Thursday. July 12, 1979 — THE BULLETIN — 7
CITY GROUP AIMS TO AID ETHIOPIAN JEWS
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Announcement has been made of
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Vancouver community leader, philanthropist, sportsman and businessman, Jack Diamond has been named to membership in the Order of Canada, the country's highest distinction. Mr. Diamond is among five i Vancouverites named to the honor ' list of 62 last weiek in Ottawa by Governor-General Ed Schreyer.
This is the second distinction for Mr. Diamond in recent weeks. On ; June 19, Vancouver Mayor Jack Volrich presented him with the *Freedom of the City' award, the highest tribute which City Council can bestow on a citizen;
Mr. Diamond served as Chancellor of Simon Fraser University between 1975 and 1978. He has been president of the B.C. Jockey Club Jor numerous years. His public service involvements are extensive, spanning both the general and Jewish communities.
Born in Poland in 1909, Jack Diamond arrived in Canada at the age of 17. He spoke Polish, Russian and Yiddish — and not one word of English. He enrolled in night school to learn English after obtaining a job in a meat shop in Vancouver's East Hastings.
Three years later, the prospective businessman heard of a butcher's store on Robson going broke and he bought it for $250. He bought three more stores and in the early 1930s entered the meat packing business by taking over the struggling B.C. . Livestock plant at the foot of Fraser street, then ifbr $55,000, (half the asking :price)vMr^ Diamond out Paciific :Kleat^ The firm grew in pace with Vancouver and by the time he sold but to Intercdntihental Packers in 1963, the company had captured 60 percent of the city's meat business."
His hobby was race-horses — and he niade a successful business from that also. The well-known sportsman helped save the Lansdowne track in Richmond and in 1958 he and his partner. Bill Randall, built a new track at Exhibition Park. L^ter they tore the place down and built the grandstand and ttack standing today.
Mr. Diamond was responsible for raising the funds to complete preparations to hold the 1954 British Empire Games in Vancouver.
The new Order of Canada member employed hundreds of people in his plant and determining that he owed them something, he built a community centre in Marpole — the first in Vancouver. He later contributed to a substantial degree towards the building of Sunset Community Centre; built a new roof over a Roman Catholic Church; helped start and finance the B.C. Heart Foundation; and led a successful drive for the Cancer Society.
In the Jewish community, Mr. Diamond has served for 35 consecutive years as chairman of the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery board; is a past chairman of Yeshiva University events in Vancouver; and has given active, generous support to
NEW YORK — Prof. Alexander Tiemkin of Tel Aviv university has learned that his daughter Marina, still trapped in Moscow since her 1973 kidnapping, .will be removed from the city during the summer evidently to prevent her from establishing contacts with her parental grandmother or foreign tourists, according to the Student < Struggle for Soviet Jewiy.
every community campaign.
In the early 1970s, Schara Tzedeck honored him urith a testimonial dinner in tribute to his then quarter-century of years service to his synagogue and community. Yeshiva University has presented him with its Distinguished Service award.
Mr. Diamond has received numerous additional honors over the years. In 1963 the noted sportsman was chosen *Man of the Year' by the Jockeys' Benefit association of Canada. He was the first man in North America to be given life membership in the Horseman's Benevolent and Protec-'tive association, was inducted into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame
and, in 1977, received the Sovereign award of the Jockey Club of Canada.
Twice this well known philanthropist has been named *Good Citizen' of the year — Once by the Native Sons of B.C. and then by the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
In 1974, Mr. Diamond received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Simon Fraser university. The citation read: '^Surpassing all his endeavors has been liis concern for people. Today he can reflect with pride on the results of his selfless, generous and humanitarian spirit."
Mr. Diamond and his wife Sadie have two married sons, Charles and Gordon, and six grandchildren.
chapter of Canadian Friends of Ethiopian Jewry. Spokesmen stated that the group is dedicated to **helping in any manner possible the Ethiopian Jews who are being persecuted."
The group's executive includes: Dr. Bill Maurice, president; Phyllis Solomon, Matty Cesana, vice-presidents; Miriam Bromberg, secretary; Nate Zackon, treasurer; Michael Reed and Corinne Zimmerman.
Persons interested in joining the organization or in helping out, are being asked to call either Dr. Maurice at 261-1654 or Mr. Cesana at 683-0055.
Leads Seattle Jewry
SEATTLE — Samuel N. Stroum has been elected president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
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