Latest news with #IrvingOil
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Fire under control at Irving Oil Refinery
An 'operational' incident at Irving Oil's Saint John refinery Monday morning is now under control. In an update posted to social media just before 10 a.m. Monday morning, Irving Oil says an operational issue occurred at it's Saint John refinery which activated an emergency alarm. The post goes on to say the situation was isolated, contained, and operations at the location have returned to normal. A large cloud of black smoke could be seen coming from the refinery, which is located on the city's east side. Irving Oil Refinery A large cloud of black smoke is seen at the Irving Oil Refinery on June 30, 2025. Irving officials have not confirmed if the incident was a fire. CTV Atlantic has also reached out to the Saint John Fire Department and is awaiting further information. The refinery, which is the largest in Canada, was established in 1960. More to come… For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Euston Street site of Irving Oil station dating from the 1930s is now owned by City of Charlottetown
The old Irving Gas station in downtown Charlottetown is about to get a facelift. Irving Oil has donated the site to the City of Charlottetown. Mayor Philip Brown says the location will be turned into a charging station for EVs and e-bikes, as well as a community hub where municipal and provincial officials can work out of.
CBC
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Irving Oil donates long-closed gas station property to City of Charlottetown
Social Sharing Irving Oil Ltd. says it has donated "a significant piece of real estate" to the City of Charlottetown, allowing plans to proceed on turning a long-closed gas station into a community hub and collaborative space. The former gas station building is located at 85 Euston St. in the midst of Charlottetown's downtown. Built in the 1930s, featuring an turreted design that Irving was known for using across the region at the time, the station was never demolished due to its architectural and historic interest. Darren Gillis is the chief marketing officer for New Brunswick-based Irving Oil. "We are proud to support the City of Charlottetown and its residents through this important land donation — providing a foundation for the city's vision for future development in its downtown core," he was quoted as saying in a news release issued Wednesday morning. Residents hope 'eyesore' heritage gas station gets a new life 1 year ago Duration 2:02 For almost three years, the City of Charlottetown has quietly been working on a plan to take over and revitalize a boarded-up Irving gas station on Euston Street. On Thursday, CBC News stopped by the site and talked with people walking by about what they thought of the building and its possible future. The site has sat idle since a car rental company at the location closed, at some point after the gas pumps were taken out in 2008. Its future could include a new way to power vehicles, as an EV charging hub. Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown said the donation will pave the way for an "exciting new chapter" for the downtown area. "We have an opportunity to turn this facility into a EV recharging station, an e-bike recharging station, a interpretive centre, a community centre and with a focus on net zero," he said. The mayor said this will tie into the city's push for a new e-bike rental program. "The city is going to get into the e-bike rental, and also getting out in the community, [to] get more people, more residents, citizens using alternative modes of transportation. This fits that program." This proposed project, called the Euston Street Irving ReEnergization Concept, has been in the works since 2021. The city has put aside $1 million from its capital budget and will get additional funding from Innovation P.E.I., as well as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Brown said the Irving Oil donation came with some conditions for competitive reasons. "We can't get into the convenience store business. We can't start selling diesel or gas out of there — those are the obvious restrictions," he said. Another clause specifies that the work must begin within 18 months and be substantially complete within 36 months. If the work isn't done within 48 months, the company reserves the right to buy back the site for $1. Brown said it is now up to the city to take action — he hopes within the next three to six weeks. There's a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot, but the exciting news is that we can start moving forward in an open forum. "That's a provision, but you know what? Irving's made the announcement, this is official now… It's on the City of Charlottetown's part to get this project going, and get moving on finishing it, get it open to the public and make sure it becomes part of our community." Euston Street site of Irving Oil station dating from the 1930s is now owned by City of Charlottetown 27 minutes ago Duration 1:05 The old Irving Gas station in downtown Charlottetown is about to get a facelift. Irving Oil has donated the site to the City of Charlottetown. Mayor Philip Brown says the location will be turned into a charging station for EVs and e-bikes, as well as a community hub where municipal and provincial officials can work out of. The mayor said he'd like to work with Irving to share some costs related to the property. "I hope to develop something, a plan where they will share the cost of maintenance and operation, but that's to be worked out. There's a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot, but the exciting news is that we can start moving forward in an open forum."
