Martha Cohen

Martha Ruth Cohen, CM, LLD (née Block; 1920 – February 26, 2015) was a Canadian community activist and philanthropist.[1] She spearheaded a variety of major civic projects, including construction of the $45 million Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. As chairwoman of the Board of Directors at Mount Royal College, she oversaw the construction of a new campus and was the first woman to head a higher educational institution in Alberta. She was a member of the Order of Canada and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary in 1982.[2][3]

Martha Ruth Cohen
Born
Martha Ruth Block

1920 (1920)
Calgary, Alberta
DiedFebruary 26, 2015 (94-95 years old)
Known forPhilanthropy and activism

Life and education

Cohen was born in 1920 in Calgary, Alberta to parents Rebecca and Peter Block.[4]

She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 1940, and a Master Diploma of Social Work from the University of Toronto in 1945.[5] Cohen has four children.[6] In 1982, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary[2] and in 1995 received a Honorary Bachelor of Applied Communications from Mount Royal College.

Cohen died on February 26, 2015.[7][8] Her 30-piece art collection made headlines when it was auctioned off.[9]

Achievements
  • Chairwoman of the Board for the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts during creation of the Centre.
  • Chairwoman of the Mount Royal College Board of Governors during the construction of a new campus, becoming the first woman to head a higher educational institution in Alberta.
  • Founder/Past Executive Director of the Jewish Family Service in Calgary.[10][11]
  • President of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada[7][12]
  • Councillor, Alberta Order of Excellence (1980-1985) [13]

Philanthropy

The Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation is a private family foundation which provides grants primarily to Calgary-based charities.[14] She founded it with her husband Harry B. Cohen (1912–1990), who was also a philanthropist.

Cohen and five other women primarily were the ones to fundraise $45 million to build the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts.[6]

In 1983, Cohen's husband Harry donated $1 million to have a theatre named at the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts in honor of Martha Cohen's birthday.[15]

After her death on February 26, 2015, the Dr. Martha Cohen School was named in her honour.[10][16] On May 4, 2015, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) announced that it would name a new Middle School (located in New Brighton/Copperfield) after Martha Cohen and described her as one of the city's foremost humanitarians and philanthropists.[16] In April, 2017, the CBE formally opened the Dr. Martha Cohen School at 1750 New Brighton Drive S.E. It will provide educational programming for approximately 900 students (Grades 5-9).[17]

Honorary degrees

Awards
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References
  1. "Archives Society of Alberta".
  2. "Drumheller Mail Newspaper Archives, Sep 15, 1982, p. 26". NewspaperArchive.com. 1982-09-15. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  3. "Mother Receives Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree". Lethbridge Herald Newspaper Archives, Sep 18, 1982, p. 16. 1982-09-18. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  4. Sanderson, Kay (1999). 200 Remarkable Alberta Women. Calgary: Famous Five Foundation. p. 92. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  5. "University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work".
  6. "When Martha Cohen Decided to Raise Money..." Lethbridge Herald Newspaper Archives, Jul 19, 1980, p. 91. 1980-07-19. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  7. "Calgary Philanthropist Dies, CBC News, 2015".
  8. "Calgary Philanthropic Legend Martha Cohen Dies, Calgary Herald, 2015".
  9. "Martha Cohen art collection to be auctioned off". Calgary Herald. 2015-11-07. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  10. "Alberta 150: The wrestlers, the team builder and the professor". Calgary Herald. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  11. "Calgary Jewish Family Service Bureau".
  12. "National Council of Jewish Women (Calgary Section)".
  13. "Council for the Alberta Order of Excellence".
  14. "Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation". Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  15. "Martha Cohen Theatre".
  16. "New CBE School will be Named after Community Builder Martha Cohen".
  17. "Dr. Martha Cohen School".
  18. "University of Calgary Honorary Doctorate".
  19. "Governor General of Canada - Archives".
  20. "Scopus Award".
  21. "Angel Award, ISPA".
  22. "Great Minds for a Great Future, University of Toronto".
  23. "Alberta Centennial Medal, Province of Alberta" (PDF).
  24. "Distinguished Alumni Award, Calgary Board of Education".
  25. "Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award" (PDF).

Sources
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