Fonds F0183 - Max Bell fonds

George Maxwell "Max" Bell, 1912-1972, was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He received his BA in commerce from McGill University in 1932, and in 1935 became business manager for the Calgary Albertan in Calgary, Alberta, owned by his father. After his father's death in 1936 he became president and publisher. He invested in the oil industry, amassed a fortune, and launched a successful career as a businessman, philanthropist and sportsman. In 1959 he and Victor Sifton formed FP Publications, which eventually owned or controlled the Winnipeg Free Press, Calgary Albertan, Ottawa Journal, Victoria Times, Victoria Colonist, Toronto Globe and Mail, Vancouver Sun and Lethbridge Herald. He was a renowned sports promoter, and race horse breeder, and collected Canadian art.

Bell married twice. He and his first wife, Suzanne, 1917-2001, had four children, Chester, 1938-1970, Diane (Marra), 1934-2002, Paul and Gretchen (Dinning), 1947-. In 1955 he married Agnes McKeown McMahon [later Daugherty] 1929-1999. An arena and theatre in Calgary are named after him, as well as an aquatic centre in Lethbridge and a theatre in Banff. He was inducted into the Calgary Business Hall of Fame and Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2006.

For further information see "Max Bell" in Alberta Originals : Stories of Albertans who made a Difference / Brian Brennan. -- Calgary : Fifth House, 2001, p. 133-135, and "At the races - Max Bell" in Alberta Titans: from rags to riches during Alberta's pioneer days / Susan Warrender. -- Canmore: Altitude, 2003, p. 116-128.