David Azrieli
A Holocaust survivor who built a Canadian real estate empire and became a transformative philanthropist, funding education and the arts on two continents.
1922–2014 (age 92)·Israeli-Canadian entrepreneur·Birthday: May 10·The Greatest Generation
Biography
David Azrieli's story is one of resilience, vision, and profound gratitude. Born in Poland, he survived the Holocaust by fleeing eastward to the Soviet Union, eventually making his way to British Mandate Palestine where he fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. With an architecture degree from McGill University in Montreal, he began his second act in Canada, starting with small residential projects. His insight was to see the potential of the suburban shopping mall, and he built his fortune by developing some of Canada's most prominent retail and office complexes, recognizable by their distinctive geometric designs. Success was not an end but a means. Azrieli became a monumental philanthropist, driven by the memory of the family he lost. His giving focused on bridging gaps: between Israel and the Jewish diaspora, between science and the humanities, and between students and opportunity. He established foundations, universities, and institutes in Israel and Canada, ensuring his legacy would be measured not in square feet, but in minds educated and communities strengthened.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
David was born in 1922, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1922
#1 Movie
Robin Hood
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1922Born
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1927Started school
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1935Became a teenager
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Could drive
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1940Could vote
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Turned 21
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1952Turned 30
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 40
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 50
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 60
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 70
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 80
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2014Died at 92
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Founded Canpro Investments, developing landmark properties like the Montreal Eaton Centre and the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv.
- Established the Azrieli Foundation, a major philanthropic organization supporting education, science, Holocaust commemoration and the arts in Israel and Canada.
- Funded the creation of the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies at Concordia University and the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University.
- Authored academic papers on architecture and urban planning and held a patent for a modular building system.
Did You Know?
He was among the soldiers who signed Israel's Declaration of Independence in 1948.
Azrieli earned his architecture degree in his 40s, after already beginning his career in development.
He published his first novel, 'The Last Degree,' a political thriller, at the age of 89.
“Philanthropy is not about money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your disposal and applying them to improving the world.”
