Melvin "Mel" Nicholas Zajac

After almost 98 years of good health and living life to the fullest, Mel Zajac died peacefully on Thursday, May 28, after a brief illness. Mel was predeceased, by his sons, Mel Jr. and Marty, his wife Irene, and he was the last survivor of his seven siblings. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Wendy, daughters Karen, Carmen (John) and Corinne and his two cherished grandsons, Justin and Matthew Carver.

Mel was a vibrant, kind, powerhouse of a man, accustomed to hard work from childhood, but always willing to reach back and lend a hand to others. Fatherless at six, Mel took on odd jobs from the age of 11 in his native Winnipeg to help out his struggling family.

Mel’s lasting impact on the face of Vancouver began the moment of his arrival in 1949. By 1954, he had built his first low rise apartment. By 1958, he had built one of the first high rise apartments in the West End, with at least 22 more buildings to come - culminating in the construction in the late 1960’s, of the Pacific Palisades Apartments, the Office complex, and the Pacific Palisades Hotel on Robson Street, where Mel hosted many events and celebrity guests, including his friend Bob Hope.

But Mel’s true gifts went far beyond the entrepreneurial. Helping others and giving back to the community was his mission, one of them by creating his charity golf tournament, the Mel Zajac Classic, which ran for 52 years, with proceeds being donated to local charities, including Variety Club and Children’s Hospital.

He was so successful in both business and his humanitarian work, Mel was awarded the Order of Canada in 2007 and the Order of British Columbia in 2015. His list of other honours and awards is extensive.

Mel had many wonderful qualities: his love, his athleticism, his sense of humour, his intellect, and his need to give to others.

However, Mel believed that his greatest philanthropic achievement was the establishment of the Mel Jr and Marty Zajac Foundation with Irene, mother of his five children, in honour of his two sons, and the creation of the Zajac Ranch for Children. Mel’s drive, determination, and devotion to his dream of creating a camp for children with special needs became a reality 22 years ago. Until a month ago Mel was still planning the next additions to the ranch.

From his hard scrabble origins through the devastating loss of his two sons less than a year apart in sporting accidents, Mel Zajac never lost his love of life, his curiosity about the world around him, his delight in simple pleasures, and his commitment to family, friends, and helping others. His grandsons considered him their mentor and best friend.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richards Street at Dunsmuir, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 1:30 PM, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia, between 3:00pm - 6:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mel Jr. and Marty Zajac Foundation, or a charity of your choice