Irving Kipnes, Edmonton developer and philanthropist, dies at 90
The chemical engineer and liquor-chain owner backed decades of giving to arts organizations, hospitals, and the Jewish community.
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Irving "Irv" Kipnes, a chemical engineer, developer, and liquor-chain owner who reshaped Edmonton's cultural and medical landscape through decades of giving, died on October 19, 2026. He was 90.
Kipnes moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta after growing up in Calgary during the Second World War. Alongside his chemical engineering work, he invested in real estate and eventually built Delcon Development Group into a major development company.
He and his late wife, Dr. Dianne Kipnes, became the city's most visible philanthropic couple. The Kipnes Foundation is credited as foundational to Ballet Edmonton's existence. Trudy Callaghan, Ballet Edmonton's chair, said: "The Kipnes Foundation is the reason Ballet Edmonton exists. I am sure that many non-profits in this city feel the same as we do." The couple's first fundraiser for the ballet was held in their living room.
Their giving extended across the arts: Edmonton Opera, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and Art Gallery of Alberta all received support. They also backed medical institutions including the Cross Cancer Institute and Mazankowski Heart Institute. The Kipnes Centre for Veterans, the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Academy at the University of Alberta, and the Oshry-Kipnes Jewish Community Centre (expected to open by end of 2026) bear their names.
Annemarie Petrov, president of the Winspear Centre, said Kipnes brought others along in his vision. "He cared deeply about Edmonton, and he backed that up with action. When he believed in something, he showed up, and he brought people with him," she said. "He had real vision for this city, and he encouraged others to invest in the arts alongside him. Together, he and Dianne gave generously, helping shape who we are today."
Kipnes received the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2012. His wife died in 2024.
The facts
When did Irving Kipnes die?
Irving Kipnes died on October 19, 2026, at age 90.
What was Irving Kipnes's background?
Irving Kipnes was a chemical engineer who grew up in Calgary during the Second World War and moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta. He went on to build Delcon Development Group into a major development company and became a liquor-chain owner.
Which arts organizations did the Kipnes Foundation support?
The Kipnes Foundation supported Ballet Edmonton, Edmonton Opera, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and Art Gallery of Alberta. The foundation was instrumental in Ballet Edmonton's existence.
What honors did Irving Kipnes receive?
Irving Kipnes received the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2012. Multiple facilities in Edmonton bear his name, including the Kipnes Centre for Veterans, the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Academy at the University of Alberta, and the Oshry-Kipnes Jewish Community Centre.
