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Authority record

Simpson, Bernie

  • Person
  • May 31, 1942 -

BERNIE SIMPSON, C.M.

PERSONAL
Bernie Simpson was born May 31, 1942, the only child of George Simpson and Sarah Nissenbaum. George Simpson and Sarah Nissenbaum separated when Bernie was 5 years old. George Simpson then moved to Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, and Sarah Nissenbaum stayed with Bernie in Vancouver. Bernie lived most of his childhood with his mother in Vancouver, attending General Wolfe Elementary School, and then King Edward High School. Bernie then attended the University of British Columbia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Law. Bernie married a nurse named Lee Purkin on December 14, 1975. Together they have three children; Annie, Jory, and Samantha. Bernie was the MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview between 1991-1995.

ICBC LAWYER
Bernie Simpson is considered to be one of the leading personal injury lawyers in British Columbia. After graduating from the University of British Columbia law school, Bernie Simpson founded Simpson & Company, one of the first Vancouver law firms to restrict practice to automobile accidents. In 2001, Bernie formed a partnership with a well-known personal injury lawyer, Anthony Thomas, and the firm became Simpson, Thomas & Associates. In 2014 Dairn Shane and Stephen Yung also became Partners in the firm.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
After establishing his reputation as an ICBC personal injury lawyer and settling thousands of ICBC claims; with the emphasis on catastrophic cases including brain injury cases and quadriplegia and paraplegia, in 1991, he was elected to the British Columbia Legislature for the Constituency of Vancouver-Fraserview. During his term as a Provincial Member of the Legislature he set out to ensure that Bike Helmet Legislation, which would be the most progressive in Canada, was enacted into law. The determination of enacting that Legislation was influenced by a case that he worked on before being elected where a young girl suffered a serious brain injury while riding her bicycle in Surrey without wearing a bike helmet. In order to ensure that the victims of car accidents have the best possible rehabilitation, Bernie has traveled to many parts of the world to setup rehabilitation programs.

Bernie pioneered the use of Structured Settlements in British Columbia which guarantees, for those catastrophically injured, monthly tax free payments for the rest of their lives.

While a Provincial Member of the Legislature, Bernie was a Chairperson of the Select Standing Committee for Finance, Crown Corporations and Government Services of the Legislature. He was also a sitting member of the Select Standing Committee for Economic Development, Science, Labor, Training, and Technology, as well as on the Board of Directors of the B.C. Trade Development Corporation. Additionally, Bernie was assigned by Premier Harcourt to promote trade with the Asia Pacific region, including India and Latin America.

Bernie has also been an active member of the Vancouver business community. He has been a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade, as well as a member of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Canada-Korea Business Association, Canada-Japan Society, and the Canadian Taiwan Trade Association.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Bernie has actively participated in the betterment of the Vancouver community, having served as Chairman of the Canadian Cancer Society for the Vancouver campaign, the Director of the Canadian Cancer Society (B.C. and Yukon Division), the Chairperson for the Louis Brier Home for the Elderly and Hospital Building Campaign, the Director of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, Co-Chairman for the Finance Committee for Camp Miriam, and an Executive Member of UNICEF. Additionally, Bernie Chaired the Mayor’s Campaign for Famine Relief led by former Vancouver mayor and premier, Mike Harcourt, between 1984-1985. Bernie was also an active member of: Lawyers for Social Responsibility, Greenpeace, Trial Lawyers Association of B.C., and the Advisory Committee for Canadian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

For nearly 8 years, Bernie had a weekly radio program in the Indo-Canadian community.

AWARDS
In recognition for his efforts in enacting the Bike Helmet Legislation, Bernie he was awarded the prestigious Eloisa deLorenzo International Award by the International Brain Injury Association in Washington, DC.

In 1984, Bernie was honored by Camp Miriam for his work in fundraising to build a new camp.

In 1985, Bernie was awarded the Red Cross Society Citation for organizing the famine relief campaign in B.C.

In 1986, as a founding member of the Trial Lawyers Association in British Columbia, Bernie honored by Trial Lawyers for his lifelong contribution to the legal profession.

In 1987, Bernie was honored by the Canadian Cancer Society for heading the fund raising and development campaign of an educational program for the multicultural communities of B.C.

In 1988, Bernie was honored by the Indo-Canadian community for the development of an educational program to prevent cancer in the Indo-Canadian community throughout the province of B.C.

In 1990, Bernie was awarded the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest award for volunteerism for his work with various charitable causes and for his activities in the multi-cultural community, particularly the Indo-Canadian and Chinese communities. He also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, Golden Jubilee Medal, and Commemorative Medal for the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada.

