Norman Esch
Norman Esch was an entrepreneur, business leader and philanthropist. In 2004, he established the Norman Esch Foundation to support engineering students and encourage them in developing the entrepreneurial mindset that shaped his own career. The Foundation has partnered with Waterloo Engineering since 2012.
The Foundation's trustees are David Esch, Larry Barrett, Jim Sharples and Ross McGovern.
In this recording, the Foundation's four trustees share their memories of Norman Esch: his character, his work ethic and the values behind his Foundation.
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
Norman Edward Blake Esch was born in Toronto on May 5, 1918. After serving in the navy during the Second World War, he went to work in lithography.
In 1950, he put his $5,000 in savings into starting his own company. He went on to found and own several printing companies and became a driving force in Toronto's printing industry.
Music was a lifelong interest. He played piano and, for a time, conducted the orchestra at his church.
LEGACY AND INFLUENCE
A business built on people
Those who knew Norman Esch describe a hard worker who was competitive, generous and quick to make decisions. Jim Sharples recalls the long days and nights Norman put in during the company's early years, and a man "dedicated to his business, his customers and his employees."
"He understood that a business is only as strong as the people in it, and he invested in them." - David Esch.
The Norman Esch Foundation
Norman Esch established the Norman Esch Foundation in November 2004 to support engineering students with entrepreneurial ambitions, and more broadly, to help build the talent necessary for Canada’s economic growth. Since his passing in 2010, the Foundation’s trustees — David Esch, Larry Barrett, Ross McGovern and Jim Sharples — have honoured Norman’s legacy and commitment to Canada’s growth with continued investments in education and training.
The Foundation supports engineering students whose training combines technical knowledge with real-world application, with the goal of contributing to Canada's economy and society. Entrepreneurship is central to its mission, but the trustees value the skills and mindset it builds whether students go on to launch ventures or contribute to established organizations.
Partnership with Waterloo Engineering
Since 2012, the Foundation has supported entrepreneurial engineering students at Waterloo through awards at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
"Norm understood and appreciated the critical role engineering played in his company's development. I think the Foundation was his way of paying that forward, by supporting young engineering students and contributing to the growth of Canadian industry." — Larry Barrett.