Showing 26 results

Oral History interview with Adele Vernon. Born in London, England. During the war her mother told her and her siblings “don’t let anyone know we’re Jewish” and leaving the Jewish faith for years. Talks about being sponsored to come to Canada by his father's aunt, arriving at Pier 41, arriving during the Calgary stampede. Went back to school as a mature student in 1973 for performing arts. Started the Shalom Dancers in 1978/79. Took Wednesday night classes with Rabbi Victor Reinstein and returned to the Jewish faith later in life.

Oral history interview with Alan Tapper, interviewed by Matthew Graves and assisted by Alan’s wife, Daphne. Alan speaks on his family’s history as well as adolescence in the Jewish community of East London, England, including the artistic and political environment. Alan talks about his family’s experience during the Second World War in London where his neighborhood was heavily bombed and impoverished by rationing, leading to his family’s evacuation to Devon and Newcastle. Alan discusses his involvement in various youth groups and theatre during the war, such as the Brady’s Boy Club. He talks about his military training at Padgate and subsequent conscription into the Royal Air Force intelligence unit where he was stationed in Egypt to monitor conflict over the Suez Canal. Alan speaks about how his military experience impacted his life and also the anti-Semitism he observed. He discusses his immigration to Vancouver, Canada and his role in numerous Jewish and Zionist organizations and boards, including B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress. He talks about his job in fundraising, teaching public speaking, and radio program hosting, as well as his children and marriage.

Oral history interview with Celia Margolis, born in Ottawa,Canada. She primarily discusses the activities and roles she held during the Second World war in both England and Canada. She belonged to the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps for about a year than travelled as a singer in the staff band of the Royal Army Medical Corp to England. Made an officer in the British army, having previously made Corporal / Sargent-major in Canadian army. Left the army in 1947 and took the the 'Empress of Canada' in October of 1948 to Montreal but soon moved to Vancouver in 1949.

Oral history interview with Cissie Eppel who was involved in the Pioneer Women, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Community Centre and is the founder of the Jewish Genealogical Society.

Oral history interview with David Morris Korbin who was born in Nelson, B.C in 1941. Grandparents come from Galicia and England. He went on to be a chartered accountant. In 1974 David became the first president of B. C. Development Corp and first director of ICBC. Chaired at Vancouver Hospital and E-Com Communications.

Oral history interview with Dorothy Pelzman who was born in Vancouver, 1927.

Oral history interview with Dr. Irving Snider who was born in England, 1903.

Oral history interview with Dr. Jack Moscovich, who was born in England but grew up in Alberta. Jack's parents came from Romania where his father served as captain in the Romanian cavalry ca. 1892. Began practice in new clinic setup by Dr. Maurice Fox and Dr. Morris in 1934-35. Jack founded the VGH Outpatients' Department. Stationed in Farnham, England during the Second World War until 1943; than Vancouver unit #11 of Canadian General Hospital. Was director of VGH Outpatients Department and late in 1974 was asked by British Columbia's government to investigate welfare and medical situations. Jack's work directly led to the Medical Services Plan.

Interview with Elan Mastai about his mother Judith Mastai, interviewed by Michael Schwartz. Elan speaks about his maternal family’s origins in Chicago and Vienna, Austria and how the family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada because of Judith’s father’s pharmaceutical career. Elan discusses Judith’s upbringing and education in Oakridge and her enthusiasm for theatre, inspiring her education and early career as a theatre actress and director. Elan talks about Judith’s time as a theatre actress in London, England and English teacher in Jerusalem, where she met her husband, Moshe Mastai. Judith then immigrated back to Vancouver to obtain her PhD in education and raise her children. Elan talks about how his mother raised him in an untraditionally intelligent and artistic environment, prompting his career as a writer. He talks about Judith’s career in education at Simon Fraser University and her entrance into visual arts as the director of public programming at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Elan speaks about her time as a travelling art curator and critic, head of education at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and executive director of the Canadian Museum of Craft and Design.

Oral history interview with Esmond Lando who was born in England, 1908. Esmond started his career practicing law, connections with 'Spilsbury and Hepburn ship-to-shore radios' led to partnership. Also involved in logging industry and owned and built a number of golf courses in Greater Vancouver & Lower Mainland.