Fonds 1071 - Asher Pierce Fonds

Asher Pierce, born in the village of Koltinan in the Kovno district of Lithuania to Jacob and Feige Dvorah (Fay Deborah), nee Bernstein on March 15, 1867. Asher arrived in Canada in 1880 at the age of 13, with the help of his uncle, Hyman Bernstein, who also helped Asher’s brother Charles to immigrate to Canada one year earlier. The first work Asher found was cutting bed slats for a Montreal furniture company, and later, a water boy for a railroad construction gang. According to the family, the latter job was what got him started in the peddling trade. His remaining family immigrated to Canada in 1884, soon attempting farming in Middlechurch, Manitoba and then again in 1888 in Oxbow, Saskatchewan. Pierce returned to Montreal at the turn of the century and started his successful whole sale fur business. In 1900 he married Ella (Nellie) Vineberg and the couple had one son in 1901, Sydney David.

Pierce was heavily involved in the Jewish community and philanthropy, as evidenced in the following entry from Canadian Jewry, "...selected and assisted the Jewish colony at Hirsch, Sask., assisted to settle the French Colony in Cardroff, Sask. In 1894 settled a colony of 24 Jewish families at his own expense, which ten years later was the most prosperous colony in the West; was one of the five who built the Mont Sinai Sanatorium, St[e]. Agathe; also one of five who purchased the Orphan’s Home; Life Governor of the following hospitals: Montreal General, Western, Notre Dame and Verdun Asylum. Past President A. and E. Pierce and Co. Ltd., founder and first Vice-President of Canadian Fur Auction Sales Co., Ltd., past Vice-President of Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. In 1927 founded the Gan Chaim Corporation Ltd. for the development of orange plantations in Palestine, which now owns and operates the largest Palestinian orange grove. He was associated in this undertaking and in other transactions for the development of Palestine, with the late Lord Melchet. Clubs: Montefiore, Islesmere Golf."

Canadian Jewry: Prominent Jews of Canada. Dr. Zvi Cohen, ed. Toronto: Canadian Jewish Historical Publishing Company, 1933. p. 258