Showing 156 results

Interview with Stephen Greenham. Interviewed by Alysa Routtenberg for The Scribe, 2018. Stephen is the co-owner of Sweet Obsession alongside his business partner Lorne Tyczenski. He talks about how the two of them ended up opening Sweet Obsession and how their shop has grown since. Stephen also discusses the role Lorne's Judaism has played in the business.

Interview with Wayne Katz. Interviewed by Ronnie Tessler for The Scribe, 2018. Wayne recalls the Jewish foods of his childhood and the first restaurant he opened with his father in Edmonton, Halls Place Restaurant. He talks extensively about his Whistler restaurants and cafes, including Zogs, Moguls, and Gone. Wayne talks about the influence of the Jewish business community on him, Whistler`s changing food scene, and his roles as both employer and landlord.

Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-17
Name: Adam Granot
Interviewer: Debby Freiman
Date: May 28th, 2018
Place: Peretz Center
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00: The interviewer, Debby Freiman, introduces herself and Adam Granot who is being interviewed.
00:21: Granot was born in Israel. He then goes on to describe his family and early childhood.
2:45: Granot describes the importance and role food played in his household and while growing up.
4:27: Freiman asks how Granot became involved in the food industry. Granot recounts his father’s career as a restaurant owner in Tel Aviv, Israel while Granot was a child. He then describes his father’s wish to build a business that sells burekas when they moved to Canada. Eventually they purchased the Fraser bakery and named it Breka Bakery which still exists in several locations today.
13:14: Granot was originally working at a car rental agency but left that job in order to take part in the family’s bakery when he was in his early twenties. He also recounts the opening of the other locations.
19:57: Granot is involved with the operations side of the business. His sister, brother-in-law, mother and mother’s partner are all also involved in the business in a variety of capacities. He also describes some of the tenets of the bakery related to product and growth.
25:26: Breka makes a variety of traditional Jewish and Eastern European breads, some of which are in keeping with the tradition of Fraser Bakery.
29:41: The bakeries are open twenty-four seven. Granot describes who the customers are that come in at all hours of the night.
33:18: Granot answers how Judaism has affected the business.
34:46: The speakers discuss the changes that have occurred in the food industry since Breka was first created. They discuss the changes in what customers are looking for in the products they purchase.
38:12: Freiman asks Granot what he sees as the future of Breka. At the time of the interview, Granot was beginning to plan for two more locations to be added to the business. They were also considering to expanding beyond Vancouver itself to other Lower Mainland cities. Granot recounts what he’s learned and what he’s loved about working in the food industry.

Interview with Jane Cherry. Interviewed by Alyssa Routtenberg for The Scribe, 2018. Jane talks about her father Sam's restaurants, including Fruit Bowl, Fish and Oyster Bar, and Love's Cafe. She describes each business's concept and menu, and discusses the shift in Vancouver's food scene.

Interview with Leah Markovitch. Interviewed by Debby Freiman for The Scribe, 2018. Leah describes the foods of her childhood and talks in depth about her bagel shop, Solly's Bagels. She recalls the start up and operation of their shop, the tweaking of Jewish recipes, and the changing population and food scene in Vancouver. Leah talks extensively about evolving Jewish cuisine, culture, and identity.

Interview with Janna Ginsberg. Interviewed by Debby Freiman for The Scribe, 2018. Janna talks about her family's history and her experiences growing up with Jewish food. She describes her background in horticulture and talks extensively about her catering business and restaurant, Janna's Select Catering and Tudor Rose. Janna reflects on the food scene in Victoria over the years.

Interview with Sheila Romalis. Interviewed by Debby Freiman. Sheila talks about her grandparents' immigration to Canada, her father's business acumen, and her mother's philanthropy. Her family was heavily involved in many Jewish organizations in Vancouver such as Hadassah-WIZO, Israel Bonds, B'nai B'rith Sisterhood, Jewish Family & Child, and Beth Israel.

Follow-up oral interview with Leah Levitt. Interviewed by Debby Freiman. Leah talks about her extended family, education, and her involvement with B'nai Brith Girls and the National Council of Jewish Women.

Oral interview with Leah Levitt. Interviewed by Debby Freiman. Leah talks about her grandparents' history with the Peretz School and Communist Party in Calgary, her family's experiences in World War I and II, her father's operation of hotels across Vancouver such as Stratford Hotel, and their family real estate company, Abbott Realty.

Oral history interview with Judah Shumiatcher. In preparation for the 2015 online exhibit on Jewish architects.