Office of the Dean

26th Annual Chair in Business
Bill Comrie, Founder of the Brick

Bill Comrie is an iconic Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist and sports enthusiast. He has transformed his passion for business, sport and community building into a legacy that inspires us all.

In the face of personal adversity, Bill Comrie rose to the challenge with tenacity and courage. When Bill was 19, his father, Herb passed away suddenly. Young Comrie made a critical decision to leave his promising professional hockey career to support his mother, Ruth, and his younger brothers, Fred and John. He struggled to make his father's furniture store, Alberta Factory Sales solvent, until he implemented one of the most innovative ideas in Canadian business history, the ‘Midnight Madness’ sale. Sales skyrocketed.

Bill founded Bill Comrie’s Furniture Warehouse in Edmonton in 1971. It offered same day delivery, and was the first to offer no-interest financing, a strategy that has become a world retailing principle. In 1978 it was renamed the Brick Warehouse and later The Brick. By 1984, The Brick became Canada's top retailer in its category.

Bill Comrie stepped down as CEO and Chairman in 2004. After 33 years in business, The Brick became an income trust with an initial public offering worth $400 million. Its successor is The Brick Ltd.

The Brick Group, together with its subsidiaries, is Canada’s largest volume retailers of household furniture, mattresses, appliances and home electronics, operating under five banners: The Brick, United Furniture Warehouse, The Brick Superstore, The Brick Mattress Store and Urban Brick. The Brick operates over 250 stores, with eight purchasing offices in Asia, which buys from 20 countries abroad. It employs 7,000 people with sales of $1.5 Billion. The Brick has now sold over $20 Billion worth of merchandise since opening in 1971. Its head office is still in Edmonton.

Bill Comrie's other passion is sports. Before The Brick, Bill had a promising professional hockey career starting as a young player for the Edmonton Oil Kings and was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks. Bill kept his hand in sports as a Board Director for the Edmonton Eskimos, and later purchased the B.C. Lions. Bill Comrie continues to demonstrate leadership and love of sport.

The Comrie family is renowned in Canadian hockey. Recognizing their athletic talents, Bill encouraged his sons to pursue their dreams on the ice rink. Both Paul and Mike Comrie played for the Edmonton Oilers. His son, Eric is a first round pick in the Western Junior Hockey League, and son Ty plays hockey in California. Bill is married to Roxanne.

Bill Comrie continues to be recognized for his passion and generous contributions to community initiatives in Canada and abroad. In 1997, Mr. Comrie chaired the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation's Capital Campaign, which raised $14 million to establish the hospital. He later chaired the capital campaign for the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, raising over $45 million.

Dr. Comrie holds an Honourary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Alberta, and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions in commerce and community initiatives. He is a recipient of the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Retail Council of Canada, and an Inductee of the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame.

As the 2012 Allard Chair in Business, William H. Comrie will teach MacEwan business students and faculty the importance of leadership, teamwork, personal commitment and achievement of extraordinary goals.

The Story of Dr. Charles Alexander Allard

Dr. Charles Alexander Allard (1919-1991), a man who demonstrated tremendous vision throughout his professional career as both a doctor and businessman. He carried his vision through diverse experiences, including radio and television broadcasting and as well as one of the original owners of the Edmonton Oilers, then the Alberta Oilers of the World Hockey Association. As a philanthropist, innovator, and entrepreneur, Allard made major contributions to the medical and business fields – and to our community as a whole.

Allard graduated from the University of Alberta as a Medical Doctor and post-graduate studies in Montreal and Boston. Allard practiced medicine specializing in surgery at the Edmonton General Hospital.

Allard created Allarco Developments, a public conglomerate, which included Northwest Trust, Crosstown Motor City and International Jet Air. He founded the Northwest International Bank and co-founded The Canadian Western Bank.

In 1965, Allard became involved in broadcasting, establishing the first independent television station in western Canada, CITV. His company, Allarcom Limited, drew worldwide attention to Alberta, through the Celebrity Concert series and SCTV comedy television series.

Founder of CANCOM, Canadian Satellite Communications, Dr. Allard finalized the sale of his broadcast conglomerate including television stations CITV and CKRD, Allarcom Pay Television (Superchannel) and 50% of The Family Channel to WIC, in March 1991.

Allard was also a diplomat of The American Board of Surgery throughout his professional career, and a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and a lifelong supporter of Junior Achievement. The Allard Foundation still provides generous support for charities and arts organizations in the community.