Across generations, the Hunter family has helped shape Calgary's business and innovation landscape through a blend of entrepreneurial thinking, investment and philanthropy.
It's a legacy of impact that has now earned the family recognition as the 2026 recipient of the Inspiring Business Leader Award.
From left: Adam Hunter, Derrick Hunter and Doug Hunter Marnie Burkhart
"I am so pleased this year's Inspiring Business Leader Award is going to the Hunter family, whose multi-generational support of innovative, community-focused initiatives has made a profound impact, not only at the Haskayne School of Business, but in Calgary and beyond," says Dr. Gina Grandy, PhD, dean of the Haskayne School.
For the Hunters, what others might view as risk has long been seen as opportunity a mindset that traces back to Doug, Hon. LLD'19, and Diane Hunter, BA'69, MA'71, Hon. LLD'19. From early ventures in the oilpatch to public service and community leadership, the couple built their careers on the belief that progress depends on people willing to take chances and build something new.
Their son, Derrick Hunter, MBA'90, grew up surrounded by that perspective.
"My parents had pretty humble beginnings, but they took a lot of risks that most people would never take. That always made me more open to seeing opportunities," he says.
Today, that philosophy continues to guide the family's work through Bluesky Equities, a privately held investment firm that has evolved into a three-generation family enterprise with Doug as chairman, Derrick as president and CEO, and grandson, Adam, as an investment associate.
Described by Derrick as a "privately owned, unconstrained, absolute-return-focused investment management company," Bluesky invests broadly across sectors and asset classes, backing founders and opportunities at multiple stages. It's a practice Doug pursued for decades before the firm's creation.
"Not only are the Hunters known for their own entrepreneurial mindset, but they are also important supporters of Calgary's economic diversification through their investments in startups and scaleups and the mentorship of the founders behind these enterprises," says former UCalgary Chancellor Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
Bluesky has become particularly visible within the Western Canadian innovation ecosystem, where it has invested in more than 100 seed-stage businesses since 2012.
"We've always approached it like that, when you want to encourage economic opportunity, there's really only one way to do it and that's through supporting entrepreneurs and founders at every stage," says Derrick, who has also been previously recognized as Canadian Angel Investor of the Year and Technology Investor of the Year.
Rooted in entrepreneurialism
That same entrepreneurial mindset also shapes how the family approaches philanthropy. Through the Hunter Family Foundation, the Hunters direct millions of dollars annually to initiatives designed to tackle complex social challenges, not through short-term solutions, but by supporting ideas capable of creating lasting change.
Doug, who established the foundation in 1984 with an initial $200,000 contribution inspired by Diane, describes the approach as making "big bets" that are chosen with intention, aimed at driving systemic change.
"We want to encourage more entrepreneurship. Everything starts from there. And so, wherever we see an opportunity like that, we support it," says Doug, whose family recently received the 2025 Outstanding Philanthropic Family Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Calgary and Area Chapter.
Few places have felt that impact more than the University of Calgary. In 2012, the family made a visionary investment in the Haskayne School that led to the establishment of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. They later made a transformative $40-million contribution to establish the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and startups.
The Foundation has supported a range of additional initiatives aimed at strengthening the university's entrepreneurial pipeline, including UCEED, The Real Deal, Management Advisory Council, and scholarships such as the John (Jack) H. Nodwell Entrepreneurial Engineering Memorial Scholarship.
Derrick has further stepped up his involvement as one of 16 fellows with Creative Destruction Lab - Rockies where he mentors early stage science and technology startups and advises on strategy, growth and commercialization across industries such as agri-food, defence and energy.
A legacy business
For Doug, the story is more than business success or philanthropy, alone. It's about continuity. He takes particular pride in seeing the family enterprise enter its third generation, with Adam now working as an associate at Bluesky and serving as a trustee with the Foundation.
For Adam, that legacy comes with both pride and responsibility.
"With respect to what they have done, donating half their wealth to the foundation ... that's inspiring," says Adam, who spent several years working in private banking before joining the firm. "Growing the business, professionalizing the organization, even just the thought of building a family legacy company over time, that inspires me.
"And our family, the opportunity that we have to help people to follow dreams dreams that would be hard to do if they didn't have that support that's something I'm really proud to be part of."
About the award
Established in 1993, the Inspiring Business Leader Award, co-presented by the Haskayne School of Business and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, recognizes outstanding Calgary leaders who exemplify purpose-driven leadership and significant community impact alongside their professional success.
This year's celebration takes place June 17 at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre.
Proceeds from the Inspiring Business Leader Award support a scholarship endowment for Haskayne School of Business students. Since its launch in 2008, nearly $500,000 in scholarships has been awarded to more than 100 aspiring business leaders. The 2025 recipients are Rita Boury, Ayushi Choudhary, Goldia Guo, Sarah Hall, Taha Malik and Oto Uffort.
Proceeds also support the Jim Dewald Emerging Leaders Scholarship, which funds Chamber memberships for post-secondary students. More than 250 memberships have been awarded over the past two years.
To learn more about the 2026 Inspiring Business Leader Award celebration and to purchase a table, visit the website.
