M. Pollack Ltd, Maurice Pollack
Pollack Department Store
Founded: 1906, Saint Roch, Quebec City, Canada
Defunct: 1978

Maurice Pollack came to Canada at age 17 in 1902 from the Ukraine as a Jewish immigrant with no money. He started out as a traveling salesman and saved up enough money to open a small store. In 1906, at 20 he opened a department store on rue Saint-Joseph in the Saint-Roch district of Quebec City. The business was successful so he expanded his store, expanded again, and became very wealthy. M. Pollack Ltd. became one of the largest companies in the region. In 1951 Maurice Pollack opened a brand-new store on boulevard Charest, for which his architects received high praise in trade magazines. Having amassed a great deal of money from his commercial enterprises, in 1955 Pollack retired and began to devote his time to philanthropy. He set up a foundation to aid Canadian organizations. Pollack was its president until his death in 1968, and was succeeded by his son, Charles C. Pollack. The store closed 10 years later in 1978 due to changes in consumer habits.