Businessman.
Born at Pine Ridge on 15 June 1917, son of Samuel Simkin (?-1954) and Fanny Bresavsky (c1880-1976), brother of James Simkin, Solomon Simkin and Abraham Louis Simkin, he began working with his father in the fuel business. After active duty in Europe during the Second World War, he co-founded Simkin Construction with his brothers Saul, Jim, and Abe. The company grew into BACM Industries, of which Simkin served as President and Chief Executive Officer for over 25 years. The firm subsequently merged into Genstar Corporation and he retired to Palm Springs, California.
On 17 September 1939, he married Jean Racklin (c1918-1986) at Winnipeg and they subsequently had two daughters and two sons. He contributed to such causes as the Jewish Foundation, Jewish National Fund, Rosh Pina Synagogue, and Talmud Torah / Joseph Wolkinsky Collegiate. He died at San Diego, California on 8 April 1998. His body was returned to Winnipeg for burial in the Rosh Pina Memorial Park.
See also:
Manitoba Business: British-American Construction and Materials / BACM Industries / Genstar Development Company / Genstar Corporation
Birth registration [Israel Simkin], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Israel Simkin, Jean Mastervoy], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary [Fanny Simkin], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 February 1976, page 42.
Obituary [Jean Simkin], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 July 1986, page 19.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 April 1998.
“They are gone, but not forgotten,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 1998, page A4.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 10 October 2026
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
