The achievements of three Monctonians are being highlighted.
The City of Moncton is pleased to announce the 2020 recipients of the Order of Moncton.
This year’s beneficiaries are Robert K. Irving, Co-CEO of JD Irving Limited, Debbie McInnis, CEO of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick and former mayor Brian Murphy.
They’ll each receive a medal, a pin and a certificate of honour at the formal induction ceremony which will be held at Moncton City Hall.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, and regulations on gatherings, a decision regarding a ceremony for this year’s inductees will be made in the coming weeks.
The City of Moncton is pleased to announce the 2020 recipients of the Order of Moncton: Robert K. Irving, Debbie McInnis…
Posted by City of Moncton / Ville de Moncton on Thursday, September 24, 2020
Robert K. Irving
A driver of industry, a respected business leader, community supporter, philanthropist, and proud Monctonian – all describe Robert K. Irving.
A household name throughout Atlantic Canada, Robert K. Irving is the Co-CEO of J.D. Irving Limited, and stands at the forefront of many of the region’s key sectors, including forestry, forestry products, agriculture, food processing, transportation and shipbuilding.
In the late 1980s, Mr. Irving chose Moncton as his home and established his commercial and industrial operations in our community. Today, Mr. Irving’s businesses are a source of employment for over 2,000 people in the Greater Moncton area.
A huge supporter of Moncton’s business community, Mr. Irving has advised on numerous economic development initiatives and was the founding chair for the regional Economic Leadership Council for 3+ Corporation – a role which he filled for many years.
Mr. Irving’s philanthropic activities have been every bit as impactful as his commercial ventures. His generous support for Moncton’s youth, social welfare, recreational sports, service clubs, healthcare, and the arts goes straight to the heart of the community – as did his development of the City’s beloved Moncton Wildcats into one of the most the successful, crowd-pleasing franchises in the QMJHL.
Mr. Irving has chaired three major giving campaigns for the Friends of the Moncton Hospital and has made significant donations to many other worthy causes, notably the YW Jean E.S. Irving Centre for Women and Children, Moncton Headstart, the Atlantic Wellness Centre and a recent donation of $1 million to the Food Depot Alimentaire Inc.
Mr. Irving been recognized with some of Moncton’s most esteemed honours. These include the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton’s Builder of Youth Lifetime Achievement Award (2011); being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Clubs of Greater Moncton (2014); induction into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame (2014); the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick’s Champion of Literacy Award (2016); and the extremely rare centennial Paul Harris Fellowship Award, bestowed on the 100th anniversary of four Rotary Clubs (2020).
Debbie McInnis
For those who know her, Debbie McInnis is the personification of social action. Her efforts on behalf of Greater Moncton’s most vulnerable have touched thousands of lives, yet she prefers to work behind the scenes, deflecting attention away from herself and toward the causes and issues she is so passionate about.
The CEO of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick, Debbie McInnis is described as a tireless champion in the fight against poverty, discrimination, illiteracy and social indifference. She is known as a widely effective leader and a go-to problem solver who “gets stuff done.”
Prior to the United Way, Ms. McInnis worked the Laubach Literacy New Brunswick, an organization that helps adult learners improve their math, writing, and reading skills. She loved the work and wanted to find more ways to help people in need of support.
She found the opportunity in 2004, when the United Way hired her to help broaden the scope of the organization’s activities with a focus on community impact. Today, under her leadership, the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick funds 28 programs across 26 frontline agencies.
Ms. McInnis also contributes her expertise, energy and endless compassion to numerous boards, committees and initiatives focused on solving Moncton’s most pressing social issues. She is a member of the Homelessness Steering Committee, the Local Immigration Partnership, and co-chair of the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities committee. She also works on the Greater Moncton Literacy Advisory Board, Westmorland Albert Community Inclusion Network and volunteers with the Children’s Wish Foundation, as well as being the Chair of the WA Action.
Ms. McInnis was a founding member and driving force behind the Community Peace Centre (2011), and the creator and founder of the Inspiration Cafe (2018) which provides employment and work skills for marginalized people.
When COVID-19 struck, Ms. McInnis went into action to ensure the needs of homeless individuals and other vulnerable groups were not overlooked. Recognizing that the school closures would impact the food security of many marginalized children, Ms. McInnis orchestrated the preparation and delivery of over 24,000 bagged lunches, including Halal meals, to families in need.
It has been said that when times are dark that we should look for the helpers. Debbie McInnis is a beacon, shining a light on the very best that Moncton has to offer as a City and as a community.
Brian Murphy
A lifelong ambassador for the City and the region, Brian Murphy personifies the welcoming, inclusive and innovative spirit for which Moncton has become known around the world.
Mr. Murphy has devoted his professional career to representing the diverse voices and interests of Monctonians, serving as City Councillor, Mayor, Member of Parliament, and as a well-respected barrister. In his personal life as well, Brian Murphy has been an engaged and dedicated supporter of groups and organizations across the community, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Open Hands Food Bank, and many other worthy causes.
During his six-year tenure as Mayor of Moncton (1998-2004), Mr. Murphy spearheaded an unprecedented number of transformative achievements for the City. Perhaps foremost among these was the declaration of Moncton as Canada’s first officially bilingual city in 2002 —a full fifteen years before the nation’s capital achieved that status— a fact which underscores the forward-thinking and visionary nature of Mr. Murphy’s leadership.
Other accomplishments include the conversion of the former CN lands into a world-class multi-sport complex; the building of the City’s new water treatment facility, the renovation of the Moncton Market and the founding of the Atlantic Seafood Festival, just to name a few.
An ardent champion of Moncton’s rich multicultural heritage, Mr. Murphy led many initiatives to strengthen Moncton’s cultural connections both at home and abroad. His tenure also saw the opening of several parks and monuments recognizing the City’s diverse cultural groups, such as the Irish Families Memorial Cross, Israël Park, the Jewish Monument, and Sommet Park. He also established the annual lighting of the Menorah at City Hall.
In 2004 Mr. Murphy was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, Republic of France for his involvement in bringing the Alliance Française to Moncton.
Through these actions and many more, Brian Murphy played a significant role in guiding Moncton’s evolution into the resilient, vibrant and diverse urban centre we know today.
