Arthur Labatt - Definition and Overview

Arthur Labatt (born 1934) is a great-grandson of John Labatt, founder of the Labatt brewery. He is currently the chancellor of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

Born in London, Labatt studied business at UWO for one year in 1953, and also briefly studied at McGill University, without graduating from either university. He was expected to take over Labatt but by the time he was an adult the business had been sold outside of the family. Instead, he became an accountant and later worked in the securities industry and investment management. He founded Trimark Investment Management, a mutual fund company, in 1981.

Labatt became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996. In 2003 he donated $1 million to King's University College at UWO, which was used to build Elizabeth A. (Bessie) Labatt Hall, named after his mother. He succeeded Eleanor Clitheroe as chancellor of UWO on October 28, 2004.