The Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society was established in 2004 as a result of a contribution made to the University of B.C. by Irving K. Barber, a philanthropist and founder of Slocan Forest Products Ltd.
The Province of British Columbia matched Mr. Barber’s $15 million contribution, and put it into an endowment for student scholarships.
As of the end of 2007, the Government of B.C. has granted the Society $38 million for scholarship program endowment funds.