When Herman and Sarah Reitman opened a small women’s clothing store on Montreal’s Saint Lawrence Boulevard in 1926, little did they know that it would become such a hugely successful company.
Today, at 90 years in business, Reitmans Canada boasts over 800 stores across Canada, operating under six different banners, including Reitmans, RW & Co., Addition-Elle, Pennington, Hyba and Thyme Maternity, making it Canada’s largest women’s clothing specialty chain, with nearly 10,000 employees.
As the chain flourished, so did the family’s commitment to philanthropy and social causes. Over the years, the family has generously supported Combined Jewish Appeal, The Jack Reitman Hillel House at McGill University, Maimonides Geriatric Centre, The Jewish General Hospital, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Montreal Neurological Institute.
Of particular note are the examples set by Herman & Sarah’s descendants; Dorothy Reitman,C.M. a past President of The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, and of the Canadian Jewish Congress; Stephen Reitman, General Campaign Chair of the 2000 Combined Jewish Appeal Campaign and past Board Member of CIJA; Sarah Reitman-Rubin, Women’s Chair of the 2006 Combined Jewish Appeal Campaign & Board Member of North American Womens Philanthropy; Julia Reitman, past President of the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre and Chair of Jewish Federations of Canada / United Israel appeal; and Allen Rubin, Past Chair of the Foundation of the Jewish General Hospital and Immediate Past President of the Jewish General Hospital.
