The billionaire businessman James K. Irving, chairman of J.D. Irving Ltd., has died at the age of 96, according to a news release from the company Friday evening.

J.K. Irving died peacefully Friday in Saint John, N.B., the release said.

He was the son of Irving patriarch K.C. Irving, who died in 1992. K.C. was an industrialist who turned a single gas station and sawmill into a family-controlled business conglomerate, making him and his three sons among Canada's wealthiest businessmen.

That business, based in Saint John, includes forestry, energy, agriculture, transportation, retail, food, construction and shipbuilding, its website says. It was founded in 1882 and operates in Canada and the United States. 

J.K. Irving's net worth at the time of his death was $5.5 billion, according to Forbes. 

The Forbes website says the company has planted over a billion trees since 1957, and Irving Woodlands, a division of the company, is the sixth-largest landowner in the United States.

The forestry and paper operations overseen by J.D. Irving are New Brunswick's largest private-sector employers.

Brothers J.K., Arthur and Jack Irving in earlier times. All three have now passed away. (CBC)

J.K. Irving's death marks the end of a generation of Irving brothers who split their father's company into three. 

His brother Arthur died in May at age 93 and had been chairman emeritus of Irving Oil. Their brother Jack Irving died in 2010.

J.K. Irving is predeceased by his wife, Jean Irving, and is survived by four children, Jim, Robert, Mary-Jean and Judith, as well as 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

"New Brunswick has lost a significant presence who left an indelible mark on this province," Premier Blaine Higgs said in an email statement late Friday evening.

Higgs said Irving "built an empire" through his companies and was proud that his company was based in Saint John.

"J.K. leaves an enduring legacy which will live on through the lives of his loved ones and his company's employees across New Brunswick, Canada and internationally," Higgs said.

Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon shared her condolences in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Irving family on the passing of James K. Irving," Reardon said.

"Throughout his life, J.K. made substantial contributions to the City of Saint John. His efforts touched many lives, from his leadership in the business community to his environmental initiatives and dedication to youth."

She also highlighted his contribution to the Partners Assisting Local Schools program in Saint John, which aims to reduce child poverty.

Former New Brunswick premier Shawn Graham said J.K. Irving had a kind and compassionate character and will be remembered for his commitment toward funding community programs, and for helping those living in poverty. 

"It was this passion I witnessed first-hand," Graham wrote in an email to CBC.

Don Darling, former mayor of Saint John, said on X: "Few words can capture the immense contribution his family has made."

In 2015, J.K. Irving was invested as a member of the Order of Canada "for his transformative contributions as a corporate leader who has advanced economic development in rural and urban New Brunswick," according to the Governor General of Canada's website.

"His visionary leadership of J. D. Irving, Limited has helped to strengthen the economy in the Maritimes by creating opportunities for sustainable employment. He has also supported local economies by helping to develop the province's future leaders, by funding programs in business, the environment and forestry at the University of New Brunswick," the website went on to say.

He is also listed in the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

"J.K. Irving continues to follow the basic formula learned from his father: build a great team of employees, invest, produce an excellent product, give superior service, and then reinvest again," reads a summary on the organization's website.

"Throughout his career, J.K. Irving's primary motivation and greatest reward has been the challenge of building best-in-class businesses from the ground up with a team of people who share his passion for detail and quality." 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office also issued a statement on Friday, offering his "deepest condolences" to the Irving family.

Trudeau called J.K. Irving a "symbol of Canadian entrepreneurship and philanthropy" and said he will "always be remembered" for his contributions.

The death of Arthur Irving is causing New Brunswickers who knew him best to pause and reflect on his legacy.

The billionaire businessman who died Monday at the age of 93 served as chair emeritus of Irving Oil Ltd. later in his life after running the company for many years. Based in Saint John, the company owns Canada's largest oil refinery.

"He never lost his enthusiasm for the province, for the business, for the people that were in it," said Premier Blaine Higgs, who worked at Irving Oil for 33 years.

"And he never lost appreciation for everyone that he served as a customer and who worked in the business. And I think that respect was demonstrated in everything that he did."

