Albert D. Cohen
Encyclopedia
Albert Diamond Cohen, was a Canadian
entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist
, and Officer of the Order of Canada
. He was Chairman, Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Gendis Inc. (www.gendis.ca), a Toronto Stock Exchange
listed Canadian real estate and investment company headquartered in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
. At one time, Gendis held a 51% stake in Sony of Canada
and owned the SAAN Stores
retail chain. He was married to Irena Cohen from 1953 until his death, and they had three children: Anthony, James, and Anna-Lisa. He was the author of several books: The Entrepreneurs: The Story of Gendis Inc...The Triangle of Success: The Gendis/Saan Story...The Story of SAAN...and...I.D.E.A. His latest and last book, published in the Fall of 2010 was titled "Reminiscences of an Entrepreneur - How Sony came to Canada and then to the World in l955". His interest and talent for writing stemmed out from his close personal friendship with the late British author Ian Fleming
. He passed away peacefully at the age of 97 years, 10 months, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
as the son of Alexander and Rose (Diamond) Cohen, and he served with the Royal Canadian Navy
from 1942 to 1945.
Albert's five brothers, John, Harry B. Cohen
, Morley Cohen
, Samuel N. Cohen
, and Joseph H. Cohen
set up a small retail store and, by 1939, the family had scraped together enough monies to create General Distributors Ltd., a wholesale import firm.
, Massachusetts
in 1955 whereby Gendis continued to distribute the Papermate pen in Canada until 1962 when Gillette fully took over. Then, in 1955, Cohen accomplished feat of landing the Canadian distribution rights to Sony
products. Spotting an ad in a Japanese newspaper seeking a distributor for a new portable transistor radio
, Cohen met with Sony co-founder, Akio Morita
. On the basis of a handshake deal, Cohen cemented a partnership that would last for decades. The Cohen brothers scattered across Canada in order to manage the national business, each brother establishing himself in a major city: Morley (Montreal
), John (Toronto
), Joe (Vancouver
), Harry (Calgary
), and both Sam and Albert setting up headquarters (Winnipeg
). Gendis' stake in Sony of Canada was sold back to Sony
Corporation of Tokyo
, Japan
in 1995 for $207,000,000. This was a crowning achievement for Albert, the man who launched Sony's first national export business. In recognition of his forty year association with Sony, Albert received the Sony Lifetime Achievement Award in Tokyo in 2000.
and retailing
. Over the years, they established several hundred SAAN Stores
and Metropolitan junior department stores in all provinces of Canada. The explosive growth of the SAAN Stores
chain was guided by Samuel N. Cohen
while Metropolitan's expansion was overseen by Morley Cohen
. By 1983, the company was a diversified Canadian conglomerate, renamed Gendis. SAAN Stores
was eventually sold in 2004 to a Toronto
based investor group and sold again in 2008 to Genuity Capital, owner of The Bargain! Shop
discount chain.
At one point, it is said the Cohen brothers owned downtown real estate in almost every major Canadian city. Albert began to accumulate real estate in downtown Winnipeg starting in the early 1960s and Gendis finally sold its city block of property to Manitoba Hydro
in 2003 for $16.2 million to allow for construction of the new Manitoba Hydro headquarters which officially opened in September 2009.
; Fort Chicago Energy Partners L.P.
; and Tundra Oil & Gas.
in 2004 during the sale of the retail chain.
, Manitoba Theatre Centre
, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
, Manitoba Opera
, and various Winnipeg hospitals.
Several of his notable accomplishments include:
While Cohen has collected an array of awards for business achievements and community service during his life, he was particularly proud of the fact that he holds three Canadian speed skating
records in Master 5 Class (over 70 age category), as per the Ottawa
Amateur Speedskating Association.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, and Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He was Chairman, Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Gendis Inc. (www.gendis.ca), a Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...
listed Canadian real estate and investment company headquartered in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. At one time, Gendis held a 51% stake in Sony of Canada
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and owned the SAAN Stores
SAAN Stores
SAAN was a chain of discount department stores in Canada that began in Winnipeg, Manitoba.SAAN had more than 350 stores in the late 1990s, but by May 2005, after it emerged from bankruptcy protection, this was reduced to 142 outlets in a number of communities across Canada...
retail chain. He was married to Irena Cohen from 1953 until his death, and they had three children: Anthony, James, and Anna-Lisa. He was the author of several books: The Entrepreneurs: The Story of Gendis Inc...The Triangle of Success: The Gendis/Saan Story...The Story of SAAN...and...I.D.E.A. His latest and last book, published in the Fall of 2010 was titled "Reminiscences of an Entrepreneur - How Sony came to Canada and then to the World in l955". His interest and talent for writing stemmed out from his close personal friendship with the late British author Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
. He passed away peacefully at the age of 97 years, 10 months, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Background
Cohen came from a poor immigrant family of eight, born in Winnipeg, ManitobaWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
as the son of Alexander and Rose (Diamond) Cohen, and he served with the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
from 1942 to 1945.
