1
Sylvia WertmanSylvia Wertman (nee Duke) came to Kirkland Lake in 1930 with her three siblings and her mother, Leah. Her father Abraham had come to KL earlier to work and had sent his wife a telegram, asking her to bring some kosher chickens for kosher chicken soup. The operator typed the word "children" instead of chicken, so Leah packed up the family and moved to Kirkland Lake.
At that time there were many Jewish families as well as a Rabbi in Kirkland Lake. As a child, Sylvia's school day was extended by two hours every afternoon from Grades one through to eight by going to "cheder" at the synagogue. All the Jewish children were educated on Jewish heritage and religion, as well as the Hebrew language.
2
Sylvia Wertman School PictureCirca 1930
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Loaned from Sylvia Wertman Family
3
Hebrew Religious School of Kirkland Lake - 1954-551954-55
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Loaned from Sylvia Wertman Family
4
When Sylvia was 10 years old she began taking violin lessons from Mr. Naylor, who had a large group of violin students at Central Public School. She played violin and later the viola for many years, both with the Kirkland Lake Orchestra and in Rouyn with the Symphony Orchestra and Choir. As a member of the Kirkland Lake Concert Band, she played French horn, then learned to play the E flat horn, which she played in the Kirkland Lake Brass Band, and only retired from the band in 2010 because, in her own words: "At age 86, I decided that was enough." In November of 2011, the Brass Band held a special combination birthday party and retirement celebration for Sylvia, who had been in the Brass Band for thirty years. Along with George Sandrin, Sylvia was a founding member of the Kirkland Lake Music Council in 1968, and also served on the board of JSANO (Junior School of the Arts in Northern Ontario).In 1943, Sylvia married Don Wertman, and on their 4th anniversary, gave birth to Leslie, who was the first baby born in Kirkland Lake in 1947. Son Rick was born in 1948. Together, Sylvia and Don became managers of The Fashion Centre, where Don did fur repair and storage and Sylvia operated the Ladies' Wear section.
5
Kirkland Lake Children's Band - 193427 October 1934
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Loaned from Sylvia Wertman Family
6
Duke's Photo Studio and Home on Duncan Avenue, Kirkland LakeCirca 1950
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Loaned from Sylvia Wertman Family
7
"My brother-in-law Murray gave me an art set to do oil paints, and I was hooked. I wanted to paint, and I was forever roped in". She became an active member of the Northern Ontario Art Association and earned the right to add the initials "NOAA" to her name. As a member of Hadassah, the Jewish women's group, she drew a Paris cafe in pastels for their fashion show. Even as an adult, Sylvia was still taking courses, accompanying her 16-year-old daughter Leslie to Banff School of Fine Arts, taking a portrait course while Leslie studied singing on a full scholarship."My first love has always been music and everything I did was for music - outside of what I had to do as a wife, mother and business person; but art, although it was second to music, was still very important to me."
8
Sylvia Wertman - Article from Hadassah MagazineMay 1963
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Article from Hadassah Magazine
9
Image from KL Arts Club booklet - Sylvia Wertman's painting and bioCirca 1981
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image from Museum of Northern History Collection
10
Sylvia Wertman - Ottawa, 199615 June 1996
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Loaned from Sylvia Wertman Family
 |
 |
 |
 |