Oral history interview with Al Kolberg who was born in Saskatoon, 1919. His father came from Russia in 1905 where he worked as a shochet. Al recalls the reasons for Jewish assimilation in Vancouver in the early to mid twentieth century.
Oral history interview with Anne Wyne who was born in Russia in 1907. She discusses her involvement with Peretz School and as Principal of Jewish Community Centre. Anne's father emigrated to Canada in 1924 and the family followed 1926 due to antisemitism and property confiscations.
Oral history interview with Ben Wosk who was born in 1913 in a town near Odessa. He recalls how his Great-Grandfather Moshe served in the Czarist army for 25 years. Ben and the family emigrated to Canada after Ben, his father and many other Jews had been arrested on multiple occasions with no evidence.
Oral interview with Bernard Victor who was born in Gomel, Russia in 1893 and came to Vancouver, on April 15, 1923, from Winnipeg. Bernard was involved with Talmud Torah, B'nai B'rith, and the Jewish Literary Club. He describes living through two pogroms in Russia. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in Europe from 1916 until 1919. His father worked for the Russian Vital Statistics Department and noticed large numbers of Jews leaving, encouraged Bernard and Bernard's brother to leave.
Oral history interview with Bill Morris who was born just outside of Moscow, Russia. The family emigrated to Canada in 1913. Bill's father was active with the Jewish Aid Society. Bill joined the Canadian army and was active during the Second World War, seeing action primarily in Italy.
Oral history interview with Cyril Edel Leonoff who was born in Winnipeg, 1925. First job was building the Royal Alexandra Hotel in Winnipeg. Cyril went into the armed services, specifically the Signal Corps, afterwards taking engineering and marrying Faye in 1949. He started as a engineering assistant at Rivers & Harbours Branch, Public Works in New Westminster. After two years of civil service he took Geo-technical engineering. While focusing on his engineering career, Cyril met the 'Barish' brothers during the nineteen sixties which brought his attention onto Jewish History.
Oral interview with David Kaplan. Interviewed by Bill Gruenthal. David talks about his family's involvement with the steel industry and the Jewish Botanical Gardens. Eventually settling in Vancouver, David opened a very successful R&D tax consultation firm and later on became heavily involved with the Jewish Family Services Agency. He also discusses Jewish education in South Africa.
Oral history interview with Dora Roseman who was born in Poland, 1895 and emigrated to Canada. She lived in Toronto and later moved to Vancouver. Dora describes the small Jewish community in the East End, providing the names and occupations of the people she knew.