Landmark investment will strengthen the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at a moment that calls for a new kind of business leadership
The largest gift ever made to a Canadian business school marks a transformative moment for business education in Canada.
The $51-million investment in the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics from Stu and Kim Lang’s Angel Gabriel Foundation is the largest in the University of Guelph’s history and reflects a shared belief that business can and must be a force for good.
At a moment when Canada is looking to strengthen its competitiveness in an unpredictable world, ethical leadership has the potential to become a defining advantage. With its distinct focus on business as a catalyst for positive impact, LANG is cultivating leaders who can earn trust, navigate complexity and turn commercial success into lasting societal value. More than just its mission, “Business as a Force for Good®” is the philosophy built into the foundation of LANG and reflected in its teaching and the actions of its students, faculty and alumni.
This transformational gift will accelerate LANG’s evolution, laying the groundwork for facilities expansion and launching innovative work experience programs. More importantly, it will help develop professionals who are equipped to lead responsibly in a world that demands both competitiveness and conscience.
“This is a defining moment for the University of Guelph and for business education in Canada,” says Dr. Rene Van Acker, U of G president and vice-chancellor. “Stu and Kim Lang’s extraordinary generosity will expand what is possible for our students, preparing them to think boldly, lead responsibly and make a meaningful impact in the world. This gift speaks to the defining power of philanthropy and to what can be achieved when donors invest in this University.”
Education that shapes careers and character
Over the years, Stu and Kim Lang have supported the University of Guelph with more than $100 million in donations, creating scholarships, building athletics facilities and supporting the Honey Bee Research Centre. They have been key donors to the Ontario Veterinary College, helping support the expansion of veterinary education through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, and the Community Healthcare Partnership Program, which removes barriers to health care for companion animals in under-resourced communities.
In 2019, their gift of $21 million was recognized with the renaming of the University’s business school to the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics in honour of Stu Lang’s late father, a visionary entrepreneur and founder of CCL Industries, one of Canada’s largest global companies.
This latest gift reflects Stu and Kim Lang’s belief that education can be a catalyst for growth, leadership and societal progress.
“We believe in the power of education to shape not just careers, but character,” Stu Lang says. “This is about more than a school; it is about the kind of leaders we need in the world. LANG represents a vision of business that aligns with our values, prioritizing responsibility, innovation and long-term impact that extends beyond any one institution. We are proud to support LANG’s continued growth.”
New facilities, new programs
This gift will fund the launch of LANG GoodWorks®, an innovative learning program that will put the school’s values into action. Through paid summer internships in the charitable and non-profit sectors, students will find placements and opportunities that align with their values and develop their social impact potential.
As part of the facilities expansion, a new three-storey student-focused building will serve as a “campus within a campus,” with modern classrooms for in-person and hybrid learning, more than 60 study/breakout rooms, an event space, room for student clubs, a food hall to bring students together, and a prominent home for the Business Career Development Centre.
It will also include a lecture hall for more than 500 students, a “case corridor” with a case competition theatre and classrooms, the LANG GoodWorks® office and a dedicated finance teaching and research lab that will house the Guelph Student Investment Council.
With 98% of LANG students engaging in experiential learning last year and co-op streams offered across all majors, the new facilities will build an environment that extends opportunities for students to learn by doing.
This experiential approach is reinforced by a strong curricular focus on responsible leadership. LANG offers nearly three dozen courses that support responsible management education and sustainable development goals, and a unique first-year case competition—the Great Ethical Dilemma—lets students apply what they’ve learned early in their studies.
LANG student Leah Gawza says the school is special because it challenges students to think bigger about complex problems throughout their degree, while being surrounded with a close-knit community that is committed to seeing students succeed. “You’re constantly stretched yet fully supported by peers and faculty. It’s that balance of growth and support that makes LANG stand out.”
This gift will ensure the school continues to attract the brightest students, exceptional faculty and collaborative industry partners from across Canada and the world.
“At LANG, we believe business can and must be a force for good, and this gift accelerates our ability to bring that to life,” says Dr. Sara Mann, dean of LANG. “It allows us to deepen our impact, expand our reach, and continue developing leaders who are committed to integrity and sustainability.”
Learn more about LANG’s undergraduate and graduate programs at the Business Starts Here website.
About the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics is an AACSB-accredited school and a UN PRME Champion, reflecting its high standards and excellence in its academics, community engagement and impactful research.
LANG’s Bachelor of Commerce features nine majors, including Accounting; Government, Economics & Management; Food and Agricultural Business; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Marketing Management; Real Estate; management economics and finance; Sport & Event Management; management.
Students can complete the Leadership Certificate and register in minors in accounting; business data analytics; economics; entrepreneurship; human resources; international business; marketing; project management; sport and event management; and sustainable business.
LANG also offers many graduate programs including master’s degrees in business administration; innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship; leadership; financial economics; marketing and consumer studies; project management; real estate; supply chain management; and tourism and hospitality.