JWB Staff
"It has been a year of tremendous accomplishments and great developments," announced Vancouver Holocaust Centre Society president Robert Krell.
Dr. Krell made that statement to an audience of 50 attending the VHCS' annual general meeting June 16.
Holocaust awareness has increased as has Holocaust education, said Dr. Krell, thanks in part to such things as the new U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and the film Schindler's List.
The VHCS president noted some highlights of the past year, including the launching of Prof. William Nichoirs book, Christian
Antisemitism — A History of Hate at the Jewish Book Fair and the hosting of such speakers as Paul (Pfeffer-berg) Page and Thomas Keneally.
Krell noted that the new Holocaust Education Centre (H EC) opens Nov. 7 at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.
Arthur Pouchet, chair of the HEC's design committee, reported that layout of the 4,000 square-foot space has been worked on by consultants David Cunningham, Jack Lutsky and Seo-ris Harrison.
Pouchet said the committee's goal is to complete the base building and tenant improvements and move into the new facility by the end of August.
Opening of VHCS' educa-
tion centre kicks off in early November with the five-week long exhibit; "Anne Frank in the World: 1929-45."
In her AGM report, the society's executive director Ronnie Tessler said a variety of programs are being planned to coincide with the exhibit. She noted that some 2,000 students had already made reservations to view it.
In a later interview with The Bulletin, Tessler reported that the VHCS' June fundraising campaign has collected $250,000 to date.
The AGM also included the election of the 1994-95 board of directors: Rita Akselrod, Rabbi Imre Balla, Andre Blitz, Susan Bluman, Mariette Doduck, David Ehrlich, David Feldman, Rome Fox and Bill Gluck.
Also elected are Dr. Arthur Hayes, Paul Heller, Leon Kahn, Odie Kaplan, Robert Krell, Lucien Lieb-erman. Leo Lowy, Jack Micner, Max Pinsky, Rubin Pinsky, Arthur Pouchet, David Shafran, Louise Sorensen. Lyliane Thai and Robbie Waisman.
28.1994 — THE BULLETira — 7
DEDICATION OF THE NEW Earl and Jennie Lohn Building at Simon Fraser University took place June 21. In her dedication remarks, the couple's daughter Darlene Spevakow (above, centre) noted that the building is "an everlasting gift to students of future generations, and to me that is the greatest honor In memory of my parents." Spevakow is flanked by SFU Chancellor Joe Segal (left) and fonner chancellor Jack Diamond. About 200 guests attended the ceremony.
NEW FRIENDS: Marilyn Glszer(left) and her husband Derek (not pictured) have befriended the Find family (from second left), Sonja, Ziatko, MWca and Ognjen.
JWB Staff
Back in Bosnia, Ziatko Finci and his family used to talk about where in Canada they planned to settle after they had emigrated.
"We were told by friends to go to Vancouver, because it was the best place in the country," Finci told the Bulletin. "When we got here this February, we saw for ourselves that what they had told us was true," he said.
smiling broadly.
Like several other Jewish Bosnian families who have immigrated to Vancouver, the Fincis — Ziatko, his wife Milica, son Ognjen, 13, and daughter Sonja, 9, — used to call Sarajevo home.
Unlike many of those families, however, the Fincis did not have to endure years of civil war in the former Yugoslavia before they were able to leave.
As an electrical engineer for Energoinvest, a government-owned engineering company; Finci travelled the world administering hydro transmission projects.
His job took him and his family to Ethiopia, Tanzania, Egypt, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Finci's last overseas assignment was a one-and-a-half year project in Sri Lanka. When the contract ended in April 1993, the family had no alternative but to return to Yugosjavia^
After coming back to what was left of their country, the Finci foursome settled in Belgrade as Bosnian refugees.
They managed to keep body and soul togther thanks to the Red Cross, the United Nations, the Joint Distribution Committee and the Belgrade Jewish community.
The Canadian government accepted the family into the country as refugees. On Feb. 15 the Finci's plane touched down at Vancouver International Airport.
In Vancouver, the family made contact with Jewish Family Service Agency, which helped orient the newcomers to the city and the Jewish community.
The newly-formed Jewish Vocational Support Committee also took the Fincis under its wing. Betty Nitkin, Abe Nobleman and Abe Rosenbaum were instrumental in obtaining clothing, furniture, kitchen utensils and bicycles for the family.
Marilyn and Derek Glazer provided a place for the Fincis at their Passover seder. Since then, the relationship between the two families has blossomed, as the Glazers have become the Fincis' host family.
"They've helped us a lot since we've been here," said Ziatko Finci with conviction. "They've become real friends."
Since coming to Vancouver, Finci and his wife, a
high school math teacher, have been looking for work in their respective fields. Although they haven't succeeded yet, neither has been idle.
In addition to pounding the pavement, Finci has been taking an intensive English-language course five times a week. His wife has been studying English every day at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver's LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) program.
Finci says his family, currently esconced in an apartment in the West End,
enjoys their life in Vancouver. Both children attend Talmud Torah school. Ognjen is in Grade 7 and Sonja in Grade 3.
"Both of them like their school, and are doing well," he reported. "They're happy to be learning both English and Hebrew."
Although Finci hopes that former Yugoslavia will be a united country again some day, he plans to stay in Canada, preferably in Vancouver.
"But it all depends on where r find work," he sighed. "If I find work in another city, we'll have to move."
"Best New Sports Car" 1994 - AuiomobllQ Journalists AssoGlatlon of Csnadla^
CAA "Used Car Performance Award" 1994 - Canadian Auiomoblie Msoelatlon * *
"One of the Ten Best Cars" for 1994 - ilar and Driver, January WS4
Acura, Number One in J.D. Power Vehicle Performance Index 1991,1992,1993
- 19B3 U.S. Vehleh Porformeneo Study
— According to a study by McGill University psychiatry professor Dr. John Sigal, adult children of Holocaust Survivors do not differ significantly from other Jewish adults in their emotional makeups. The study's con-^ elusions run counter to conventionally accepted theories.
1994 INTEGRA
Automobile jouma lists Association of Canada
PREQSION CftAFIID PERfORMANQ
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Tradenuirk of Canadian Automobile Association
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