Sigmund Reiser*

Sigmund Reiser was born in Poland and immigrated to Canada after spending several years in refugee camps in Germany. He is the sole survivor of an extended family of 21, all of whom perished in the Holocaust. In the half century since his arrival to Canada, he has led a life rich in tzedakah and gemilut hesed, exemplified by his commitment to human rights and social action.

From the beginning of his employment with London Life Insurance Company in Winnipeg in 1953, Sigmund Reiser distinguished himself by becoming the leading sales agent and eventually a Regional Manager in Toronto. In 1971, he won the Leslie W. Dunstall Silver Medal for the highest standing in Ontario in the three-year CLU extension course at the University of Toronto. Professional success was just a small part of his personal achievement. Sigmund Reiser was also the recipient of numerous awards and citations for exceptional service and devoted leadership from various organizations, including the Life Underwriters Association of Canada, B’nai Brith Canada and the Jewish National Fund. He was also the recipient of the David Ben Gurion Award, the Jerusalem Award and The Twelve Tribes Award by the State of Israel Bonds.

Sigmund Reiser was honoured with the Governor General’s Special Commemorative Medal for service to compatriots, community and to Canada in 1992 on the occasion of Canada’s 125th birthday. In 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII and the liberation of the concentration camps, he was one of eleven Holocaust survivors who were presented with a Scroll for Extraordinary Contribution to Canada by the Government of Ontario. These accolades culminated in 1997, when Sigmund received the Order of Canada from the Governor General. In 2002, he was also awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne. 

In 1998, “Siggy” retired from London Life and began his exceptional public service career. By Order in Council,
he was appointed Council Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. As a member of the Discipline Committee, a quasi-judicial tribunal, he represented the interests of the people of Ontario at hearings into professional misconduct. He also served on the Peer Assessment Committee, The Special Task Force on Discipline Procedures, The Board of Inquiry and Complaints and many others. 

He was subsequently appointed Council Member of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (1993-1996). He was assigned to organize the new College for protection of the public through licensure, regulation and enforcement. Sigmund held the position of Chairman of the Committee on Transgressions and Penalties.  

In October 1994, Sigmund Reiser was appointed by Order in Council, Government of Canada to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. His duties included promoting Human Rights, fostering knowledge of civil liberties and resolving complaints. In addition to these standard activities, he delivered speeches and represented the CHRC at various multicultural events.

October 1998 brought further recognition of his considerable contributions, when he was appointed a Citizenship Judge. In this capacity, Sigmund was responsible for determining on applications for Canadian citizenship, presiding over ceremonies and filling an ambassadorial role to community groups and schools. In July 2000, in commemoration of the new millennium, he presided over a ceremony in which 2,200 new citizens were sworn in and 4,000 guests were in attendance. In the following years, he spoke to a total of 15,000 elementary school students in York Region about Canadian values and citizenship obligations. For his efforts in this field, the York Regional Board of Education awarded him a citation.

Sigmund Reiser has also been an active participant on the international scene. He was a participant in the Canadian Free Trade Mission to Israel with Minister of Trade, Art Eggleton (February 1997), an international election observer-monitor in Bosnia and Herzegovina (September 1997) and a panel member at the Human Rights Colloquium in Jakarta, Indonesia, attended by all Southeast Asian states (October-November 1997). In May 1998, Sigmund Reiser went back to Eastern Europe as a representative of the CHRC at the Human Dimension Seminar in Warsaw, Poland, in order to discuss plans for the evolution of human rights and democracy in the former Soviet Union. In September 1998, he returned to Bosnia-Herzegovina as an observer-monitor of the Federal Elections. 

Over the years, Siggy has served on countless boards and in a myriad of vital positions for State of Israel Bonds, Canadian Jewish Congress, Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, the Jewish National Fund, The Robert P. Kaplan Scholarship Foundation, B’nai Brith Canada, The League for Human Rights Cabinet and The Jewish Tribune. He has been extensively involved with Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue.

Sigmund Reiser has been precious indeed to our synagogue. His fifteen years as a Board Member included serving in such positions as: Executive Secretary, Vice-President of the Brotherhood, Editor of the shul bulletin [Kesher] and Fundraising Chairman, highlighted by his Tree of Life project. He chaired the week long activities celebrating Beth Emeth’s 25th anniversary in 1980 and five years later, chaired the 30th Anniversary Dedication Dinner. He was co-chairman of the year-long celebration honouring Rabbi Joseph Kelman’s 38 years of service, culminating with a Retirement Dinner on November 9, 1997. Siggy was also the Chairman of the Gala Retirement Dinner honouring Cantor Louis Danto on November 19, 1998. In 2002, he concluded five years as Co-chairman of the Rabbi Kelman Scholarship Fund.

In November 1998, on behalf of B’nai Brith, CJC, Canadian Society for Yad Vashem and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, in partnership with the Canadian Government and the Speaker of the House, Sigmund Reiser was instrumental in organizing a celebration in the Federal Parliament Buildings recognizing Holocaust Survivors’ contributions to Canada. This event was in honour of the jubilee anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On the same occasion, he presided over a re-affirmation ceremony.

Sigmund Reiser has also been a dedicated federal and provincial Liberal Party member for the past 35 years. He was campaign manager for Robert Kaplan, M.P. (1988) and Art Eggleton, M.P. (1993, 1998) and a dynamic influence in the election campaigns of Monte Kwinter, M.P.P. and Elinor Caplan, M.P.P. He received the President’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards in 1988 and again in 1994.

Sigmund Reiser maintains that the happy fulfillment of his aspirations were made possible by the steadfast support, continuous encouragement and total devotion of Carole, his wife of 59 years. They are also the proud parents of Dr. Benjamin Reiser, a professor at Haifa University, and Felice Guberman, a Toronto lawyer. Their lives are further blessed with eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Fluent in six languages, Siggy continues to reach out to others through his charismatic communication skills. A youthful 80 years of age, Siggy maintains his characteristic zest for life in all he does, while remaining ever “precious to the community”.

* Sigmund Reiser passed away August 25, 2005