Name

Brenda and Colin Baskind

Number

OH 423

Subject

Canada--Emigration and immigration

Jews--South Africa

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Interview Date

16 Jul. 2015

Interviewer

Lisa Newman

Total Running Time

1 hr. 52 min.

Biography

Brenda met Colin on a blind date while attending teacher’s college in Johannesburg. The two dated for one year before getting married at the Pine Street Shul in 1967. Together, they raised three children—Stacey, Alana, and Cliff—and helped bring up the nephew of their maid, whom they regarded as family.

Around 1976, Colin and Brenda began thinking about emigrating as a result of the country’s worsening political situation. At first, their daughter was unwilling to move, but after a riot broke out at her university, she declared she had had enough. Initially, the family considered moving to Australia, but soon settled upon Canada, immigrating in 1987. Although they found the prospect of starting over intimidating, they received a warm welcome from both the South African Jewish community and the larger community.

Brenda and Colin purchased a khaloupe (a fixer-upper) that they transformed into a beautiful home, planting trees in its large garden. Brenda found employment with Holy Blossom Synagogue while Colin became president of the Southern African Jewish Association of Canada. In their free time, they took up running, a hobby that introduced them to many friends. By 2015, they had participated in eleven marathons.

Material Format

moving images

Language

English

Yiddish

Name Access

Baskind, Brenda, 1944-

Baskind, Colin, 1941-

Geographic Access

Johannesburg (South Africa)

Port Elizabeth (South Africa)

Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format

Digital file

Transcript

00:13 Brenda (née Bebrow?) was born 29 October 1944 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Brenda discusses her parents’ divorce and the death of her brother from polio in 1956.

01:25 Brenda explains the reasons her mother sent her to boarding school in Grahamstown.

02:12 Brenda’s father drowned in the ocean in Port Elizabeth at age eleven.

03:41 Brenda’s mother worked as a bookkeeper in Johannesburg.

03:50 Brenda discusses her limited Jewish education and practice while living in Grahamstown.

05:40 Brenda reminisces about her experience at boarding school.

06:43 Brenda discusses how she was able to cope while dealing with her parents’ divorce, followed by the deaths of her brother, father, and grandmother.

07:36 Brenda’s maternal grandparents and great-grandmother were from Russia. They were observant Jews.

09:12 Brenda moved to Johannesburg at age eighteen to attend teacher’s college. She describes living with her great-aunt, great-uncle, and cousin.

10:21 Brenda describes how she met her husband, Colin.

11:37 Colin was born on 20 April 1941 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He lived with his parents and younger sister.

12:03 Colin reminisces about his early years. He discusses his friends and interest in sports.

13:50 Colin’s father was a butcher. His mother assisted his father.

14:18 Colin discusses the high quality of his education.

15:32 Colin’s father practiced Orthodox Judaism.

16:26 Colin discusses his Jewish education. He reminisces about his bar mitzvah.

18:43 Colin describes how he helped with his father’s business.

20:21 Colin’s father was born in Lithuania at age 11. His mother was born in Latvia. Both came to South Africa in the 1920s.

21:39 Colin attended university in Johannesburg.

23:21 Colin discusses work experience.

25:12 Colin and Brenda reminisce about their initial meeting, courtship, and marriage.

29:30 Colin and Brenda’s eldest daughter Alana was born.

29:36 Colin and Brenda discuss their close relationship with their nanny and her family. They describe the living conditions for nannies in general.

33:23 Colin and Brenda recount how they helped raise the baby of their nanny’s sister.

36:50 Brenda’s mother remarried a third time.

39:18 Brenda discusses her work as a nursery school teacher in Johannesburg and Toronto.

41:06 Colin and Brenda explain the reasons that triggered their decision to emigrate. They describe the Soweto riots in 1976.

45:08 Colin explains how they chose and were accepted to immigrate to Canada. Colin and Brenda discuss the distinct advantages of living in Canada relative to South Africa and Australia.

52:33 Colin only considered leaving South Africa after his parents passed away.

53:10 Colin and Brenda discuss their children’s points of view about leaving South Africa.

55:23 Colin and Brenda describe how they got ready for the move to Canada. They discuss what they were and were not allowed to bring out of South Africa.

57:27 Colin explains how some South Africans left the country without going through the steps of formal immigration.

57:26 Brenda describes her fears concerning the move and explains the reasons some of her friends have remained in South Africa.

1:00:04 Brenda shares early memories of moving to Toronto: buying a house and a car.

1:03:09 Colin and Brenda contrast the quality of living between Johannesburg and Toronto.

1:05:04 Colin and Brenda discuss how they formed their early social connections.

1:07:46 Colin discusses how he maintained interest in sport, both as a participant and as a spectator. Sport was another means of making friends.

1:10:0 Colin volunteered with the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS) for five years and became involved with the Southern African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC).

1:10:40 Colin discusses his involvement with SAJAC.

1:12:44 Brenda and Colin discuss some of the language and cultural challenges they encountered when they arrived in Canada.

1:16:17 Colin and Brenda discuss the achievements of their children.

1:20:42 Colin and Brenda discuss their daughter Stacy’s decision to be a single mother. Brenda discusses their involvement with baby Lily’s care and their decision to buy a house with private quarters to share with Stacy and Lily.

1:28:18 Brenda discusses two trips back to South Africa to care for her mother in 1998.

1:32:28 Brenda discusses the changes she noted in South Africa during her visit.

1:34:43 Colin discusses his volunteer work with JIAS, SAJAC, Jewish Family & Child (JF&CS) and JVC. He explains his desire to enable others to prepare themselves for and find work.

1:43:33 Colin discusses some of the challenges faced by his sister.

1:46:50 Colin and Brenda share their views on the current and future situation in South Africa.

Source

Oral Histories

The Way Things Were

A khaloupe!

A Scholarship Based on Need