Alumni of Honour Award: Anne and Tony Arrell

Tony Arrell
B.Sc. (Agr.) '67

Anne Taylor Arrell
B.H.Sc. (Agr.) '68

Tony and Anne Arrell are passionate community champions — embodying qualities of leadership, citizenship, creativity and inclusion — who have changed so many lives on so many levels. Their story began at the University of Guelph. Tony graduated in 1967 with a B.Sc., and the following year received his MBA at the Schulich School, York University. Anne graduated in 1968 with B.H.Sc. and did her teacher training at summer school for 3 summers!! Those were the days when teachers were in short supply!

Tony trained as an investment analyst, and had top executive positions with several investment firms before establishing Burgundy Asset Management Ltd in 1992. Burgundy has grown to employ 160 people, managing $34 billion for institutions, charitable foundations and wealthy families. Burgundy follows a long-term, value philosophy and does intensive research on public companies around the world. The Firm’s long term investment record and its record of client retention, have set it apart in the investment field in Canada. Tony is Chairman of the Board of Burgundy today. Anne taught secondary school for 7 years for the Hamilton and Toronto Boards of Education where she became Department Head before ”retiring” to rear their four children. Anne has played a significant supportive and advisory role in the development of Burgundy Asset Management over the past 27 years by helping to plan and host many events over the years.

The Arrells have actively “cow-calf beef farmed” for over 40 years in the Dundalk and Creemore areas. Both Anne and Tony have had the opportunity to apply some of their learnings from Guelph! I suspect there isn’t too many Bay Street workers that take holidays to seed and hay! Weekends and summers are spent at the farm. Their 3 daughters Laura, Ashleigh and Nicole and 4 grand-daughters and one grandson also enjoy spending time at the farm. Unfortunately, their only son Cameron died from Cystic Fibrosis in 1992.

Together, Tony and Anne have honourably served their community and given generously of their time and talent and financial support to numerous not-for-profit organizations. Tony has served as Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Opera Company, St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation and Bishop Strachan School. He was a founding director of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance; Governor of the University of Guelph, and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Schulich School of Business. In recognition of his many contributions to Canada, Tony received the Order of Canada in 2016. He has an honorary doctorate from both Schulich School of Business at York University and the University of Guelph. Anne has volunteered extensively serving on the Boards of Timothy Eaton Memorial Church including Chairman of the Sanctuary Guild and Executive Chair of seven UCW Groups, Extendacare, Arts Access Foundation and active member of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, St. Michael’s Hospital Women’s Health Committee, National Ballet of Canada, Garden Club of Toronto, and many other local organizations.

With a mandate to support health and education, the Arrells founded the Arrell Family Foundation, giving generously to St. Michael’s Hospital, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Parkinsons Canada, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ronald McDonald House, New Circles and other organizations. Two years ago, the Arrell Family Foundation made a $20-million gift to the University of Guelph to establish the Arrell Food Institute, with a vision to build on Guelph’s considerable strength in food research. The Arrells have also been long time donors for generous Arrell Scholarships to support students at U of G.

The Arrells take great pleasure in mentoring young people. They have mentored many high school students from Mexico, sponsored singers in the Canadian Opera Ensemble, sponsor a dancer in the National Ballet of Canada, and provided personal mentoring and financial assistance to several Syrian families during their transition to life in Canada. They also sponsor and mentor several university students through Ray’s Place in Creemore. Tony and Anne feel strongly that they have been fortunate in life, and that they should use their resources to make a better world.