Jim Pattison

Jim Pattison
Jim Pattison
Born	James Allen Pattison; October 1, 1928 (age 98); Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Occupation(s)	Business magnate, investor
Years active	1948–present
Known for	CEO and chairman of Jim Pattison Group

James Allen Pattison (born October 1, 1928) is a prominent Canadian business magnate and investor. Operating from Vancouver, British Columbia, he holds the positions of CEO, chairman, and sole proprietor of the Jim Pattison Group, which ranks as Canada's second largest privately owned enterprise. The Group employs over 45,000 individuals worldwide and generates annual revenues of $10.1 billion. Its operations span 25 divisions, covering sectors such as packaging, food products, and forestry.

In 2015, Pattison was listed as the fourth wealthiest individual in Canada. By late 2018, his net worth was valued at approximately $5.7 billion according to Forbes, a substantial increase from $2.1 billion in 2009. During that period, Bloomberg News identified him as the third richest person in Canada.

His accolades include induction into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2018, appointment to the Order of Canada in 1987, and to the Order of British Columbia in 1990. He has also been awarded the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal commemorating Canada’s 125th anniversary. Further honors include membership in the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, Canadian Professional Sales Association Hall of Fame, Entrepreneur of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Award (2000), International Horatio Alger Award (2004), and the Young Presidents Organization Canadian Icon Award (2007).

Early life and education

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Pattison’s family resided in rural Luseland, Saskatchewan during his early years. At age six, his family moved to East Vancouver, British Columbia, although he regularly spent summers back in Saskatchewan.

His initial work experiences involved playing trumpet at a children’s church camp and harvesting fruit during high school. Additionally, he sold doughnuts and seeds door-to-door, delivered newspapers, and worked as a page boy at the Georgia Hotel. He completed his secondary education at John Oliver Secondary School in 1947.

Following graduation, Pattison took on various physically demanding jobs including positions at a cannery, packing house, bridge construction site, and as a dining car attendant for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Later, he worked washing cars at a gas station with an adjacent used-car lot. When the regular salesman was absent, Pattison sold a vehicle himself and discovered his aptitude for salesmanship. This experience led to a summer position selling used cars at one of Vancouver’s largest dealerships, which helped finance his enrollment at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. He ultimately left university three courses short of earning a commerce degree.

Business career

During the summer of 1948, Pattison was employed at Richmond Motors in Richmond, British Columbia, focusing mainly on car washing and sales. The following year he joined Kingsway, a used car dealership in Vancouver, where he began selling vehicles on behalf of UBC.

In 1961, Pattison obtained a $40,000 loan from the Royal Bank—surpassing the branch’s lending limit—to establish a Pontiac dealership near his children’s school. To support this venture, he sold his home, assigned his life insurance surrender value to General Motors, and secured a $190,000 loan from GM through preferred shares. Within 25 years, he had become Western Canada’s top car seller.

By March 2018, his holdings included ownership of 25 car dealerships along with Peterbilt truck dealerships; retail grocery chains such as Overwaitea Foods, Save-On-Foods, and Quality Foods; entertainment properties like Ripley's Believe It or Not! and Guinness World Records; plus radio and television stations across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. His entry into media began with acquiring Vancouver AM radio station CJOR alongside partners; by 2018 the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group had grown into Canada’s largest western-based radio and TV operator with 43 radio stations and three television outlets. Pattison Agriculture ranks as Canada’s second-largest John Deere dealer network with 19 locations across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

He also once owned the Vancouver Blazers hockey team competing in the World Hockey Association.

Pattison acted as CEO and president of Expo 86 Corporation during Vancouver’s world exposition. His leadership was widely credited as instrumental to Expo 86’s success—a role he fulfilled nearly full-time over five years without remuneration.

On February 15, 2008, the Jim Pattison Group acquired Guinness World Records—the publisher behind the world’s best-selling copyrighted book available in over 100 countries and translated into 37 languages.

Holding approximately a 30% stake in Canfor, Pattison engaged in a governance dispute with fellow shareholder Stephen A. Jarislowsky (who owned 18%). This conflict led to the removal of CEO Jim Shepherd due to underperformance and declining share value; Pattison subsequently appointed Jim Shepard (unrelated) as interim CEO.

He participated on the organizing committee for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Recognized as an Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Order of British Columbia honors, Pattison was ranked No. 177 on Forbes’ list of global billionaires in 2015 and was considered Canada’s wealthiest individual at that time.

As of late 2018, Pattison remained actively involved in business operations—personally traveling extensively across Western Canada to visit Pattison Agriculture dealerships by driving thousands of kilometres himself. When questioned about taking vacations throughout his career, he remarked: "Well, I get 365 days. If you like your work, it’s not work."

At age 91 in September 2020, Pattison continued seeking new investment opportunities. At that point, Jim Pattison Group reported revenues totaling $10.9 billion and employed approximately 48,000 staff members.

Philanthropy

In 2008, the Jim Pattison Foundation was recognized by Imagine Canada as the eighth largest private foundation donor nationwide. That same year, Pattison pledged $1 million as a matching contribution to support the Apostolic Church of Pentecost’s church planting endowment fund.

On April 16, 2009, Save-On Foods provided $100,000 to CBC Television to help cover the rental costs of high-definition broadcast trucks for airing Vancouver Canucks’ away games during the NHL playoffs, helping to alleviate CBC’s budget reductions.

Known for his philanthropic dedication, Pattison reportedly donates around 10% of his earnings. In July 2013, he committed up to $5 million to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation for acquiring new equipment for the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s patient care tower; its main lobby was subsequently named "The Jim Pattison Atrium and Concourse." In 2011, he matched public fundraising with a $5 million donation toward Surrey’s Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. Among his earlier significant gifts were $20 million to Vancouver General Hospital in 1999 and $5 million to Lions Gate Hospital in 2008.

On March 28, 2017, Pattison made a historic private donation of $75 million to facilitate construction of Vancouver’s new St. Paul's Hospital. Later that year, on May 30, he and his foundation contributed $50 million—the largest private donation ever in Saskatchewan—to establish the new Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, which was named Jim Pattison Children's Hospital in his honor.

During a March 2018 interview, Pattison highlighted how his company’s expansion has enabled greater charitable giving: "As we grow larger, our earnings increase, allowing us to contribute more. We are only beginning."

Personal life

Pattison wed Mary Hudson, whom he met at a church camp in Swift Current when both were 13 years old. Originally from Moose Jaw, Hudson became his lifelong partner. Reflecting in 2018, Pattison humorously stated, "The key [to a strong marriage] is marrying someone from Saskatchewan. Then you won’t face any issues!" The couple has three children together.

In November 2016, Pattison acquired Marilyn Monroe’s legendary Jean Louis gown worn during her "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" performance for $4.8 million at an auction in Los Angeles. At age 90, alongside managing his business ventures, he maintained a passion for music, playing instruments including piano, organ, and trumpet. He is also an enthusiastic yachtsman and owns the 150-foot superyacht Nova Spirit, valued near $25 million.

External links

The Jim Pattison Group main website
History of Jim Pattison Group - Canadian Communications Foundation
CBC Archives - Jim Pattison and Expo 86 (from 1985)
Video clip - Interview with Jim Pattison by BCBusiness Magazine