Dalhousie lost a close friend and community member on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, when entrepreneur Harry Steele, 92, died.

An Atlantic Canadian icon hailing from Newfoundland, Harry built an empire from humble beginnings. He served in the navy, rising to the rank of lieutenant-commander of the base in Gander, and attended Memorial University of Newfoundland, remaining passionate about education throughout his remarkable business career.

Harry’s many business ventures included owning Eastern Provincial Airways, radio stations, hotels, a shipping line, printing and publishing operations, and fishing camps in Labrador. Many of these were part of his holding company, Newfoundland Capital (NewCap) Corporation.

In 2014, Dal opened the Steele Ocean Sciences Building in his name, helping expand the reach and impact of Dal’s ocean research. Dal’s president at the time, Dr. Richard Florizone, said the Steele name is synonymous with leadership, innovation and success, “…all fine attributes for us to aspire to in our oceans-related teaching and research.”

When Harry retired at 88 as chair of the NewCap board of directors in 2018, he was given the title “chairman emeritus.” Amongst the many other honours he received in his lifetime was being made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1992.

Harry was as generous as he was tough and down to earth; a gregarious, kind and personable man whom we deeply respected and adored.

His legacy will live on at Dalhousie through the innovation and success he inspired at the Steele Ocean Sciences Building. Through his namesake building, Dalhousie is able to nurture the important work of the Ocean Tracking Network; the CERC Laboratory team which develops technologies to measure ocean change; MEOPAR—a network of marine observation, prediction and response; and the Aquatron, where scientists and students study fish and other marine life.

His many friends and admirers in Atlantic Canada and beyond, alongside Dal’s alumni community, are deeply grateful for the impact Harry made and the example he set. We mourn alongside his wife Catherine, sons Peter, Rob and John, and many grandchildren.

Flags on campus are being lowered in honour of Harry Steele’s long-standing connections and contributions to Dal and the region.