Producing close to 1,000 individual products across the Maritimes, and exporting around the world, The Shaw Group has come a long way from its modest beginnings in 1861, and is now a thriving Nova Scotia business. With Shaw’s guidance through several expansions and divestitures, The Shaw Group now includes Shaw Brick, Shaw Pipe, Shaw Resources, Shaw Wood, Prestige Homes, Clayton Developments, Shaw & Shaw and Frontline Safety.

Born in Halifax, NS, Allan Shaw was introduced to the family business of clay brick and tile manufacturing at an early age. By the age of 25, he had risen to assume a middle-management role. He continued to take on increasing responsibilities, becoming Vice President in the 1970s, President and CEO of The Shaw Group in 1979, and Chairman and CEO in 1987.

Shaw earned his B.Sc. from Dalhousie University and a M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School. In 2001, he was awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws at Dalhousie University.

Following the tradition established by his grandfather, L.E. Shaw, Allan Shaw has made community involvement and industry leadership a priority throughout his career. In November 2000, Shaw was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for “being instrumental in helping Nova Scotia’s industries and businesses prepare for excellence in the global marketplace”. In September 2001, The Shaw Group was awarded the Canadian Export Award with a special citation for Job Creation Achievement. In December of 2001, Shaw was named Atlantic Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year and his efforts were further recognized when The Shaw Group was named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.

Allan Shaw has also dedicated a considerable amount of his life to promoting, supporting and improving the long-term viability of institutions and organizations in his native Nova Scotia. He chaired the government-driven initiative, Voluntary Planning, for 12 years. In October 1999, Premier John Hamm named the Voluntary Planning’s Fiscal Management Task Force, chaired by Allan Shaw, to advise the government on the Province’s financial situation. Shaw joined the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University in 1984 and served as Chair for eight years. During his tenure, the university’s debt was eliminated and he played a key role in the merger between Dalhousie and the Technical University of Nova Scotia - a challenge that had been attempted several times before. As Campaign Chair of the Metro United Way in 1985, Shaw restructured the campaign to raise more money than in any previous year.

Allan Shaw’s commitment continues today. He is a director of The Bank of Nova Scotia; First Vice-Chair, Atlantic Provinces Economic Council; Director, Harvard Business School Alumni Association Board; Member, Board of Trustees, Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation, Calgary; Director, Canadian Policy Research Networks Inc., Ottawa; and Chair, Board of Directors, GINI (Global Information Networking Institute), Dalhousie University.

Allan C. Shaw, along with John Scrymgeour and Roy Jodrey, was inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame on June 10, 2002.