Background
Cohen, Samuel Nathan was born on July 9, 1919 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Son of Alexander and Rose (Diamond) Cohen.
Cohen, Samuel Nathan was born on July 9, 1919 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Son of Alexander and Rose (Diamond) Cohen.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Manitoba, Winnipeg, 1979.
Sam"s five brothers, John, Albert Doctorate. Cohen, Morley Cohen, Harry B. Cohen, and Joseph H. Cohen, set up a small retail store and, by 1939, the family had scraped together enough monies to create General Distributors Limited., a wholesale import firm. Sony and the Cohen Brothers By 1950, General Distributors sales amounted to $1 million. In the early Fifties, the company obtained exclusive Canadian rights for Paper Mate pens.
On the basis of a handshake deal, Albert cemented a partnership that would last for decades.
The Cohen brothers scattered across Canada in order to manage the national business, each brother establishing himself in a major city: Morley (Montreal), John (Toronto), Joe (Vancouver), Harry (Calgary), and both Sam and Albert setting up headquarters (Winnipeg). SAAN, Metropolitan, real estate, and the Cohen Brothers The six brothers expanded into real estate and retailing.
Over the years, they established several hundred SAAN Stores and Metropolitan junior department stores in all provinces of Canada. The explosive growth of the SAAN Stores chain was guided by Cohen while Metropolitan"s expansion was overseen by Morley Cohen.
At one point, it is said the Cohen brothers owned downtown real estate in almost every major Canadian city.
By 1983, the company was a diversified Canadian conglomerate, renamed Gendis. Oil & Gas, and the Cohen Brothers Under the guidance of Albert Doctorate. Cohen, the six brothers participated in various joint ventures and/or owned several minority interests in oil & gas exploration, development, and distribution. Samuel Cohen was considered to be one of the major community builders/philanthropists in Winnipeg.
Former Chairman, United Jewish Appeal Founding Director, Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation Honorary Chairman, Saint Research Foundation Creator, Saint International Award (1976).
Member advising committee Royal Trust Corporation Canada. Board directors St. Boniface General Hospital Research Foundation. Member Glendale Country Club.
Children: Charles Frank, Mark David, Sharon Edith.