Albert Gooderham

Who was Albert Gooderham?

Colonel Sir Albert Edward Gooderham, KCMG was a Canadian financier, soldier, and philanthropist. His grandfather was brewer William Gooderham.

Gooderham founded the Canadian Academy of Music in 1911, and invited Luigi von Kunits to Canada to teach at the Academy. In 1929, Gooderham survived the stock market crash with his fortune largely intact; during the financial crisis that followed, he kept the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from bankruptcy.

Gooderham became a managing director at Gooderham and Worts in 1905 and vice-president in 1912.

Outside of his family business he served in various corporation:

Dominion of Canada Guarantee and Accident Company

Confederation Life Association

Bank of Toronto

Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation

He was also the chairman of the Ontario branch of the Red Cross, and donated farm land for the establishment of Connaught Laboratories north of Toronto.

He joined the 10th Royal Grenadiers as second lieutenant in 1885 and later commanded the unit.