Additionally, Irving served as the chancellor of Acadia University between 1996 and 2010, where he previously attended before dropping out to pursue the family-owned industry.

[2] His mother, Harriet Lila Irving (née MacNarin), was from Galloway in Kent County.

[4] He was later temporarily enrolled at Acadia University,[2] of which he later served as chancellor between 1996 and 2010,[5] though he later dropped out to pursue work in the family industry.

[6] Irving spent over three decades on Ducks Unlimited Canada's board of directors,[8] and was president from 1986 to1987.

[13][14] In 2012, in partnership with Acadia University and Ducks Unlimited Canada, Irving established the Beaubassin Research Station in Aulac.

[20] The following year, both Irving and his wife received honorary Doctor of Letters degrees by the University of New Brunswick.