Philanthropist Cor Van Raay passes away at 85
Posted Jul 30, 2021 8:09 pm.
Last Updated Jul 30, 2021 8:10 pm.
CALGARY — One of the biggest Canadian cattle producers of his generation has died.
Cor Van Raay, who co-owned a feedlot operation in the Picture Butte area, north of Lethbridge, was 85 years old.
The City of Lethbridge tweeting out Friday afternoon that Van Raay passed away Thursday.
Cor Van Raay's name is synonymous with community.
His commitment to giving back has helped many in our city to experience opportunities and resources they may not have otherwise had.
His legacy will be long and vibrant in our city. He will be greatly missed.#yql pic.twitter.com/d14utY2rlT
— City of Lethbridge (@LethbridgeCity) July 30, 2021
“His commitment to giving back has helped many in our city to experience opportunities and resources they may not have otherwise had.
“His legacy will be long and vibrant in our city. He will be greatly missed.”
Lethbridge College President and CEO, Dr. Paula Burns, says Van Raay also was heavily invested in the students from the college and cared about their futures.
“I’m really sad to see him go, he’s a big part of the Lethbridge and region community and has helped so many,” she said.
Van Raay donated $5 million to the college and the University of Lethbridge for agricultural programming.
Burns says, his support didn’t stop there.
“Until the day he died, he always wanted to know how we were able to leverage his money, and whether or not we were needing any more to do the work that we were doing,” she said.
Van Raay was also a member of the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame and was a Queens Diamond Jubilee Recipient.
