New bursary for Beedie School students

The following is a media release issued by SFU on June 20, 2012.

Contact:
Reid McKenzie, mckenziereid@hotmail.com
Derek Moscato, SFU Beedie School of Business, 778.782.5038, derek_moscato@sfu.ca
Erica Branda, SFU Advancement, 778.782.3353, ebranda@sfu.ca

Reid McKenzie, grandson of the late Alan Eyre, has donated all the assets of the Alan and Margaret Eyre Foundation to Simon Fraser University to create an undergraduate bursary for students entering the SFU Beedie School of Business. The total value of the new Alan and Margaret Eyre Endowment Fund is close to $600,000.

Says Reid McKenzie: “My grandfather was a great community leader and supported a number of causes, but education was most important to him. He treasured his involvement with SFU and was proud of his time working with Gordon Shrum to shape its direction in the early years. So it is only fitting that the remaining assets of the Alan and Margaret Eyre Foundation will be used to support students for generations to come.”

The entrance bursary of $5,000 per academic year will be granted on the basis of demonstrated financial need and good academic standing and will be annually renewable for up to a total of four years.

Daniel Shapiro, Beedie School dean, says the gift will be put to good use: “It is a privilege to honour Alan and Margaret Eyre with this bursary, which will ensure that the Beedie School of Business continues to attract and educate the future leaders who will follow in the footsteps of people like Alan Eyre.”

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About Alan Eyre

Alan Murray Eyre came to B.C. from Saskatchewan in 1926. He completed a degree in civil engineering at UBC and lectured there briefly, followed by a short period with the BC Electric Co. Eyre then joined Dueck Motors and it became one of the most successful General Motors dealerships in North America.

Eyre’s long association with SFU started out on a Board of Trade daytrip up Indian Arm. As the boat was passing near Burnaby, Gordon Shrum (who had been selected by the B.C. government to build SFU) looked up at Burnaby Mountain and said: “Alan, one day I’m going to build a university up there—will you help me?”

Eyre became a founding member of the SFU Board of Governors and chair of its finance committee.

Even after he was no longer officially involved he continued to work behind the scenes for the university. The boardroom at SFU’s downtown campus was dedicated in his name.

Eyre also served as a member of the UBC senate and board of governors and sat on the Universities Council of BC.

Eyre also had roles with the Paraplegic Foundation, the UBC Health Services Centre, Grace Hospital, the Salvation Army, the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, the Vancouver Police Commission, and the Automobile Dealers Association of Canada.

He was also a founding director and president of the BC Lions Football Club, a trustee of the Schenley Football Awards, and president of Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.

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