Albert's five brothers, John, Harry B. Cohen
Harry B. Cohen
Harry B. Cohen, CM, LL.D., born in Winnipeg, Manitoba , was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada...
, Morley Cohen
Morley Cohen
Morley Mitchell Cohen, CM CQ, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba , was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1940-1945. He is survived by his widow, Rita Lillian Cohen , and his two daughters: ...
, Samuel N. Cohen
Samuel N. Cohen
Samuel N. Cohen, CM, LL.D., was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada. He is survived by his widow, Leatrice Cohen ; his two sons ; and his daughter Sheri.- Biography:He was born in 1918 to Alexander Cohen and Rose Diamond.Sam's five...
, and Joseph H. Cohen
Joseph H. Cohen
Joseph H. Cohen, CM, LL.D., born in Winnipeg, Manitoba , was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada...
set up a small retail store and, by 1939, the family had scraped together enough monies to create General Distributors Ltd., a wholesale import firm.
Sony and the Cohen Brothers
By 1950, General Distributors sales amounted to $1 million. In 1952, the company obtained exclusive Canadian rights for Paper Mate pens. Albert negotiated the sale of Papermate in Canada to the Gillette (brand) Company of BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1955 whereby Gendis continued to distribute the Papermate pen in Canada until 1962 when Gillette fully took over. Then, in 1955, Cohen accomplished feat of landing the Canadian distribution rights to Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
products. Spotting an ad in a Japanese newspaper seeking a distributor for a new portable transistor radio
Transistor radio
A transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver using transistor-based circuitry. Following their development in 1954 they became the most popular electronic communication device in history, with billions manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s...
, Cohen met with Sony co-founder, Akio Morita
Akio Morita
Akio Morita KBE was a Japanese businessman and co-founder of Sony Corporation along with Masaru Ibuka.-Early life:...
. On the basis of a handshake deal, Cohen cemented a partnership that would last for decades. The Cohen brothers scattered across Canada in order to manage the national business, each brother establishing himself in a major city: Morley (Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
), John (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
), Joe (Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
), Harry (Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
), and both Sam and Albert setting up headquarters (Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
). Gendis' stake in Sony of Canada was sold back to Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Corporation of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1995 for $207,000,000. This was a crowning achievement for Albert, the man who launched Sony's first national export business. In recognition of his forty year association with Sony, Albert received the Sony Lifetime Achievement Award in Tokyo in 2000.
SAAN, Metropolitan, real estate, and the Cohen Brothers
The six brothers expanded into real estateReal estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and retailing
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
. Over the years, they established several hundred SAAN Stores
SAAN Stores
SAAN was a chain of discount department stores in Canada that began in Winnipeg, Manitoba.SAAN had more than 350 stores in the late 1990s, but by May 2005, after it emerged from bankruptcy protection, this was reduced to 142 outlets in a number of communities across Canada...
and Metropolitan junior department stores in all provinces of Canada. The explosive growth of the SAAN Stores
SAAN Stores
SAAN was a chain of discount department stores in Canada that began in Winnipeg, Manitoba.SAAN had more than 350 stores in the late 1990s, but by May 2005, after it emerged from bankruptcy protection, this was reduced to 142 outlets in a number of communities across Canada...
chain was guided by Samuel N. Cohen
Samuel N. Cohen
Samuel N. Cohen, CM, LL.D., was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada. He is survived by his widow, Leatrice Cohen ; his two sons ; and his daughter Sheri.- Biography:He was born in 1918 to Alexander Cohen and Rose Diamond.Sam's five...
while Metropolitan's expansion was overseen by Morley Cohen
Morley Cohen
Morley Mitchell Cohen, CM CQ, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba , was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1940-1945. He is survived by his widow, Rita Lillian Cohen , and his two daughters: ...
. By 1983, the company was a diversified Canadian conglomerate, renamed Gendis. SAAN Stores
SAAN Stores
SAAN was a chain of discount department stores in Canada that began in Winnipeg, Manitoba.SAAN had more than 350 stores in the late 1990s, but by May 2005, after it emerged from bankruptcy protection, this was reduced to 142 outlets in a number of communities across Canada...
was eventually sold in 2004 to a Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
based investor group and sold again in 2008 to Genuity Capital, owner of The Bargain! Shop
The Bargain! Shop
The Bargain! Shop, also known as TB!S, is a discount variety store chain operating in all Anglophone provinces in Canada.The Bargain! Shop originated as a closeout store division of Woolworth Canada, developed out of some of the bankrupt assets of Bargain Harold's in 1991...
discount chain.
