- Chuck Fipke (Photo: Jeff Bassett/National Post)

- Chuck Fipke (Photo: Jeff Bassett/National Post)

Chuck Fipke is known as one of the pioneers of the Canadian diamond space after his Dia Met Minerals discovered the Ekati Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories in 1991. The Ekati mine which is in the Northwest Terratories was the first surface and underground diamond mine in Canada and went into operation in 1998.  It is now owned by Dominion Diamond Corp.

Mr. Fipke is an explorer who loves the chase of discovering something and proving his theories correct. He is also an avid philanthropist who has given millions to education and medical research.

Today, at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at UBC, it was announced that the diamond legend would be donating $9.1 million to the school for research into Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Fipke is a UBC alumnus and has already given $8.7 million to the school's Okanagan campus which is in Fipke's backyard of Kelowna.

In July, Mr. Fipke sold a 10% royalty he held in the Ekati mine to Dominion for $67 million.

According to the statement, Mr. Fipke made the donation in honor of his friend and former BC Premier, Bill Bennett who suffers from Alzheimer's.

“Yet another great mind stricken by Alzheimer’s,” said Fipke. “I want to do anything I can to help UBC’s researchers find a cure.”

Read: B.C. philanthropist Charles Fipke donates $9.1 million to UBC for Alzheimer's research

Below is a short video on Mr. Fipke: