Maurice Pollack was a Canadian

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...

 merchant and philanthropist.

Born in Kanele, Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, in Ukraine

Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

, he arrived in Canada

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...

 in 1902, and settled in Quebec City

Quebec City

Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...

, where he opened a department store at the age of 20 years, in the Saint-Roch district of Québec City. M. Pollack Ltd. became one of the largest companies in the region, and Maurice Pollack became prosperous enough to retire to devote himself to philanthropy.

The Maurice Pollack Foundation

In 1955, Maurice Pollack set up a foundation to aid Canadian organizations. Maurice Pollack was its president until his death, and was succeeded by his son, Charles C. Pollack.

The Foundation allocated most of its funds to institutions in Quebec, notably to Laval University, McGill University

McGill University

Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...

, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. In 1966, the Foundation earmarked a fund for the construction of a concert hall at McGill University

McGill University

Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...

..

The Foundation has also funded the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital in 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...

, and the Pollack Cultural Centre at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom (Westmount, Quebec)

Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom (Westmount, Quebec)

Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Westmount is a Reform synagogue in Westmount, Quebec. It is the oldest “Liberal” or“Reform” synagogue in Canada, incorporated on March 30, 1883 Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Westmount is a Reform synagogue in Westmount, Quebec. It is the oldest “Liberal” or“Reform”...

.

The Maurice Pollack Award

The Maurice Pollack Award is presented to individuals in recognition of their efforts regarding:
• equal access to employment for Quebecers from cultural communities and visible minorities;
• accommodation of ethno-cultural diversityand adaptation of services in the workplace.
The award honours two laureates, one in the “public and para-public corporations or organizations” categoryand the other, in the “private sector enterprises or organizations” category.