Oral Histories
Temple Beth Ora’s third Annual Congregation Sedar at the Saxony
Motor Inn,1988; Temple Beth Ora fonds, JAHSENA.
Oral Histories
In 1999, the Jewish Archives and Historical Society of Northern Alberta, recognizing that a significant and irreplaceable segment of the community’s collective history was being lost as older members of the community passed away, formed an Oral History Committee to begin preserving this important part of the community’s history. The Oral History project identified their prime function as: “To identify, prioritize, contact and record oral history interviews with senior members of our community, who by virtue of their long- time residence in Edmonton and/or Northern Alberta, can provide our Society with their unique historical perspective.” By September 2011, 225 interviews had been conducted by 12 different interviewers. The project is ongoing. In 2011, a grant was received to convert audiocassettes to MP3 files. A few remain to be converted. To date, we have 244 interviews completed.
Sample from the Collection: Peter Owen
A Life Saved, A Story Preserved
Peter [was] a member of [JAHSENA’s] Board, and … a respected Edmonton lawyer and Jewish Community member, father and grandfather. But as a child, Peter’s life could have taken a much different turn. If it hadn’t been for the efforts of Edmonton Lawyer H.A. Friedman, this significant life could have been cut short in the fires of Nazi Germany. In fact, Peter’s story has broader significance, for he was the only child let into Canada alone during World War II. His story is tacit evidence of the discriminatory immigration policies of the Canadian government during that period, and as such is highly significant, and worthy of study.
Peter Owen was born Peter Offerbacher in Frankfurt, Germany in 1924. In 1937, Edmonton Lawyer Harry Friedman, a distant family friend, applied to Canadian Immigration for a permit to bring Peter to Canada. After a year of correspondence with various intermediaries, Mr. Owen was allowed into Canada by an Order-In-Council, dictated by the federal cabinet, which allowed 22 people into Canada, including eight Jews. Peter Owen was the only Jewish child allowed to immigrate to Canada during the war period. Mr. Friedman had to post a $1,000 bond to the Canadian government guaranteeing that Peter would complete his education, and not become a burden on the Canadian Government.
— Debby Shoctor
Archival Photographs
Correspondence concerning the immigration of Peter Owen, 1938
The Last Day, 1938
A hostel for Jewish emigrants. Peter Owen in the right foreground
Peter Owen in the Friedman Garden, 1940
Peter Owen, 1942
Portrait, 1945
Listen to Peter’s Oral History
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