Sine Chadi

Sine Chadi is an outstanding businessperson, real estate entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Alberta MLA. Among his many accomplishments, his personal and financial contributions have been instrumental in the expansion of institutions including the Al Rashid Mosque and the Glenrose Hospital Foundation, and in ensuring the survival of arts organizations including Theatre Network and the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts.

Born on February 13, 1956, in Lac La Biche, Sine Kassim Chadi was the third of 6 children in a family that has been part of Alberta’s heritage since before it became a province. His grandfather, Hussain, emigrated from Lebanon in 1895 with his nephew Ali, beckoned by stories of gold fortunes being amassed in the Klondike. Rather than following the gold rush, however, they settled in northern Alberta, establishing a general store and joining the fur trade. They built relationships across cultures – even learning Cree – and became part of the fabric of Lac La Biche and the Canadian north.

Sine grew up immersed in a legacy of integrity, curiosity and hard work. His father, Mike, taught him the fur trade, and together they travelled Alberta’s backroads, building connections with people from every walk of life. “I don’t know who knows Alberta better than me,” Sine says. “There isn’t a side road in this province I haven’t been on.”

When he was 10 years old, Sine’s mother, Zeher (Rose), passed away, and this saw him shouldering family responsibilities from an early age. Though he had once dreamed of becoming a doctor, necessity led him instead to pursue a career in business, for which he showed a strong talent. At age 16, for instance, he demonstrated remarkable foresight in purchasing a parcel of land that he sold 7 years later for a 1,300% profit. He boldly declared in his senior year of high school that he would be a millionaire by age 25, and this was a promise he would go on to keep.

Sine’s entrepreneurial drive soon expanded beyond Lac La Biche. In his twenties and thirties, he founded a string of successful ventures: the North American Mortgage Corporation, Portage la Biche Insurance Corporation and the real estate brokerage Sable Realty Corporation. He also became active in civic leadership and served as president of many organizations, including the Lac La Biche Chamber of Commerce, the Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society and the Canadian Arab Professional and Business Club.

Hallmarks of Sine’s career have been his vision, resilience and ability to transform risk into reward. The recession of the early 1980s brought some setbacks, for example, but where others saw collapse, he saw opportunity. He purchased foreclosed properties from banks and waited patiently – a strategy that paid off. By the 1990s, he had rebuilt his fortunes and expanded his reach. “Those who are afraid to take a risk will never succeed,” he says. “Never.”

In 1998, he founded Imperial Equities, Inc., a publicly traded company serving Alberta’s industrial and agricultural sectors. From a start-up, he nurtured it into a corporation controlling more than a quarter of a billion dollars in assets. Alongside Imperial Equities, Sine launched and led more companies, including Imperial Distributors Canada, Inc., King Cash Corporation, the Chadi Land Company, North American Mortgage and Leasing and Sable Realty Management, Ltd.

In the early 1990s, Sine took a brief but significant detour into politics. Encouraged by Laurence Decore, the former mayor of Edmonton and leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, he ran in the 1993 provincial election and won the riding of Edmonton Roper (now Edmonton Castle Downs). His time at the Legislature advocating for economic growth and responsible governance reflected his genuine care for his constituents, and the experience underscored his belief that government must serve and empower all citizens. Although many urged him to seek re-election, he felt strongly that he could contribute more as an entrepreneur and community leader.

If Sine’s business career has been marked by boldness, his philanthropy has been defined by a compassion and vision that saw him back some of Alberta’s most vital cultural, social and healthcare institutions.

When Canada’s oldest mosque needed expansion to accommodate its growing school, Sine secured property and millions of dollars in financing — both his financial skill and his faith in the community helped convince reluctant lenders to back the project. The loan was repaid only eight years later and today, the Edmonton Islamic Academy is recognized throughout Alberta for its academic excellence.

When fire destroyed Edmonton’s Roxy Theatre in 2014, Sine, an ardent supporter and board member of Theatre Network, provided one of the largest donations to its rebuilding campaign. The Roxy and Theatre Network today stand as symbols of renewed hope for thriving local artists.

When the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts faced financial struggles in the 2020s, the Centre turned to Sine. He lobbied the City of Edmonton for relief, spearheaded fundraising and made substantial personal contributions to ensure the studio and gallery for artists with developmental disabilities could thrive.

In 2017, Sine’s gift enabled the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital to create the Chadi Centre for Pediatric Rehabilitation, supporting children with disabilities. He later led fundraising for patients suffering from long COVID.

Beyond these major commitments, Sine has supported hundreds of charitable organizations, among them STARS Air Ambulance, the Stollery Children’s Hospital, WIN House, Autism Edmonton, the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, CapitalCare Foundation, Parkinson Alberta and the Edmonton Humane Society.

He is renowned as an auctioneer, raising funds with humour, energy and passion. He has wielded the gavel at countless events benefiting groups such as the Kids in the Hall, E4C, Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton, MacEwan University, St. Vincent de Paul, Pilgrims Hospice and the Citadel Theatre.

Importantly, Sine’s philanthropy extends to individuals in crisis. He has helped families who were struggling with medical bills, refugees seeking new beginnings and children with disabilities. For him, generosity is not about recognition but about strengthening the social fabric. “Do I actively seek out recognition?” he asks. “Not at all. It’s never really made much sense to me. People are in need, and I just happen to be there when it counts.”

Sine is also a passionate collector, with a special interest in Indigenous art and rare Canadian currency — a tribute to his late mother, who once kept a shoebox collection of old coins and bills. What began as a sentimental pursuit is now among the world’s largest collections of old Canadian currency in private hands — a unique way of preserving heritage.

The many recognitions he has received over the course of his career are testaments to the impact and breadth of his service: the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Alberta Centennial Medal (2005), EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist (2008), the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence – Community Service Hall of Fame (2013), Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame (2022), the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta) (2022) and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025).

Family remains his foundation. He lives in Edmonton with his wife Seham and is a proud father of 3 and grandfather of 6. Through every success, Sine has remained grounded in humility, kindness and love of community.