Regis and Joan Duffy donate over $406,000 to support UPEI library and medical education
Longtime community leaders and philanthropists Regis and Joan Duffy have made a major contribution of over $406,000 to the University of Prince Edward Island. The generous gift is split equally between two key University fundraising priorities: the Robertson Library and the UPEI Faculty of Medicine.
“Joan and I are proud to support UPEI with this contribution to the Faculty of Medicine and the Robertson Library. The University holds a truly special place in our hearts,” said Dr. Duffy. “We believe passionately in both causes and are excited to continue supporting UPEI in ways that will benefit students, researchers, and Islanders for years to come.”
The funds will directly enhance opportunities for UPEI students and faculty. Half of the donation is dedicated to the UPEI Faculty of Medicine fundraising campaign to support the training of future healthcare professionals and advance medical education in the region, while the remaining half supports the Robertson Library "Love Your Library" campaign to modernize academic resources and student learning environments.
Designated spaces within both the UPEI Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre and the Robertson Library will be named in the Duffys’ honour to recognize their generosity and continued dedication to UPEI.
Dr. Regis Duffy has a seven-decade association with UPEI and its predecessor institution Saint Dunstan’s University (SDU). After earning his BA from SDU and his PhD in Chemistry from Fordham, the Kinkora, PEI native taught chemistry at SDU and became UPEI's first Dean of Science. In 1970, he founded Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd., eventually expanding internationally and launching BioVectra before sharing the proceeds with employees and charities upon its sale.
A Member of the Order of Canada, PEI Business Hall of Fame inductee, UPEI honorary degree recipient, and former Charlottetown city councillor, Dr. Duffy chaired UPEI’s Board of Governors from 1996 to 2006. He is the founding chair of the PEI BioAlliance, and served on the advisory committee for the National Research Council’s Institute for Marine Biosciences – Institute for Nutrisciences and Health.
Joan Duffy, a retired teacher and community volunteer, has been a key partner in the family's business and philanthropic efforts. Her civic engagement includes volunteering with local schools, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Canadian Parents for French, the American Field Service Program, and charitable campaigns.
“We are deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Duffy for their extraordinary generosity and enduring commitment to UPEI,” said Dr. Wendy Rodgers, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Their remarkable support of both the Library and Faculty of Medicine campaigns reflects not only their deep roots at the University, but also a profound belief in the transformative power of education, research, and student success.”
To create a scholarship or award at UPEI, please contact Kathy Weatherbie, Senior Development and Donor Relations Officer, at (902) 626-6791 or krweatherbie@upei.ca.
