Jacob Superstein’s name resonates not only in Edmonton but also far beyond its borders. A man with a big heart, a devoted family man, and a successful businessman, he dedicated much of his life to helping others. More on iedmonton.net.
Moving to Edmonton and Starting a Business
Jacob was born in 1915 in Pinsk, Poland, to a Jewish family. He was one of six children. At the time, Poland was an incredibly challenging place for Jews, marked by violence, persecution, and prejudice. Jacob’s parents decided to seek a better life for their family elsewhere, choosing Canada as their destination. In 1927, Jacob’s father, Laser, emigrated to Edmonton, leaving his wife and children in Poland. Ten months later, he brought the entire family to Canada.
The Supersteins settled on 95th Street in Edmonton. Laser began his business journey by opening two kiosks at the Edmonton city market. Jacob and his siblings graduated from school in Edmonton and soon started helping their father in his business.
In 1935, Laser and his sons founded one of the largest companies in the region, the Edmonton Produce Company, specializing in poultry sales across Canada.
Jacob Superstein’s Good Deeds
Following World War II, the company supplied eggs to Canadian troops in Europe, and Jacob acted as a representative for Alberta in the Canadian Wartime Production Board. Additionally, Jacob consistently supported those in need with food donations.
He established the family tradition of donating over 100 turkeys annually to various charitable organizations at Christmas, providing more than 11,000 free Christmas dinners each year.
From his office, located near his home, Jacob personally counted and packed turkeys into boxes. He and his driver then delivered the turkeys to organizations. His wife wrote personalized greeting cards for the recipients, which were attached to each turkey.
In 1950, priests from St. Mary’s Silesian Boys’ School approached Jacob for assistance with meat for a special Christmas meal. Jacob visited the school to understand its needs better. His philanthropy bridged his life with the school, where he eventually became a member of its board and a patron. In 1951, Jacob was elected to the school’s board of directors and advocated for making it an interfaith institution.
Establishing Charities and Supporting the Community
By the 1980s, the Superstein food business thrived. Jacob co-founded the Joy of Sharing Society, inspired by a meeting he and Chaim Kemelman had with the parish of St. Joseph’s Basilica. The society organized a charitable concert at the Jubilee Auditorium, with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra under Israeli conductor Uri Mayer. The event raised $50,000 for the Edmonton Food Bank.
In 1985, Jacob was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The following year, he received Edmonton’s Silver Ribbon for improving the city’s quality of life. In 1987, Jacob was honored with the Order of Canada.
In 1995, the University of Alberta awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. When asked why he helped everyone, regardless of their faith, Jacob responded:
“The Bible says that when God created Adam, he was first and foremost a human being—not the first Jew or Catholic. According to the Scriptures, he was the first man, the father of all God’s children.”
Jacob passed away in 2005 at the age of 90.