The Second World War was one of the darkest periods in human history, especially for the Jewish people who endured persecution and genocide. Despite the great distance from Europe, residents of Edmonton found ways to help. In this article, we’ll share some of their stories. You can find more at edmonton-yes.com.
Edmonton’s Jewish Community During WWII
By 1941, Edmonton’s population had grown to 93,817, with 1,449 being Jewish residents. Of those, 120 men and women from the community served in the war, and 11 were killed in action. In the post-war years, the Jewish population continued to grow. You can learn more about the history of the Jewish community in the city here.
Edmonton’s Jewish community was well aware of the pogroms, deportations, and concentration camps. This created a constant atmosphere of anxiety and a strong desire to help in any way they could.
The Story of Peter Owen
Despite a lack of support from the federal government, local residents found ways to act on their own.
In 1938, a 13-year-old boy named Peter Owen became the first unaccompanied Jewish child to be granted entry into Canada. He was allowed in by special government order, with the help of Edmonton lawyer H.A. Friedman. This story highlights the discriminatory policies of the Canadian government at the time, which during WWII, had extremely low quotas for Jewish refugees.
Born in Germany, Peter’s family friend Harry Friedman applied to Canadian Immigration in 1937 to bring the boy to Canada. After a year of correspondence, Peter finally received permission. Eight other Jews also received permission, but Peter was the only child. Mr. Friedman made a $1,000 contribution, guaranteeing that Peter would complete his education and not become a burden on the government.
Peter travelled to Canada alone, but at every stop, he was met by Friedman’s friends. The Jewish community once again showed its unity and strength. Peter later brought the rest of his family to Edmonton.
Peter Owen graduated from the University of Alberta and served in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps until 1945. He later practiced law in Edmonton and was an active community member, holding leadership positions at various institutions, including serving as president of the Edmonton Art Gallery. He was also a board member of the Jewish Historical Society of Edmonton and Northern Alberta.
Peter Owen married Violet Rose, and they had three children: Susan, Tom, and Mia. Susan Owen became a well-known sculptor and the artist behind the Holocaust Memorial.
The van Engelen Family
Another inspiring story is that of the van Engelen family. In 2018, 87-year-old Edmontonian Harty van Engelen was recognized for his family’s help to Jewish people during WWII. Harty was just 13 when his parents in the Netherlands began sheltering Jewish refugees. Harty and his father built secret hiding spots in case the Nazis raided their home. His parents struggled to find enough food for everyone they were sheltering.
After the war, Harty immigrated to Canada and settled in Edmonton, where he lived the rest of his life. The family was honoured with the “Righteous Among the Nations” award. Harty accepted the award on behalf of his late parents at Beth Israel Synagogue. Despite their heroic actions, Harty shared that his family was always humble and never sought recognition. They remained friends with the Jewish people they saved for a long time but rarely spoke of those difficult years.