2026 Inspiring Business Leader Award Recipient
Source: https://haskayne.ucalgary.ca/community/signature-events/inspiring-business-leader-award/2026-recipient Parent: https://haskayne.ucalgary.ca/
Inspiring Business Leader Award
Join us as we celebrate the Hunter family's impact at the Inspiring Business Leader Award gala on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Macleod Hall Ballroom, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre. It's an evening to raise a glass, share stories, and honour a family whose bold vision and generosity have made a lasting difference in business and beyond.
Our 2026 Inspiring Business Leader Award recipient
(Pictured left to right: Hunter family – Adam Hunter, Derrick Hunter, Doug Hunter)
The Hunter family
The Hunter family’s humble-yet-fearless approach has stretched from early ventures in the oilpatch and early-stage tech to public service and community leadership. A sixth-generation Alberta family, the Hunter’s modern story began taking shape when Doug Hunter entered the oil and gas industry in the early 1960s, and continues today with his son Derrick Hunter and grandson Adam Hunter.
Today, three generations of the family work together through Bluesky Equities, a privately held investment firm that invests broadly across both traditional and alternative assets ranging from direct global equities portfolios and fixed income and credit strategies to venture capital, real estate and energy. Bluesky is particularly visible in the Western Canadian innovation ecosystem where it has invested in more than 100 seed-stage businesses since 2012 – earning the company recognition as 2019 Angel Investor of the Year and 2019 Tech Investor of the Year.
The Hunter family’s impact extends beyond business through the Hunter Family Foundation, which supports initiatives designed to tackle complex social challenges. Established in 1984, the foundation has made transformative contributions in areas such as entrepreneurial thinking, health and wellness and free markets.
The family has made several visionary investments at the University of Calgary. With the philosophy of making “big bets” to drive systemic change, the family’s generous contributions have led to the creation of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, along with supporting initiatives such as UCeed, the Real Deal, Management Advisory Council and scholarships such as the John (Jack) H. Nodwell Entrepreneurial Engineering Memorial Scholarship.
Derrick is also one of 16 fellows with Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies, where he actively mentors early-stage science and technology startups.
Beyond entrepreneurship, the family has championed initiatives aimed at strengthening mental health systems. Among them is Converge Mental Health Coalition, a national initiative that brings leaders together to advance mental health system transformation in Canada.
The family was also instrumental in the creation of The Hub, a digitally native news organization grounded in the principles of classical liberalism such as free speech, property rights and the rule of law. Through The Hub, the family sponsors the annual Hunter Prize, which challenges entrants to provide solutions to "wicked problems" confronting Canada.
Learn more about the Hunter Family and their incredible legacy of entrepreneurship, investment and philanthropy.
About the Inspiring Business Leader Award
Set to inspire a new generation of leaders, students and the community, the Inspiring Business Leader Award continues to shine a spotlight on purpose-driven business leadership while highlighting outstanding leaders who are making an impact in our changing city.
The Haskayne School of Business and Calgary Chamber of Commerce are excited to co-present this new perspective on leaders in the Calgary business community. Gala partner, Calgary Foundation, adds its enthusiasm to this refreshing view on leadership in our evolving city. Recipients are recognized for their inspired leadership, personal and professional accomplishments, commitment to community and business acumen.
Proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships of the Inspiring Business Leader Award are directed to a student scholarship endowment which will help support future leaders. Since its launch in 2008, nearly $500,000 in scholarships has been awarded to more\ than 100 aspiring business leaders.
Proceeds also support the Jim Dewald Emerging Leaders Scholarship, which funds Chamber memberships for post-secondary students.