VOLUME 16, NO. 1 JANUARY 2006

Don’t Miss Our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Monday, February 6, 2006 7:30 pm at the JCC featuring More Memories and Mementos Our upcoming AGM will feature more interesting items and stories from the past. If you have an interesting item in your family that has a story to tell, please contact our office and we will try to feature it in our program. Three of the stories from last year’s successful program were featured in our March 2005 issue and three more are included in this issue of Discovery.

Jay and Barbara Joffe escorting Their Honours Norman and Mary Kwong through A Joyful Harvest at the gala opening on November 14, 2005. Photo: Impressions by Switzer. A Joyful Harvest: Celebrating the Past and Educating for the Future by Maxine Fischbein for Discovery enthusiastic participation of the Hon- A glance at the guest book says it all. ourable Norman L. Kwong, Lieutenant “This is a treasure,” writes one visitor. Governor of . Together with the “What an impressive tribute to Jewish life in Honourable , Premier of Alber- southern Alberta,” says another. ta, and His Worship Dave Bronconnier, These two comments and many others Mayor of Calgary, Kwong served as an Emcee Sheldon Smithens questioning Naomi sum up the atmosphere of celebration honourary patron of the exhibit. Kerr about her mother’s childhood outfit at last that has greeted the Jewish Historical Soci- The opening Gala was filled with high- year’s AGM. For more stories from last year’s ety of Southern Alberta’s labour of love, A lights including moving tributes to the Memories and Mementos program see page 4. Joyful Harvest: A Centennial Exhibit Cele- JHSSA’s founding and long-serving presi- brating the Jewish Contribution to South- dent, Jay Joffe. ern Alberta life. Doug Cass, the Director of Library and In this Issue: Setting the tone for the initial showing Archives at the Glenbow Museum, A Joyful Harvest: Celebrating the Past of our once-in-a-century exhibition was the brought greetings, telling a very pleased and Educating for the Future ...... 1 gala opening on November 14th. The cer- audience that A Joyful Harvest will appear JHSSA Alberta Centennial Exhibit emonies at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue at the Glenbow early in 2007 as an adjunct Held Over...... 1 had a regal air about them due to the Continued on Page 2 Annual General Meeting ...... 1 A Handmade Gift: Gertie Belkin’s Childhood Dress...... 2 Calgary’s Grand Story: The Jewish JHSSA Alberta Centennial Exhibit Held Over Connections ...... 3 Artzi Willheim: Champion Swimmer...... 4 A Joyful Harvest will remain open to the public at the Beth Tzedec Rose Levitt: A Gown for the Belle Synagogue until the end of January, 2006. Public viewing hours are of the Ball...... 4 on Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. New Library Acquisitions...... 5 To book a group tour at a different time, contact the JHSSA office, JHSSA News ...... 7 444-3171. Thank You to our 2006 Members ...... 8

Your membership and continuing support help us to publish Discovery. Thank you. 2 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA JANUARY 2006

A Joyful Harvest: Celebrating the Past Continued from Page 1 A Handmade Gift: exhibit to the world-class museum’s own families and institutions who have joyfully Gertie Belkin’s much-anticipated centennial project titled given back to the province where the earli- Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta. est Jewish pioneers were welcomed and Childhood Dress Also on hand to bring official greetings given the freedom to flourish. were the Honourable Ron Stevens, MLA for There were many touching moments as At our last AGM Naomi Kerr dis- Calgary Glenmore, and Donna Riback, old friends or family members literally played a European-made suit worn by Chair of Calgary’s United Jewish Appeal, squealed in delight, a picture or photo- her mother, Gertrude Smalley Belkin, as who spoke on behalf of the Calgary Jewish graphic image having brought fond mem- a young girl. It is now over 90 years old. Community Council. ories to the surface. Gertrude Smalley arrived as a young The official opening ceremony generat- Those nearby won’t soon forget the girl in Winnipeg from Miedzyrzec, ed much excitement. But the greatest sight of individuals pausing before the Poland in about 1908. A few years later, measure of joy was found in the 100 muse- words and photographs devoted to them. older cousins from her hometown um panels devoted to the remarkable One junior high student was delighted joined the family, and brought with achievements of people and organizations when, stopping before the panel on Ted that have defined Jewish life in southern Riback, she actually met, in person, the Alberta since the arrival of Jacob and Rachel man responsible for establishing and gen- Diamond, this community’s first perma- erously supporting the eponymous Jewish nent Jewish settlers, in 1889. summer camp she enjoys every summer. Many in the opening night crowd of Meanwhile, a happy reunion was taking nearly 400 could claim a direct connection