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A team that I'm proud of': How Irving Oil's John Laidlaw built an East Coast legal legacy
by Jim Middlemiss John Laidlaw never imagined he would spend the twilight years of his career navigating Ireland's complex energy markets, but sometimes the best opportunities arrive when you least expect them. The 2025 recipient of the CGCA's BLG Stephen Sigurdson Lifetime Achievement Award made what he calls 'a leap of faith' in 2016, leaving a 32-year partnership at law firm Cox & Palmer in Saint John, N.B. to become chief legal officer at Canadian energy giant Irving Oil Ltd. 'I was at a point in my life where my youngest of four was wrapping up her undergrad degree, and we were empty nesters,' recalled Laidlaw, now in his 10th year at the Saint John-based energy company. 'You start to look around and say, 'Maybe I've gone as far as I'm going to go in private practice, and maybe I should think about what lies ahead.'' The conversation that changed his trajectory began innocently enough — a casual discussion with Irving Oil's then-president Ian Whitcomb about whether he would move in-house. For someone who had built his reputation as a corporate commercial lawyer handling everything from public-private partnerships to advising clients in aquaculture, fisheries and agriculture, a move to the oil and gas industry represented a dramatic pivot in the latter stages of his career. 'Those around me whose judgment I respected were all of the view that this was something I should really think about,' said Laidlaw. 'Irving Oil has a stellar reputation, and opportunities like that don't always come along when you're in your late 50s.' He admits it was a huge change, likening it to drinking from a firehose. Fortunately, he learned early in his career how to be a quick study. 'You never stop learning in any business, but particularly so being a corporate commercial lawyer. Whoever walks in the door, you've got to learn their business fairly quickly to be able to provide good, sensible and competent advice,' he said. The company supported him through the transition. 'They were very patient with me as I got up to speed. This is a very fascinating, complicated business, and one where you never stop learning.' The transition from external counsel to corporate insider proved transformative. Within months, Laidlaw found himself at the centre of Irving's historic expansion into Ireland, advising on the 2016 acquisition of that country's only oil refinery from Phillips 66. The Whitegate facility purchase was followed in 2019 by Irving's acquisition of the Tedcastle group, which operates under the Top Oil brand. 'The great thing about being here is you get to see things end to end,' Laidlaw said, contrasting his in-house role with private practice where deals concluded when documents were signed. Now, he says, 'when it's all said and done, you get to hang out at the party' after the deal and figure out how to 'integrate this and make it all work.' Irving Oil, founded in 1924 and still family-owned, operates Canada's largest refinery and has 900 fuelling stations spanning eastern Canada and New England. When Laidlaw arrived, Irving's legal department consisted of just his predecessor and one other lawyer. Today, he oversees eight legal professionals plus a 'very strong regulatory compliance team' — reflecting both the company's growth and the increasing complexity of energy sector regulations. 'I've built a team here that I'm proud of,' Laidlaw said, noting that four of his current team members followed him from Cox & Palmer. 'Many are lawyers and support staff who believed in what we were building here.' For Laidlaw, who was called to the New Brunswick bar in 1984 after earning his law degree from the University of New Brunswick, the most rewarding aspect of his career has been developing talent. During his Cox & Palmer years, he served as an instructor for the commercial law portion of the New Brunswick bar admission course for nearly 20 years and maintained an open-door policy for junior lawyers seeking guidance. He believes strongly in mentorship and coaching, because that's how he learned. 'I had some tremendous, mentors that cultivated me and brought me along,' he said. 'As you get a bit older, you realize the positive impact it had and so in my view, it's a duty or an obligation. I like to think the profession is pretty good at that, but it's something that everybody has to play a part.' Laidlaw's community involvement has also been extensive. He has served as chair of the Saint John area New Brunswick Provincial Mental Health Tribunal, the Centracare Foundation and the Horizon Health Network, one of the province's two health authorities. 'I was brought up in a household where you were expected to give back,' he explained. 'To whom much is given, much is expected.' At 67, Laidlaw shows no signs of slowing down. 'I'm obviously in the downward slope given my age, but I don't intend to leave Irving Oil anytime soon,' he said. 'I'm not sure I would ever fully stop doing something.' His advice to young lawyers reflects the humility that colleagues consistently note: be the first to arrive and last to leave, see everything as an opportunity, and remember that success often comes down to being in the right place at the right time — then having the courage to walk through the door when it opens. Irving Oil president steps down amid strategic review Arthur Irving out as chairman of Irving Oil For Laidlaw, that door opened nearly a decade ago in Saint John, leading to what he describes as some of the most fulfilling years of his legal career. 'It sort of reignited things for me at a point where I wasn't quite ready to wind down,' he said. 'This has been absolutely wonderful.' Sign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Mayor says Irving Oil refinery investment welcome in Saint John
Saint John's mayor said he's pleased with Irving Oil's plan to spend $100 million on upgrades to its Saint John facility. It's a move the company said will ensure future growth for the nation's largest oil refinery. Dubbed the FCCU Revamp Project, the multi-million-dollar investment in the refinery will maximize its performance, efficiency, and reliability. The modernization project is being privately funded. 'It's always good to get those sorts of investments,' said Mayor Donna Reardon. 'We have 325,000 barrels a day that are being refined, and that's that creates our GDP.' Reardon said the upgrades like will improve refinery emissions and the overall environmental impact. The privately-funded upgrade project will bring in roughly 675 skilled workers, primarily from Atlantic Canada, Irving said. 'Work will be completed in a phased approach over the summer and fall, beginning this month,' said a news release from Irving. The tradespeople supporting the project will generate an estimated $3.5 million in direct and indirect economic spinoffs in New Brunswick, said the release. 'In addition, the total workforce hours on the project represent the equivalent of more than 140 annualized jobs,' the release said. It wasn't long ago Irving's future in Saint John appeared uncertain. In 2023 the company underwent a strategic review that included a potential sale. The review was completed earlier this year reaffirming their commitment to Saint John. President of Canadians for Affordable Energy Dan McTeague said the investment by the oil giant leaves no doubt where Irving's future will be. 'Making a decision of that magnitude means that Irving is serious, not just about getting oil from certain places, but now it can pretty much access oil from anywhere around the world from light to heavy oil,' McTeague said. With Canadians focused on producing more energy within the country, McTeague said the upgrades will help Irving Oil position itself for the future, even if it includes pipelines. 'Our bread and butter really relies on the viability of the oil and gas sector,' said McTeague. 'If we can produce it and sell it to the rest of the world, as we are doing with the United States, as we are doing with eastern Canada, that could only mean a greater potential in terms of turning things around and making Canada that much more attractive for, not just domestic, but also foreign investment.' McTeague said the upgrades could attract more foreign investment and help strengthen the Canadian refinery was established in 1960. With files from CTV's Sean Mott. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
