Rowland Frazee
Encyclopedia
Rowland Cardwell Frazee, (12 May 1921 – July 29, 2007) was a Canadian
banker and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Bank of Canada
from 1979 to 1986.
Born in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
, at age five, the family moved to St. Stephen, New Brunswick
where his father had been appointed bank manager. At age eighteen, Rowland Frazee went to work as a clerk at his father's branch but following the outbreak of World War II
he enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 serving overseas with the Carleton and York Regiment
, First Canadian Infantry Division, with whom he participated in the July, 1943 allied landings in Sicily. Wounded on three separate occasions, Frazee distinguished himself in the Italian campaign and in northwest Europe. At the time of his decommissioning in 1945 he held the rank of Major
.
After the war Frazee studied at Dalhousie University
in Halifax where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
degree in 1948. Resuming his banking career, he rose to become the Royal Bank's President in 1977 and assumed the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1980. He retired from the bank on May 31, 1986, but remained a member of the Board of Directors until 1992.
In 1985, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Companion in 1991. In 2001, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame.
His son, Stephen Frazee, is a successful Toronto real estate broker and his daughter, Catherine Frazee
, a former chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission
, is a retired Professor of Distinction at the Ryerson University School of Disability Studies. Frazee's granddaughter, Laura Frazee, graduated from Dalhousie University
in 2008 and currently works for the University.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
banker and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
from 1979 to 1986.
Born in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, at age five, the family moved to St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
where his father had been appointed bank manager. At age eighteen, Rowland Frazee went to work as a clerk at his father's branch but following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 serving overseas with the Carleton and York Regiment
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in New Brunswick. It consists of two battalions, both of which are part of 37 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment as it is now, was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of the Carleton and York Regiment,...
, First Canadian Infantry Division, with whom he participated in the July, 1943 allied landings in Sicily. Wounded on three separate occasions, Frazee distinguished himself in the Italian campaign and in northwest Europe. At the time of his decommissioning in 1945 he held the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
After the war Frazee studied at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
degree in 1948. Resuming his banking career, he rose to become the Royal Bank's President in 1977 and assumed the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1980. He retired from the bank on May 31, 1986, but remained a member of the Board of Directors until 1992.
In 1985, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 1991. In 2001, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame.
His son, Stephen Frazee, is a successful Toronto real estate broker and his daughter, Catherine Frazee
Catherine Frazee
Catherine Frazee is a Canadian educator, activist, researcher, poet and writer who currently serves as a Professor of Distinction in the Disability Studies program at Ryerson University as well as a Co-director of Ryerson University's Institute for Disability Studies Research and Education...
, a former chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission
Ontario Human Rights Commission
The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in the Canadian province of Ontario on March 29, 1961 to administer the Ontario Human Rights Code...
, is a retired Professor of Distinction at the Ryerson University School of Disability Studies. Frazee's granddaughter, Laura Frazee, graduated from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in 2008 and currently works for the University.
External links
- Rowland Cardwell Frazee at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...