On September 18, 2010, Nova Scotia bid farewell to a true entrepreneurial and philanthropic legend. Irving Schwartz was born in 1929 in New Waterford, N.S. A modest man, few would know that he was one of Cape Breton’s largest private employers outside of a major industry.

Schwartz’s success in business began at his parents’ clothing store along with his siblings. That all changed after his mother, Rose, sent him on a furniture-buying expedition to Montreal where he stocked a rail car to the brim with product. Young and inexperienced, yet highly motivated and driven, Schwartz managed to sell every stick of furniture from that train. The rest, as they say, is history. From his prominence in the furniture business with Schwartz Furniture, he expanded his business portfolio to encompass a number of endeavors, including Sydney-based Seaside Communications.

Irving Schwartz’s efforts were not confined to the business world. Donating his time and effort to his community was just as important to him as making a deal. Schwartz was involved in the Cape Breton Children’s Aid Society in addition to founding the Canadian International Demining Corps in 1996, an organization that helped war-torn countries build on peacetime by removing the dangerous scourge of land mines.

Battling cancer and Parkinson’s disease for the past two years, family members remembered Schwartz’s fortitude arriving at functions less than 24 hours after major surgery–seemingly nothing could veer him away from his schedule.

With all of his accomplishments and accolades, Schwartz would have been both humbled and embarrassed by the over 1,000 people–family, friends, colleagues, and government officials–who attended his funeral in at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Sydney this past Monday. He will be truly missed. I guarantee it. — Jenna  Conter

Editor’s Note: Progress readers can enjoy Irving Schwartz’s last interview with this magazine, conducted by Hal Dornadic after being honoured as Atlantic Canada’s Ernst & Young’s Lifetime Achievement recipient at the 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Being born in 1929 takes on an extra significance these days, as it was the last time the financial markets saw such losses. Approaching the age of 80, Irving Schwartz estimates he’s been involved with around three-dozen businesses, half of which he claims to still operate. Born in the coal-mining town of New Waterford, N.S., his first job was cleaning out horse barns, with the effect that no one wanted to sit beside him in school.

By age 12 Schwartz was in charge of heating the local movie theatre, getting paid in free admissions and improving his popularity. Seven eventful decades later, he has been granted numerous honourary degrees and business excellence awards and has been inducted into the Order of Canada, which he calls his proudest achievement. An elder statesmen of business, a technology pioneer, and an angel investor in his own right, Irving Schwartz possesses more fire for business than most people half his age. And he still loves to talk about it. — Hal Dornadic

Entrepreneurial style: Ethics is important in anything I do. Most significant business triumph: Seaside Cable (Cape Breton’s first cable company, formed in 1980). I started with 20 investors from New Waterford and Glace Bay. Eventually I bought them out and ran the company up to today. We recently won a contract to supply Internet services to all of rural eastern Nova Scotia, probably the single biggest deal I ever made. I compare it to the time when the rural areas got electricity. It’s just as important.

On relationships: You can have a great business idea and a poor partner, and you can get into trouble. On the other hand, you can have a great partner but a lousy business idea, and that will get you in trouble. You have to trust your instincts. I’ve had many mentors too, people I can talk to, get advice from, information: Jim Gogan, former president of Sobey’s; Bill Blondell, former president of Canadian General Electric; my mother, Rose; even my own accountant, George Unsworth.

The journey: I still look at all this as a learning experience. I’ve never graduated from “the school of business” or ever thought I knew it all. I’m just as cautious and inquisitive today as I was when I started. The respect I have for fellow entrepreneurs, or just the ordinary guy, hasn’t changed. And I can still make as big a mistake today as I did years ago.

On role models: My work ethic I learned from my mother. I remember her going to work at 7:30 in the morning and coming home at 7:30 at night. And on Saturday nights the store [Schwartz & Co., clothing store] was open until 10 p.m. in New Waterford. [His mother took over the store when Irving’s father died in 1932 and raised six children at the same time.] It was like a “guilt sandwich”; you knew you had to perform because she was putting all this effort into you.

Biggest strength: My ability to make friends with people and get to know them. My hobby is coming to work, meeting customers, walking around. I still handle the odd complaint. I can’t imagine not doing it.

On the Order of Canada: From the day my mother arrived in Halifax and kissed the ground, she thanked her father every day for the rest of her life for bringing her to Canada. To think that the second generation would be honoured with the Order of Canada for giving back to Canada was a great emotional experience for me.

Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: First, it’s not a 9 to 5 job. Second, look down the road a little and shore up finances. Get a plan B, C, and D in place to make sure you have enough capital. Third, pick the right people to help you. And finally, look after your reputation. Never get into a situation where people can’t trust you. If you make a mistake, admit it and move on.

On giving back: The Canadian International Demining Corporation (CIDC) works all over the world. We started about 11 years ago and we now work in 22 countries. Today wehave 50 people working in Bosnia lifting unexploded landmines out of the ground. Even though this venture has been financially draining, it’s been emotionally rewarding for me. I used to think I missed out on several opportunities to help others. I was too young to enlist in World War II, and I came to think of unexploded mines as a scourge around the world. And I said if the opportunity ever came up to do something about it, I would.