Oral history interview with Arnold Shine and Sam Segal who discuss the establishment, functions and history of the Canadian Legion in Vancouver. The Jewish Branch of Canadian Legion was founded by Charles Gorovich in 1945, became the Fairview Branch of Canadian Legion and now known as the Shalom Branch of the Canadian Legion. Arnold was in the Army part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division; served in Normandy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, England. Sam was an Infantry instructor stationed in Vernon.
Oral History interview with Leslie Andrews. Born in 1929, Leslie grew up in a village a few miles out from London, and he speaks about what the Jewish community was like as he grew up. Leslie’s father was a tailor, and he collaborated with Leslie’s mother to start a clothing shop in London that sold waistcoats and petticoats called Andrews and Goldberg. During World War II, they moved their shop out of London to Aylesbury, and had contracts to make raincoats for the British Armed Forces. Leslie talks about the complications he had with both his secular and Jewish education in England. Leslie went to school to become a pediatric pulmonologist and proceeded to work in physical medicine. After the war ended, Leslie met his wife Iris, and became the first person in his family to come to Canada, emigrating to Vancouver in January 1962. He began working at the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Center. Leslie, Iris, and their children attended Beth Israel synagogue, and were quite active in the Jewish community in Vancouver, with Iris working as a secretary and Leslie acting as chairman for various committees at Beth Israel. He talks about how the Jewish community in Vancouver has changed since he first arrived in British Colombia.
Oral history interview with Louis Sutker who was born in 1943 in Georgia. Louis goes over his education and career as well as his children and Victoria's Jewish scene.
Oral history interview with Robert A. Wenner, born in 1923 in Alberta. He speaks of his Great-Grandfather, Grandfather on his father's side as well as his mother's side of the family who were from Russia and moved to France. Bob's own father served as an artillerymen and sharpshooter during the First World War. Bob planned to go into Medicine but there were no medical programs on the West Coast and so took Optometry in California.
Oral history interview with Blossom Wine who was born in Saskatchewan. Involved in Hadassah and active in active in B’nai Brith. After her husband passed away she became a travel agent and saw the development of Israel over many continuous years.
Oral history interview with Dr. Bluma Tischler, who was born 1924 in Baranowicz, Poland - now Baranavichy in Belarus. Bluma and her husband Issac attended medical school at the University of Odessa, than studied in Munich, Germany. Bulma and Issac wanted to emigrate to the United States but due to their quota's being full they decided to come to Canada.
Oral history interview with Louis Averbach who born in the Ukraine in 1914. In Vancouver Louis worked in the furniture business, eventually setting up his own store 'Belmont Furniture'. Louis strongly advocates the importance of advertising throughout his career and afterwards. Moved into building later in life, first the Kamlo Motel on English Bay and later high rise apartments in the West End.
Interview with Susan Mendelson. Interviewed by Debby Freiman for The Scribe, 2018. Susan talks about her family's history, her upbringing in Toronto, and her first baking ventures in Vancouver. She became a regular on CBC Radio before eventually opening her own catering company, Lazy Gourmet. Susan talks extensively about her experiences in the business.
