Izzy Asper
Israel Asper QC | |
---|---|
Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party | |
In office 1970–1975 | |
Preceded by | Robert Bend |
Succeeded by | Charles Huband |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Wolseley | |
In office 1972–1975 | |
Preceded by | Leonard Claydon |
Succeeded by | Robert Wilson |
Personal details | |
Born | Israel Harold Asper August 11, 1932 Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada |
Died | October 7, 2003 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | (aged 71)
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse |
Babs Asper (m. 1956) |
Children | |
Alma mater | University of Manitoba |
Occupation |
|
Israel Harold "Izzy" Asper
Personal life and education
Israel Asper was born on August 11, 1932, to a
He married Ruth Miriam "Babs" Bernstein [7] on May 27, 1956, at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, Winnipeg.[8][9]
Asper attended the
On October 7, 2003, Asper died in
Career
He founded the firm of Asper, Freedman & Co. in 1959,[1] and was also a partner and co-founder of the firm Buchwald, Asper, Henteleff (now Pitblado LLP) along with Harold Buchwald and Yude Henteleff.[2]
In 1970, he wrote The Benson Iceberg: A Critical Analysis of the White Paper on Tax Reform in Canada.[2]
Also that year, Asper was elected leader of the
His media empire subsequently began with the Winnipeg
Asper was noted for his fierce loyalty to Manitoba and western Canada, refusing enticements to move east to Toronto.[14]
I am the offspring of immigrants and Prairie immigrants at that. And these people who would otherwise have been cinders in one of
Hitler’s ovens have a great sense of gratitude to Canada for offering them shelter… people arriving with no money, people arriving not being able to speak a word of English from all over the place. And so you get taught that you owe and you have an undischarged debt to this country…
Israel Asper (2001)[16]
He was also a noted
He was a prominent member of Canada's Jewish community as well, and a vocal supporter for the State of Israel.[6] In this regard, among other positions, he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba; an Honorary Governor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and an Honorary Chairman of the Jewish Community Campus of Winnipeg Inc. (The Asper Campus).[3]
Asper was also a close friend of many of Canada's prominent political and business elite, including
Views on Israel
As a youth, growing up in Winnipeg, Asper joined the socialist-Zionist youth movement
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Israel Asper first came with the idea to build the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) on 18 July 2000. Asper spent the next three years towards making the CMHR a reality, and had a thorough feasibility study conducted by museum experts from around Canada.[13]
In 2003, Asper established a private
Later that year, on October 7, on his way to announce the architectural competition in Vancouver for the CMHR’s design, Asper died suddenly at the age of 71. His family along with the Asper Foundation's executive director vowed to continue to develop the museum. Two weeks later, the groundbreaking ceremony was held at The Forks and the architectural competition announced.[13]
In 2014, a stretch of road in front of the CMHR was named Israel Asper Way.[19]
Accolades and recognition
- 1975 – appointed
- 1979 – recipient of University of Manitoba Alumni Jubilee Award, Outstanding 25 Year Graduate
- 1989, 1991 – elected "Manitoba Business Entrepreneur of the Year"
- 1992 – Canadian Association of Broadcasters Gold Ribbon Award for Broadcast Excellence
- 1993 – recipient of B’nai Brith InternationalAward of Merit
- 1995 – inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada[20]
- 1995 – inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
- 1996 – chosen "Western Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year"
- 1997 – inducted as Laureate of Canadian Business Hall of Fame
- 1997 – recipient of International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award, University of Manitoba, School of Business
- 1999 – inducted into Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame
- 1999 – recipient of North American Broadcasters Association International Achievement Award
- 2000 – inducted as a Founding Member of the Order of Manitoba
- 2000 – The Faculty of Management at the Asper School of Business.[1]
- 2001 – recipient of the Edmund C. Bovey Award presented by the Canadian Business and Arts Council
- 2001 – recipient of Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Manitoba Chapter
- 2001 – recipient of Winnipeg Philanthropist of the Year Award
- 2002 – awarded Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal
- 2004 (posthumous) – received a lifetime achievement award from the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada.[1]
- 2014 (posthumous) – a stretch of road in front of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights was named Israel Asper Way.[19]
Honorary titles and degrees
- 1985 –
- 1986 – Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Militia
- 1997 – Honorary Chairman of the Board, Asper Jewish Community Campus