He said he recalls Irving as having a humble nature and unshakable pride in being a New Brunswicker. 

Premier Blaine Higgs, who worked for Irving Oil for 33 years, says he took inspiration from Irving's leadership style. (Radio-Canada)

"He never felt that he had a big company," Higgs said. "In the size of Irving Oil, compared to the Exxon Mobils, and the Ultramars and Shells, he always felt it was a small, regional company and it could compete in a big world.

"And I think that's the vision that we share as a province, that every day we can work a little harder to be a bigger and better province."

As premier, Higgs said, he applies lessons from Irving's leadership style. 

"Yes, it has had an influence, in the sense that you plan, you look at information and you study it ahead, and you decide on where to go next and the idea is you've got to make a decision and get on with it," Higgs said.

"And you just can't continually talk about something."

Arthur Irving was 'the real deal'

Former Saint John mayor Don Darling described Irving's death as a tremendous loss for New Brunswick but also for his city.

"Mr. Irving was a passionate champion of our region, of our city," Darling said.

"I had a couple of occasions to sit with Mr. Irving when I was mayor. And the very first thing he said was, 'How can I help you, mayor? How can we help the city?'"

Darling echoed the fact that Irving took pride in New Brunswick, both by employing so many locals and keeping his oil refinery and headquarters in Saint John. 

Former Saint John mayor Don Darling says Irving's loss will be felt across the city, province and country. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)

He noted the company is in a time of uncertainty and change, and the death of Irving's death might add to that. 

"I think it really marks a transition that was coming."

Last June, the company announced a strategic internal review that could lead to the sale of the company. 

Darling said it is also a time of great responsibility for the company to navigate its responsibility with climate change, and  Irving would have been involved in it.

Despite the uncertainty over where the company's headed, Darling said the business and those who knew Irving will continue to move forward.

"That's what he would want. I mean, I can almost hear him saying, 'You know what? Chin up, eyes forward, and go make something great happen.'"

Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long said that of the many meetings he had with Irving, he will remember his passion.

"He would always come over and talk and shake your hand and, you know, genuinely ask about you and how you were," Long said.

"He was grounded. He was the real deal and he's really going to be missed."

Lawyer recalls Irving's respect for employees

Former New Brunswick senator John Wallace fondly recalls the 17 years he worked as a lawyer for Irving Oil, collaborating closely with Arthur and his brother Jack Irving.

"Of all the people that have influenced me in my career in law and the Senate, of all of it, my happiest days, my most satisfying days I had were working with Arthur and Jack at Irving," Wallace said.

"Arthur, he could challenge you, you had lots of responsibility, you were expected to perform, but he had that special knack of being able to draw the best out of people."'

 Former New Brunswick Senator John Wallace worked as a lawyer for Irving for 17 years, and fondly recalls the business leader's work ethic. (CBC)

Wallace called Irving a unique leader who was hard-working and led by example.

"When you were having discussions, you weren't leaning back in your chair, you were on the edge of your chair," he said.

The work environment under Irving was not without its challenges and pressure, Wallace recalled, but Irving put a great amount of trust and responsibility on his employees.

"So many times, you found out a lot about yourself when you thought you had achieved all you could, gee, there was more there. Arthur just had that ability to draw it out of people."

Irving Oil, J.D. Irving issue statements

An obituary posted on the Irving Oil website says Irving worked for the company for 73 years. 

"He shook the hand of everyone he met, remembered every name, and had a wonderful ability to make every person he met feel a special connection," the website says.

"On behalf of everyone at Irving Oil, we thank you for the business, Mr. Irving. It's been an honour."

J.D. Irving, the company owned by Arthur's brother, J.K Irving, released a brief statement on his death.

"On behalf of our family and all employees at J.D. Irving, Limited, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Arthur's family, and the entire team at Irving Oil, on Arthur's passing today," J.K. wrote.

In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Irving Oil one of Canada's top employers and Arthur Irving a "symbol of Canadian entrepreneurship and success."

New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy, Beauséjour MP Dominic Leblanc and Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon were among other prominent New Brunswickers to mark Irving's death with statements on social media.