Martha Cohen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Ruth Cohen
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| Born |
Martha Ruth Block
1920 |
| Died | February 26, 2015 (94-95 years old) |
| Known for | Philanthropy and activism |
Martha Ruth Cohen (born 1920, died 2015) was a Canadian woman who loved helping her community. She was known as a community activist and a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who gives money and time to help others and good causes.
Martha Cohen led many big projects in her city, Calgary. One of her biggest achievements was helping to build the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. She also became the first woman to lead a higher education school in Alberta when she was in charge of the board at Mount Royal College. She received many important awards for her work, including the Order of Canada.
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Early Life and Education
Martha Cohen was born in 1920 in Calgary, Alberta. Her parents were Rebecca and Peter Block.
She studied at the University of Alberta, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940. Later, in 1945, she received a Master Diploma in Social Work from the University of Toronto. Martha Cohen had four children.
She passed away on February 26, 2015. After her death, her special art collection was sold at an auction.
Amazing Achievements
Martha Cohen worked hard to make her community a better place. Here are some of her key achievements:
- She was the leader of the board for the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts when it was being built.
- She led the board at Mount Royal College while a new campus was being constructed. This made her the first woman to lead a higher education school in Alberta.
- She started and was the first director of the Jewish Family Service in Calgary.
- She was the president of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada.
Helping the Community
Martha Cohen and her husband, Harry B. Cohen, created the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation. This foundation gives money to charities, mostly in Calgary.
Martha Cohen was a key person in raising $45 million to build the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. She worked with five other women to make this huge project happen.
In 1983, her husband Harry gave $1 million to name a theatre at the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts after Martha. This was a special birthday gift for her.
After she died, a new school was named in her honor. On May 4, 2015, the Calgary Board of Education announced they would name a new middle school after Martha Cohen. They called her one of the city's most important humanitarians and philanthropists. The Dr. Martha Cohen School officially opened in April 2017. It teaches about 900 students from Grades 5 to 9.
Special Recognition
Martha Cohen received many honorary degrees and awards for her dedication and hard work.
Honorary Degrees
- Honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary (1982)
- Honorary Bachelor of Applied Communications from Mount Royal College (1995)
Awards and Medals
- Prime Minister Medal, State of Israel Bonds (1970)
- Order of Canada (1975)
- Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
- Calgary Citizen of the Year (1979)
- Boy Scouts 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 Jerusalem (1994)
- Distinguished Citizen Award, Mount Royal College (1995)
- Angel Award, International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), New York (1995)
- Great Minds Banner, 175th Anniversary, University of Toronto (2002)
- Alberta Centennial Medal (2005)
- Distinguished Alumni Award, Calgary Board of Education (2006)
- Best of Alberta Award, Calgary Herald (2008)
- Global News Woman of Vision (2009)
- Western Legacy Award, 100 Outstanding Albertans, Calgary Stampede (2012)
