A history of Jews in Canada

Carol Sokoloff

As Canadians celebrate the July 1 anniversary of Confederation, we are justly proud of the ethnic diversity and multicultural spirit found throughout the country. Our cities teem with people from every corner of the globe, whose contribution to a dynamic society is well-recognized. In many places, intercultural festivals are under way, such as Victoria's outstanding Folkfest celebration, where, for 10 days, world music, dance and cuisine take centre stage. Our Canadian mosaic has become so enshrined, one might believe this is the way Canada has always been.

Those of the older generation, however, remember a time when Canada was not so tolerant of members of ethnic minorities, including those of a Jewish background. In the grand scheme of things, it was hardly so long ago that this country exhibited an almost institutionalized anti-Semitism. Jews who immigrated to this land to enjoy a safe and prosperous life for their children succeeded only by overcoming certain barriers placed between them and their aspirations. These took the form of quotas on university enrolments, professions that could not be entered, clubs and associations that were restricted to Jews - and even signs on public beaches proclaiming, "No Jews."

There are many examples of this unfortunate history. The medical school at McGill University had a very small quota for Jewish students; the Toronto School Board would not hire Jewish teachers; the T. Eaton Co. also would not hire Jewish employees. Not only in professional life, but also in recreational associations, Jews were often prohibited from membership. Numerous are the golf, yacht and country clubs across Canada where, up until quite recently, Jews were not welcome as members.

Despite these barriers, or perhaps driven by them, Jews excelled in every field and became prosperous and successful. They achieved such academic excellence that universities had no choice but to enrol them. Gradually, every profession opened its doors.

Rather than decry those clubs that denied them membership, Jews founded their own golf, yacht and country clubs and their own business associations. When I grew up in Toronto, there was the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, which was closed to Jews, and the (Jewish) Island Yacht Club; the venerable WASP Granite Club and the equally snobbish, but Jewish, Tri-bel Club.

Of course, not every city in Canada had Toronto's heritage of Anglo-Saxon elitism. In my adopted home of Victoria, Jews played a prominent role from the town's earliest days - with many of the important merchants and mayors being of the Jewish faith. No doubt, the western frontier spirit and the gold rush roots of this city led to the tolerance which saw Governor Douglas, the Masons and all the leading citizens of the day take part in the building and 1863 opening of the Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue, still in use today.

However, back in Ottawa, the politicians and the bureaucrats were not always so open-minded. At the very time when European Jews were most endangered by the rising Nazi movement, Canada callously imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration. When asked how many Jews Canada would accept, one official of the W.L. Mackenzie King government is reported to have replied that, "None is too many." One wonders how many lives could have been saved by a more humane immigration policy.

The tragic consequences of this policy were never more clearly illustrated than in Canada's shameful part in turning back the ship The St. Louis. In 1939, 900 Jewish refugees left Hamburg on this boat bound for Havana, Cuba. Approaching Havana harbor, they discovered they had been duped by a corrupt official and their visas were not valid. Cuba would not allow the ship entry. Jews everywhere appealed for a country to admit these refugees and the St. Louis sailed from port to port in search of asylum. After they were refused entry by the United States, Canada was the last hope for these desperate souls, but King said their plight was not Canada's problem, and forced the ship to return to Europe. During the terrible years of the Nazi regime, Canada accepted a mere 500 refugees.

While in Canada today, there are occasional racist attacks against Jews or Jewish landmarks, these are thankfully isolated and soundly condemned by society at large. They should not, of course, be ignored, but we need to keep them in perspective. Racism against Jews (or any other ethnic group) is no longer tolerated on any institutional basis. On the contrary, our government has instituted policies to prevent discrimination and our justice system has made hate crimes actionable. Still, it is no doubt wise to remain vigilant and to speak out against all forms of racism - and also to insist on humane immigration policies, so that other cultures in need of rescue may receive the compassionate welcome that Jews were denied. Ours is a large and prosperous country, enriched by the lively interchange of cultures we celebrate this Canada Day.

Carol Sokoloff is a writer and singer from Victoria, where she performs with the jazz group Trio Espresso. She is the author of the children's books Colours Everywhere You Go and the soon-to-be-released Anything You Want to Be (Cherubim Books/Ekstasis).

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