A heart of Gold

Natural-born activist served on numerous boards, spent her life advocating for equality

By: Janine LeGal

Strength, determination and heart: Yhetta Gold had all of these in spades. Despite going through some really rough times, she managed not only to raise three children on her own but to become a widely respected leader in the community.

She died at age 95 on April 25, at home — on her own terms — the place she wanted to be.

“My mother was strong, bright and blunt,” said her son, Peter Gold. “Duty was everything; integrity, helping with the community, that’s what she did. If it wasn’t there my mother created it. She was important.”

Yhetta Gold was born in Winnipeg in 1929. Her father had emigrated from Russia, her mother came from Romania. Soon after she was born, her family moved to Pine Falls, where her father operated a store as part of Western Dry Goods Importing Company, the family business.

In 1938 the family moved back to Winnipeg and in 1950 she earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Manitoba. She later completed courses in administration, social policy and evaluation systems.

Gold was married from 1952 to 1967 and had three children: Joshua, Susan and Peter. Divorced at a time when women with children often experienced social stigma and financial hardship, she devoted herself not only to the well-being of her family but to various community organizations focused on increasing quality of life for young and old alike.

She served as the executive director of a number of organizations, including the Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg, Klinic and Age and Opportunity Centre, Inc. In 1982, she incorporated as Yhetta Gold, Inc. and took on research and studies on behalf of groups including the Canadian Seniors’ Network, the Manitoba Coalition of Service Providers and the Auditor General of Canada.

The natural-born activist, who spent her life advocating for the removal of barriers to social equity and equality, served as president of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MB), Gas Station Theatre, National Advisory Council on Aging, Astra Non-Profit Housing Corporation and Creative Retirement Winnipeg and as vice-president of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.

In recognition of her community commitments, Gold received numerous awards, including the NCJW Woman of the Year Award in 1985, the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Manitoba in 1991 and the Canadian 125th Anniversary Medal in 1992.

In 1996, Gold was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada and in 1999, she contributed to the Canadian Co-ordinating Committee for the International Year of Older Persons.

Gold was an innovative visionary in modern gerontology. She played a major role in the development of social policies, including advocating for home care as an alternative to hospitalization. As president of the National Advisory Council on Aging, she encouraged community-based support networks such as non-profit housing to provide a nurturing infrastructure and greater autonomy to seniors.

Decades later, friend Laura Leah Steiman remains grateful for Gold’s leadership and for courageously sharing her gifts and skills with so many individuals, organizations and communities.

“I was privileged to serve on the board of directors of the Age and Opportunity Centre, Inc. during the years that Yhetta was working there,” Steiman said.

“Her competence, wisdom, compassion and respect for the needs and rights of Winnipeg seniors set a high bar for social service agency leaders in Winnipeg since that time.”

Carol McArton’s mother Marjorie became Gold’s best friend when they met in Grade 4; they stayed best friends throughout their lives. Carol referred to her as Aunt Yhetta for as long as she can remember.

“When we were young kids, my family had a cottage next to the Golds’ cottage. I’m one of five children. We ran wild all summer, while the two best friends kept us fed,” she said with a laugh.

“Yhetta had the biggest heart,” McArton said. “She was very welcoming, with a strong sense of duty. I was often around her table with all sorts of people — family, new friends. People would find their way to her table. Everyone was special to her; she treated them with incredible respect.

McArton said Gold left behind many people whom she inspired and mentored and that she was happiest when her dining table was laden with food and surrounded by friends and family talking about real issues.

“She always kept her brain incredibly active. She didn’t just go along and help out with what was existing, she was aware of needs that weren’t being met and set about to ensure that they were,” McArton said, emphasizing that no matter how busy Gold was, community service remained a priority.

When Gold wasn’t giving her time to others she found solace in needlepoint, knitting and baking — everything from scratch, including bread, desserts, cookies and her famous tortes, to the delight of everyone who’d come around to visit.

During the ’60s, when thousands of transient youth were moving across the country — some involved in the drug culture in Winnipeg — Gold found a way to help with that, too. Many of them were denied housing and access to health services, so her home became their home.

Her son Peter remembered being a small child and going downstairs on Saturday mornings to watch television.

“When the hostels were all full, we would have people sleeping in the basement,” he recalled. “We had no problem with any of them. They would be served breakfast; they were all kind and courteous.”

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 30 years old, Gold subsequently lost some use of the musculature in her legs.

“I remember her with her cane,” Peter said. “It didn’t stop her.”

Though she wasn’t one to attend the synagogue, Gold was very involved in the Jewish community.

“She took on many roles over many years,” Peter said. “She believed in the Jewish community. She never slowed down. Family was important — community, friends.

“She was a very good cook. Mom would come home from work and we’d have a nice dinner together. Weekends and summers were special,” he added, noting that was when family time happened more easily.

“Summers off and we’d all go to Gimli. Those were the best times,” he said.

Peter vividly recalls the many boisterous gatherings around the dining room table, with everyone talking at the same time. His mother would remind people to “please eat slowly,” and say things like, “Bad manners are never funny at the dinner table.”

“She did have a sense of humour,” said Peter. “She instilled very good characteristics in all of us kids and those are the things that are important to us.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca