The long-established practice of barring Jews from membership in the exclusive Rideau Club in Ottawa will be tested shortly when applications from several prominent Ottawa Jews are considered.
Three of the applicants are: Louis Rasminsky, Bank of Canada governor; David Golden, former deputy minister of the Industry Department; and Lawrence Freiman, head of a large department store in Ottawa and former president of the Zionist Organization of Canada. Mr. Rasminsky’s proposer is Blair Fraser, Ottawa editor of Maclean’s magazine. Sponsoring Mr. Golden is A. Davidson Dunton, president of Carleton University. Mr. Freiman has been proposed by Royal Canadian Navy Commander F. J.D. Pemberton.
The former method of voting on applications for membership in the historic club–the black ball system–has been discarded. A special committee now passes or rejects applications. For this reason, club members believe that the old practice of barring Jews will be ended. Recently, Canadian Prime Minister Pearson, speaking to an audience in the USA deplored the discriminatory policy of a club in his city, naming the Rideau Club. This speech by the Prime Minister, no doubt, provoked this action by the organization.
As the Year Turns, Support the Journalism You Trust. JTA covers the stories shaping Jewish life around the world — with the depth this moment calls for. As you reflect on the year ahead, consider a gift that keeps independent Jewish journalism strong.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
