Oral history interview with Dr. Jacob Narod. He was born in Vilna and talks about the antisemitism there while growing up. At 22, he escaped and went to London. Then he went to New York, but he didn’t like it so he with to St. Louis, he worked in Scaffolding there. Next, he went to Portland and then up to Vancouver in 1910. He heard that Vancouver was a beautiful city. He talks about people (names and occupations) who moved to Vancouver during that time. He took a course in Chiropody and opened and office in 1929. The depression hit and he moved to Victoria in 1936. He talks in depth about the Victoria Community with a focus on the Synagogue during the war, entertaining the Jewish soldiers and helping refugees. He moved back to Vancouver in 1949. He was an active member of B’nai Brith.
Oral History of Anne Goldbloom. Her father was from Poland, and her mother was from Russia, they meet in Liverpool. Her uncle, Jack Stark, was the first family member to come to Canada. He originally settled in Winnipeg but moved to Vancouver before Anne's family immigrated. Her father followed her uncle to Canada and they opened a store together. At 16 Anne got a job as a stenographer, a skill that she used working as Secretary for many Jewish community organizations. During WW2 she was in charge of the knitting group that was making items to send to the overseas soldiers. Most of the interview is about her work with the National Council of Jewish Women and their Baby Clinic. She talks a lot about the Jewish community that she grew up in Vancouver.
Oral history interview with Fannie Segall who was born in 1892. Was involved in the; Legion; Zionist's, fund-raising, Ladies Auxiliary. She moved to Vancouver for better opportunities for her children than they could receive in Cupar.
Oral history interview with Sylvia and Harry Ablowitz. Contains discussions of Sylvia's involvement with the Ladies Auxiliary. Sylvia was a original member of Temple Emanu- El. Her father built the Sylvia Court building, now known as the Sylvia Hotel.
Harry's father was quite active in the Jewish community, B'nai Brith.
Oral history interview with Bessie Diamond who was born in London, England in 1899 but her family emigrated in 1905 to Canada. Bessie worked throughout the Jewish Community in Vancouver such as setting up the Well-Baby Clinic and during the Second World War worked with refugees. Bessie built the Joseph J. and Bessie Diamond Hospital in Israel to her late husband (1964).
Oral history interview with Joshua Checov who was born in 1891 in a small village in Russia. He was the only member of his family to serve in the Russian army during the First World War. Mr. Checov met Czar Nicholas during his time in the army. Later when he emigrated to Canada he spent a great deal of effort working across numerous organizations; Anti-Defamation League, Histadrut, etc and was a active supporter of Zionism.
Oral history interview with Reva Checov who was born in a small village in Russia in 1897. Later in life when she emigrated to Canada she went to McGill University and the University of British Columbia. Reva was involved in the Pioneer Women, National Council of Jewish Women, B'nai B'rith; Red Cross, Heart Foundation, Cancer Society ; Israeli Affairs and the Jewish National Fund among an assortment of other roles.
Oral history interview with David Simons who was born in England in 1900 and whose parents had emigrated from Poland to England in 1895. David was able to get servicemen's passage to come to Canada, arranged through a Cdn. Soldier, and he came to Vancouver in 1921. He had a job waiting on Lulu Island helping to clear stumps. Talks about his first impressions of Vancouver and liking the night life. Talks about his years in the army. He met his wife in England and got mariied in 1924. He is a long standing member of Royal Canadian Legion.
