Izzy Asper facts for kids

Israel Harold "Izzy" Asper (August 11, 1932 – October 7, 2003) was an important Canadian tax lawyer and a very successful owner of media companies. He started and owned the big TV and media company called CanWest Global Communications Corp. His children, Leonard Asper, Gail Asper, and David Asper, also worked in the company.

Izzy Asper was also the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1970 to 1975. He is also known for coming up with the idea to create the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Early Life and Education

Israel Asper was born on August 11, 1932, in Minnedosa, Manitoba. His family was Jewish, and his parents, Leon Asper and Cecilia Swet, were musicians who came from Ukraine in the 1920s.

On May 27, 1956, he married Ruth Miriam "Babs" Bernstein in Winnipeg.

Asper studied at the University of Manitoba Law School. He earned his law degree in 1957. Later, in 1964, he received a Master of Laws degree.

Izzy Asper passed away on October 7, 2003, at age 71 in Winnipeg. He was buried in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Many people, including Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, attended his funeral.

Asper's Career Journey

Izzy Asper started his own law firm, Asper, Freedman & Co, in 1959. He also helped start another firm called Buchwald, Asper, Henteleff.

In 1970, he wrote a book about tax reform in Canada.

Political Life

In 1970, Asper became the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. He believed in less government involvement in the economy. He also thought that election campaigns should be paid for publicly. This would help ensure that money didn't control politics.

In the 1973 Manitoba general election, his party won five seats. Asper himself won a seat in Wolseley by a very small number of votes. He stepped down as party leader and a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1975. However, he continued to support the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Building a Media Empire

Asper's media journey began in 1975 with a TV station in Winnipeg called CKND-TV. In 1977, he created CanWest Global Communications Corporation. This company grew to include the Global Television Network and many other media businesses.

In 2000, CanWest bought many newspapers from another company. This gave Asper control of over 60 Canadian newspapers. These included the daily National Post.

Izzy Asper was very loyal to Manitoba and western Canada. He chose to keep his businesses there, even though he was encouraged to move to Toronto.

Philanthropy and Community Work

Asper was also known for his philanthropy, which means giving money to good causes. He made large donations to support culture, arts, and education. To help with this, he started The Asper Foundation in Winnipeg in 1983.

In 1997, Asper left his role as CEO of CanWest to focus more on his charity work. In 2001, he donated CA$5 million to the St. Boniface Hospital & Research Foundation.

He was also a key member of Canada's Jewish community. He strongly supported the State of Israel. He was part of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. He was also an Honorary Governor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Israel Asper first had the idea to build the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) on July 18, 2000. He spent the next three years working hard to make this dream a reality. Experts from across Canada helped him study how to build the museum.

In 2003, Asper created a charity called the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This group was set up to help build the museum. On April 17, 2003, Asper publicly announced the plan to create the CMHR in Winnipeg. The governments of Canada, Manitoba, and Winnipeg promised significant funding. Land was also donated for the museum. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien promised the first $30 million.

Sadly, Izzy Asper passed away suddenly on October 7, 2003, at age 71. He was on his way to announce the design competition for the museum. His family and The Asper Foundation promised to continue his work. Two weeks later, the groundbreaking ceremony for the museum took place.

In 2014, a road in front of the CMHR was named Israel Asper Way in his honor.

Awards and Recognition

Israel Asper received many awards and honors throughout his life:

• 1975 – He was appointed Queen's Counsel.
• 1989, 1991 – He was named "Manitoba Business Entrepreneur of the Year."
• 1995 – He became an Officer of the Order of Canada.
• 1995 – He was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.
• 1997 – He became a Laureate of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
• 1999 – He was inducted into the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame.
• 2000 – He became a Founding Member of the Order of Manitoba.
• 2000 – The Faculty of Management at the University of Manitoba was renamed the Asper School of Business in his honor.
• 2002 – He received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
• 2004 (after his death) – He received a lifetime achievement award from the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada.

Honorary Titles and Degrees

• 1985 – Honorary Fellow, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 1997 – Honorary Chairman of the Board, Asper Jewish Community Campus
• 1998 – Honorary Doctor of Laws and Letters, University of Manitoba
• 1999 – Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2002 – Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, McMaster University, Montreal

The Asper Foundation

The Asper Foundation is a charity organization based in Winnipeg. It was started by Israel and Babs Asper in 1983. The Foundation is guided by Jewish ideas of giving to charity and making the world a better place.

The Foundation supports Winnipeg's Jewish community. It also helps the wider community, especially in western Canada. It focuses on areas like culture, education, medical research, community growth, and human rights.

The Asper Foundation is one of Canada’s largest private foundations. As of 2019, it had $192 million in assets.

What the Foundation Supports

The Asper Foundation supports many projects in Winnipeg. These include:

• The Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program.
• The Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba.
• The Asper Jewish Community Campus.
• Programs at the Saint Boniface Hospital Clinical Research Institute.
• Support for Winnipeg Harvest and the Lyric Theatre.
• Various programs with the United Way in Winnipeg.

In 2000, the Foundation gave $10 million each to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. In 2019, it gave CA$5 million to the University of Manitoba. This money helps create the "Asper Foundation Entrance Bursary" for students. In 2021, the Foundation gave another $5 million to the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Israel. This gift helps expand a startup program there.

The Asper Foundation also created and funded Canada’s 5th national museum, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The Foundation also has projects in Israel. These include a Centre for Entrepreneurship and community action centers. As of 2021, the Asper Foundation is helping to develop the World’s Jewish Museum in Tel Aviv.