Jewish Traders and Merchants in Northern Ontario

My name is Liz Feld, and I am a PhD candidate in Adult Education and Community Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. I am conducting research examining the historical role of Jewish traders and merchants in Northern Ontario during the fur trade era, approximately between 1880 and 1939.

This research is deeply personal to me. My interest in this history began through my own family story. My grandfather, Jack Leve, worked as a fur trader in Northern Ontario, and after his passing I inherited objects and photographs that raised important questions for me about migration, trade, memory, and relationships. Holding these objects made me wonder not only about my own family’s history, but about the broader and often untold connections that may have existed between Jewish traders and other rural communities. Those questions ultimately became the foundation of this research project. The personal significance of family  records and stories as windows into larger historical narratives forms an important part of my work. 

The purpose of this project is to explore family histories, oral narratives, and family records that may shed light on the relationships that Jewish traders developed during this period. While Jewish migration to Canada and the fur trade have both been studied, the interactions between communities remain largely unexplored in historical scholarship.

I am inviting individuals who may have family stories, memories, photographs, documents, or artifacts connected to history in rural Ontario, Manitoba or Quebec or any connection to the fur trade to participate in a voluntary interview lasting approximately 45–60 minutes.

Interviews will be conversational in nature and may include discussion of family photographs, documents, or artifacts if participants wish to share them. Participation is completely voluntary, and participants may decline to answer any questions or withdraw from the study at any time. 

If you are interested in learning more about the study or participating, we would be grateful for the opportunity to connect and hear your story. Please contact us to learn more.