At one point, it is said the Cohen brothers owned downtown real estate in almost every major Canadian city. Albert began to accumulate real estate in downtown Winnipeg starting in the early 1960s and Gendis finally sold its city block of property to Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
in 2003 for $16.2 million to allow for construction of the new Manitoba Hydro headquarters which officially opened in September 2009.
Oil & Gas, and the Cohen Brothers
Under Albert's guidance, the six brothers participated in various joint ventures and/or owned several minority interests in oil & gas exploration, development, and distribution. The companies included Tripet Resources; Chauvco Resources; Pioneer Natural ResourcesPioneer Natural Resources
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. is an Irving, Texas-based oil and gas company. The company was created in 1997 by the merger of Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company and MESA Inc. In 2004, Pioneer Natural Resources merged with Evergreen Resources, Inc. The company has approximately 1700 employees...
; Fort Chicago Energy Partners L.P.
Fort Chicago Energy Partners
Veresen Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta-based energy infrastructure company with three main lines of business: Pipelines, Natural Gas and Power Generation.-Pipelines:...
; and Tundra Oil & Gas.
Gendis Today
Through a variety of investment companies, the Cohen family is the largest shareholder of Gendis Inc., as well as major shareholders of Veresen Inc.,(TSX-listed), and privately held OSUM Oilsands Corporation, both of Calgary, Alberta. James Cohen (Albert's youngest son) is the President and CEO of Gendis Inc., President of Gendis Realty, and served as interim President and Chief Operating Officer of SAAN StoresSAAN Stores
SAAN was a chain of discount department stores in Canada that began in Winnipeg, Manitoba.SAAN had more than 350 stores in the late 1990s, but by May 2005, after it emerged from bankruptcy protection, this was reduced to 142 outlets in a number of communities across Canada...
in 2004 during the sale of the retail chain.
Philanthropy
Cohen was considered to be one of the major community builders/philanthropists in Winnipeg. He has been a large contributor to the Royal Winnipeg BalletRoyal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
, Manitoba Theatre Centre
Manitoba Theatre Centre
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is Canada's oldest English-language regional theatre. Next to the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, MTC has a higher annual attendance than any other theatre in the country...
, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
, Manitoba Opera
Manitoba Opera
Manitoba Opera is an opera company in Winnipeg, Manitoba that was founded in 1969. Its first production was a concert of Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore in 1972. Manitoba Opera is one of several western Canadian opera companies that flourished under the inspired leadership of Irving Guttman,...
, and various Winnipeg hospitals.
Several of his notable accomplishments include:
- Founding Member, Canada-Japan Business Committee
- Former President, Manitoba Theatre CentreManitoba Theatre CentreRoyal Manitoba Theatre Centre is Canada's oldest English-language regional theatre. Next to the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, MTC has a higher annual attendance than any other theatre in the country...
(1968–1969, 1970–1971, 1976–1981) - Former President, WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
Clinic Research Institute (1975–1980) - Former President, Dr. Paul ThorlaksonPaul ThorlaksonPaul Henrik Thorbjorn Thorlakson, CC was a Canadian physician and Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg....
Research Foundation (1978–1980) - Past Commissioner, Metric Board, Ottawa (1978)
Awards
- Man of the Year, Sales and Advertising Club, Winnipeg (1974)
- Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1983) - International Distinguished EntrepreneurEntrepreneurAn entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
Award, University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
(1983) - National Business Book Award, The Entrepreneurs: the Story of Gendis (1986)
- Honorary Doctorate, University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
(1987) - Order of Excellence Achievement Award, ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
Sport Directorate (1990) - Commemorative Medal, 125th Anniversary of Canadian ConfederationCanadian ConfederationCanadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
(1992) - Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1994) - Canadian Business Hall of FameCanadian Business Hall of FameThe Canadian Business Hall of Fame honours "Canada's most distinguished business leaders", selected by an independent panel representing Canadian business, academic and media institutions....
(1994) - Albert D. Cohen Management LibraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
at the University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
's Asper School of BusinessAsper School of BusinessThe Asper School of Business is located on the University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus in South Winnipeg, Manitoba. The school began in 1937 as the University of Manitoba Faculty of Management. The school was renamed in 2000 in honour of Izzy Asper, noted for his many contributions to the City of... - The Albert D. Cohen Building at St. John's-Ravenscourt SchoolSt. John's-Ravenscourt SchoolSt. John's-Ravenscourt School is an independent, co-educational, university-preparatory school founded in 1820. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the school delivers an enriched curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, is the royal patron of the...
- SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Lifetime Achievement Award (2000) - Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) (2011)
While Cohen has collected an array of awards for business achievements and community service during his life, he was particularly proud of the fact that he holds three Canadian speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
records in Master 5 Class (over 70 age category), as per the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
Amateur Speedskating Association.