In the early decades of Memorial University’s engineering program, undergraduates could complete as many as three years of study at Memorial. But they would then have to leave the province to complete their degrees elsewhere.

When plans were made to advance the program to a full-fledged, degree-granting faculty in the late 1960s, a search began for a leader with the vision to make the faculty unique.

The search led Dr. Mose Morgan, the university’s vice-president, to an energetic and innovative faculty member at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Angus Bruneau became the founding dean of Memorial’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science in 1969.

At that time, the University of Waterloo’s co-operative engineering program was the only one of its kind in Canada. Recognizing Memorial’s already strong collaboration with industry in the province, Dr. Bruneau borrowed the idea, and Memorial’s new engineering faculty became the second co-op program in the country.

But he also understood that the challenges of the Newfoundland and Labrador environment offered an opportunity to build a faculty unlike any other.

In 1970, he led the first study on the feasibility of towing dangerous icebergs away from shipping lanes and offshore projects.

Further research efforts led to investments from government agencies and industry, and Memorial’s engineering faculty built its identity as a world leader in cold-ocean research and innovation under his guidance.

This led to the creation of C-CORE, which he chaired for 10 years. C-CORE is now a world-renowned organization offering expertise in ice engineering, geotechnical engineering and remote sensing.

Dr. Bruneau went on to become the university’s vice-president of professional schools and community services in 1974, a position he held until 1981 when he left to pursue interests in the province’s energy sector.

After leaving Memorial, he founded Fortis Inc. in 1987 and served as its president and CEO until 1996. Today, Fortis is one of the top 15 power utilities in North America.

In 2006, in recognition of Dr. Bruneau’s contribution to the corporation and Memorial, Fortis made a significant donation to the university to assist with renovations to the engineering lecture theatre in the S.J. Carew Building on the St. John’s campus. The theatre was renamed the Angus Bruneau Engineering Lecture Theatre in his honour.

 

Drs. Angus and Jean Bruneau in the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation in 2011. Photo from Memorial University Archives.

 

Although he was no longer working at Memorial, Dr. Bruneau’s commitment to the university never wavered.

In 2007, Angus and Jean Bruneau made the largest single donation from living individuals in the university’s history. Their gift created the Angus Bruneau Student Leadership and Innovation Fund in Engineering. Known as the Angus Bruneau Student LIFE Program, it provides funding for student-led initiatives at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

Together, they also established the Bruneau Centre for Excellence in Choral Music.

And in the spring of 2011, the Inco Innovation Centre was renamed the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation to honour Angus Bruneau’s commitment and contribution to Memorial University.

Dr. Bruneau passed away in February 2017.

Engineers design structures to survive the harshest environments and stand the test of time, and Dr. Bruneau was one of these master builders.

But he built more than physical structures. He built programs, research initiatives and industry partnerships that enabled students, faculty and businesses to succeed in Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique landscape.

He helped build the reputation and ethos of our university, creating something resilient and enduring for generations to come.