A visionary business leader, community builder and philanthropist, Ron Triffo continues to shape the future of MacEwan University through a generous gift to name the School of Business. Effective immediately, the School of Business will become the Triffo School of Business, reflecting Triffo’s commitment to education, leadership and community. This transformative gift builds on Triffo’s longstanding relationship with MacEwan. In 2017, he and his late wife, Dorothy, named the state-of-the-art Triffo Theatre in Allard Hall, which is an exceptional home for music and theatre performances throughout the year.

“Ron Triffo is an esteemed business person in this city, in this province and globally. This donation signifies that he believes strongly in our School of Business, the faculty we have working here now, future faculty, current students and our students of tomorrow,” says MacEwan President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Annette Trimbee. “The Triffo School of Business embodies our vision of Teaching Greatness, and will inspire our current and future students to be trendsetters and trendbreakers, much like Ron himself has always been. Ron had the courage to grow and scale Stantec, and that courage to grow is akin to MacEwan’s vision.”

This gift marks the largest contribution to date towards the MacEwan Means Business (MMB) campaign. The campaign continues to gather momentum as MacEwan looks to secure the naming of the new School of Business building itself. The impressive new edifice continues to transform the skyline as a symbol for Edmonton’s business future, and a striking new learning space for 7,500 additional students. 

Triffo’s inspiration to give back to his community stems from advice his daughter gave him and from his own upbringing, as the first in his family to have the opportunity to earn a university degree.

“Education was a tremendous springboard that provided everything for me. I strongly believe that education elevates everyone,” says Triffo. “I love MacEwan. I love it for its focus, relevance and approach to teaching that will mean something to society when students graduate.”

Triffo began his career as an engineer, evolving into a successful executive and leader at Stantec, where he became the company’s second CEO. Under his leadership, Stantec grew from around 150 employees to several thousand. Now, the company is nearly 35,000 employees strong and is one of the world’s top engineering firms. Triffo holds the honour of Chairman Emeritus of Stantec.

Not only did Triffo’s time at Stantec herald massive growth in the company, it also gave him a unique perspective as he watched downtown Edmonton expand and flourish. MacEwan, he says, is in a unique position to benefit from and contribute to that downtown vibrancy, and to the business community across the city and the province.

“Business is fundamental. And the business faculty here can and will only continue to succeed and make an impact. Those students will be part of entrepreneurial teams, they’re the innovators, the people that are going to create economic success, and permit us to all have a society that we will all enjoy, and prosper,” says Triffo.

It isn’t his own successes and reputation that he’s celebrating by lending his name to the Triffo School of Business. The name is also an ode to Triffo’s parents, his family and his roots.

“I’m delighted and terrifically honoured to have my name on it, but it’s not really my name. This goes back to my own parents. They did marvelous things,” says Triffo. “That’s the legacy, to honour my family name and my parents.”