Kelowna entrepreneur weaves into fabric of Okanagan College

Okanagan College Media Release

One of the most well-known entrepreneurs in the B.C. Interior is quickly fashioning a deep and lasting relationship with Okanagan College.

Mel Kotler, the founder of Fabricland, along with his wife Dina have invested in a new pattern for business program development – a Scholar Fund focused on retail management at the College’s Okanagan School of Business.

“I wanted to do something for the College and this seemed to be a good match,” said Kotler, who became an Honorary Fellow of the College earlier this year, and the School of Business’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence. “This new Scholar Fund will enhance the College’s business program, and allow the College to move into new territory.”

Kotler began his career working in wholesale textiles in Montreal before moving out West and launching Fabricland in 1977. By the time he retired in 2001, there were 40 Fabricland stores across Western Canada and another 20 franchises, paving the way for the company to become the largest fashion fabric distributor in the country.

Kotler, whose son attended the Okanagan School of Business, said students require far more than gumption to get ahead today.

“I got my master’s degree on the streets of Montreal, but business is far more complicated than it was back then. They need the kind of specialized training the Okanagan School of Business provides.”

Associate Dean of Business Barry McGillivray said the Mel and Dina Kotler Scholar in Retail Management Fund will give the School of Business the ability to expand its existing retail programs.

“The retail industry has become a highly complex field. It’s easy to purchase stock, it’s another thing all together to understand and appreciate the complexities of such things as inventory and supply chain management,” McGillivray said.

“This will give us the opportunity to appoint a professor who can spend three years building to develop a program framework leading to a comprehensive specialty in retail.”

Kathy Butler, executive director of the Okanagan College Foundation, said Scholar Funds provide another building block towards supporting and expanding the programs offered to students.

“We truly value Mel Kotler’s commitment to our students here, and his clear demonstration of support and vision,” Butler said.

Kotler said he’s honoured to be part of such an important development in the business school. His greatest wish is that it will help the next generation succeed in retail.

“I tell young people I meet that whatever business they’re in, you need to have a passion. If you’re not doing something from the heart, then get out and do something else.”