SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Bud Bird, O.C., O.N.B.

Honourable senators, I rise today to congratulate a fellow New Brunswicker, Bud Bird, who received the distinguished Order of New Brunswick the same week that I took my seat in this place.

The Order of New Brunswick is the highest honour granted by our province. Bud received this award for his lifetime of business, political and charitable activities, which have contributed meaningfully to both New Brunswick and Canada.

Bud is a well-known citizen of the greater Fredericton area. He has had a successful career as an entrepreneur, served as an elected political representative at all three levels of government and has been a leading volunteer in many community projects.

In 1958, he founded J. W. Bird and Company Limited — Bird Stairs — a business in which he remains actively involved. He has been a director of several New Brunswick and Canadian companies since that time. He was the lead director of Enbridge Gas New Brunswick when that distribution franchise was awarded in 1999. He was inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame in 2011.

As Mayor of Fredericton from 1969-74, Bud helped to bring about amalgamation with several surrounding municipalities. He also worked to increase awareness and appreciation of the values of bilingualism and cultural diversity with the goal for Fredericton to be seen clearly as the capital city for all New Brunswickers.

I first met Bud Bird when he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. During his term as Minister of Natural Resources, from 1978-82, he was able to successfully steer, with unanimous support, the innovative Crown Lands and Forest Act through the legislature, one that has become recognized as a model for Crown forest management.

As minister, he also introduced the concept of harvest tagging for the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon, as well as the hook-and-release practices that continue today.

In 1984, following his five-year term as a member of Parliament, Bud accepted a volunteer role to help create the Greater Fredericton Economic Development Corporation for the promotion of economic activity among all municipalities in the capital city area. It resulted in several successful initiatives, including the creation of Knowledge Park in partnership with the University of New Brunswick.

For many subsequent years, he has served as president and chairman of the Miramichi Salmon Association and as director of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. Arising from his conservation activities and in partnership with the late chief Noah Augustine of Metepenagiag, Bud was co-founder of the First Nations and Business Liaison Group, a forum that was active for several years in the pursuit of reconciliation and goodwill.

In 2004, he was presented with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for wild Atlantic salmon conservation. With his late wife, Peggy, the Bird family have contributed generously to many charitable causes and were the second recipients of the Philanthropy in Action Award from the Fredericton Community Foundation.

Previously recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, Bud also received an honorary degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1987 and was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001. I join citizens of the greater Fredericton area and all New Brunswickers in our admiration for Bud Bird and in congratulating him on this honour, which I know is very special to him because it’s been bestowed by the province that he calls home. Thank you.