John Robinson Memorial Award in Commerce

Award descriptionAwards totalling $3,400 have been made available through an endowment established by gifts from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Jim J. McGuigan, colleagues, friends and family in memory of John Robinson (1955-2019), for Bachelor of Commerce students specializing in Accounting or Finance who have achieved good academic standing and demonstrated community involvement, volunteerism or participation in athletics. John (B.Com. 1978) grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he played soccer and basketball at Gladstone Secondary School. After graduating from UBC, he joined PwC as an accountant, where he stayed for thirty- six years. He earned his Chartered Accountant designation in 1981, and in 1991 became a Tax Partner with PwC. John specialized in Canadian corporate tax planning, international tax planning and merger, acquisition and divestiture structuring. He was the Head of PwCs British Columbia Corporate Tax Mergers and Acquisitions practice and served as a lecturer at PwCs national tax conferences. John was well-regarded by his colleagues for his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, sense of humour, good-natured disposition, and success in identifying and mentoring young accountants. John was also well respected in his community for coaching his son and daughters sports teams and continuing to coach at their high school long after they had graduated. The awards are made on the recommendation of the UBC Sauder School of Business.