Jim Pattison

Jim Pattison – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Jim Pattison is a Canadian business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Explore the life and career of Jim Pattison, his guiding philosophy, famous quotes, and enduring legacy in Canada and beyond.

Introduction

Jim Pattison (born October 1, 1928) is one of Canada’s most prominent self-made businessmen. As the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Jim Pattison Group, he has built a sprawling conglomerate spanning automotive, media, retail, entertainment, packaging, and more. His journey from modest beginnings to billionaire status is an inspirational story of perseverance, vision, and disciplined execution. Even in his later years, he continues to play a hands-on role in his businesses and in philanthropic endeavors. His life offers valuable lessons on leadership, risk, humility, and social responsibility.

Early Life and Family

James Allen Pattison was born on October 1, 1928, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

When Jim was six, his family moved to East Vancouver, British Columbia, where he grew up.

His upbringing was marked by modesty. He took on many small jobs during his youth—selling seeds, delivering newspapers, working at camps, and other odd jobs—to help support himself and his family.

Jim also had a musical side: in grade 3 he played the kazoo in a school concert, which led to his mother purchasing him a trumpet. He studied for eight years and later participated in the Kitsilano Boys Band and the Vancouver Junior Symphony.

On the personal front, Jim Pattison married Mary Hudson. The two met as teenagers (around age 13) at a church-related camp. They had a long marriage and raised three children together.

Youth and Education

Pattison attended John Oliver Secondary School in Vancouver, graduating in 1947.

After high school, he enrolled in the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia (UBC). However, he did not complete his degree—he was reportedly three courses shy of a full commerce degree.

While a student, he worked various jobs—washing cars, selling used cars, and doing other labor—to support himself. It was during one summer working at a car dealership that he sold a vehicle when the regular salesperson was absent—a pivotal moment that revealed his affinity and talent for sales.

Over time, his success in car sales allowed him to finance further ventures and eventually step fully into entrepreneurship.

Career and Achievements

Entry into the Auto Business & First Dealership

In 1961, Pattison persuaded a Royal Bank branch to lend him $40,000—well above its usual limit—to acquire a Pontiac dealership. He used his house as collateral, assigned his life insurance policy’s cash surrender value, and took a preferred share loan from General Motors to complete the financing.

That dealership became the foundation of what evolved into the Jim Pattison Group. Over the next decades, Patterson expanded aggressively and diversified into many industries.

Building a Conglomerate

The Jim Pattison Group (founded 1961, Vancouver) is now Canada’s second largest privately held company (by revenue and number of employees) and spans multiple sectors across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Its activities include:

• Automotive: A large network of car and truck dealerships (e.g. Peterbilt) and related services

• Media & Broadcasting: Radio and television stations in multiple provinces

• Retail & Food Distribution: Chains such as Overwaitea, Save-On-Foods, Quality Foods (Overwaitea was acquired in 1968)

• Entertainment & Publishing: Ownership of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and acquisition of Guinness World Records in 2008.

• Packaging & Manufacturing: Packaging operations, flexible packaging, and related manufacturing businesses

• Export & Logistics: Investments in export terminals (e.g. Westshore Terminals)

• Agricultural / Dealer Network: Pattison Agriculture is a major John Deere dealer chain in Western Canada

Over time, the group made numerous acquisitions—Neon Products, Seaboard Outdoor Advertising, provincial magazine distributors, real estate arms, and more—solidifying a diversified portfolio.

Major Projects & Contributions

• Expo 86 (Vancouver): Pattison acted as CEO and president of Expo 86 Corporation. His leadership and drive were crucial to the success of the world’s fair held in Vancouver.

• Governance in Forest Products: Pattison holds significant shareholdings in Canfor, a major forest products company, and has been involved in governance decisions and board restructuring.

• Media Leadership: His group is one of the major Western Canadian media owners, with dozens of radio stations and multiple TV stations.

Wealth, Recognition, and Later Activity

As of recent years, Pattison’s net worth has been estimated by different sources in the multi-billion range.

He has been honored with Canada’s Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, the Canadian Professional Sales Association Hall of Fame, and other awards (e.g. Horatio Alger Award).

Interestingly, even into his 90s, Pattison has remained active in business, visiting operations, driving long hours between dealerships, and constantly seeking new investment deals.

He once said:

“Well, I get 365 days. If you like your work, it’s not work.”

Historical Milestones & Context

• The growth of the Jim Pattison Group reflects a classic mid-20th to late-20th century Canadian business expansion into conglomerates and diversified holdings, at a time when many investor expectations favored specialization.

• Pattison’s success also coincided with the postwar Canadian economic boom, westward development in British Columbia, and increasing media, retail, and consumer markets in Canada.

• His ability to move from automotive into media, grocery, packaging, entertainment, and logistics shows adaptability in a changing economy (globalization, technology, regulatory shifts).

• The acquisition of Guinness World Records and the expansion of Ripley’s represented a shift toward branding, global content, and entertainment, aligning with global trends in the late 20th century.

