My ancestors, the Margolis family, the Berkal family and the Katz family, originally came from Lithuania. I was born in Switzerland and immigrated to Manitoba, Canada in 1913. I grew up on Regent Avenue in Transcona with my one sister and attended schools in that area, including the Transcona Junior and Senior High Schools. When I was a child my family belonged to the Ashkenazi Synagogue, and celebrated all of the traditional Jewish Yom Tovim. These were special occasions that I remember fondly. My parents were proprietors of a general store in Transcona.

I am very proud of the fact that when I completed high school - it just went up to grade eleven then - I was able to continue my studies at the University of Manitoba. After four years there, I graduated in 1932 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. This was at a time when many women did not continue their formal studies at the university level.

I married Max Margolis in 1937 and we had three children, Gail Hechter, Gary Margolis and Sheldon Margolis. I have nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who live in Israel. I have spent much of my adult life in volunteer service, working with the mentally challenged, the hearing impaired and at the CNIB. Even at this age I continue to do volunteer work. For the past ten years I have also been taking Continuing Education classes at the University of Winnipeg, and have always found them very stimulating.

I hope that in the future I will be remembered for the very positive outlook I have always had on life. I believe that this attitude, coupled with the 70 years that I have been involved in volunteer work, have brought me many blessings and have helped keep me young and feel appreciated. I feel good knowing that I have contributed to the lives of others, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to bring some hope and inspiration to those who are less fortunate.