place in front of another panel when the to the project. Some appear in the exhibit. Lieutenant Governor – a man with many Others contributed some of the photo- friends in the Jewish community – was graphs and archival material that so beau- pleased to encounter another familiar face. tifully illustrate 116 years of Jewish history. As His Honour stood before the biography Some had worked on the exhibit, either as on Ayala Manolson, a Calgary-born world- paid professionals or as volunteers. Many renowned speech pathologist, he com- more were delighted to reminisce about mented that he had known her as a stu- the accomplishments of family members, dent. Having traveled to Calgary from her forebears and friends who had made a dif- home in Toronto for the opening, Manol- ference in every imaginable endeavour son soon appeared beside him, live and in within and often well beyond the Jewish person, and a happy reunion took place community. between two old friends and schoolmates. More than anything, the exhibit stands Quite a few out-of-towners have spent as a reminder that the concept of “six considerable time visiting and re-visiting Gertie Belkin, c. 1980. Photo: Naomi Kerr. degrees of separation” does not apply in the exhibit. His Excellency Alan Baker, the Jewish community. The ink was barely Israel’s Ambassador to , is one dis- them a precious gift for the young Ger- dry on the harvest-coloured museum pan- tinguished guest who quickly discovered tie. It was a colourful hand-embroi- els when visitors began connecting the oft during a November visit to Calgary that dered blouse and apron that they had invisible dots linking various individuals, he, too, has a connection to Jews in made for her. They had planned to southern Alberta. As he make a skirt for it, but had left for viewed the panels from Canada before they had a chance to the 1950s, he was sew it. Gertie wore the outfit only for amazed to discover that very special occasions. an old friend – William Gertie married Dr. Alex Belkin and Epstein – was born and their family moved to Calgary in 1945. raised in Calgary. The embroidered outfit came with her “We used to have and it was given to her daughter, lunch together at the Naomi Kerr when Naomi’s daughters United Nations,” says were born. Naomi, her sister Annette, Baker, fondly recalling his and the granddaughters used the out- own posting in New York fit for “dress up” until Naomi’s daugh- and his warm relationship ter Roberta pointed out that perhaps with the man who once such a unique handmade item had his- headed the Disarmament torical significance and should merit Division at the UN. more delicate treatment. It is, indeed, a small The blouse and apron are embroi- world after all! dered with precise cross stitching. The While A Joyful Harvest outfit has indeed remained in excellent has attracted plenty of condition despite the many hours of School mates, His Honour Norman L. Kwong and Ayala Manolson pleasure it must have given Gertie and reunite at A Joyful Harvest gala opening. Photo: Richard Bronstein. Continued on Page 6 her descendants. JANUARY 2006 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA 3 Calgary’s Grand Story – The Jewish Connections

By Jack Switzer money, and shortly after the Senator’s Calgary’s Grand Story, by Donald B. death in 1925 his estate sold off its Smith, Calgary theatres to the growing Famous Play- Press, 2005 ers chain. Donald Smith, author of Calgary’s J.B. Barron was able to buy the Grand Grand Story, was the featured speaker at in 1937. our AGM in October 2000. He spoke about Jacob Bell Barron (J.B. or Jack) and his his research on the Grand Theatre and col- brother Abraham Lee Barron were raised lected stories about the theatre from audi- in Winnipeg and spent two years (1903 – ence members. Both Jay Joffe and Jack 1905) at Dawson, Yukon Territory, where Switzer are listed in the acknowledgements their father ran a store catering to gold in the book. In the signed copy of his new miners. (There were over 200 Jews in the book that is in the JHSSA library, Dr. Smith Yukon goldfields in 1901.) The Barron has written, “I’ll never forget the wonderful brothers earned law degrees in Chicago, response at my slide talk to your society sev- and moved to Calgary in 1911 at the invi- eral years ago”. tation of their uncle, hotelier Charles Bell. Calgary’s Grand Story is the story of the The Barron and Barron law firm, Lougheed Building and the adjoining formed in 1912, did well. J.B. married Grand Theatre, which share a six-storey Winnipeger Amelia Helman in 1914. They red-brick façade on the corner of Sixth had three sons, William, Robert and Avenue and First Street South West. The Richard (better known as Bill, Bob and returned to his law practice until 1937, book is the work of Donald B. Smith, a Dick). J.B.’s clients included the Allen fam- when he negotiated with the Lougheed University of Calgary history professor. ily, whose nation-wide theatre chain was family to buy the Grand Theatre, then in a Smith’s book is both chronological and then run from Calgary. very distressed financial and physical