Ed Sonshine: From Displaced Persons Camp To a Multi-Billion Dollar Real Estate Empire

Ed Sonshine is one of those people you could speak with for hours and barely scratch the surface of his life. Born in Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp after World War II to two Holocaust survivors, he immigrated to Canada as a young child. After already becoming a very successful lawyer, he founded RioCan, which, at the time, was the first REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) in Canada. As of this recording, RioCan operates 193 properties, has over 33 million in leasable square feet, and an evaluation of $15 billion. In this episode of Big Shot, you’ll learn what it was like being born in Germany after the war, how Ed built a real estate empire while still being a family man, why he thinks the Jewish community is extremely self-reliant, and much more.

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In This Episode, We Cover:

(00:00) Welcome to Big Shot and meet our guest Ed Sunshine

(05:40) The early days of Ed’s life and being born in a displaced person’s camp

(10:18) Why Ed’s father was a smuggler after the war and never complained

(14:55) What made Ed want to be successful and change career paths

(19:12) When Ed got the idea to bring the first REIT to Canada

(24:38) What he learned from his father that had a profound impact on him 

(27:20) How Ed built a business empire while being a family man

(31:20) Why Ed finally got a cottage 

(36:40) How Ed defines success, financial security, and purpose

(42:15) Why the Jewish community is self-reliant

(50:51) How Ed defines chutzpah

(52:32) A story you need to hear about Ed’s father

(58:36) What worries Ed about the future 

(1:04:40) Ed’s biggest piece of advice to younger generations

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Referenced:

RioCan: https://www.riocan.com/ 

Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/bergen-belsen-displaced-persons-camp 

An Empire Of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Their-Own-Invented-Hollywood/dp/0385265573