Arthur Irving remembered for leadership and enthusiasm for New Brunswick

The death of Arthur Irving is causing New Brunswickers who knew him best to pause and reflect on his legacy.

The billionaire businessman who died Monday at the age of 93 served as chair emeritus of Irving Oil Ltd. later in his life after running the company for many years. Based in Saint John, the company owns Canada's largest oil refinery.

"He never lost his enthusiasm for the province, for the business, for the people that were in it," said Premier Blaine Higgs, who worked at Irving Oil for 33 years.

"And he never lost appreciation for everyone that he served as a customer and who worked in the business. And I think that respect was demonstrated in everything that he did."

He said he recalls Irving as having a humble nature and unshakable pride in being a New Brunswicker.

Premier Blaine Higgs, who worked for Irving Oil for 33 years, says he took inspiration from Irving's leadership style. (Radio-Canada)

"He never felt that he had a big company," Higgs said. "In the size of Irving Oil, compared to the Exxon Mobils, and the Ultramars and Shells, he always felt it was a small, regional company and it could compete in a big world.

"And I think that's the vision that we share as a province, that every day we can work a little harder to be a bigger and better province."

As premier, Higgs said, he applies lessons from Irving's leadership style.

"Yes, it has had an influence, in the sense that you plan, you look at information and you study it ahead, and you decide on where to go next and the idea is you've got to make a decision and get on with it," Higgs said.

"And you just can't continually talk about something."

Arthur Irving was 'the real deal'

Former Saint John mayor Don Darling described Irving's death as a tremendous loss for New Brunswick but also for his city.

"Mr. Irving was a passionate champion of our region, of our city," Darling said.

"I had a couple of occasions to sit with Mr. Irving when I was mayor. And the very first thing he said was, 'How can I help you, mayor? How can we help the city?'"

Darling echoed the fact that Irving took pride in New Brunswick, both by employing so many locals and keeping his oil refinery and headquarters in Saint John.

Former Saint John mayor Don Darling says Irving's loss will be felt across the city, province and country. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)

He noted the company is in a time of uncertainty and change, and the death of Irving's death might add to that.

"I think it really marks a transition that was coming."

Last June, the company announced a strategic internal review that could lead to the sale of the company. 

Darling said it is also a time of great responsibility for the company to navigate its responsibility with climate change, and  Irving would have been involved in it.

Despite the uncertainty over where the company's headed, Darling said the business and those who knew Irving will continue to move forward.

"That's what he would want. I mean, I can almost hear him saying, 'You know what? Chin up, eyes forward, and go make something great happen.'"

Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long said that of the many meetings he had with Irving, he will remember his passion.

"He would always come over and talk and shake your hand and, you know, genuinely ask about you and how you were," Long said.

"He was grounded. He was the real deal and he's really going to be missed."

Lawyer recalls Irving's respect for employees

Former New Brunswick senator John Wallace fondly recalls the 17 years he worked as a lawyer for Irving Oil, collaborating closely with Arthur and his brother Jack Irving.

"Of all the people that have influenced me in my career in law and the Senate, of all of it, my happiest days, my most satisfying days I had were working with Arthur and Jack at Irving," Wallace said.

"Arthur, he could challenge you, you had lots of responsibility, you were expected to perform, but he had that special knack of being able to draw the best out of people."'

Former New Brunswick Senator John Wallace worked as a lawyer for Irving for 17 years, and fondly recalls the business leader's work ethic. (CBC)

Wallace called Irving a unique leader who was hard-working and led by example.

"When you were having discussions, you weren't leaning back in your chair, you were on the edge of your chair," he said.

The work environment under Irving was not without its challenges and pressure, Wallace recalled, but Irving put a great amount of trust and responsibility on his employees.

"So many times, you found out a lot about yourself when you thought you had achieved all you could, gee, there was more there. Arthur just had that ability to draw it out of people."

Irving Oil, J.D. Irving issue statements

An obituary posted on the Irving Oil website says Irving worked for the company for 73 years.

"He shook the hand of everyone he met, remembered every name, and had a wonderful ability to make every person he met feel a special connection," the website says.

"On behalf of everyone at Irving Oil, we thank you for the business, Mr. Irving. It's been an honour."

J.D. Irving, the company owned by Arthur's brother, J.K Irving, released a brief statement on his death.

"On behalf of our family and all employees at J.D. Irving, Limited, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Arthur's family, and the entire team at Irving Oil, on Arthur's passing today," J.K. wrote.

In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Irving Oil one of Canada's top employers and Arthur Irving a "symbol of Canadian entrepreneurship and success."

New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy, Beauséjour MP Dominic Leblanc and Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon were among other prominent New Brunswickers to mark Irving's death with statements on social media.