EDMONTON – Harry Hole, a University of Alberta alumnus, philanthropist, and Alberta Order of Excellence recipient, had passed away at the age of 91.
Hole was born in Edmonton on September 14, 1921. All nine Hole children attended the University of Alberta.
The value of having a good life and doing something to improve the lives of others was instilled in all of the children at a young age.
“That lesson was there about working hard, getting education, looking at being a successful business person. But then at the same time, my grandparents came from humble backgrounds, so they knew about, people didn’t have as much and about giving back. So those two lessons stuck with my Uncle Harry throughout his whole life and you could see it,” said Hole’s nephew Jim Hole.
Get breaking National news
In a message posted on the University website, University of Alberta President Indira Samarasekera wrote: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of University of Alberta alumnus and friend, Harry Hole (1944, B.Sc.). For decades, Harry and his wife Muriel were great leaders in the Edmonton community, and great friends and supporters of the University of Alberta.”
He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and then served with the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Lieutenant until discharge in 1946.
After entering the business world, Hole and his siblings gave $5 million to the U of A’s Faculty of Engineering for the construction of the Natural Resources Engineering Facility.
Hole was a supporter of several other post-secondary schools in Edmonton.
Hole also supported other areas in the community. He had a positive influence in areas related to business and trade, public health and safety, as well as the arts and advanced education. As President of Edmonton Northlands, he played an important role in the development of the Northlands Coliseum – an Edmonton landmark and exhibition facility.
He worked with many organizations, including the Grant MacEwan Foundation, the Edmonton Space and Science Centre Foundation, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army Red Shield Campaign, United Way and the Stollery Children’s Hospital.
Hole was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2006.
In 2012, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Comments