avatar ELLIS JACOB

INDIA

Photography by Elliot Sylman

Ellis was born in Calcutta, India in 1953. He has two brothers and one sister. Jews have lived in India since Biblical times; however, Ellis’s family is originally from Iraq and Syria several generations ago. His family has dispersed all over the world: New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel and Canada. Ellis’s father worked for Remington Rand
in India.

There was very little anti-Semitism in India when he lived there. There were 5,000 Jews in Calcutta at one time and very beautiful synagogues, some of which have become heritage sites. Today, there are only a handful of Jews and three synagogues still stand.

Jews left India for more economic opportunities and better education.

Ellis arrived in Canada in 1969. He came for his sister’s wedding and stayed to pursue his studies at McGill University in Montreal, moving to Toronto in 1976 to attend the Schulich School of Business. Ellis is the President & CEO of Cineplex Entertainment. He received the Order of Canada in 2010.

Ellis is married to Sharyn and they have two daughters, Lauren and Resa. They have one grandchild and soon will have three.

Ellis and his family have a strong connection with Baycrest. His mother lived at Baycrest for seven years. She loved movies, and after her passing, they dedicated the beautiful 175-seat Jacob Family Theatre in her honour.