Ignat Kaneff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ignat Kaneff
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| Игнат Канев | |
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| Born |
Игнат Христов Кънев
6 October 1926 Gorno Ablanovo, Bulgaria
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| Died | 12 July 2020 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | Bulgarian Canadian |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Dimitrina Kaneff |
| Children | Anna-Maria and Kristina Kaneff and two children from previous marriage Heidi and Daniel Kaneff (Daniel is deceased). |
Ignat Kaneff CM OOnt (Bulgarian: Игнат Христов Кънев; October 6, 1926 – July 12, 2020) was a very successful Bulgarian-Canadian businessman. He was also a philanthropist, which means he gave a lot of money to help others and good causes.
Contents
The Story of Ignat Kaneff
Ignat Hristov Kaneff was born on October 6, 1926, in a small village called Gorno Ablanovo in Bulgaria. He was one of six children in his family.
Early Life and Moving to Canada
When he was just 14 years old, Ignat had to leave school because his family couldn't afford it. He left Bulgaria in March 1941 and moved to Austria to find work. There, he and some friends worked for a Bulgarian company that sold farm products.
In 1951, Ignat left his job in Austria and moved to Canada with his wife, Dimitrina Kaneff. They settled in Toronto.
Building a Business Empire
Ignat started working in the construction business in Canada. At first, he built small houses for new immigrants. Just five years later, in 1956, he started his very own construction company.
The next year, his company built its first big building. It was three stories tall and had nine apartments. Ten years after that, his company built its first tall building, with 262 apartments!
Over time, Ignat Kaneff's company became very successful. He built thousands of houses and many public buildings. He also built fancy golf courses.
Besides building, he also sold cars. He became a dealer for General Motors, which is a big car company. He was so good at it that the president of General Motors even invited him to dinner!
A Successful Businessman
Ignat Kaneff owned six golf courses and a large construction company in Canada. He also managed a charity foundation that had his name. By the time he passed away, his wealth was estimated to be over a billion dollars. He owned many apartment buildings, golf clubs, and other properties across North America.
He also served as the Honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Canada. This means he helped represent Bulgaria in Canada.
Ignat Kaneff passed away on July 12, 2020.
Giving Back: Ignat Kaneff's Philanthropy
Ignat Kaneff was a generous person who believed in giving back. He mostly gave money to help with health and education. He also supported the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Major Donations and Buildings
His first big donation was in 1955 for a hospital in Toronto. He also gave land and over a million dollars to help build the St. Dimitar Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Brampton.
In 2009, Ignat Kaneff donated $2.5 million to help rebuild the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto. Because of his generous gift, the building was named after him.
In 2012, he gave $1.5 million to help build a modern conference center at Ruse University in Bulgaria. This center was also named after him, the Kaneff Centre. It officially opened on October 10, 2013.
Today, the Kaneff Tower and the Ignat Kaneff Building at York University are named in his honor.
Awards and Recognition
Ignat Kaneff received many important awards for his business success and his kindness.
In 2002, he was given the Bulgarian Order "Stara Planina first degree." This is a very high honor in Bulgaria.
In 2010, he received the Order of Ontario, which is a top award in the Canadian province of Ontario. York University also gave him an honorary Doctor of Juridical Science degree for his generous support of their law school.
In 2013, Ruse University in Bulgaria gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his help in building the Kaneff Centre.
In December 2016, Ignat Kaneff was named a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a person can receive in Canada.
Also in 2016, he was recognized as one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards by Canadian Immigrant Magazine. This award celebrates immigrants who have made a big difference in Canada.
Images for kids
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Kaneff Centre at Ruse University
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Opening of Kaneff Centre
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Bas-relief of the donor Ignat Kaneff at Kaneff Centre
