The co-owner of Richmond-based Boston Pizza has donated half a million dollars to the local Kwantlen University campus.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University received the $500,000 donation from George and Sylvia Melville to create the Melville Centre for Dialogue on Kwantlen's Richmond campus.
The gift marks the single largest donation made in support of the Richmond campus.
Melville, co-chairman and co-owner of Boston Pizza International Inc., is an active supporter of the community and views the donation as an important part of his business.
"I am very proud to have served with George on the Kwantlen Board of Governors," said Ken Hahn, chair of Kwantlen's Foundation.
"He always brought great enthusiasm, expert business knowledge, and integrity; his conscientious approach always represented the best interests of the students and communities we served.
"On behalf of Kwantlen, we are grateful for his past service and this generous donation."
The Melville Centre for Dialogue will occupy 422 square metres of space on the Richmond campus. The meeting space will be capable of hosting groups of 50 to 250. The centre will incorporate the most recent technologies and support services to ensure a perfect meeting and learning environment. Uses of the space will include conferences, workshops, seminars, professional and community development, continuing education, and university events, and will host more than 30,000 guests annually.
The Kwantlen Richmond Campus is currently undergoing a $5 million renovation with the new centre being a central component.
"I am passionate about education and community responsibility, so supporting Kwantlen was a perfect fit for me," said Melville.
