Arthur Lundrigan

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Arthur Raymond Lundrigan (1922–2000) was a Canadian businessman from Newfoundland and Labrador who helped develop major projects like the Bay d’Espoir hydroelectric plant, the Churchill Falls Generating Station, and the Come By Chance refinery.

He was born in Blaketown, NL, to William J. and Naomi Lundrigan. In 1936, he left school to work at his father’s sawmill. The family business grew during World War II and became William J. Lundrigan Limited in 1947. After Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, the company expanded into construction and manufacturing, paving roads, building the Trans-Canada Highway in Newfoundland, and running gypsum wallboard and cement plants, along with many buildings, schools, and hospitals across Atlantic Canada. The business grew to operate across Canada and around the world and became one of Newfoundland’s largest employers.

Arthur rose through the company and became President and Chief Executive Officer after a 1966 reorganization, and then Chairman in 1983, with his brother Harold taking over as CEO. The company was renamed several times and, by 1987, was known as Lundrigans-Comstock Limited. It employed about 1,200 people in Newfoundland and 2,600 across Canada, with revenues over $350 million.

Beyond Lundrigans, Arthur helped Newfoundland in many ways. He founded the Joseph R. Smallwood Heritage Foundation, chaired North Star Cement, and led Newfoundland Steel. He served on boards including the Bank of Montreal, Ultramar, Sobeys, NewTel, Humber Valley Broadcasting, and Maritime Life. He also advised on trade and economic issues for the government.

Arthur was a longtime adviser to Premier Joseph Smallwood. In 1969 there was talk he might succeed Smallwood, which was controversial. A 1972 Royal Commission investigated liquor rents and found that Arthur, along with Smallwood and Oliver Vardy, were shareholders in a company renting buildings to the liquor commission; no charges were filed.

He received honorary degrees from Memorial University (1981) and Dalhousie University (1984) and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1991 for building a large Newfoundland company and for philanthropy, including support for Memorial University and Newfoundland history projects. In 2000, he and his brother Harold were inducted into the Junior Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame.