Saidye Rosner Bronfman

Saidye Rosner Bronfman (9 December 1896 – 6 July 1995) was a Canadian-Jewish philanthropist. Her husband, Samuel Bronfman (1891–1971), founded the Seagram Company and the family took a leading role in the Canadian-Jewish community. Early life Bronfman was born in Plum Coulee, Manitoba to well-to-do Jewish parents. Her father, Samuel Rosner (1871–1952), was a businessman from Bessarabia, who emigrated to England before settling in Canada. He also served a two-year term as mayor of Plum Coulee. Her mother, Priscilla Berger Rosner (1876–1951), was a homemaker who was also an immigrant to Canada from Odesa, Ukraine, Russian Empire. She studied at Havergal Ladies' College in Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. Saidye married Samuel Bronfman (1891–1971) in 1922 and two years later they moved to Montreal, Canada. Career and philanthropy Prior to her marriage, Bronfman served as president of the Girls' Auxiliary of the Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage Society and later headed the Orphans' Home. From 1929, she served as president of the Young Women's Hebrew Association in Montreal for six years. She was also founder and president of the Combined Jewish Appeal Women’s Division from 1931 to 1933, and in 1934 was one of the founders of Canadian Youth Aliyah. In 1943, she was given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI of England for her establishment of the Jewish branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society.