‘Remarkable’ former head of Regina steel company Ipsco, dead at 73

REGINA – A Saskatchewan man who is credited with turning a steel company into a major force has died.

Roger Phillips was 73.

John Hopkins, CEO of the Regina Chamber of Commerce, says Phillips was a – quote – “remarkable” man.

Phillips was born in Ottawa on Dec. 17 1939, and moved to Regina in 1982 to take the helm of Ipsco, now Evraz.

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At the time Ipsco was a small company, but Phillips helped turn it into a world leader in steel production.

Phillips also made significant contributions to public policy and several charities – it was under him that Ipsco began donating a portion of its after-tax profits to charitable causes.

He retired from Ipsco in 2002. Phillips was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, was given the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, and received a paragon award from the Regina Chamber of Commerce.

“He was certainly a leader, and the proof of his leadership is where he took Ipsco, and really turned that company into a major force,” said Hopkins.

“He really did a lot of great things in this city and this country.”

(CJME)

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had Phililps.