January 13, 2021
“There is a vibrant and colorful slice of Jewish life here on the prairies, in one of the most northern Jewish outposts in the world, with people and institutions that continue to provide cultural, educational, religious and spiritual activities for its members, and to honour the history of its founders.”
Edmonton, Alberta was first incorporated as a town in 1892. At that time, there were about 700 permanent residents. Founded on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River on the site of the former Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Edmonton, it soon began to attract a growing populace. Abraham and Rebecca Cristall, Edmonton’s first Jews, arrived in 1893. Their children, George and Rose, were the first Jewish children to be born in Edmonton. Abe became a successful businessman and helped to bring more Jews over from his native Bessarabia in Eastern Europe. By 1901, there were 17 Jewish citizens in Edmonton. Three years later, Edmonton was incorporated as a city. I