Gaglardi Family Makes Historic Donation to TRU

The newly named Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics honours a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist with deep Kamloops roots and a family legacy grounded in community service.

Unveiled Feb. 17, 2022 this is the first school or faculty to be named at TRU and represents the qualities Gaglardi himself values: personal integrity, hard work, strong ethics, innovative thinking, and the ability to face and overcome challenges. Together, TRU and Bob Gaglardi champion a game-changing business education in the heart of the BC Interior.

$10-million to support business education

Bob Gaglardi is the eldest son of Phil and Jennie Gaglardi, who were both influential in Kamloops. From them, Bob Gaglardi learned the importance of investing in community. With a dream to build, he founded Northland Properties in 1963 and, in the same spirit as his parents, found ways to create partnerships that supported communities throughout British Columbia.

Gaglardi lives and works in Vancouver, BC, but still refers to Kamloops as home. When his four children talked about how they could give back to honour their father and all he has accomplished, they came back to the place that holds significant meaning for the family.

With support from Northland Properties Corporation, the Gaglardi family is donating $10 million to TRU to support future construction of an academic building for business studies. This is the largest philanthropic gift ever received by TRU. A portion of the gift is also designated for expanded programming, research initiatives and student financial support in business and economics.

The Gaglardi family supported TRU’s wish to name the business school to honour Bob Gaglardi and his enduring connection to the BC Interior.

“Kamloops is a special place to my family but, most of all, to my father,” said Bob’s daughter Andrea Gaglardi, vice-president of corporate development at Northland. “It was important to us as a family to give these funds to TRU in support of the growth and future enrollment at their business school, while also continuing a legacy of contributing to the community that our family has long valued,” she says. “My father has always led by example, and I hope his story of determination and fortitude inspires generations of business students at TRU as they continue to learn and follow their dreams.”

Dean Michael Henry says Bob Gaglardi was the ideal candidate for this honour because of his strong roots in the community— also reflected in TRU’s commitment to community-mindedness— and his belief that people are at the core of his company’s success.

Study Business at Gaglardi

Students from more than 100 countries study business at TRU and the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics prepares regional, national and international learners to excel in both their workplaces and communities.

With its core business administration (BBA) programs, the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics is at the forefront of Canadian business education. Eight major programs allow students to specialize in one of the functional areas of business or in the field of economics. Most of the majors are designed to prepare students to pursue a professional designation after graduation, which are becoming critical for career success in many disciplines. Majors include: accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, international business, marketing, and supply chain management.

The Master of Business Administration is TRU’s flagship graduate program and the most flexible MBA in the country. Two more innovative master’s programs focused on environmental economics and management, students gain a deeper understanding of the balance between environmental impact and profit in business practice. These include the Master in Environmental Economics and Management and the Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management.