con- biographical. It interprets “the history of The Allens opened the huge (1,951 dition. J.B. supervised the renovations per- the city through the prism of a single seats) Allen Palace Theatre on Eighth sonally. Sixteen-year-old Dick Barron building complex.” The Lougheed/ Avenue West in 1921. By 1923, however, helped install new stage lighting and an Grand story is a colorful tableau featuring the Allen chain was nearly bankrupt, and upgraded projection booth. Acoustics, many of Calgary’s most important politi- Jack Barron took over the Palace. He gave both for stage performances and sound cal, business, and social leaders. It also up law to book entertainers, schedule movies, got special attention. contains many references to members of films and sell popcorn. Barron’s Palace Renowned American bandmaster Calgary’s Jewish community. Theatre featured vaudeville and movies, of Guiseppe Creatore – “The Great Cre- The Lougheeds – Senator James course, but he took great pride in bring- atore” – reopened the renovated “Barro- Lougheed and his wife Belle Hardisty ing to Calgary world-famous musicians – nial” Grand Theatre, and stayed for nearly Lougheed – get prime billing, but a full Jascha Heifitz in 1924, and Sergei Rach- a month. Operas, ballet and concerts, chapter, titled “The Barronial Era, 1937 – maninoff in 1925, for example. even a circus with animal acts, augment- 1969”, is devoted to the contributions of Barron also persuaded popular radio ed popular film showings. an industrious Calgary Jewish lawyer and preacher William Aberhart to move his Paul Robeson sang to a sold-out Grand impresario, Jacob Bell Barron. weekly Back to the Bible Hour services from audience in 1946. The African-American -born James Lougheed came the Grand to the Palace Theatre. The activist was able to stay at the Palliser to Calgary as a young lawyer soon after Palace hosted the first of Aberhart’s reli- Hotel, but faced discrimination elsewhere the CPR reached the city in 1883. Active gious radio broadcasts in 1925. in Calgary. He told Bob Barron that Cana- in local politics, he was named to the In 1927 J.B. Barron hired a Russian Jew- dian racial prejudice, while less pervasive, Senate of Canada in 1889. Calgary’s ish émigré, Grigori Garbovitsky, to lead was in some ways worse than the Ameri- post-1905 boom helped build his the Palace Theatre orchestra. (The group can variety. wealth, and the Lougheeds were the included musicians Leon and Mary Asper, The Grand Theatre’s last live theatre toast of the town when his building and who later became theater operators in performance was in 1957, the year the its Grand Theatre opened in 1912. ; their children included media Jubilee Auditorium opened to become the The Sherman Grand Theatre, named giant Israel Asper.) city’s prime venue for music and theatre. for its first manager, Bill Sherman, opened Garbovitsky revitalized the dormant In 1951 J.B. opened another theatre, in February 1912 with a popular British Calgary Symphony Orchestra in 1929; the Uptown, in the new Barron Building dramatic troupe playing to a full house of they played at the Grand Theatre. The on Eighth Avenue West. The eleven- 1350 patrons. The main floor seated 810 orchestra’s concertmaster was another storey art-deco building provided mod- patrons, the balcony another 540. The Russian Jewish immigrant, Jascha Galperin, ern office space for several oil companies; theatre, then one of the largest in Canada, who went on to head the music depart- its availability near the beginning of the featured a wide variety of plays, vaudeville ment at Mount Royal College. post-war Alberta oil boom helped cement and concerts, as well as silent movies. J.B. Barron had to give up the Palace Calgary’s role as the nation’s oil capital. But by the mid-1920s many of the Theatre in 1928, when the trust company The Barron Building was followed by administering the property sold it. He Lougheed business assets were losing Continued on Page 6 4 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA JANUARY 2006 Memories and Mementos Artzi Willheim, Champion Swimmer Dina Evans came to Calgary from in 1934, he decided to stay. He Israel in the 1970s. Among her prized changed his name from Arnst to Artzi, possessions are the numerous medals Hebrew for “my country”. her father, Artzi Willheim, won during He joined the Haifa branch of the his career as a competitive swimmer. Maccabi sports club and represented She shared his story with us at our his adoptive country at the 1935 Mac- 2005 AGM. cabia Games, again winning gold. He Arnst Willheim was born in Brunn, swam with the club from 1935 to Czechoslovakia in 1912. He joined the 1941. His contribution to competitive Jewish athletic club HaKoach as a swimming was recognized at the club’s teenager and won many local swim- 50th anniversary celebrations in 1976. ming competitions. He then went on Artzi Willheim was to be an honoured to win medals in the Maccabi sports guest at the 10th Maccabia Games in organization’s games in Antwerp and August 1977, but unfortunately he in Zacopeck, Poland in 1931 and in died in July of that year. Prague