Interview with Selina Robinson for On The Record: The BC Jewish Queer & Trans Oral History Project in collaboration with JQT Vancouver. Interviewed by Carmel Tanaka via remote Zoom video call. Selina (she/her) is a Jewish politician who is the mother of a gay son. She is an NDP representative and Member of Legislative Assembly of BC residing in Coquitlam. Selina talks about growing up Jewish in Montreal, and Richmond, BC where the Jewish community was much smaller. She talks about organizing community-led Jewish education in Burquest that focused on inclusion of all sects of Judaism during the ‘90s. Selina talks about working for Jewish Family Services, and their attempts to make safe spaces for gay Jewish kids and their parents. She talks about guidance from her son Aaron, who is similarly pursuing queer Jewish community initiatives. She also tells an anecdote about Aaron’s coming out and how his leaving for university worried her about his preparedness for the world at large. Selina talks about Aaron being openly Jewish growing up and creating positive spaces for him to share his Jewishness with non-Jewish peers, but the difficulties of not knowing the perfect way to parent a queer kid as a straight parent. She also talks about Aaron inviting her to Shabbat dinner with Pride Colours and how proud she was. Selina talks about how Jewish organizations can become more welcoming to queer Jews by including queer Jews in their leadership and becoming more self-reflective.
Photograph depicts Ben Dayson's 80th birthday at the Ole Cantina Restaurant in Richmond. Ben Dayson is standing in the middle, holding a violin upside down.
Photograph depicts two men behind microphones, with one man in costume, they are possibly performing a skit. The caption from the JWB reads: "Edward R. Burrow" (Mel Sprackman) with "world's oldest canvasser Meyer Burscovitch" (Jeff Goldberg). Separate paper provides short description. Reads: "'JUISH T.V.' Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Richmond Country Club. Sept. 12/91 For Sept. 26/91 see layout."
Photograph depicts a woman reading a speech at a podium. The caption from the JWB reads: "Bobbe" of the Eternal Journal (Susan Fine). Separate paper provides short description. Reads: "'JUISH T.V.' Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Richmond Country Club. Sept. 12/91 For Sept. 26/91 see layout."
Photograph depicts a man speaking at a podium. The caption from the JWB reads: Knowledge Network erstwhile host Howard Harowitz. Separate paper provides short description. Reads: "'JUISH T.V.' Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Richmond Country Club. Sept. 12/91 For Sept. 26/91 see layout."
Photograph depicts a group of people on stage. The caption from the JWB reads: Mishpocha Mishigas, with emcee "Benny Fishery" (Ed Gavsie). Separate paper provides short description. Reads: "'JUISH T.V.' Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Richmond Country Club. Sept. 12/91 For Sept. 26/91 see layout."
Photograph depicts three unidentified people standing in the basket of a crane to light the Chanukiah. Written on the verso: "Eitz Chaim synagogue. 275-0007. 1989."
Photograph depicts children running in a field area with a fire in the foreground. Written on verso: "Summer Adventure Camp 'Western Day'. Barbecue at Active [slatles??] in Richmond."
![[Banquet at the] Richmond Country Club](/uploads/r/jewish-museum-archives-of-bc-2/d/5/e/d5e0b61bc1ab030f2187f4fef2f9cb5b421e20c6a9b2ac2b5dc3ed0544aaae19/L_142.jpg)
![[Ben Dayson's 80th birthday at the Ole Cantina Restaurant in Richmond]](/uploads/r/jewish-museum-archives-of-bc-2/0/7/a/07aa54f2a5320047da9df3b7f642c7e9ba017e1aee98050317ed430ff009a1e6/L_142.jpg)
