Frank H. Sobey
Encyclopedia
Frank H. Sobey, OC
(1902 – December 15, 1985) was a Canadian
businessman who was the primary builder of the Sobeys Stores
chain.
Born in Lyons Brook
, Nova Scotia
, he was three years old when his family moved to the town of Stellarton
where his father operated a meat
retailing business, peddling meat products door to door on a horse-drawn wagon. In an era where education opportunities were limited in small Maritime towns, Frank Sobey left school after Grade 8. He expanded his father's store to carry regualar groceries. However, he had an entrepreneurial mindset and at age sixteen enrolled in a business college.
Through Empire Co. Ltd., a family holding company
, Frank Sobey also built a chain of movie theater
s and substantial real estate holdings. In 1971, while still remaining active in the business, he handed over formal control of the company's operations to his three sons, David, Donald and William Sobey.
Frank Sobey received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Saint Mary's University
in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the University named its Faculty of Commerce in his honor. In 1985 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
.
Frank Sobey married a woman named Irene and had three sons; Bill, David and Donald.
He died in Halifax at the age of 83, in 1985.
university. Saint Mary's University named its commerce program the Sobey School of Business
after Frank H. Sobey.
collection that included works by notable Group of Seven
members Cornelius Krieghoff
, Tom Thomson
, A. Y. Jackson
, and Arthur Lismer
. His collection today can be seen at "Abercrombie House", his former residence located in Abercrombie
, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The Sobey Art Foundation was established in 1985 with a mandate to maintain and add to the collection. The Foundation's Sobey Art Award
is Canada's largest prize for a young Canadian artist. It is awarded every two years to an artist 39 years of age or younger who has exhibited their work in a public or commercial art gallery in Canada during the previous 18 months. The winner of the award receives $70,000 and the 3 runners-up $1,000.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1902 – December 15, 1985) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman who was the primary builder of the Sobeys Stores
Sobeys
Sobeys is the second largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all ten provinces and accumulated sales of more than $14 billion CAD in 2009...
chain.
Born in Lyons Brook
Lyons Brook, Nova Scotia
Lyons Brook is a Canadian rural community in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.Located along the West River of Pictou, Lyons Brook is immediately west of the town of Pictou and has several newer subdivisions as well as older homes fronting the river....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, he was three years old when his family moved to the town of Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
where his father operated a meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
retailing business, peddling meat products door to door on a horse-drawn wagon. In an era where education opportunities were limited in small Maritime towns, Frank Sobey left school after Grade 8. He expanded his father's store to carry regualar groceries. However, he had an entrepreneurial mindset and at age sixteen enrolled in a business college.
Through Empire Co. Ltd., a family holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
, Frank Sobey also built a chain of movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
s and substantial real estate holdings. In 1971, while still remaining active in the business, he handed over formal control of the company's operations to his three sons, David, Donald and William Sobey.
Frank Sobey received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the University named its Faculty of Commerce in his honor. In 1985 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
Canadian Business Hall of Fame
The Canadian Business Hall of Fame honours "Canada's most distinguished business leaders", selected by an independent panel representing Canadian business, academic and media institutions....
.
Frank Sobey married a woman named Irene and had three sons; Bill, David and Donald.
He died in Halifax at the age of 83, in 1985.
Sobey Foundation
In 1982, Frank Sobey endowed the Sobey Foundation to provide funding for important initiatives that have a positive and long-lasting impact in health, education and for communities. The "Frank H. Sobey Awards in Business Studies" annually provides $10,000 to assist full-time business students from any Atlantic CanadianAtlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
university. Saint Mary's University named its commerce program the Sobey School of Business
Sobey School of Business
Sobey School of Business is a business college located in Saint Mary's University.In 1992, the Faculty of Commerce was renamed the Sobey School of Business, after Frank H. Sobey, founder of Sobeys....
after Frank H. Sobey.
Sobey Art Foundation
Frank Sobey and his wife Irene acquired a significant artArt
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
collection that included works by notable Group of Seven
Group of Seven (artists)
The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
members Cornelius Krieghoff
Cornelius Krieghoff
Cornelius David Krieghoff is probably the most popular Canadian painter of the 19th century. Krieghoff is most famous for his paintings of Canadian landscapes and Canadian life outdoors, which were sought-after in his own time as they are today. He is particularly famous for his winter scenes,...
, Tom Thomson
Tom Thomson
Thomas John Thomson , also known as Tom Thomson, was an influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. He directly influenced a group of Canadian painters that would come to be known as the Group of Seven, and though he died before they formally formed, he is sometimes incorrectly credited...
, A. Y. Jackson
A. Y. Jackson
Alexander Young Jackson, was a Canadian painter and a founding member of the Group of Seven.- Early life and training :...
, and Arthur Lismer
Arthur Lismer
Arthur Lismer, CC was an English-born Canadian painter and member of the Group of Seven.-Early life:At age 13 he apprenticed at a photo-engraving company. He was awarded a scholarship, and used this time to take evening classes at the Sheffield School of Arts from 1898 until 1905...
. His collection today can be seen at "Abercrombie House", his former residence located in Abercrombie
Abercrombie, Nova Scotia
Abercrombie is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County.-References:*...
, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The Sobey Art Foundation was established in 1985 with a mandate to maintain and add to the collection. The Foundation's Sobey Art Award
Sobey Art Award
The Sobey Art Award is Canada's largest prize for young Canadian artists. It is named after Canadian businessperson and art collector Frank H. Sobey, who established The Sobey Art Foundation...
is Canada's largest prize for a young Canadian artist. It is awarded every two years to an artist 39 years of age or younger who has exhibited their work in a public or commercial art gallery in Canada during the previous 18 months. The winner of the award receives $70,000 and the 3 runners-up $1,000.