Wesley Nicol, lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at 9:30 a.m. Convocation ceremony on Saturday, November 4, 2006, “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the governance of Carleton University, the health and spirit of the Ottawa community, and the nurturing of Canadian entrepreneurship.”
Forty years ago, Wes Nicol founded Tartan Homes, a builder of thousands of homes in the Ottawa area and the U.S. He is also a founder and partner in Nicol & Lazier, an Ottawa-based real estate and commercial law firm. During the past 15 years, Mr. Nicol co-founded and served at one time as chairman, president, and now director of AutoSkill International Inc., a recognized leader in software development committed to helping educators provide students with the fundamental literacy skills they need to succeed.
In 1984, Mr. Nicol established the Wesley and Mary Nicol Charitable Foundation. It allocates donations to charitable organizations and sponsors the annual business plan competition run out of Carleton’s Sprott School of Business. The competition, now held in 10 universities across the country, is designed to generate interest in entrepreneurship among university students.
Mr. Nicol has served on the boards of numerous companies and non-profit organizations. He was a longtime member of Carleton’s Board of Governors (1989-98) and in 2001 he received Carleton’s Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year award in recognition of his outstanding entrepreneurial achievement. He is also an inductee to the university’s Alumni Wall of Fame.
Wesley Nicol graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1954. He earned an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School of York University and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1958.