Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.16-38
Name: Estika Hunnings
Interviewer: Alysa Routtenberg
Date: December 6th, 2016
Place: Vancouver, BC (Peretz Centre)
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of BC Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00: Alysa Routtenberg introduces herself and Estika Hunnings who is being interviewed at the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture.
00:15: Hunnings states that a friend suggested she bring in a piece of paper to show the Archivist as it is representative of a large problem for those who lived in the apartment that Hunnings herself used to reside in. It concerns a Mr. Elias.
1:37: Hunnings describes the problem: A new couple the Robertsons moved in to the same apartment as Hunnings and were expressed racist sentiments against the Jewish residents of the buildings. This couple used to steal and were complained about by many residents but Mr. Elias, the [building manager], was dismissive did nothing to solve the problem.
3:54: Elias blatantly refused to help, describes Hunnings. He also refused to see Hunnings French-Canadian neighbour who supported Hunnings’ fight. Elias also illegally raised Hunnings’ rent while that same neighbour paid less.
5:33: Hunnings had since moved out of that apartment building at the time of the interview but the building now has a new manager so the problem had ended. Hunnings says she gave some of the documents that supported her complaints to a Lilianne Nemetz. The result was that several months later the Robertsons were gone, supposedly retired.
6:26: Hunnings recalls that most of her calls and letters went unanswered. Hunnings then suggests Routtenberg read some of the letters and documents she brought with her.
7:48: Routtenberg and Hunnings both express difficulty in comprehending how recently such instances of anti-Semitism were occurring. Hunnings had also involved lawyers at the time. Hunnings also expresses contempt for Elias being a director at the Holocaust Society [Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre].
10:31: Routtenberg asks Hunnings how long the Robertsons were living in the apartment to which Hunnings replies that it was a long time. Nemetz may have helped by giving the documents from Hunnings to the Holocaust Society.
11:30: Hunnings’ friend, [Debby], asked if she would give the documents to the Archivist, (Routtenberg). Routtenberg gives Hunnings a brief overview of the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia.
12:03: Routtenberg invites Hunnings to do another interview at another time, to discuss Hunnings life in Vancouver. Hunnings was the first in Vancouver to open an international art gallery. Hunnings also expresses her intention to warn others that people like Elias, who do harm, and still hold such racist ideologies exist. She also states how hurtful actions like his are to people who lived and survived the Second World War. Routtenberg thanks Hunnings for her time and for sharing her story.
15:13: End of interview.

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