in 1933. Among Willheim’s memorabilia in Willheim was invited to the first his daughter’s collection are a stop- Maccabia Games in Israel in 1932. He watch bearing a special inscription Champion swimmer Artzi Willheim greets a competed in a number of swimming from the first Maccabia, the early Mac- young fan in Haifa, c. 1937. Photo: Dina Evans. events held in the Haifa Port; he won cabia medals and a medal from the gold in the individual 200-metre 10th Maccabia. She also has his pin chapter in the history of Jewish immi- breaststroke and in the 3x100 m and from the 18th Zionist Congress held in gration to Palestine and of Jews in the 4x200 m relays. Prague in 1933, her father’s last year in sport. We were glad to have learned it The young athlete was so taken by Czechoslovakia. from his daughter. Eretz Israel that when he visited again Artzi Willheim’s story is a glorious

Rose Levitt: A Gown for the Belle of the Ball Leona Bell’s mother, Mrs. Rose (Freed- see the latest fashions and then copy her man) Levitt was an accomplished seam- favorite styles, making patterns from stress. In fact, she made her own wedding brown wrapping paper. gown for her 1925 marriage to Jack Levitt. The lovely dresses she sewed were In the 1930s Rose would visit the Mir- worn on the most important social occa- ror Room of the Hudson Bay Company to sion of the year – at the community Yom Kippur Ball. As Leona recalls every- one would rush home from syna- gogue after the evening services and eat something to break the fast. Then all the women would put on their finery and the community would reassemble for a joyous evening of Wedding portrait of Jack Levitt and Rose Freed- dancing. man, June 10, 1925. Rose is wearing the bridal Leona and her gown that she sewed. Photo: Leona Bell. sister, Doreen Kline, have lovingly pre- years. Anyone who is fortunate enough to Dresses sewn by Rose Levitt have been lovingly preserved by her family and served their moth- get a close look at them can only marvel were modeled at our AGM. In the photo are Barbara Joffe; Sheila Gurevitch; Maxine Fischbein, in Rose Levitt’s 1925 bridal gown; Rose’s daughter Leona er’s wonderful cre- at the love and effort that was obviously Bell; and Avrona Gutman. ations through the invested in the detailing on each outfit. JANUARY 2006 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA 5

JHSSA as a Resource for Researchers: New Library Acquisitions By Agi Romer Segal JHSSA director Jack Switzer. There is a Jewish Studies. Calgary native Norman The JHSSA has become a resource for description of the work of the Kahanoff Ravvin’s essay on Eli Mandel’s poems researchers beyond the Calgary Jewish Foundation in Faye Reineberg Holt’s about the Prairies includes the list of cat- community. While many of our research essay on philanthropy in Calgary. tle brands owned by Alberta Jews that appeared in Discovery, Winter, 1997. inquiries involve questions about per- Alberta: A State of Mind, edited by Syd- sonal family history, we are increasingly ney Sharpe, Roger Gibbins, James H. asked to provide information for stu- Marsh and Heather Bala Edwards, Key dents and scholars researching various Porter Books, 2005 aspects of local history. Donald Smith’s This wide-ranging collection of Calgary’s Grand Story (see p.3), is just essays is a centennial project conceived one example. Most of the recent acqui- by Sydney Sharpe. It includes two essays sitions to our Harry & Martha Cohen by JHSSA director Jack Switzer, entitled Library are items that have a direct con- “Jewish Heritage” and “Good Works and nection to the JHSSA, and many Good Business: Alberta’s Jews in the acknowledge the society for its help Community”. Deborah Yedlin con- with the research. Here are some recent tributed the opening essay in the chap- additions to our collection. ter on the Alberta economy. Three Rivers Beckoned; Life & Times with Calgary Mayor , by Jean Leslie, Fay-Mar-K Publishing, 2004 This memoir, by the wife of former mayor Jack Leslie, contains a section about the couple’s involvement in char- itable causes which includes a tribute to Rabbi Lewis Ginsburg. Mrs. Leslie had consulted the JHSSA for some further information about Rabbi Ginsburg and kindly allowed us to print her memoir The Greenies, by Myra Paperny, Harper about him in Discovery (Vol. 12, No.1, Trophy Canada, 2005 Feb. 2002) before the publication of This new novel by award-winning this book. local author Myra Paperny is based on the story of the Canadian Jewish com- Historic Walks of Calgary; Ten Walks to munity’s efforts to save 1,000 Holocaust Points of Historical Architectural Interest, war orphans. It is a fictionalized account by Harry Sanders, Red Deer Press, 2005 based on research and on the stories of JHSSA director Harry Sanders has individual survivors, mostly from Van- been instrumental in developing our couver and Calgary. The author thanks Jewish People in Canada, by Frances archives, and his new book is an impor- the JHSSA in her acknowledgements for Purslow, Weigl Educational Publishers, tant source of information about the the use of the personal scrapbooks