Al Osten and his late partner Buddy Victor’s generosity has supported many causes, from arts and culture to health care. Their donations can be seen at places like the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre in Calgary and the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton.

Even after Victor’s passing in 2023, Osten has continued their tradition of giving and helping communities across the province. It was Buddy Victor’s love for hospice care that led them to support hospice groups in Calgary and Edmonton, and eventually inspired them to dedicate their wealth to helping people in many ways.

Al Osten, who was born in Saskatoon, met Brooklyn-born Buddy Victor in the U.S. when they were both part of a doo-wop group called the Rover Boys. While touring together in the 1950s, they fell in love. The band had one hit song, “Graduation Day,” which reached number 16 on the U.S. Billboard chart in 1956, but the music didn’t make enough money. What changed their lives financially was a smart investment in Weight Watchers in the 1960s, after Victor’s mother told them about its growing popularity.

After the Rover Boys broke up, Al Osten and Buddy Victor invested $10,000 to bring Weight Watchers to Alberta, a move that proved highly successful. They sold the business in 2013 and decided to dedicate their wealth to helping others.

Most recently, Osten donated $5 million to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary to help build the new 150-seat Osten Victor Theatre, set to open in 2026. Their gifts have also helped fund Calgary’s arts community, hospices in Edmonton, and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Source: Amir Said, CBC