Grade six and seven at Peretz School (in the mid 70’s) brought us Mr. Cooper and his amazing stories of being one of the only Jewish families living in the far north. Our imaginations soared with visions of menorahs and latkas surrounded by Eskimos. How interesting that these two cultures could blend, and how interesting that a Jewish family had the passion for this type of adventure.
As I graduated from Peretz School I recall hearing that the Cooper family returned to the north after their son Steven’s bar mitzvah.
Years passed, and I moved to Calgary and was working with challenged youth from the north who were transferred to Calgary. One day I was working with a child from Hay River and recalling that the Cooper’s were there I asked her if she knew them. “Of course, everyone in the community knows them.” When one of my co-workers traveled up to that community I sent a letter to them with her.
That led to Steven visiting with us in Calgary, and my family traveling up to Hay River to experience part of the north, great fishing, and rekindle a friendship.
Years later, family friends traveled up north and passed through Hay River. On Main Street they noticed a car with the license plate “Tevye”, and sure enough “Tevye” arrived a minute later. The conversation led to a dinner invitation. When these family friends returned home, they told us we would never believe that Jewish people lived up in such a remote community. Were they surprised when we told them how happy we were that they had met our friends the Coopers.