Maxwell Cummings

Who was Maxwell Cummings?

Maxwell Cummings, CM GOQ was a Canadian real estate builder and philanthropist.

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of David and Beatrice Cummings, he came to Montreal with his family in 1911.

In 1929, he began a career in real estate brokerage and development. He was responsible for Canada's first strip mall, the Norgate shopping centre in Saint-Laurent and was one of the first Canadians to develop low-cost housing.

He was a prominent member of the Montreal Jewish community. His offspring include the late philanthropist and entrepreneur Jack Cummings and businessman Robert Cummings. Jack's children include Steven Cummings, who like his grandfather has received the Order of Canada, Richard Cummings, Executive Director of Jewish Family and Child Toronto, and Nancy Cummings-Gold, president of The PACCK Foundation.

In 1978, Maxwell Cummings was made a Member of the Order of Canada and a Grand officer of the National Order of Quebec in 1990.