Keith Beedie, the founder and patriarch of the Beedie Development Group, passed away on September 20 at the age of 91.

As founder and former president of Beedie Development Group, Keith was widely recognized for his entrepreneurial drive and uncompromising commitment to quality, customer service and employee engagement. He began his career in 1945 at the age of 19, when he and a partner bought a 50 square metre lot in Vancouver’s Marpole area for $200, upon which they constructed a concrete woodworking shop with their own hands. Over the ensuing decade he became a general contractor, building quality homes, including PNE prize homes, in the Lower Mainland.

After a downturn in the housing market during the early 1960s, Keith diversified by investing in commercial and industrial construction projects. Today the Beedie Development Group is Metro Vancouver’s largest private industrial landowner, developer and landlord, having completed 21 million square feet of construction in British Columbia and Alberta.

In 2001, Keith was succeeded by his son Ryan as president, allowing him to focus on philanthropic efforts through the Keith and Betty Beedie Foundation. The foundation has advocated for better access to health care by building a family health care clinic in Sri Lanka and donating equipment to St. Paul’s, Burnaby General and Vancouver General hospitals. It also supports Burnaby Kidsport, which enables underprivileged kids to participate in organized sports.

Keith donated $22 million to  SFU in 2011 to create the Beedie School of Business, and in 2016 was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from SFU.

Keith is survived by Betty Beedie, his wife of 51 years, and four children as well as 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.