Alumni Profile – Don Hubbard

The Development & Alumni Relations Office recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Don Hubbard (‘66), Chair of Vancouver Island University’s Board of Governors and General Manager for Lafarge Construction Materials, North West Division Vancouver Island.

A long-time supporter of Malaspina through his work with the Foundation, the Board of Governors and as a donor, scholarship provider and Alumni employer, Don first came to Malaspina for upgrading at the time when it was the Vocational Trade School (VTS). He then went on to complete the Heavy Duty / Commercial Transport Mechanics program in 1966 before continuing his education at BCIT.

When asked about his commitment to Malaspina, Don spoke about his time as a student and the impact of his relationships with his instructors, the mentorship and guidance he received and shared that “it feels good to me and people like me to come back and do the same thing that was done for me.” He went on to talk about what Vancouver Island University has done for the Central Island in terms of providing access to affordable education that allows people to finish their studies while living at home.

While his background, and heart, is in the trades, “we will always need trades people”, he recognizes that the academic side brings opportunities to the economy “an educated society is usually a wealthy society.” This balanced perspective serves him well in his role as Chair of the Vancouver Island University Board of Governors where he is charged with two significant tasks, hiring a new president and achieving University designation for Malaspina. He is proud of the growth of Malaspina and what that means for our students and community and of the innovative and entrepreneurial methods that Malaspina has developed to support that growth.

What became apparent throughout the conversation is that Don is a person who embodies his beliefs. When asked about what’s really important to him in life he identified his top two priorities as family and helping others to achieve. This is reflected not only by his actions as a Malaspina supporter, but as an employer who whenever possible hires Malaspina graduates and strives to provide challenges and opportunities for them to succeed. “You need to let people fail” he stated “people stumble, nothing’s perfect, you have to learn from your own mistakes.”

Don’s final words of advice to Alumni, “you need to throw away that fear and just go out and do what you want to do. If you can be optimistic every day and have a positive attitude nothing is impossible if you put enough effort into it and have a little luck.”