Martha Cohen
Encyclopedia
Martha Cohen, CM
, AOE
, LL.D., born Martha Ruth Block in Calgary
, Alberta (1920 - ), Community Builder and Philanthropist
, Member of the Order of Canada
. With her late husband, Harry B. Cohen
, she raised four children (Philip, Cheryl, Faye (Hersh), and David) while spearheading a variety of major civic projects.
, a successful Calgary businessman, donated $1 million to get a theatre named at the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts in honor of his beloved Martha's birthday.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, AOE
Alberta Order of Excellence
The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
, LL.D., born Martha Ruth Block in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta (1920 - ), Community Builder and Philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. With her late husband, Harry B. Cohen
Harry B. Cohen
Harry B. Cohen, CM, LL.D., born in Winnipeg, Manitoba , was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada...
, she raised four children (Philip, Cheryl, Faye (Hersh), and David) while spearheading a variety of major civic projects.
Education
- Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, University of AlbertaUniversity of AlbertaThe University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
(1940) - Master Diploma of Social WorkSocial workSocial Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1945)
Achievements
Martha Cohen has long been involved in community activities. Most notably:- Past Chairwoman of the Board for the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts during the planning, financing and constructing of this major facility. Martha and her associates raised some $15 million of private funding toward the creation of the Centre.
- Past Chairwoman of the Mount Royal CollegeMount Royal CollegeMount Royal University is a public university in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1910 as a primary and secondary school, Mount Royal became a post-secondary institution in 1931 as Mount Royal College offering transfer courses to the University of Alberta and later to the University of Calgary...
Board of Governors during the period of planning, financing, and constructing a new campus. As such, she became the first woman to head a higher educational institution in Alberta. - Past Chairwoman of William Roper Hull Home for Boys and Girls.
- Past Chairwoman of the Providence Creche.
- Founder/Past Executive Director of the Calgary Jewish Family Service.
- Past Vice-Chairwoman of Old Sun College at Gleichen, Alberta.
- Past President of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada
- Past member of the Council of the Alberta Order of ExcellenceAlberta Order of ExcellenceThe Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
.
Awards
- Prime Minister Medal, State of Israel BondsState of Israel BondsState of Israel Bonds are debt securities issued by the Government of Israel.State of Israel Bonds is also the more familiar name of the underwriter of the bonds in the United States. The company is officially known as Development Corporation for Israel...
(1970) - Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1975) - AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
Achievement Award (1975) - Queen's Anniversary Medal (1977)
- Sesquicentennial Year Plaque, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1977) - CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
Citizen of the Year (1979) - Honorary doctorate, University of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryThe University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
(1982) - Boy ScoutsScouts CanadaScouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
of Canada Medal (1984) - Variety Club International Lifeliner Medal (1984)
- City of Calgary, Centennial Award of Merit (1985)
- Scopus Award, Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of JerusalemHebrew University of JerusalemThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
(1994) - Distinguished Citizen Award, Mount Royal CollegeMount Royal CollegeMount Royal University is a public university in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1910 as a primary and secondary school, Mount Royal became a post-secondary institution in 1931 as Mount Royal College offering transfer courses to the University of Alberta and later to the University of Calgary...
(1995) - Honorary Bachelor of Applied Communications, Mount Royal CollegeMount Royal CollegeMount Royal University is a public university in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1910 as a primary and secondary school, Mount Royal became a post-secondary institution in 1931 as Mount Royal College offering transfer courses to the University of Alberta and later to the University of Calgary...
(1995) - Angel Award, International Society for the Performing Arts (1995)
- Best of Alberta Award, Calgary HeraldCalgary HeraldThe Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
(2008)
Harry and Martha Cohen Award
In 1985, Harry and Martha's four children (Philip, Cheryl, Faye, and David) established an annual award for individuals making outstanding contributions to the Arts.Martha Cohen Theatre
In 1983, Martha Cohen's late husband, Harry B. CohenHarry B. Cohen
Harry B. Cohen, CM, LL.D., born in Winnipeg, Manitoba , was a Canadian entrepreneur, community builder, philanthropist, and Member of the Order of Canada...
, a successful Calgary businessman, donated $1 million to get a theatre named at the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts in honor of his beloved Martha's birthday.