B.C.’s business community loses a giant in Joe Segal

Credit: United Way

If you frequented the Four Seasons Resort in Vancouver with any frequency just before it shut in 2020, odds are you experienced a operate-in with Joe Segal.

The completed entrepreneur served in Earth War II just before settling in Vancouver and founding Fields Retailers and later shopping for Zellers and a stake in the Hudson’s Bay Corporation.

He also created true estate in B.C., forming Kingswood Capital Corporation, and was a recipient of each the Order of Canada and Purchase of British Columbia.

But Segal was often generous with his time, and he could normally be identified occupying “Joe’s table” at the 4 Seasons, sharing knowledge with both proven and budding business people. He also grew to become a single of B.C.’s additional prolific philanthropists, donating his time and cash to a lot of triggers close to the province.

Segal died before now at the age of 97, leaving behind his spouse of additional than 70 yrs, Rosalie Segal, four young children, 11 grandchildren and quite a few terrific-grandchildren.

Peter Legge, chairman and CEO of Canada Vast Media (which owns BCBusiness), wrote a e-book called Lunch With Joe, in which Legge collected tales of knowledge from far more than 90 of Segal’s 4 Seasons dining companions.

“He was a mentor to me for much more than 40 a long time and his knowledge, humour and business acumen have been constantly on point,” suggests Legge.

“I am devastated by his passing. He contributed so considerably to our metropolis and to the group and has remaining an extraordinary legacy. The city has lost an icon and a truly generous and compassionate person. My most sincere condolences to my pricey pals, the Segal relatives, on the immeasurable loss of their beloved partner, father, grandfather and excellent grandfather.”