Calgary Herald November 5, 2025
Daniel Gonzalez
A donation from Calgary philanthropists that will support students for decades was announced during Bow Valley College’s convocation ceremony on Wednesday [November 5]. A special announcement was made to honour the gift made by Esmail and Safana Bharwani.
The donation of an undisclosed amount will create a new endowment for student awards and establish the Esmail Bharwani Leadership Lecture Series, alongside renaming the college’s School of Arts and Sciences to the Bharwani School of Arts and Sciences.
At the ceremony in the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Bow Valley College also bestowed Esmail with an honorary diploma as a champion of continuing education.
Originally from Tanzania, Bharwani said he was forced to drop out of school in Grade 8 and did not have the chance to finish his early education. “There was no school in our country to continue on, and also financially my parents could not afford to send me away,” Bharwani said. “I had been without education for many years. It was only when I turned 25 or so that I got a chance to go to England and finish my accounting designation. “After that, I’ve been doing further studies every year, and at the age of 65 before I became a lawyer.”
Everyone should have a chance for education says Calgary philanthropist
The now-retired tax lawyer and chartered professional accountant said he provided endowments to several educational institutions for many years, but said his contribution to Bow Valley is special. “It wraps up all the earlier work I’ve done, in the sense that now I’ve given endowments for helping students complete their studies in different disciplinary areas. But I also found that now the time has come for me to conclude this, or maybe close a gap that allows students to enter university,” he said. “What I’m noticing of late is that universities don’t have enough rooms for them to get in . . . but there has to be a way to get them the university courses so that they continue with it in the future and get it done, or at least get some diplomas or certificates.”
Bharwani said no student should be left without an education. “I believe that if society is educated, we will live in a much more peaceful world, people will have their quality of life improved and have a comfortable life — not only for themselves, but for their relatives and their dependents,” he said. “They’ll also be able to help others do what I’m doing, and that is my hope — that that long-term effect would be there. That really is the goal.”
Leah Wack, dean of Bow Valley College’s School of Community Studies and the School of Arts and Sciences, said the donation will mean a lot for incoming students. “Particularly in the way of student awards for our arts and science students, and just creating more accessible opportunities for students in general,” Wack said. On a personal level, Wack said the gift demonstrates Bharwani’s desire to help make education accessible to everyone.
“I think that really speaks to his values and how he feels about education in general — accessibility and supporting learners — and so as a philanthropist, I really value his support,” Wack said.
Source: Calgary Herald
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