Velya and Yale Shapiro Families
Velya Shapiro and Yale Shapiro, brothers, originated with their families in the town of Surazh, Russia. They were two of the sons of Joseph and Shifra Shapiro.
In 1911, several years after the death of his father, Velya left for Calgary as did tow of Yale’s daughters, Reva and Ethel. Following his arrival in Alberta, Velya wrote to Yale to deter him from emigrating to the “trayfina medina”(unholy paradise). In 1913 Yale’s children Sena, Sora and Morris came to Calgary.
Yale Shapiro, his wife Leah, and the remaining children did not reach Calgary until 1922-24. By that time Velya Shapiro was also joined gradually by his children and his wife Sarah.
Velya worked first for the CPR and then as a junk dealer until 1927. Sarah Shapiro passed away in the 1920’s, and Yale’s wife Leah died in 1935. Both Families were active in Jewish communal work. Yale was active in the House of Jacob Congregation and the Hebrew School. The two brothers spent many hours in Talmudic study during their years in Calgary.
Velya and Sarah Shapiro were the parents of six daughters and one son, Shlema. Their daughters were Eva Kredentser, Leah Hurov, Jenny Bercov, Sofy Levant, Bluma Wakoff and Reva.
Yale and Leah Shapiro had Calgary’s largest Jewish family: thirteen children – four sons and nine daughters. The Shapiro sons were Shlema, Morris, Joe and Bob. Their daughters were Sena, Sorah, Shuler, Reva Bercov, Ethel Libin, Shifra Ravvin, Rae Friedman, Edith Davis and Vera Himmelfarb, Joe, Edith and Vera survive and still live in Calgary. The many descendants of the Shapiro brothers live in many cities throughout Canada and the United States, and in Israel.
