A. Ephraim Diamond
(Inducted 2006)
Mr. Ephraim Diamond graduated from Brockville Collegiate in 1939, and today we are honouring him for his achievements in real estate development and his life-long humanitarian work.
Mr. Diamond worked his way through Queens University taking a number of jobs, including radio operator for station CFRC, and graduated in 1943 with Honours in Electrical Engineering. He then joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a Radar Officer, and in 1945, was discharged as a Lieutenant.
Upon his return to civilian life, Mr. Diamond joined Principal Investments, a real estate development corporation, as a Construction Engineer. In 1953, Mr. Diamond founded Cadillac Development Corporation with a focus on constructing and investing in various housing projects. By 1968, the company was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and in 1974 merged with the Fairview Corporation to become the Cadillac Fairview Corporation. Until 1979, Mr. Diamond served as Chairman and CEO expanding the company into shopping centres and office developments in many American cities.
Mr. Diamonds humanitarian and philanthropic achievements are equal to his business successes. Among many others, he is a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Toronto Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, the Board of Governors of Mount Sinai Hospital and the Board of Governors of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care.
The numerous honours Mr. Diamond has been awarded are evidence of his attainments in both areas of his public life. In 1974, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada; in 1979, he received the State of Israel Prime Minister=s Medal for Humanitarian Services; in 1980, he was presented with the Human Relations Award from the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews; in 1988, he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and, in 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Mr. Diamond lives in Toronto with his wife Shirley. They have four sons and thirteen grandchildren.