Bloomfield, Becky

Bloomfield, Becky

Harry Bloomfield was born on September 5, 1890 in Austria. He immigrated to Canada in 1904 to join his sister in Montreal, Quebec. He moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1911, later making his way to Edmonton. He married Becky Shaw in 1916 and together they had a son, Mandel. The Bloomfields moved to Vegreville, Alberta in 1916 and purchased Central Wholesale, later returning to Edmonton. Harry Bloomfield was a founding member of Beth Shalom Synagogue in 1932 and became executive director at that time, a position he held for ca. 50 years. Bloomfield was also a member of the Masonic St. John's Lodge No. 25 and B'nai B'rith Lodge No. 732. He died in 1984, predeceased by his wife and son. Becky Bloomfield was born in Elizabethgrad, Russia to Bernard and Dina Shaw. She immigrated to Canada with her family and eventually settled in Edmonton, Alberta, marrying Harry Bloomfield in 1916. She was a member of Haddasah-WIZO and the National Council of Jewish Women, and served as choir leader at Beth Shalom Synagogue. Bloomfield was also a Negev Dinner honouree in 1955. She died in 1983, predeceased by her son, Mandel and survived by her husband. Mandel Bloomfield was born ca. 1919. He received his education at Oliver Public School and Victoria High School in Edmonton, Alberta and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1940. He became a pilot and was given the rank of Flight Sergeant. He went overseas in October 1941 and was killed in action on July 31, 1942. In the fall of 1942 the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO), AZA Chapter No. 121 was renamed the Mandel Bloomfield Chapter in his honour. His name was also inscribed on the Cenotaph at the Jewish Cemetary in Edmonton, Alberta that was erected in 1947.

Jewish Archives and Historical Society of Edmonton and Northern Alberta