In 1991, Bernie was honored by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (United Chinese Community Enrichment Services), and made a life member, for the work he had done in the Chinese community.

Seidelman (family)

  • Family
  • 1854-

William Seidelman, who was born in Budapest in 1854, came to North America around 1879, eventually arriving in Vancouver by way of Kansas and Seattle. In 1879 he served as a postmaster in the town of Guelph, Kansas. After settling in Vancouver, William married Esther Pearlman [Dalkin] from Winnipeg on August 30th, 1896. In that same year, William opened a general merchandise store in Cedar Cove on the South side of Powell Street at Victoria Drive. In 1900, a post office was opened in the store and Seidelman became Cedar Cove's first postmaster. The Seidelman home was located at 1735 2nd Avenue, East Grandview (the house is still standing today). William and Esther maintained Kashrut and he slaughtered chickens in accordance with the laws of Shechita using a traditional Chalif which is in the possession of the JMABC. Their children were: Edward Joseph [Joe] who was born in 1897; Rachel, [Rae] who was born in 1898; Harry who was born in 1900; and Benjamin [Ben] who was born in 1902. William Jr. [Bill] was born after the father died in 1907. Their mother, Esther, passed away in 1937. William Sr. is buried in the Bikur Cholim Cemetery in Seattle. Esther is buried in the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery in New Westminster.

Joseph, Rachel and Harry attended Macdonald Elementary School. Rachel also attended Seymour and Grandview public schools. All three attended Britannia High School. Joseph went to the University of British Columbia (then a branch of McGill University). At UBC, Joseph joined the Western University Battalion which fought in France in World War I. He saw service along with fellow UBC students. Joseph was killed in the Battle of Passchendaele on October 26, 1917, the first member of Vancouver's Jewish community to give his life for his country. Joseph's name is included on a plaque in the War Memorial Gym at UBC that commemorates those UBC students who fought and gave their lives in World War I.

Harry, at age 17 (1917), joined the Canadian Pacific Ocean Services as a cadet. He sailed the Pacific Ocean on the Empress of Japan and on the RMS Niagara before returning to Vancouver. He subsequently served on the Union Steamship Line that sailed between Vancouver and Alaska. After working for Buckerfields Feed Company, Harry joined the United Milling and Grain Co. Ltd. as a partner. He remained with the United Milling & Grain until 1961 when the company went out of business due to the City of Vancouver expropriating the land for housing.

Harry married Esther Blank of Winnipeg in 1938. Harry and Esther lived in Vancouver and were strong supporters of the Jewish Community Centre and charter members of the Beth Israel Synagogue. Harry died in 1972 and is buried in the Beth Israel Cemetery. Harry's children are Perry Seidelman, the first Jewish vice principal of a high school for the Vancouver School Board and the first Principal of King David High School. Perry lives in Vancouver.

Dr. William (Bill) Seidelman is a retired physician, formerly of the Universities of McMaster and Toronto medical faculties. At the beginning of his career, Bill was the first full-time family physician to practice at the Reach Clinic, one of the earliest walk-in medical clinics in Vancouver. He continues to be a world renowned authority and lecturer on medical ethics as a consequence of his research into the legacy of medicine during the Third Reich. He now resides in Israel with his family.

After high-school, Rachel attended UBC and Normal School and taught for a few years at Strathcona Public School. In 1919 Rachel became involved with the Jewish community and volunteered with Hebrew Aid, B'nai B'rith, the National Council of Jewish Women, and joined the effort to start a Reform Synagogue. Rachel taught English to landed immigrants at night school, played tennis and basketball and later took up golf. Rachel met Dr. William [Bill] Morris at the home of Ruth Mahrer, Rachel's best friend. Rachel and Bill were married in 1925 and lived in Vancouver. Rachel died in 1985 and is buried in the Beth Israel Cemetery. Rachel Morris's [nee Seidelman] daughters are Judy Zaitzow, Dorothy Grad, and Lillian Fryfield, all of whom live in Vancouver.

Ben married Sarah Weis of Winnipeg. Ben and Sarah did not have children and lived at various places throughout B.C. including Port Mellon on the Sunshine Coast and Crofton on Vancouver Island. They eventually moved to Los Angeles to be near Sarah's family. Ben died in 1983.

Bill married Hazel. They lived in Vancouver their entire married life and had one child, Roy, who is living in Summerland B.C. Bill died in 1983, the same year as his brother Ben.

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