From February 13 to 23, 2018 UBC Library will host the Canadian Jewish Experience (CJE) exhibit, A Tribute to Canada 150 on level 2 of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. This amazing Exhibition, prepared by volunteers and funded by private donations, presents a powerful sample of Jewish contributions to our country.

CJE’s purpose is to share Jewish aspects of Canada’s story with all Canadians, and a key goal of this exhibit is to be an educational tool. The exhibit panels are built around major themes including patterns of immigration, war and diplomacy, public service, justice and human rights, economic growth, arts, culture and sports. The exhibit has been displayed across the country, from Newfoundland to Victoria, and most recently at the Vancouver Public Library and SFU.

While Jewish contributions to medicine and other sciences are well known, it is hard to believe that until after the Second World War there were explicit quota restrictions on the number of Jewish students accepted by Canada’s universities. The University of Manitoba was the first in Canada to rid itself of this discriminatory quota system in 1945. Literature, music and performing arts have been deeply influenced by Canadian Jews. Montreal was home to a cluster of literary giants, such as poet A.M. Klein, novelist Mordecai Richler, poets Leonard Cohen and Irving Layton, and playwright Ted Allan. More recently, Naïm Kattan in French language writing and Sheila Fishman in translation have helped continue the city’s important Jewish literary presence.

To learn more about the exhibit,  Visit the CJE website for more information.