The Nagle family has deep roots in Saint John, so it was a natural decision to invest in their community through UNB's Integrated Health Initiative.

“My parents, my grandparents, and my great-grandparents were all born and raised in Saint John,” says Michael Nagle, president and CEO of the Bayview Group. The company, started in 1972 by Michael’s father in Saint John, now operates throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and a third generation has now joined in the form of his sons, Christopher and Adam.

When Michael decided to support the IHI through a $125,000 gift toward the new Health and Social Innovation Centre, he knew he wanted to name a space in the building in memory of his parents. The M.T. Nagle Collaborative Space honours a legacy of community­ building dating back to 1972, when his father started the business, while also acknowledging the exceptional care his parents received in their final years from Saint John-area health care workers. “If we can attract more doctors, nurses and health professionals to come to UNB and hopefully stay and work in Atlantic Canada, that’s really what I’m hoping for.” 

Now under construction on a central site overlooking the Saint John campus quad and the Kennebecasis River, the 65,000 square foot, three-and-a-half-storey Health and Social Innovation Centre is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art space for the Integrated Health Initiative’s education, research programs and innovation. The building’s proximity to Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Community College Allied Health, and the Saint John Regional Hospital will facilitate UNB’s bold vision for transforming health care in New Brunswick and beyond.

“I wanted to do something for the Maritime provinces because I believe that all of Atlantic Canada benefits from the Integrated Health Initiative. Contributing to this is really a way of giving back to Atlantic Canada. It’s just a small token of appreciation, to say we appreciate what UNB does and what health professionals do.”

Photo caption: Michael Nagle (centre) with his sons Adam (left) and Christopher (right)