Martha Ruth Cohen | |
---|---|
Born | Martha Ruth Block 1920 |
Died | February 26, 2015 (94-95 years old) |
Known for | Philanthropy and activism |
Martha Ruth Cohen, CM, LLD (née Block; 1920 – February 26, 2015) was a Canadian community activist and philanthropist.[1] She spearheaded a variety of major civic projects, including construction of the $45 million Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. As chairwoman of the board of directors at Mount Royal College, she oversaw the construction of a new campus and was the first woman to head a higher educational institution in Alberta. She was a member of the Order of Canada and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary in 1982.[2][3]
Cohen was born in 1920 in Calgary, Alberta to parents Rebecca and Peter Block.[4]
She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 1940, and a Master Diploma of Social Work from the University of Toronto in 1945.[5] Cohen has four children.[6] In 1982, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary[2] and in 1995 received a Honorary Bachelor of Applied Communications from Mount Royal College.
Cohen died on February 26, 2015.[7][8] Her 30-piece art collection made headlines when it was auctioned off.[9]
The Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation is a private family foundation which provides grants primarily to Calgary-based charities.[14] She founded it with her husband Harry B. Cohen (1912–1990), who was also a philanthropist.
Cohen and five other women primarily were the ones to fundraise $45 million to build the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts.[6]
In 1983, Cohen's husband Harry donated $1 million to have a theatre named at the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts in honor of Martha Cohen's birthday.[15]
After her death on February 26, 2015, the Dr. Martha Cohen School was named in her honour.[10][16] On May 4, 2015, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) announced that it would name a new Middle School (located in New Brighton/Copperfield) after Martha Cohen and described her as one of the city's foremost humanitarians and philanthropists.[16] In April, 2017, the CBE formally opened the Dr. Martha Cohen School at 1750 New Brighton Drive S.E. It will provide educational programming for approximately 900 students (Grades 5-9).[17]