Richard Haskayne
Richard Francis "Dick" Haskayne | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 18, 1934 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Accountant, oil industry executive |
| Years active | 1956–2005 |
| Known for | Executive roles at Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company, Home Oil Company, Interprovincial Pipeline Company, Nova Corporation, TransCanada Pipelines; Haskayne School of Business namesake |
Richard Francis "Dick" Haskayne (born 18 December 1934) is a Canadian former accountant and executive in the oil industry whose professional journey extended from 1956 until 2005. He occupied high-level positions at several leading Canadian energy companies such as Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company, Home Oil Company, Interprovincial Pipeline Company, Nova Corporation, and TransCanada Pipelines. Additionally, he is recognized for his connection to the University of Calgary, where the business school was renamed the Haskayne School of Business in 2002 in his honor.
Early life
Richard was born in Calgary on 18 December 1934 to Robert Stanley Haskayne and Bertha Hasketh, both immigrants from England. He spent his childhood in Gleichen, Alberta, where his family operated butcher shops located in Carseland and Gleichen. In 1952, he began studies at the University of Alberta, completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1956. During his time at university, he became a member of Kappa Sigma.
Articling and Hudson's Bay, 1956–1982
Following graduation, Haskayne started as an articling student with Riddell, Stead, Graham & Hutchison in Calgary and achieved Chartered Accountant status in 1959. The following year, he joined the accounting department of the Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company. By 1973, he was appointed comptroller for Canadian Arctic Gas Study Limited, a consortium focused on exploring the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project. Returning to HBOG in 1975, he advanced to vice-president that same year and was elevated to president on 29 April 1980. In May 1981, Dome Petroleum initiated a hostile takeover bid for HBOG. Prior to Dome’s acquisition finalizing, Haskayne was appointed president of Home Oil Company in January 1982 after being named to the position in October 1981.
Home Oil and Interprovincial, 1982–1991
As president of Home Oil—one of Canada’s oldest independent oil companies at the time and owned by Hiram Walker Resources Limited—Haskayne managed substantial organizational transitions. Following Gulf Canada’s purchase of Hiram Walker, Home Oil was acquired by the Interprovincial Pipeline Company in 1986. Interprovincial established Interhome Energy Inc as a holding company for both businesses. Haskayne maintained his role as Home Oil president, assumed presidency of Interprovincial in 1987, and then served as chairman and president of Interhome starting in 1988. When Interhome was dissolved into separate entities in March 1991, Haskayne resigned from his positions.
Nova and TransCanada, 1991–2005
On 1 May 1991, Haskayne joined the board of directors at Nova Corporation, previously known as Alberta Gas Trunk Line Company. By August that year, he took leadership over the company’s pipeline, oil, and gas divisions. At Nova’s annual general meeting in 1992, he was elected chairman, succeeding Daryl K. Seaman. In June 1998, after TransCanada Pipelines acquired Nova’s petroleum assets—while petrochemical operations continued under Nova Chemicals—Haskayne became chairman of TransCanada. He also held chairmanships at MacMillan Bloedel from 1996 to 1999 and at TransAlta between 1996 and 1998. He retired from his role as TransCanada chairman in April 2005, with S. Barry Jackson succeeding him.
Personal life
In 1958, Haskayne wed Lee Mary Murray, who succumbed to ALS in 1993. The couple did not have children. Five years later, in 1998, he entered into matrimony with Lois Paula Kenney, previously married to William Alexander Heard, the inaugural headmaster of Strathcona-Tweedmuir School. Haskayne maintains ties with the Anglican Church of Canada and is affiliated with the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta. His memberships include the Calgary Petroleum Club, Ranchmen's Club, Calgary Golf & Country Club, and Earl Grey Golf Club.
Awards and recognition
Between 1990 and 1996, Haskayne served as chair of the board of governors at the University of Calgary, a position from which he now holds emeritus status as board chair.
In May 2002, following a generous donation of C$16 million, the university honored him by renaming its business faculty the Haskayne School of Business.
His appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada came in 1997, acknowledging his principled leadership in business and significant contributions to fundraising for institutions such as the University of Calgary and United Way. Haskayne is recognized as a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (F.C.A.) and has been inducted into multiple halls of fame: Canadian Business Hall of Fame, Calgary Business Hall of Fame, and Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame. Additionally, he participates on the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada and holds a directorship at the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute. He also contributes to the Community and Partners Advisory Committee at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta.
In 2006, he was honored with the Alberta Order of Excellence.
Published works
Haskayne authored his memoir titled Northern Tigers: Building Ethical Canadian Corporate Champions, which was released on March 28, 2007 by Key Porter Books.