of 2006 role members of our community have Holocaust survivors in our collection. had in developing Calgary. This inform- This slim volume is part of the Spe- ative, richly illustrated book also con- cial Canadian Communities series that Wild Rose Country; A Spirit of Heritage, tains many anecdotes. I have found at celebrates the heritage of many cultures produced by Douglas Hutton for King least 20 references to Jewish business in Canada’s multicultural society. This Motion Picture Corp., 2005 connected with the buildings described richly illustrated book deals with Jewish This video has already been broad- in these historical walks. immigration to Canada, Jewish religion cast on television. It is the story of the and culture. The JHSSA provided many land and its people told lyrically. The Remembering Chinook Country; Told of the photos and made some sugges- producer of the film used some of the and Untold Stories of our Past, by the tions regarding its content. The JHSSA is images from the JHSSA book Land of Chinook Country Historical Society, acknowledged in the book. Promise for the short section on Jewish Detselig Enterprises Ltd., 2005 immigration. The Canadian Jewish Studies Reader, This centennial collection of essays All these items are available in our edited by Richard Menkis and Norman of interest to local historians includes library. Ravvin, Red Deer Press, 2004 the opening essay on the history of the Our collections were also used for stu- This is a diverse collection of essays Chinook Country Historical Society by dent essays, by Jewish organizations and dealing with a wide range of topics in JHSSA director Harry Sanders and one by individuals researching family history. on Calgary’s Jewish community by the relatively young field of Canadian 6 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA JANUARY 2006

A Joyful Harvest: Celebrating the Past Continued from Page 2 Calgary’s Grand Story Continued from Page 3 media attention and a wide spectrum of “You can’t teach any history or social visitors, its most important viewers may studies classes without teaching about other new office towers, and the well be the children who have reaped the your own community first,” she says. Lougheed building became, after the benefits of those Jewish pioneers who have “It is very nice for the kids to have the 1950s, a secondary location. gone before them. opportunity to see their own communi- The Grand Theatre and other movie Students and teachers from Akiva ty as a whole…it promotes respect for houses suffered from declining atten- Academy and The Calgary Jewish Acade- one another.” dance. J.B. Barron had continued to my are excited about the opportunity A The excitement of some young visi- upgrade the property, but it was a los- Joyful Harvest has given them to learn tors is palpable. Some praise the exhibit ing battle. more about their community. As the old with the time-honoured teen accolade, Amelia Barron died in 1959 and Jack saying goes, it does take a village to raise a “Awesome”. Barron lived out his last years in a pent- child, and Jewish students visiting the Many enjoy bragging rights as they house atop the Barron Building. He died exhibit gain a keen understanding of how point to parents, grandparents or signifi- in 1965. In 1969 the Barron family sold their “village”, as they know it today, was cant others whose stories are told in A Joy- the Grand to the Odeon chain. born and then evolved. ful Harvest. Others are thrilled to see their The Lougheed Building had other Jew- As far as Shoshana Kirmayer is con- synagogues, schools and much-loved sum- ish connections, primarily ground-floor cerned, the exhibit offers students an edu- mer camp profiled. retail tenants. The first Jewish-owned cational opportunity like no other. In But all the excitement isn’t just for the shop, the Grand Cigar Store, opened in preparation for visiting the exhibit, CJA stu- kids, stresses Kirmayer, who came to Cal- September 1912 when the office building dents discussed some of the people and gary from Israel just over 15 years ago. was completed. It was run by Abraham placed depicted in A Joyful Harvest, focus- “Until now I didn’t know enough about Kadish, whose large inventory of tobacco ing on different aspects of the southern the history of this place,” says Kirmayer products was advertised “to meet the Alberta Jewish experience according to who thinks the same holds true for most requirements of those who indulge in the their grade level. members of the community. sweets of my lady nicotine.” “It makes them understand their place “We know a little bit, but we don’t A harness maker displayed his goods within Calgary, within Alberta and within know enough.” next door to Finch-Fashens, which spe- Canada,” says Kirmayer, who heads Judaic “Thanks to the work of the JHSSA, we cialized in ladies’ corsets and other Studies at CJA, adding that kids often take are better equipped to teach our stu- undergarments. the Jewish infrastructure, from which they dents,” Kirmayer says, adding that when The Kadish smoke shop was later benefit, for granted. The historical