Annual Report 2016

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

In 1937, two brothers, Sam and Sid Sniderman, created a record department in their family’s

store, Sniderman Radio Sales & Service, on College Street. That little department was the spark

that led to the creation of a Toronto landmark—Sam the Record Man—that lasted over four

decades at 347 Yonge Street.

The Princess Margaret now has a very special connection to ‘Sam’s’ thanks to a transformational

gift from Sid’s daughter Lana.

Like her father, Lana worked in the back office specializing in franchising, leasing and

investments. She had a very strong work ethic, and she also had passions that she pursued

avidly outside of working hours. She owned a farm in Nobleton, and there she became a

successful dog breeder, specializing in Dobermans.

And then there was horse racing and horseback riding. Lana’s love

of thoroughbred horses and her compassion for animals was evident

through her long-time and generous support of the LongRun

Thoroughbred Retirement Society—an organization devoted to

arranging good care for retired racehorses.

Her long-time friend, Barbara Jacobs, spoke about how loyal Lana

was to her close friends and staff. “She was a private person, but very

generous to the people and causes that were important to her.”

Now people with cancer are benefiting from Lana’s compassion and

generosity. She had her own battles with cancer, and, in gratitude for

wonderful care that she received at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre,

she made a generous bequest in her will of over $2 million. Just as

Lana worked hard to build and sustain a successful business, her legacy

will be hard at work in the quest to conquer cancer.

In March 2016, at the encouragement of David Dai and Lydia Cheung, financial consultants with Investors Group, The

Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation held its first estate planning seminar in Cantonese. Held at the Hilton Toronto/

Markham Suites, over 60 attendees heard from four different advisors—a lawyer, an accountant, and two financial

consultants—about the importance of having a Canadian will and a Power of Attorney. The speakers also discussed

ways to minimize tax, while protecting and distributing assets to one’s estate.

Several people attending shared with us that they did not know they could leave a gift to a charity in their will, and

they were very grateful for the opportunity to hear about the benefits of doing so in their own language.

Playing a key role behind the scenes at

an iconic Canadian retailer

First estate planning seminar delivered

in Cantonese

掌握未來，還看今天。

Lana Sniderman