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Leon Koffler was born in Romania. He moved to Canada and settled in the Toronto area at the age of fifteen with his mother and his three sisters. He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1921, and two years later, opened his first pharmacy at 376 College Street. Leon lived in the apartment above his store with his wife Tiana [née. Reinhorn] and their son Murray.
Koffler's Drug Store, 1923-
- Address
- 376 College Street
- Source
- Landmarks
Leon Koffler was born in Romania. He moved to Canada and settled in the Toronto area at the age of fifteen with his mother and his three sisters. He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1921, and two years later, opened his first pharmacy at 376 College Street. Leon lived in the apartment above his store with his wife Tiana [née. Reinhorn] and their son Murray.
- Address
- 376 College Street
- Time Period
- 1923
- Scope Note
- Leon Koffler was born in Romania. He moved to Canada and settled in the Toronto area at the age of fifteen with his mother and his three sisters. He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1921, and two years later, opened his first pharmacy at 376 College Street. Leon lived in the apartment above his store with his wife Tiana [née. Reinhorn] and their son Murray.
- Category
- Retail store
- Source
- Landmarks
![Murray Koffler with his Aunt Anne outside his father's College Street Store, [ca. 1927]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 37, series 9, item 1.|Murray Bernard Koffler was born in a four-room flat over his father's drugstore on College Street on January 22, 1924. His parents' names were Leon and Tiana [née Reinhorn] Koffler. Murray married Marvelle Seligman and they had five children named: Leon, Theo, Tom, Adam and Tiana.|Following in his father's footsteps, Murray was educated as a pharmacist and eventually took over the family drugstore when he was twenty-two years old. After making some profitable real-estate investments, he helped to co-found the Four Seasons Hotel chain, and created the first self-serve pharmacy in Canada. His entrepreneurial talents led the way to the creation of the giant pharmacy franchise, Shoppers Drug Mart.|A world renowned philanthropist, Murray Koffler’s donations and commitments have helped fund the creation of the Koffler Centre of the Arts, the Koffler Institute of Pharmacy Management, the Canadian Council for Native Business, the Council on Drug Abuse, and, as well, he has also held positions on numerous boards and organizations. His tireless efforts and achievements have been recognized with many awards including becoming a member of the Order of Canada in 1977.](/media/Digital Assets/37-Gilbert/37-S9-Item-1.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