view she sees the exhibit, the profound words of taken over by Harry Epstein, who turned shows them that “their families haven’t Akavia Ben Mahalalel in Pirkei Avot (Ethics it into the Grand Cigar Store and Tea been here forever,” says Kirmayer. of the Fathers) run through her head: Rooms about 1930. He had operated the “Know where you came from and where Grand Confectionery in the building since you are going…“ 1925. Epstein came to Canada in 1907 A Joyful Harvest provides a sense of and to Calgary in 1910. He was very Thanks to our where the Jews of southern Alberta came active in the local Jewish community. from, as well as some tantalizing hints Harry and Marcia Geffen Epstein had Exhibit Docents about the various directions we are head- four children – Rebecca, William, Solomon The Jewish Historical Society of ed. The exhibit itself is headed in a few and Bessie. William Epstein worked in the Southern Alberta is grateful to exciting directions. In addition to its Glen- cigar store as a teen; he was a brilliant everyone who helped bring A Joyful bow date in 2007, A Joyful Harvest will be scholar, and after World War II he became Harvest to fruition. Among them are shown in Medicine Hat this summer. The a high-ranking United Nations official, the docents who have welcomed Provincial Archives of Alberta has also responsible for drafting and negotiating and led hundreds of individuals and expressed an interest in showing the exhib- disarmament treaties. a large number of groups through it in . Albert Calman ran a fur salon in the the exhibit. In the meantime, due to ongoing local Lougheed Building in the 1930s. His son, Many thanks to the chair of the interest, A Joyful Harvest, originally sched- Hy Calman, credits Edgar Lougheed (the Docent committee, Zena Drabinsky, uled for a one-month run at the Beth senator’s son and father of Peter and her team: Joe Brager, Emanuel Tzedec, is being held over until the end of Lougheed) with saving the fur business by Cohen, Sara Drabinsky, Delsie January. often allowing the elder Calman extra Dworkin, Brenda Eisenberg, Maxine A book based on the exhibit is current- time to pay his rent. Fischbein, Bertha Gold, Sheila Gure- ly in the works. In the early 1940s the Grand Cigar vitch, Barb Joffe, Roberta Kerr, Reva As always, the historical record remains Store was taken over by brothers Morris Kislik, Harriet Libin, Betty Mayer, Sid a work in progress. The Jewish Historical and Joe Smith. Morris’ son, Dr. Stan Macklin, Therese Nagler, Jack Switzer Society urges all members of the commu- Smith, recalls working as a cashier in the and Agi Romer Segal. nity to continue sharing their family histo- business, by then largely devoted to This front-line team has brought ries, photographs and archives. These are food service. a wealth of knowledge to the job, the seeds from which future displays, Fred Wolf and Nate Greenberg later often sharing personal anecdotes exhibits, articles and books will grow. bought the shop, and added a basement that have enlivened and entertained. bakery. They changed the name to Grand Continued on Page 7 JANUARY 2006 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA 7

JHSSA News David Waterman, 1917 – 2005 the 2005 event and The Big Book of help us by volunteering on either of these Switzers, a collection of family stories and dates, please contact our office, 444-3171. JHSSA lost a good friend with the pass- Calgary Jewish history articles, most of ing of Director David Waterman, of blessed them previously published in Discovery. memory. The society also benefited from 80 Year Olds to be Honoured Dave’s well known generosity in his enthu- Once again the JHSSA will be recogniz- siastic support of A Joyful Harvest. His dona- Request for Information ing the contributions of the 80-year-old tion funded the introductory video to the JHSSA member Betty Sherwood has members of our community at our AGM on exhibit. He will be missed. forwarded a request from the Beth Ezekiel February 6, 2006. If you, or someone you Congregation of Owen Sound. They are know, turned 80 in 2005, call our office so Switzer Family Reunion preparing an exhibit and are looking for that we can present them with a certificate. people who have had a connection to About 350 members of the extended Grey County, Ontario. Please contact kfos- Switzer family enjoyed three days of social Tribute Cards [email protected] if you have any activities, tours, and other events during Cards for all occasions can be ordered information or artifacts. their third family reunion in Calgary early for a minimum of $5. A book in our library last summer. can be dedicated for a donation of at least The organizing committee has donated Casino Volunteers Needed $36 and a name can be inscribed on a cer- a full set of reunion mementos to the JHSSA The JHSSA’s next casino will be held on tificate in our Book of Heritage for $100. library. Included are an updated Switzer Wednesday and Thursday, June 28 and 29 For information and orders contact Carey family tree, a three-disc DVD set chronicling at the Stampede Casino. If you are able to Smith 253-5152.

