Microwave Technology Corp of Fredericton, Flakeboard Co. Ltd. of St. Stephen, I Bridge Inc. of Fredericton, Imperial Sign Ltd. of Edmunston, MacDonald Group of Moncton and Metal Fab of Centreville.

Ladies and gentlemen. Not only are these successful companies but I wear my alumnus hat proudly when I tell you that all of them have been founded or managed by graduates of the University of New Brunswick.

With courage, expertise, and imagination these entrepreneurs have established and managed enterprises which enrich the lives of people in Atlantic Canada by sharing wealth in terms of jobs, local purchasing and other economic benefits.

Donald H. Jones, of Carnegie Mellon has said that "entrepreneurs are the innovators and risk-takers in business. They introduce new products and services, apply new and improved business methods, and create value. In short, entrepreneurs play a critical role in our economy and add immeasurably to our welfare."

I would agree. And I would agree, too, with the futurist writer and commentator, Julian Simon who, in one of his last books, put it this way: "The main fuel to speed our progress is our stock of knowledge, and the brake is our lack of imagination. The ultimate resource is people—skilled, spirited and hopeful people who will exert their wills and imaginations for their own benefit, and so, inevitably, for the benefit of us all."

Some of you, of course, will choose to follow other career paths…to—follow your bliss—as the mythologist Joseph Campbell used to say. And of course, as citizens of the free world, you can—and you must—make those choices which you believe to be best for you.

When you leave this campus, however, remember that innumerable adventures and discoveries await you. And remember too that you gained your knowledge and your skills from a university of irreproachable standing in the world community. You are, therefore, prepared to advance into the world with all the curiosity, confidence and zest for living it takes to make rich and rewarding lives and careers for yourselves and for others no matter which paths you choose to follow.

With that, may I wish you Godspeed and good fortune throughout the rest of your lives.