Paul Hill Inspirational Speaker Series - Guest Speaker Paul Sobey - speaks to the power of 'we'

Canadian business legend and philanthropist Paul Sobey is quick to give credit to the power of the team.

“It’s not about the ‘I,’” he said emphatically in an interview Wednesday. “It’s always about ‘we.’“

Sobey is the guest speaker at the 2019 Hill Dinner on Thursday — the annual fundraising event for the Paul J. Hill School of Business at the University of Regina. He also spoke at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox.

Sobeys began as a meat-delivery company in Stellerton, N.S. It is now the second-largest food retailer in Canada and has 1,500 stores from coast to coast. In 2013, Sobey retired from his position as president and chief executive officer of Empire Company Limited, the holding company that owns the food stores as well as a variety of other investments and businesses. He remains on the board of directors. Sobey had worked for 32 years with the company started by his great-grandfather. His departure came shortly after he helped secure the purchase of 213 Safeway stores in Canada, for $5.8 billion.

In his Regina visit, he underlined the importance of the culture developed and sustained through five generations of family involvement. This includes being customer-focused, giving back to the community and not being afraid to learn through mistakes.

Sobey emphasizes the importance of choosing passionate employees who bring added knowledge to an organization. He points to Sobeys’ current president, Michael Medline, as an example of how excellent leadership can foster growth and health in a company.

His father, who is still active and visiting stores at age 88, has been an inspiring example.

“My father is one of the best mentors I’ve had and I’m blessed to have him here today,” he said.

Sobey has a demonstrated commitment to higher education; he is the former chancellor of St. Mary’s University in Halifax. The Sobey family, Sobey Foundation and Sobeys Inc. also donated $18 million to the business school at the university — which bears the family name. The gift, given in March of 2019, is the largest in the 217-year history of the school.

Paul Hill, who has known Sobey for “30 to 40 years” says he sought him out as a speaker due to the significant role the family has played in the business landscape of the Maritimes and Canada as a whole.

“We wanted to link up with that important contribution,” he said.