Jim Pattison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Pattison
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Pattison in 2015
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James Allen Pattison
October 1, 1928 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Alma mater | Sauder School of Business (dropped out) |
| Occupation | Businessman, investor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of the Jim Pattison Group |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Hudson |
| Children | 3 |
James Allen Pattison (born October 1, 1928) is a very successful Canadian businessman and investor. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the boss and owner of the Jim Pattison Group. This is Canada's second-largest company that isn't owned by the public. It has over 45,000 employees around the world. The company earns more than $10 billion each year. It works in many different areas, like making packaging, selling food, and forestry products.
In 2015, he was one of Canada's richest people. By late 2018, his wealth was about $5.7 billion. This was a big increase from earlier years.
Mr. Pattison has received many important awards. In 2018, he was added to Canada's Walk of Fame. He also received the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia. These awards are given to people who have done amazing things for Canada and British Columbia. He is also in the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Jim Pattison was born in a hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His parents lived in a small town nearby called Luseland, Saskatchewan. When he was six, his family moved to East Vancouver, British Columbia. But he still spent his summers back in Saskatchewan.
First Jobs and Learning
Jim had many jobs when he was young. In the summer, he played the trumpet at a church camp. He also picked fruits like raspberries and peaches. During high school, he sold doughnuts, delivered newspapers, and worked at the Georgia Hotel. He finished high school in 1947.
After high school, he worked in a cannery and packed goods. He also helped build bridges and worked on trains. Then, he got a job washing cars at a gas station that also sold used cars. One day, he sold a car when the regular salesman was away. He realized he was good at selling! He used his earnings to pay for his studies at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. He didn't finish his degree, but he learned a lot.
Building a Business Empire
In 1948, Jim worked at a car dealership in Richmond, British Columbia. He mostly washed cars, but he also sold them. The next summer, he worked at another used car dealer. His boss even gave him a car to drive to university. Jim started selling used cars right there at the university!
Starting His Own Dealership
In 1961, Jim convinced a bank manager to lend him $40,000. This was a huge amount of money back then! He used it to open his own Pontiac car dealership. He also sold his house and got more loans to make it happen. About 25 years later, he was selling more cars than anyone else in Western Canada.
Growing His Company
By 2018, his company owned 25 car dealerships. It also owned truck dealerships. But Jim Pattison's company is much more than just cars! He owns popular grocery stores like Overwaitea Foods and Save-On-Foods. He also owns fun attractions like Ripley's Believe It or Not! and Guinness World Records.
His company also owns many radio and TV stations across Western Canada. In 2018, it was the biggest radio and TV company based in Western Canada. Jim Pattison also owns Pattison Agriculture, which is the second-largest dealer of John Deere farm equipment in Canada.
Leading Expo 86
Jim Pattison was the main leader for Expo 86. This was a huge world fair held in Vancouver in 1986. He worked almost full-time for five years without pay to make it a success. People say he was the one who truly made Expo 86 happen.
Still Working Hard
Even in his 90s, Jim Pattison remained very active in his business. He would drive thousands of kilometers in a pickup truck to visit his farm equipment dealerships. When asked if he ever took a vacation, he said, "If you like your work, it’s not work." This shows how much he loves what he does. In 2020, his company had over $10 billion in earnings and employed 48,000 people.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Jim Pattison is known for his philanthropy. This means he gives a lot of money to help good causes. He has always given away about 10% of his income.
Major Donations
In 2008, his foundation gave $1 million to help churches start new locations. In 2009, his Save-On Foods company donated $100,000 to CBC Television. This helped them broadcast Vancouver Canucks hockey games in high-definition.
In 2013, he gave up to $5 million to a hospital in Victoria, British Columbia. This money helped buy new equipment. The hospital named its main lobby after him to say thank you. He also gave $5 million to a new care center in Surrey, British Columbia, in 2011. He has also donated to other hospitals in Vancouver.
In 2017, Jim Pattison made a record-breaking private donation of $75 million to build a new St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. Later that year, he and his foundation donated $50 million to a new Children's Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This was the largest private donation in Saskatchewan's history. The new hospital was named Jim Pattison Children's Hospital in his honor.
He believes that the bigger his company gets and the more money it makes, the more he can give away to help others.
Personal Life
Jim Pattison married Mary Hudson. They met when they were both 13 years old at a church camp. They have three children. Jim once joked that the secret to a happy marriage is to marry someone from Saskatchewan!
In 2016, Jim Pattison bought a famous dress at an auction for $4.8 million. It was the dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to President John F. Kennedy. Even at 90 years old, Jim Pattison still enjoyed playing music, including the piano, organ, and trumpet.
See also
- Lists of billionaires