Legacy and Influence

Jim Pattison’s legacy is multifaceted:

1. Business Model of Diversification + Hands-on Leadership
   He has demonstrated that a diversified conglomerate can succeed over decades when well managed, and that a founder can maintain influence and quality control even at scale.

2. Philanthropy & Social Impact
   Pattison is a major philanthropist in Canada. Through the Jim Pattison Foundation, he has made substantial donations in healthcare, education, and community sectors.

   A notable example: in 2017 he contributed CA$75 million toward the construction of the new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver—one of the largest private donations in Canadian history.

   Also, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon (opened in 2019) is named after a CA$50 million donation he made.

3. Inspiration for Entrepreneurs
   His life story—from selling seeds and washing cars to building an empire—serves as a model for persistence, humility, and believing in one’s capacity to grow step by step.

4. Canadian Business Identity
   As one of the top private businessowners in Canada, he has influenced how Canada’s private sector engages in retail, media, and manufacturing. His example suggests that immense success need not come with excessive ostentation—but can still shape the national business landscape.

Personality and Talents

• Work Ethic & Stamina: Pattison is known for long hours, frequent travel, and personal involvement. “I track some long hours,” he has said.

• Frugality & Simplicity: Despite massive wealth, he has maintained a relatively modest lifestyle compared to many billionaires.

• Curiosity & Adaptability: He has moved across industries, adapting to change. He once remarked:

  “It’s quite normal to hear of a change and see it as a problem, but it’s probably an opportunity, depending on how quickly you can adjust.”

• Resilience & Learning Mindset: Pattison has publicly admitted to making frequent mistakes, but always striving to learn:

  “I’ve made more mistakes than anyone I know. Sometimes I learned something, and sometimes I just find myself doing it again.”

• Honesty & Integrity: He often speaks of “right and wrong” shaped by his father, and sees honesty as foundational in business.

• Salesmanship: His early success in car sales and continual emphasis on customer value shows his core strength in persuasion, trust-building, and deal-making.

Famous Quotes of Jim Pattison

Below are some of his notable sayings that reflect his approach to business and life:

“I’ve made more mistakes than anyone I know. Sometimes I learned something, and sometimes I just find myself doing it again.”

“It’s quite normal to hear of a change and see it as a problem, but it’s probably an opportunity, depending on how quickly you can adjust.”

“We all fail — I have failed so many times, but it never discourages me. I just pick up and go.”

“I’ve always believed that competition is good for consumers and good for businesses.”

“In my job, I have many operations, so I tend to use time in my car to think. I get in the car after work and drive all night—11 hours, Vancouver to Banff.”

“When I was 8 years old, I sold garden seeds.”

“Radio had been very good to me as a car dealer. It’s flexible, and it’s fast — you can get on the air in an hour and change your message — and compared to other types of media, it’s very good value.”

“My grade 3 teacher put on a kids’ Christmas concert, and I played the kazoo, so my mother bought me a trumpet. I took lessons for eight years …”

“I probably fly twice a week, within Canada and the States.”

“I come to work, and I have a good time. I have no reason to change anything that I do.”

These quotes illuminate his humility, persistence, belief in learning, and ability to see chance and change as opportunities.

Lessons from Jim Pattison

1. Start small, scale with discipline
   Pattison’s start—selling seeds, working odd jobs, washing cars—was modest. But he didn’t look for shortcuts; he steadily built trust, competence, and reputation.

2. Don’t fear mistakes—learn from them
   He openly acknowledges repeated failures and emphasizes the importance of reflection and adjustment over denial.

3. Diversify intelligently
   Rather than sticking rigidly to one sector, he expanded into complementary (or undervalued) industries where he saw synergy or room for turnaround.

4. Stay personally involved
   Even as his holdings grew, Pattison remained hands-on: visiting operations, reviewing details, and connecting with people on the ground.

5. Value honesty and reputation
   Across decades, his consistent emphasis on integrity built trust in his brands, partners, and communities.

6. Give back generously
   He believes part of wealth is social responsibility. His large-scale philanthropic contributions in health and community institutions reflect that ethos.

7. Love your work—make life and career converge
   His line, “If you like your work, it’s not work,” shows that fulfillment and business can align—if one chooses purpose and passion as guiding stars.

Conclusion

Jim Pattison’s life is a testament to what consistent effort, integrity, and vision can yield over time. From small beginnings to the helm of one of Canada’s greatest private enterprises, he has balanced ambition with humility, expansion with care, and wealth with generous contributions to society.

His legacy is anchored not only in his business empire, but also in the hospitals, foundations, and institutions that bear his name—and in the inspiration he offers to generations of entrepreneurs.

May we all find in his story the reminder that success is less about sudden breakthroughs and more about daily dedication, adaptability, and a heart for community.

Explore more on his famous sayings, the Jim Pattison Group’s ventures, and how his philosophy might guide your own journey.