Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame inductee Israel ‘Izzy’ Asper – Pioneer

Aug. 11, 1932: Born in Minnedosa, MB
1957: Receives bachelor of law degree from the University of Manitoba
1959: Launches the legal firm Asper, Freedman & Company in Winnipeg
1970: Elected leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
1974: Works with a Winnipeg investment group to rescue the near-bankrupt Global Television Network; receives a licence to launch CKND-TV Winnipeg
1984: Acquires 94% stake in CanWest Capital, and forms Canwest Communications
1991: Canwest acquires 20% stake in TV3 New Zealand
1992: Asper purchases 57.5% stake in Network TEN Australia to extend assets Down Under
1995: Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada
1997: Inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
1997: Steps aside as president and CEO to become executive chairman, to be replaced by Peter Viner
1999: Son Leonard Asper takes over from Viner
2000: Canwest acquires WIC Western International Communications to form a national network
2000: Purchases 14 major daily newspapers from Hollinger Inc.
2001: Canwest Global launches CH network parallel to Global Television nationwide
Oct. 7, 2003: Asper, 71, dies at home in Winnipeg, leaving wife Babs, and sons Leonard and David, EVP of Canwest and chair of the National Post, and daughter Gail, Canwest Global corporate secretary