In 1908 at the age of 16, my father Chaim Isenstein left Russia together with his older sister and immigrated to Canada, settling in Calgary Alberta. At the home where he boarded, the woman had a picture of her younger sister, Dora Ashkenazi, who was still in Russia. Chaim was smitten. In 1910 Dora came to Canada - Chaim and Dora married in 1913 and had five children, my sisters Sarah (Donin) and Pearl (Kass), my twin brothers Simon and Saul, and me. I was born in 1918.

In 1921 my father, determined to bring his parents and siblings to Canada, left for Russia to make the arrangements. But there were other relatives and friends who wanted to come as well and one thing led to another - after almost a year of `making arrangements', he came home with about 60 people ready to become new Canadians!

I grew up in the midst of this Russian Jewish clan, and enjoyed a childhood filled with Yiddishkeit and tradition. My father helped to found the Peretz School in Calgary where both of my parents were actively involved. He also served on the executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress and held leadership positions in the "arberter ring" (labour union). His extensive library of Yiddish books was well known and was ultimately donated to the Peretz School. My father was an engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway all of his working life, one of the steam engines he retired is on display at Heritage Park in Calgary. My mother sang in the Jewish Choir and planned and cooked for our many family gatherings. She was a wonderful hostess and an exceptional cook.

I attended public school and in the evenings, Peretz School, beginning in the first year of its operation. After high school I went to work - some of the jobs I remember are the tobacco and news wholesale business where I worked 75 hours a week for a pay of $10 per week, and at the 7Up bottling plant in Calgary.

When I married Jim Simkin I married into a large, closeknit family. Jim's parents, Fanny and Samuel Simkin, were pillars in Winnipeg's Jewish community and exemplified strong family values and commitment to the community. In 1954, Samuel's health was failing and he wanted all his sons to be near him. Jim and I and our two children Sharron (born November 3, 1947) and Simon (born April 30, 1953) left our home in Vancouver and moved to Winnipeg. The family business, originally Simkin Construction and later BACM Industries, flourished under the direction of the four Simkin Brothers - Saul, Abe, Blackie and Jimmy. The company eventually encompassed building supplies and materials, heavy construction and land development.

The four brothers, as well as their two sisters Clara (Erlichman) and Jen (Cohen), continued to work or live together all their lives. Many had homes on Seven Oaks Place here in Winnipeg, and later - again on Seven Oaks Place - in Palm Springs! The families are very close to this day and all of our children (the 18 first cousins), although now separated by great distances, have lives that are closely and constantly intertwined.

When our children were young Jim and I were both very involved in the community. We were active with the Peretz School and Talmud Torah which our children attended, and I was a member of National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah. Jim was active on the Boards of the Sharon Home, Rosh Pina Synagogue, the Rotary Club, and Jewish Child and Family Service.

In 1976 Jim and I moved to Palm Springs California where we lived for 28 years. Jim passed away on April 10, 1997 and in 2001 I moved back to Winnipeg, where I now enjoy an active lifestyle at "The Waverley". I enjoy playing bridge and the company of family and friends. I treasure the opportunity to be close to my children and grandchildren - Sharron and her husband Joel Dudeck and their two daughters Francie and Lauren, and Simon and his wife Cynthia and their four children Sharla, Sarey, Nathan and Jenna. My hope for each of them is that they might continue to uphold the hallmarks of the Isenstein and Simkin families - strong family values and a commitment to, and involvement in, the community.