New book on Irving Oil explores business Miramichi Leader (Print Edition)·Nathalie Sturgeon CA|September 25, 2020·08:00am Section: B·Page: B6 SAINT JOHN • New Brunswick scholar and author Donald J. Savoie has published a new book exploring the origins of the Irving Oil empire. Savoie, who is the Canada Research Chair in Public Administration and Governance at the Université de Moncton, has released Thanks for the Business: Arthur L. Irving, K.C. Irving and the Story of Irving Oil. It’s look at entrepreneurship through the story of this prominent Maritime business family. “New Brunswickers, and Maritimers more generally, should applaud business success,” said Savoie, who describes himself as a friend of Arthur Irving. “We haven’t had a strong record of applauding business success. I think K.C. Irving, Arthur Irving, and Irving Oil speak to business success.” Irving Oil is the David in a David and Goliath story of major oil refineries in the world, Savoie noted, adding it provides a valuable economic contribution to the province as a whole, having laid the in-roads within New Brunswick into a multi-country oil business. He wanted his book to serve as a reminder of that. In a statement, Candice MacLean, a spokeswoman for Irving Oil, said company employees are proud to read the story of K.C. Irving, the company’s founder, and Arthur Irving, the company’s current chairman. “(Arthur’s) passion and love for the business inspires all of us every day,” MacLean said. “Mr Savoie’s Thanks for the Business captures the story of the Irving Oil that we are proud to be a part of.” In his new book, Savoie, who has won the Donner Prize for public policy writing, details Irving Oil’s “success born in Bouctouche and grown from Saint John, New Brunswick.” The company now operates Canada’s largest refinery, along with more than 900 gas stations spanning eastern Canada and New England, according to Savoie. Irving Oil also has offices in Amsterdam and London, England, and it operates Ireland’s only refinery. Irving Oil’s story all starts in 1924 when K.C. Irving, opened his first garage and service station in his hometown of Bouctouche. He later moved to Saint John to take over the city’s Ford dealership and continued to grow Irving Oil, eventually opening the Golden Ball garage. In the 1950s, the Golden Ball was converted to the home office for Irving Oil. K.C. Irving’s son Arthur joined the company in 1951. “In 1960, the Irving Oil Refinery in Saint John began operations with a production capacity of 40,000 barrels per day,” states the Irving Oil website. The refinery now produces more than 300,000 barrels per day. Savoie is also the author of Democracy in Canada: The Disintegration of Our Institutions released in 2019, What is Government Good At? A Canadian Answer released in 2015 and a handful of other public policy books. .