Honouring the legacy of J.C. (Jack) Anderson: Visionary and friend to the University of Calgary

University of Calgary students, faculty and staff join the community in mourning the loss of J.C. (Jack) Anderson, a visionary Albertan whose generosity, foresight and deep-rooted passion for the land have left an indelible mark on the province and our university. Anderson passed away on April 19, 2025, at the age of 97.

Known for his sharp business acumen, Anderson preferred to live a private life, pursuing his passion for ranching well into his 90s. Among his many contributions is the unprecedented donation of his family’s 19,000-acre, 1,000-head cattle operation, gifted to the University of Calgary in 2018 by Anderson and his daughter, Wynne Chisholm, BA’79.

Valued at $44 million, W.A. Ranches stands as the largest ranch-donation gift (monetary) to a  North American university and the largest gift of ranch acres to a university in Canada. 

“Jack Anderson was a true Alberta icon. A brilliant entrepreneur who was equally driven to preserve the land, care for animals and shape the future of the province,” says UCalgary President Ed McCauley. 

“We are deeply honoured that the University of Calgary was chosen by Jack and Wynne to steward W.A. Ranches, ensuring his legacy lives on through every student and researcher who engages with this unique, real-world facility.”

From success in oil and return to ranching

Anderson's journey as a rancher began shortly after high school, but he set his sights on the oil and gas industry, building a successful career that would eventually allow him to return to his first love: cattle.

In 2005, at the age of 77, Anderson and Chisholm founded W.A. Ranches northwest of Calgary. Starting with just over 100 head of cattle, the father-daughter team expanded their commercial cow-and-calf operation more than tenfold, focusing on implementing new technology and practices to find cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways to improve their cattle and grass. 

Reflecting on their decision to donate the ranch, Chisholm once remarked, “It was important to us that we would still be allowed to come onto the ranch, particularly at calving time, and see the animals. My dad wanted to be able to see what’s happening.”

W.A. Ranches: A living lab

More than just a working ranch, W.A. Ranches serves as a living lab, providing a real-world training environment for students and researchers, and it continues to shape the future of education and research in animal agriculture, with an emphasis on cattle health and animal welfare. 

It stands as a testament to Anderson’s vision of building a better future for Alberta’s agriculture community.

“Jack and Wynne brought a bold vision to both the ranch and their philanthropy and carrying that vision forward is a responsibility we take to heart,” says Andrea Morris, UCalgary’s vice-president of Development and Alumni. 

“Their gift was truly transformational, and its value extends far beyond the land and facilities and cattle. It’s a gift of possibility, of learning and connection to the land, and it’s an opportunity to play an even greater role in Alberta’s growth and prosperity. We’re grateful to continue their legacy and help shape the future of agriculture and animal welfare.”

Support for cattle-health research

Anderson’s profound love for the land and animals inspired his philanthropy. Prior to donating the ranch, he and Chisholm established the Anderson-Chisholm Chair in Animal Care and Welfare at UCalgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) in 2014. 

This pioneering initiative set new standards in the field and underscored their dedication to making a meaningful impact. 

“Jack’s support for cattle-health research has left a lasting imprint on Alberta’s cattle industry and helped UCVM become a leader in bovine health,” says Dean Renate Weller. “Every breakthrough, fuelled by his philanthropy, improves the health and welfare of animals across Alberta and beyond.”

It was of great importance for Anderson and Chisholm that there be a focus on how to “make the animals' lives worth living and still have an animal production system,” Chisholm told CBC News in 2018, when the ranch donation was announced. “Anything that improves the animals’ lives,” she said, is of interest to her and her father. 

His generosity was an inspiration

As a professor in animal behaviour and welfare, Dr. Ed Pajor, PhD, shared their interest and worked closely with Anderson and Chisholm both during the transition of the ranch and as current director of W.A. Ranches.

“Jack understood that meaningful change in animal welfare starts with education,” says Pajor, who also holds the Anderson-Chisholm Chair in Animal Care and Welfare. 

“One of the things we both loved was seeing the calves with their moms, a simple, but powerful reminder of the connection we share with the animals we care for. 

“His vision and generosity are an inspiration — to students, researchers and everyone who sets foot on this land — and will endure for generations to come.”