Martha Cohen

Martha Ruth Cohen
A picture of Martha Cohen
Born Martha Ruth Block
1920 (1920)
Calgary, Alberta
Died February 26, 2015 (94-95 years old)
Known for Philanthropy and activism

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]

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 fo 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

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 honor.[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

References

  1. ↑ "Archives Society of Alberta".
  2. 1 2 3 "Drumheller Mail Newspaper Archives, Sep 15, 1982, p. 26". NewspaperArchive.com. 1982-09-15. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  3. 1 2 "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.
  5. ↑ "University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work".
  6. 1 2 3 "When Martha Cohen Decided to Raise Money..." Lethbridge Herald Newspaper Archives, Jul 19, 1980, p. 91. 1980-07-19. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  7. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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

  • Canadian Who's Who, 2003.
  • "The Best of Alberta, Calgary Herald, 2008".
  • "Global Woman of Vision, Global News, 2009".
  • "Alberta 150: The Wrestlers, The Team Builder, and The Professor, Calgary Herald, 2017".


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