Tong Louie, a benefactor of the university and a former member of UBC’s Board
of Governors, died recently at the age of 84.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Louie was the chairman and CEO of H.Y. Louie
Co. and London Drugs, and vice-chairman of IGA Canada. He was former head of
the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Business Council of B.C. and served on
many corporate boards.
Louie was also well-known for his generous support of many of the city’s education,
health and cultural institutions.
Louie gave UBC a major gift during the World of Opportunity Campaign to create
the Tong Louie Chair in Pharmacy Administration. He also helped to establish
the London Drugs Scholarship Endowment at UBC.
Among the other organizations benefiting from his support were Sun Yat-Sen
Gardens, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Simon Fraser
University, St. Paul’s Hospital, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the B.C.
Heart Foundation and the YMCA.
Louie graduated from UBC with a degree in agriculture in 1938. The university
gave him an honorary degree in 1990 and he served on the Board of Governors
from 1990-96.
Among the many accolades and awards made to Louie during his lifetime, was
the Order of Canada, which he received in 1989.
