The number of buildings in Edmonton named after Irving Kipnes provides a glimpse into his influence on his adopted home, as well as his range of philanthropic interests: the University of Alberta’s Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Academy and Dianne and Irving Kipnes Urology Centre, the CapitalCare Kipnes Centre for Veterans, and the forthcoming Oshry-Kipnes Jewish Community Centre. There’s also the five-storey Kipnes Lantern at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, a testament to the influence of its namesake beyond Edmonton. But the scale of the real-estate developer and liquor magnate’s imprint on Edmonton far exceeds the several facilities bearing the Kipnes name. Over the past 65 years, Mr. Kipnes played an outsized role in physically shaping Edmonton into the sprawling metropolis of today, as the owner of Delcon Development Group, which also oversaw developments in Calgary and Scottsdale, Ariz. “A lot of the south side of Edmonton would have been crafted in a way that Irv envisioned it, simply because he made it happen and was just determined over a longer haul,” said Craig Corbett, a business associate of Mr. Kipnes and close friend of almost 20 years. “That’s the real estate game in general, but he did it at scale.” Mr. Kipnes’s family foundation also contributed millions of dollars to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, University Hospital Foundation, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Citadel Theatre, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton Opera, the Jewish Archives and Historical Society of Edmonton, and the Beth Shalom Synagogue, among other beneficiaries. “If you just drive around Edmonton, it’s hard to drive for five minutes without seeing a building or an organization that has benefited from their time or generosity,” added Mr. Corbett, who described Mr. Kipnes as a “boss, mentor and quasi-grandfather.” Philanthropists Irving and Dianne Kipnes in their Edmonton office on May 16, 2007. John Ulan/The Globe and Mail Irving Kipnes died in Edmonton on Oct. 19 of kidney failure at the age of 90. He leaves his daughters, Rozanne Kipnes and Ronee Kipnes; stepdaughter, Kendra Walker; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and extended family. Mr. Kipnes was predeceased by his spouse of 36 years, Dr. Dianne Kipnes, and son, Harry Kipnes. Throughout his life, Mr. Kipnes was hyperfocused on his twin passions: business and philanthropy. “He didn’t have any hobbies,” Ms. Walker said. “There was no sudoku. There was no music.” Dr. Kipnes, who earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Fielding University in Santa Barbara, Calif., was the “impetus for their support for the arts,” according to Mr. Corbett, who once served as board chair of Edmonton Opera. “Irv and Dianne had an awesome partnership in life, business and philanthropy.” Mr. Kipnes’s passion for philanthropy extended to his social circle. “To be associated with him, you had to be a giver,” said lawyer and business partner David Margolus, a longtime friend. “If you were involved with him and you had a cause and he was close with you, he would want to give to that cause.” Mr. Margolus, now 76, was a 28-year-old lawyer representing Delcon when he first met Mr. Kipnes. The two men had much in common. Both had lost their parents when they were in their early 20s and shared a strong work ethic that often resulted in late nights at the office. Mr. Margolus described himself as a “young, green lawyer” at the time, whereas Mr. Kipnes was already a well-established businessman. Decades later, Mr. Kipnes’s extraordinary fastidiousness in reviewing legal paperwork stands out to Mr. Margolus. “He was the only client then, and the only client to this day that would read every line. He would sit across from me – he’d have his document, I’d have mine, and he’d ask me what this meant, what that meant, and what this Latin term meant,” Mr. Margolus recalled. “I learned more law from him than I did in law school.” Mr. Kipnes was born in Calgary on Sept. 10, 1
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