Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pioneer Jewish Settlers of Winkler Monument (Main Street, Winkler)

A monument in Betel Heritage Park in Winkler was erected by the Winkler Heritage Society and the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada on 26 May 2002 in commemoration of the pioneer Jewish settlers of Winkler. The monument lists only those who settled before the outbreak of the First World War. The initial 15 families were as follows:

• Isaac and Sarah Greenblatt (arrived 1890s)
• Pinyah and Mary Silver (arrived 1890s)
• Aaron Arka and Etta Nitikman (arrived 1898)
• Yosel and Freyda Nitikman (arrived 1899 and 1901)
• Aaron and Annie Nitikman (arrived 1901)
• Abraham and Sarah Greenblatt (arrived 1903)
• Max and Chia Buchwald (arrived 1904 and 1908)
• Isaac and Ruchel Sirluck (arrived 1906 and 1901)
• Harry and Razelle Danzker (arrived 1908) and Rachel Danzker (arrived 1910)
• Usher Zelig and Bella Sirluck (arrived circa 1908)
• Morris and Masha Gladstone (arrived 1910)
• Barney Dave Safeer (arrived circa 1910)
• Aaron (“Harry”) and Freda Gladstone (arrived 1912)
• Morris and Flossie Goldberg (arrived 1913 and 1901)

Members of the Soreff / Soref family were also early settlers in Winkler.

These pioneers made new lives for themselves, becoming peddlars, storekeepers, grain merchants, and farmers. Their descendants include numerous prominent Manitobans, including a President of the University of Manitoba, a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, an eminent cardiac surgeon, a judge in the Manitoba Provincial Court, a member of the Order of the British Empire, members of the Order of Canada, advisors to governments, a City of Winnipeg alderman, a newspaper publisher, many business executives, members of learned professions, scientists, teachers, scholars, arts patrons, and community leaders.

Pioneer Jewish Settlers of Winkler commemorative monument (October 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Pioneer Jewish Settlers of Winkler commemorative monument (July 2023) Source: Rose Kuzina Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.17793, W97.93941 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

We thank Dan Frenkel and Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 22 July 2023

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