Canada's Richest People 2015: The Names Behind the Biggest Donations

Renamed: July 2007

Donation: $11 million

One of the country’s most connected business leaders, Murray Edwards made his billions in the Alberta oil industry. The political insider has friends from coast to coast, and organized a major fundraiser for British Columbia Christy Clark during last year’s provincial election. But his most significant charitable commitments have come closer to home, at the Saskatoon school where Edwards studied.

Edwards credits the commercial savvy he cultivated during his undergraduate days for his success. "The business education I received at the University of Saskatchewan was invaluable in my own career path," he said in a statement at the time of his donation to U of S. "I am confident it will be just as valuable for future Edwards' students at the University of Saskatchewan for many years to come.

The chair of Canadian Natural Resources also gifted $500,000 to the University of Calgary in 2011 to fund the construction of the N. Murray Edwards Finance and Trading Lab at the Haskayne School of Business.

MORE: See where Murray Edwards ranks on the list of The 25 Wealthiest Canadians »