Calgary’s Grand Story Continued from Page 6

Tobacco and Coffee Shop, a reflection of announced that he wished to restore Lougheed House is an elegant and coffee’s growing popularity. The café con- the building rather than re-develop the accessible piece of our past. Since 1995 tinued to be the social centre for the site. Theatre Junction took over the Trudy Cowan led efforts to restore Lougheed Building workers. The Jewish Grand Theatre in 2004, and immediate- Beaulieu and later became the executive owners recall providing free meals to ly began renovations. director of the Lougheed House Conser- needy users of the neighboring Christian Calgary’s Grand Story author Donald vation Society. Science Reading Room, with the religious Smith was among the leaders of the “Save Calgary’s Grand Story is full of won- group picking up the tab. the Grand/Lougheed” movement. derful stories, connecting the Lougheed While Jews were welcome as main The Lougheed House – Beaulieu, the Building to significant aspects of Cal- floor retail tenants, few made it upstairs mansion built by Senator Lougheed in gary’s past. Donald Smith has mined to the office floors.The Lougheed Build- 1891 on 13th Avenue West – was also local archives and listened to Calgarians ing’s major tenants in its early decades – saved from the wrecker’s ball, and is talk about the building and its theater, like Tregillus Building Products, United now a major heritage site. Fully restored and has woven these strands into a won- Farmers of Alberta, Home Oil, the Alberta and open for public viewing, the derful tapestry of history and biography. Wheat Pool and prestigious law and char- tered accountancy firms – had no Jewish employees. The only Jew we know of to have worked at any length in a Lougheed Building office before 1960 was Israel Flo- rence, a Metropolitan Life agent, whose clientele was largely his co-religionists. The Lougheeds sold their landmark building in 1973; there were four differ- ent owners in the 1970s. Architect Harold Hanen had his office in the Louheed Building’s penthouse between 1975 and 1981. Hanen worked to have the property saved from demolition and made plans to restore the old building. Harold Hanen died in 2000, before his vision could be realized. The Grand Theatre closed in 1999. By then it was a two-screen movie This 1938 ad publicized two Sunday showings of a movie sponsored by the Calgary Zionist Council. Alberta theatres were closed on Sundays, but J.B. Barron made the venue available for Jewish and house. Attempts by heritage groups to community-wide charitable causes, such as this film. No admission could be charged on Sunday, but have the property declared an impor- a “silver collection” was taken. The Herald also ran a large article that day about Canadian and tant historic site were unsuccessful until American settlers in the Holy Land, and the work of the Palestine Foundation Fund. Source: Calgary 2003, when new owner Neil Richardson Daily Herald, April 9, 1938; Library, Glenbow Museum. 8 THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA JANUARY 2006 Thank You To All Our 2006 Members CALGARY BENEFACTORS CALGARY MEMBERS Jack & Betty Sharp OUT OF TOWN MEMBERS S.R. Moscovich Walter & Beverly Barron Ethel Allman Ruth Sherwood Allen County Public George & Connie Nagler Hy & Jenny Belzberg Sam & Lauren Bell Robert & Cheryl Shiell Library Abraham & Evelyn Michael & Annabelle David & Sonia Bickman Morley & Cheryl Shore Nettie Becker Postone Bondar Fran Bloomfield Gladys Shuler Doreen Belkin Ida Rodich Ted Busheikin Anne Brodsky Brian & Gail Sidorsky Dorothy Belzberg St. John Jewish Historical Martha Cohen Richard Bronstein & Judy Morley & Karen Sklar Francis Bondaroff Society Sidney & Bronia Cyngiser Shapiro Donald Smith Canadian Jewish Congress Michael Shafron Norman & Ruth Dvorkin Calgary Jewish Academy Pat Smolensky National Archives Sid & Annette Shafron Jack & Rose Edelson Jeri Churgin Joe & Sondra Spier William & Bernice Cohen Judah & Barbara Lil Faider Cheryl Cohen Dinah Spindel Gary Dvorkin Shumiatcher Ron & Myrna Ghitter Chevra Kadisha of Calgary Jack & Shauna Switzer Bernard Ghert Andria Spindel David & Tybie Halpern Jerry & Faith