Mrs Alice Mallek (b. 1885 - d. 1979) lived in Victoria from 1913 onwards. Alice became president of the Congregation of Emanu-El making her the first woman to hold such a position in Canada. Another of Alice’s accomplishments was the restoration of Victoria’s historic Jewish cemetery after it fell into a state of disrepair.

Alice was an active woman in the business world of Victoria. She was, at one time, the only female member of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

In 1950 Alice was honoured with the Centennial Medal by Mayor Percy Scurrah. Alice received the award for “having enriched the lives of her fellow citizens.”

Photo Caption: Gravestone of Alice Mallek, Beth Israel Cemetery, Burnaby; Photograph by Cyril Leonoff.
Image copyright of Jewish Museum and Archives of BC