Edenbridge, Saskatchewan

[RB]

Hi everyone

I have a copy of Uncle Mike's Edenbridge, Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer that I am currently reading.

It draws on the good heart of every man who walk the life of hardship, the kindness of the people shown at every corner to help others become good, productive and dignify people

Has anyone ever visited the colony area, and if you have other stories, please share your experience

[RB]

well I have just finished reading this book and certainly revised my initial assessment

Edenbridge takes us to a settlement community struggling with insecurities of being recent immigrants who were not farmers, of different identity, of a class struggle sustained by anti-Semitism etc.

It tells of people who have hope, even when they despair. They have faith to work the land and do well, not the faith embedded religion as you would think but the translated faith from religion, secular faith.

These were people who were not farmers and suffer the pains of insecurities and isolation from the general population. A physical organic boundary was created in Edenbridge and Edenbridge suffered the crocks of self-exclusion.

To survive the folks Edenbridge develop different beliefs, values and morals. Hence the cooperation and happiness that is protrayed as happy stories at first glance. The happy attitudes are the surviving alternatives from mainstream.

[August1991]

Other colonies were more successful; among them Wapella, of early Bronfman fame: Ekiel and Mindel Bronfman arrived there as colonists, but shortly afterwards they moved east, eventually founding the Bronfman dynasty, well known for Jewish communal leadership and, of course, Seagram whiskey.

So Solomon Gursky really was there!

Some web site

Interesting. I think western Canada has more of these "anomalies" than eastern Canada.

I'll note that a Conservative PM admitted them to Canada.

I'll also note that German Jews looked down on Polish Jews and Polish Jews looked down on Lithuanian Jews, whom they referred to as "Litvaks", a derogatory term. Such slurs are irrelevant now; these countries harbour only ghosts.

[RB]

Conservative PM admitted them to Canada

Yes its strange how the this freedom principle works. I mean so we were barring Jews, alright then we accepted them but also we have to be fair and accept er German Nazis also, you see Canada outlined a number that could enter. I mean were we thinking that these were the folks to help with security from the enemy

[RB]

I mean in all our history classes I was never aware of the 2,800 Finnish Canadians who accepted USSR invitation to work during the depression. I mean they are never mentioned but were caught up in the same net as Soviet citizens who wre crushed during Satalinist purges.

I had the opportunity to see the award winning Film Screening of "Letters from Karelia" a National Film Board of Canada production was shown during the Toronto Film Festival. I don't believe they have the rights for home production yet so you can't order, but you can request an interest for public viewing - for history folks

[caesar]

Yes its strange how the this freedom principle works. I mean so we were barring Jews, alright then we accepted them but also we have to be fair and accept er German Nazis also, you see Canada outlined a number that could enter. I mean were we thinking that these were the folks to help with security from the enemy

Where did you get THIS information? Canada did not allow "nazis" to enter our country legally; although they are allowed in the USA. We allow communists but the USA does not.

[RB]

That came from "a line must be drawn somewhere" Reg Whitaker, double standard: the secret history of canadian immigration

quoting:

Late in 1945 the director of Immigration branch wrote a memo to his minister which he outlined the number of refugees from Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia who would seek entry into Canada so he asked to "read separately the facts in individual cases present and almost unanswerable argument for admission."