Donald R. Sobey

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

Dr. Sobey holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University.

Currently, Dr. Sobey is Chair Emeritus of Empire Company Limited. He is the founder of the D&R Sobey Scholarship Fund at Queen’s University and a member of the Trilateral Commission and the Tate Americas Foundation (Tate Museum UK).

Dr. Sobey has served as a Director of Sobeys Inc. since 1998 and of earlier Sobeys companies beginning in 1963. He was President of the company from 1969 until his appointment as Chair in 1985 and was Chair of the company until his appointment as Chair Emeritus in 2004.

He is also past Chair of the National Gallery of Canada and Maritime Tel & Tel and past director of the World Wildlife Fund. Dr. Sobey previously served as a Director of the following publicly traded companies: Toronto-Dominion Bank, Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., High Liner Foods Limited and Trader Classified Media NV.

In 2014, Dr. Sobey was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada and is highly regarded for his contributions as a businessman and cultural philanthropist. A key figure in building one of the largest food retailers in Canada, he has channelled his passion for the arts into supporting such institutions as the National Gallery of Canada. Notably, he was Chair of the Sobey Art Award, Canada’s largest prize for young contemporary artists.

Dr. Sobey and his wife, Beth, reside in Pictou County; they have three children and five grandchildren.