A Calgary couple's journey from doo-wop to dedicated philanthropy
The names Al Osten and Buddy Victor might be familiar to many Albertans.
Visitors to the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre in southeast Calgary, or the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton where their names adorn plaques throughout the museum, have seen the impact of their generosity firsthand.
The Calgary couple's contributions to initiatives across the province have been far-reaching. And after Victor died in 2023, Osten is continuing that legacy of giving.
Osten, 94, told the Calgary Eyeopener his journey in philanthropy started with Victor's passion for hospice care.
"Bud was really into hospice, to make sure that people were taken care of when they were on their way out," he said. "He would buy hospital beds as part of his giving at that time."
That led to contributions to hospice societies in Calgary and Edmonton. From there, the two dedicated their fortune to helping others.
Meeting through music
Saskatoon-born Osten met Brooklynite Victor in the United States when both men were part of a doo-wop group called the Rover Boys.
It was through their time touring the U.S. in the 1950s that Osten and Victor fell in love.
"The other two boys were beer drinkers, and we were lovers," said Osten.
The Rover Boys had one hit record — Graduation Day, which reached number 16 on the U.S. Billboard chart in 1956 — but their music didn't pay the bills.
What did pay off was a lucrative investment in Weight Watchers in the 1960s.
"Bud's mother said there's a big thing going on here, it's a thing called Weight Watchers, everybody's excited about it," said Osten.
Bringing Weight Watchers to Alberta
By then the one-hit wonder was no more. The Rover Boys disbanded and Osten returned to Canada.
He and Victor, who had left the U.S. to be with Osten, invested in bringing Weight Watchers to Western Canada, with their families providing $10,000 in funding to the Alberta franchise.
Judging by their financial success, it certainly paid off.
Osten and Victor sold their business in 2013, and from then on they dedicated their fortune to helping others.
"Everybody says, 'but you're going to have nothing left by the time you get through,'" said Osten. "That's the plan."
Osten added that the couple's charitable giving comes from a love for the city he and Victor long called home.
"I really do love Calgary," he said. "When I'm away I miss it desperately."
His love for the city is reflected in his latest gift, a $5-million contribution to the Glenbow's ongoing renovations.
Osten's contribution to the Glenbow will see the new 150-seat Osten Victor Theatre open alongside the rest of the museum next year.
"That really spoke to their values of people just being able to participate in arts and culture, and I think his very direct passion of wanting Calgary to continue to grow and thrive, and be a place where people can not only enjoy arts from our region, but also from around the world," said Glenbow president and CEO Nicholas Bell.
A longtime lover of the performing arts, Osten was happy to contribute to the theatre's creation.
"It's for the people," said Osten.
The effects of Osten and Victor's philanthropy can be found across the province, including millions of dollars in contributions to funds and bursaries for Calgary's arts community, the Roozen Family Hospice Centre in Edmonton, and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.
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