Search Results

Name

Brynie Lacob and Steven Silver

Number

OH 437

Subject

Canada--Emigration and immigration

Jews--South Africa

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Interview Date

31 Aug. 2016

Interviewer

Miriam Borden

Total Running Time

AC 437 part 1: 22 min.

AC 437 part 2: 22 min.

AC 437 part 3: 3 min.

Use Restrictions

Please contact Brynie Lacob for permission before posting on the internet.

Please contact Steven Silver for permission before posting on the internet.

Biography

Brynie and Steven first met at a bar mitzvah when Brynie was twelve and Steven was thirteen. The two have been in each other’s lives in one way or another ever since.

Brynie came to Canada in 1988. She chose Canada partly because she had a boyfriend there and partly because she anticipated using it as a stepping stone to the United States. Instead, she found work, earned a master’s degree in psychology, and married. Her first marriage resulted in three children, all of whom she enrolled in Jewish day school.

Steven came to Canada in 1994, a number of years after the rest of his immediate family had immigrated. He became involved in Canada’s film and television industry and today is chief executive officer of Kew Media Group, a special purpose acquisition company. In April 2000, Brynie and Steven began dating. They married in 2006.

Brynie and Steven retain close ties to South Africa, frequently going back. While both are grateful to Canada for the opportunities it has given them, they continue to feel a strong connection to the smells, sounds, and warmth of their country of origin and have discussed returning for a few months each year.

Material Format

moving images

Language

English

Name Access

Lacob, Brynie

Silver, Steven

Geographic Access

Durban (South Africa)

Johannesburg (Ont.)

Thornhill (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format

Digital file

Copy Format

Digital file

Transcript

Part 1:

00:42 Brynie discusses her family's immigration to South Africa. Her paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents came from Lithuania. Her maternal grandparents were born in South Africa.

01:24 Steven discusses his family history. His paternal grandfather and great-grandparents came from Poland. His paternal grandmother was born in South Africa. His maternal grandmother came from Russia.

03:59 Steven was born in Durban and grew up in Johannesburg from age four. He came to Canada in 1994.

04:11 Brynie was born and raised in Johannesburg. She came to Canada in 1988 at age twenty-one.

04:49 Brynie discusses her family's Jewish practice. Her father's family was traditional. Her mother's family was secular.

06:09 Steven discusses his family's Jewish practice. His paternal grandfather was gabbai at the main synagogue in Durban.

09:05 Brynie discusses her personal practice of Judaism.

10:24 Steven discusses his personal Jewish experience. He attended Jewish day school, belonged to the Habonim youth movement, and attended ulpan in Israel in 1981.

12:09 Steven explains how his Jewish education and involvement in Habonim influenced him and other Jews to get involved with politics in South Africa.

12:55 Brynie discusses her family's involvement in politics. She explains that her mother was involved with the Progressive Reform Party (PRP). Brynie was not actively involved with politics.

14:45 Brynie explains her desire to leave South Africa. At age seventeen, she attended an exchange program for a year in the United States.

15:12 Steven discusses politics in his home and school life. He recalls an accident involving bringing a political activist to his school that left an impression on him.

16:53 Steven discusses his involvement with the National Union of South African Students while attending university. He was president in 1981.

17:30 Steven joined the African National Congress (ANC) when it was unbanned in 1990.

18:14 Steven discusses his involvement with the group End Conscription Campaign (ECC). He discusses getting arrested for his refusal to serve in the army.

20:18 Brynie discusses her relationship with her family's Black nanny.

21:26 Steven discusses his relationship with his family's Black nanny.

Part 2:

00:08 Brynie discusses the factors that led to her decision to leave South Africa.

01:10 Steven discusses his parents' and two young brothers' immigration to Canada in 1986. He explains his decision to remain in South Africa and the impetus that spurred him to leave in 1994.

02:43 Brynie describes her lack of preparedness upon arrival in Canada.

04:00 Brynie discusses her expectations of Canada when she arrived.

05:17 Steven explains the factors that facilitated his adjustment to Canada (e.g. family, employment).

07:28 Steven discusses his early impressions of Canada. He highlights the feelings of security and safety in Canada.

08:59 Brynie and Steven discuss how they met. Brynie was married previously and had three children. Steven and Brynie married in 2006.

12:15 Brynie discusses her children.

12:55 Brynie discusses her professional career in social work and counselling.

13:33 Steven discusses his professional career. He graduated in law. His career focused on documentary and feature films. He current works as chief executive officer of a media company.

15:40 Brynie discusses her reception in Canada.

17:17 Steven discusses his perceptions as a South African in Canada.

18:04 Brynie discusses her involvement in the Jewish community in Toronto.

19:08 Brynie shares her impressions of raising children in Toronto and more specifically in Thornhill.

20:21 Brynie discusses her ongoing connection with South Africa.

Part 3:

00:00 Steven discusses his ongoing to South Africa.

01:05 Steven shares some comments on the current and future situation in South Africa.

01:51 Brynie discusses her outgoing interest in South African news and politics.

Source

Oral Histories

Political Activism

The Place I Call Home