Calgary Chamber renames scholarship in honour of Jim Dewald

Calgary, June 27, 2023 – The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the renaming of the ‘Calgary Chamber Emerging Entrepreneurs Scholarship’ to the ‘Jim Dewald Emerging Leaders Scholarship,’ in honour of the University of Calgary’s Dean of the Haskayne School of Business, Jim Dewald.

On June 30, Dean Dewald will complete his tenure after a decade in the role, during which he has brought an ambitious and bold vision to life, knitting together the Haskayne School, its students, budding entrepreneurs and the business community. The scholarship will provide student-level memberships for UCalgary students, further connecting young entrepreneurs and leaders to the current business community and the Chamber’s thought leadership.

“Jim's impact on the Haskayne School of Business during his two terms as Dean, as it became one of Canada's top business schools, will be felt by current and future students, and faculty for decades to come. He has been unwavering in his commitment to bold ideas, including – equality and creating meaningful ties between the Haskayne School students, faculty and the business community. His role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow will have a lasting impact for decades to come,” says Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great honour to rename our scholarship to acknowledge Jim, celebrating his contributions during his time as Dean, and mirroring his values of education, business and supporting inspiring leaders.”

Under Dewald’s leadership, the school’s growth has been remarkable. The new $90 million student-centric building, Mathison Hall, was opened – creating a new and modern home for business education. He was a driving force in establishing the Creative Destruction Lab-Rockies supporting startups in energy, agriculture, life sciences and technology from Calgary and around the world, to build grow their companies right here, in Calgary. In addition, new programs for students were developed and launched - such as the Master of Management - which teaches business skills and knowledge in ten months to non-business grads – a program that went from idea to waitlist during his tenure.

“This is a fitting tribute to Jim, recognizing his passionate commitment to building bridges between UCalgary and the community, and for inspiring students and industry to work together to meet challenges and generate solutions,” says UCalgary Chief Development Officer Andrea Morris. “Thanks to the Calgary Chamber for their ongoing partnership, and for dedicating this award to an incredible leader who has served as a mentor and inspiration to so many.”

On behalf of the business community, the Calgary Chamber warmly congratulates Jim Dewald on the completion of his time as Dean of the Haskayne School of Businesses and thanks him for his significant contributions to Calgary’s business community. We wish him well in his future endeavours and look forward to his ongoing involvement in our community.

About the Calgary Chamber 

The Calgary Chamber exists to help businesses thrive. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization, we build on our 132-year history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors and across the city.

Media opportunities

For media inquiries, please contact Ruhee Ismail-Teja, Director, Policy and Communications, at media@calgarychamber.com.