- 1997 – Honorary Chairman of the Board, Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Manitoba
- 1998 – Honorary Doctor of Laws and Letters, University of Manitoba[21]
- 1999 – Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- 2002 – Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, McMaster University, Montreal[22]
The Asper Foundation
Formation | 1983 |
---|---|
Founders | Israel and Babs Asper |
Legal status | Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6 |
Key people |
|
Revenue | $12.8 m (2019) |
Expenses | $9.9 m (2019) |
Staff | 6 full-time employees (2019) |
Website | asperfoundation.com/ |
The Asper Foundation is a
The Asper Foundation received its
The Foundation was established in 1983 by Israel and Babs Asper, created from the wealth they had generated via
Beneficiaries
Some initiatives in Winnipeg supported by the Foundation include the Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program, the
On 22 November 2000, the Foundation donated $10 million each to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.[27] In October 2019, the Foundation announced a gift of CA$5-million to the University of Manitoba to establish the "Asper Foundation Entrance Bursary," a $1,000 entrance bursary program available to students in any faculty or school.[28] In early 2021, the Foundation made a $5-million gift to the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Israel (HUJI) to expand the "Asper HUJI Innovate" startup accelerator program at the University.[29]
The Asper Foundation also created and sourced the funding for Canada’s 5th national museum, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.[26]
The Foundation's projects in
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Israel Harold (Izzy) Asper". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ^ ISBN 0-920966-60-8. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ^ a b c d e f "Biography of Israel Asper – The Asper Foundation". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Normandin, Pierre G (1975). Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
- ^ a b "Izzy Asper dead at 71". CBC News. October 17, 2003. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ^ a b "Obituary Israel Asper, Son of Immigrants and Founder of Media Empire, Dies". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. October 9, 2003. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ^ "Izzy Asper: Media mogul and human rights advocate". 28 July 2017.
- ^ Sinclair, Gordon (July 31, 2011). "Ruth Asper: Matriarch of prominent Asper family". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ^ Toronto Star: "Winnipeg matriarch ‘Babs’ Asper dies at 78" By John Goddard July 31, 2011
- ^ a b "Asper, Israel | History of Canadian Broadcasting". www.broadcasting-history.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Sinclair, Gordon (June 19, 2010). "Fathers and Sons". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ^ a b c d "Canadian Museum for Human Rights – The Asper Foundation". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b c "Israel H. Asper". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b c d "A Message From The Asper Foundation – The Asper Foundation". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "In Conversation: Izzy Asper." Ivey Business Journal Nov/Dec 2001.
- ^ "Fired Canadian publisher superhero of free press". Global Journalist. October 1, 2002. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ^ "Izzy and the Holy Land; Much of Izzy Asper's life was spent defending the 'Jewish Nation'", Newman, Peter C., National Post; Don Mills, Ont. [Don Mills, Ont]. 17 Nov 2008: A.19.
- ^ a b "City names street after Israel Asper". winnipegsun. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Order of Canada citation
- ^ "Izzy Asper: Media mogul and human rights advocate". The Canadian Jewish News. 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ "Biography of Israel Asper – The Asper Foundation". Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ "The Asper Foundation". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor (12 November 2020). "The Asper Foundation [Civil Institution]". reg.gg.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "Asper Foundation". Charity Data. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b c d e "THE ASPER FOUNDATION". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "The Winnipeg Foundation and The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba – The Asper Foundation". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "The Asper Foundation creates unprecedented new entrance bursary". Retrieved 2021-06-24.
- ^ "Asper donation to HU". Jewish Independent. January 29, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "About – World's Jewish Museum". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
Further reading
- Edge, Marc. 2007. Asper Nation: Canada's Most Dangerous Media Company. New Star Books. ISBN 1554200326.
- ISBN 978-1-55468-089-4. – biography
External links
- "In Depth – Israel Asper". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
- The Asper Foundation
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- Asper at The Canadian Encyclopedia 2020, Historica Canada