Dubisky Tyler Trafford Belle Hapton Goldie Steele Noel & Lil Hershfield Dave & Delsie Dworkin Jack & Anne Van Dvorah Heckelman Albert & Tobey Switzer Gordon & Eva Hoffman Lou & Reva Faber Ameringen Jewish Archives and Suzanne Waterman Jay & Barbara Joffe Jack & Sophie Feingold Doran & Patty Veiner Historical Society of Bill Waters Kahane Law Office Paul & Debbie Finkleman Vera Vogel Edmonton and Pauline Weinstein Frank & Sophie Kettner Mel & Deana Fishman Jack Wise Northern Alberta Elizabeth Yan Al & Mona Libin Wylma Freedman Elliott & Minnie Zuckier Jewish Historical Society of Eric & Gay Libin Bruce & Halley Girvitz A special thank you to all OUT OF TOWN BENE- Phil & Harriet Libin Saul & Louise Glin David Joffe those who have made FACTORS Mel & Therese Nagler Bertha Gold Dan & Esther Kauffman donations beyond their Leon & Miriam Bloomberg Maurice & Myra Paperny Helen Goldenberg Cyril Leonoff membership dues. This list Rosalind Citron Phil & Judy Parker George & Sondra Leah Esther Levitt consists of those who Michael & Phyllis Mel & Reata Polsky Goodman Lucien & Carole have renewed their mem- Moscovich Donna Riback Sam & Anne Goresht Lieberman bership as of December Les Moss Faith Riback Betty Gurevitch B.B. Moscovich 15, 2005. Chuck & Laurie Mozeson Ted & Betty Riback Ralph & Sheila Gurevitch Delores Rosen Murray & Pam Robins Henry & Avrona Gutman Stanley & Odile Winfield Dave Rosenthal Nelson & Debby Halpern Alex & Phyllis Rubin Lucille Hanson OUT OF TOWN PATRONS JOIN THE JHSSA Stan & Carey Smith Zelda Hanson Murray Blankstein Help record and preserve our local Norman & Rosslyn Leon & Becky Hapton Jack & Sylvia Chetner Jewish heritage. Steinberg Ida Horwitz Murt Davis Family membership – $25 Israel & Bryna Switzer Jewish War Veterans of Allan & Eve Sheftel Single person – $18 Leo & Fania Wedro Canada, Post #2 David & Evelyn Sheftel Maurice Yacowar Cy & Mona Joffe Revivo Institution/Corporation – $30 Rose Zivot Allan & Naomi Kerr Betty Sherwood Patron – $50 Morley & Eta Kerr David Sidorsky Benefactor – $100 CALGARY PATRONS Oscar Kirshner Nate & Betty Starr Jack & Doreen Abugov Allan & Annette Jack & Alice Adler Kolinsky Clara Blackstone Sharna Laven DISCOVERY Joe Brager Mel & Carol Levitt Jewish Historical Society The Editors welcome submissions for publi- Dave & Glenda Chetner Bee Lewis of Southern Alberta cation relating to areas of Calgary and Jack & Brenda Eisenberg Jean Libin President: Jay Joffe Southern Alberta Jewish History. All articles Milt & Maxine Fischbein Sid Macklin Vice Presidents: David Bickman should be typed, documented and sent for Leo & Arla Friedman Betty Mayer Emanuel Cohen consideration. Barry & Ila Hardin Allan & Wendy Bertha Gold Statements of fact or opinion appearing in Yale & Lilly Joffe Mendelman Harriet Libin Discovery are made on the responsibility of the Robert & Sydney Kalef Shira Meyers Sheldon Smithens authors alone, and do not imply the endorse- Joe & Maureen Katchen Lee Moster Treasurer: Henry Gutman ment of the Editors or the JHSSA. William & Lea Kohn Tiby Presma Secretary: Zena Drabinsky Please address all communications on edito- Rose Lister Corinne Directors: Joe Brager, Les Diamond, Jack rial and circulation matters to: Norman & Beulah Martin Promislow Edelson, Brenda Eisenberg, Florence Elman, Discovery Miriam Milavsky Shirley Rabinovitch Harold Elman, Sheila Gurevitch, Ida Horwitz, c/o The Jewish Historical Society Stuart & Elaine Myron Agi Romer Segal Barb Joffe, Sid Macklin, Mel Nagler, Therese of Southern Alberta Morris & Miriam Sanders & Eliezer Segal Nagler, Judy Parker, Mel Polsky, Harry 1607 - 90th Avenue S.W. Jerry & Fay Schwartz Ben & Mona Sanders, Carey Smith, Jack Switzer Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2V 4V7 Cliff & Ruth Secter Rosenbaum Editors: Jack Switzer, Agi Romer Segal, Robert & Tamara Seiler Leah Saltman Phone 444-3171 Jay Joffe, Maxine Fischbein Email: [email protected] Arnold Sherman Allan & Sharon Rae Smithens Sattin © 2006 by the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta (a non-profit, registered society). Sheldon Smithens Harold Segall Donations gratefully accepted.

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