Morley Cohen
Encyclopedia
Morley Mitchell Cohen, CM
CQ
, born in Winnipeg
, Manitoba (1917-2001), 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 (née Stober), and his two daughters: Joanne (Mrs. Barry Goldmeir) and Donna Susan.
Morley's five brothers, John, Albert D. Cohen
, Harry B. 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.
accomplished the most amazing 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
, Albert met with Sony co-founder, Akio Morita
. On the basis of a handshake deal, Albert 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
).
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. At one point, it is said the Cohen brothers owned downtown real estate in almost every major Canadian city. By 1983, the company was a diversified Canadian conglomerate, renamed Gendis.
, 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 Resources
; Fort Chicago Energy Partners L.P.; and Tundra Oil & Gas.
Several of his notable accomplishments include:
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...
CQ
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
, born 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 (1917-2001), was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and Member 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 served with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
from 1940-1945. He is survived by his widow, Rita Lillian Cohen (née Stober), and his two daughters: Joanne (Mrs. Barry Goldmeir) and Donna Susan.
Background
Morley Cohen came from a poor immigrant family of eight, the son of Alexander and Rose (Diamond) Cohen.Morley's five brothers, John, Albert D. Cohen
Albert D. Cohen
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. , a Toronto Stock Exchange listed Canadian real estate and investment company headquartered in...
, 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...
, 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 the early Fifties, the company obtained exclusive Canadian rights for Paper Mate pens. Then, in 1955, brother Albert D. CohenAlbert D. Cohen
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. , a Toronto Stock Exchange listed Canadian real estate and investment company headquartered in...
accomplished the most amazing 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...
, Albert 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, Albert 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...
).
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. At one point, it is said the Cohen brothers owned downtown real estate in almost every major Canadian city. By 1983, the company was a diversified Canadian conglomerate, renamed Gendis.
Oil & Gas, and the Cohen Brothers
Under the guidance of Albert D. CohenAlbert D. Cohen
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. , a Toronto Stock Exchange listed Canadian real estate and investment company headquartered in...
, 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 Resources
Pioneer 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.; and Tundra Oil & Gas.
Philanthropy
Morley Cohen was considered to be one of the major community builders/philanthropists in Montreal.Several of his notable accomplishments include:
- Former Director of the Montreal Board of Trade (1973-1975)
- Former Chairman, Capital Fund Drive, YMHA (1980)
- Former Chairman, Arthritis Society (1980)
- Former Director of Canadian Unity CouncilCanadian Unity CouncilThe Canadian Unity Council was a privately owned non-profit organization whose mission was the promotion of Canadian Unity and the current federal institutions.The CUC started as the "Canada Committee" in 1964, in the middle of Quebec's Quiet Revolution...
(1983) - Former Director of Montreal General HospitalMontreal General HospitalThe Montreal General Hospital is a hospital in Montreal, Canada, established on May 1, 1819 and an early teaching hospital. First located on the corner of Craig and St-Lawrence Streets with only 24 beds, it moved in 1822 to a new 72-bed building on Dorchester Street. It is currently situated on...
(1988) - Former Chairman, Capital Campaign, Montreal Museum of Fine ArtsMontreal Museum of Fine ArtsThe Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution, it moved to its current location in 1912 thanks to a large donation from businessman James Ross....
(1989)
Awards
- Man of the Year, State of Israel BondsState of Israel BondsState of Israel Bonds are debt securities issued by the Government of Israel.State of Israel Bonds is also the more familiar name of the underwriter of the bonds in the United States. The company is officially known as Development Corporation for Israel...
(1972)
- Samuel BronfmanSamuel BronfmanSamuel Bronfman, was a Canadian business magnate and philanthropist. He founded Distillers Corporation Limited, and is a member of the Canadian Jewish family dynasty, the Bronfman family.-Early life:...
Medal for Outstanding Leadership, Canadian Jewish CongressCanadian Jewish CongressThe Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
(1982)
- Honorary Doctorate, University of HaifaUniversity of HaifaThe University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
(1986)
- University of HaifaUniversity of HaifaThe University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
Political Science Building (named in honor of Morley Cohen) (1994)
- Lifetime Governor, Montreal General HospitalMontreal General HospitalThe Montreal General Hospital is a hospital in Montreal, Canada, established on May 1, 1819 and an early teaching hospital. First located on the corner of Craig and St-Lawrence Streets with only 24 beds, it moved in 1822 to a new 72-bed building on Dorchester Street. It is currently situated on...
(1994)
- National Order of QuebecNational Order of QuebecThe National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(1995)
- 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...
(2000)