Spring Convocation - Students - University of Saskatchewan

Honorary Doctor of Laws
IRENE LILY DUBÉ
Through her entrepreneurial spirit,
community service and philanthropy,
Irene Dubé has set an inspiring
example for business and charitable
leadership in the Saskatoon
community.
Irene Lily Dubé (nee Sigurdson) was
born in Wynyard, Saskatchewan. In
1954, Irene married Les Dubé, and her
contributions in the community began
when she and her husband made their
first private sector investment in 1961
with the purchase of a lot of land on
8th Street East in Saskatoon. By 1969
they opened a small business office
to manage their growing company.
Starting with only three employees,
the Concorde Group of Companies
has grown into a diverse company
with extensive holdings. Irene Dubé
contributed by providing general
management and accounting services
for the Dubés’ many businesses. The
Dubé success is attributed to hard
work, sound business practices, and a
social consciousness.
While managing the family
business interests, Irene Dubé also
provided service to the University of
Saskatchewan, serving as a member of
its Board of Governors from 1987 to
1989. Irene froze her estate in 1993,
and at that point the Dubés decided
to donate money accumulated from
their business interests to charities.
Since then, her philanthropic efforts in
Saskatoon have contributed to a new
wing at St. Paul’s Hospital, provided
finances for several other unmet
needs in the area of surgery, urology
and renal care, the establishment of
a Breast Health Centre at Saskatoon
City Hospital and the Les and Irene
Dubé Community Service-Learning
Program at St. Thomas More College,
an experimental style of learning that
combines classroom education with
volunteer service in the Saskatoon
community. Among many other things,
Irene Dubé’s community service has
also involved taking in young unwed
mothers whose parents would not
allow them to live at home, and
providing these young women with a
warm and loving home environment
until their babies were born.
Irene Dubé’s concern for the
well‐being of others and quality of
life in the community demonstrates
true empathy, and many have been
enriched by her acts of kindness and
contributions to health care, education
and community service organizations.
In 2006, Mrs. Dubé was inducted
into the SABEX Hall of Fame, an
honour presented to long standing
members of the greater Saskatoon
Business community. In 2006, she
was recognized during the City of
Saskatoon Centennial as part of the
100 Who Made a Difference for her
commitment to philanthropy and
entrepreneurial spirit.
University of Saskatchewan 21 Spring Convocation 2007