{{Infobox person
| name          = Martha Ruth Cohen
| image         = MarthaCohenWomanofVision.jpg
| alt           = A picture of Martha Cohen
| caption       =
| birth_name    = Martha Ruth Block
| birth_date    = {{Birth year|1920}}
| birth_place   = [[Calgary, Alberta]]
| death_date    = February 26, 2015 (94-95 years old)
| death_place   =
| nationality   =
| other_names   =
| occupation    =
| years_active  =
| known_for     = Philanthropy and activism
| notable_works =
}}


'''Martha Ruth Cohen''', [[Order of Canada|CM]], [[Legum Doctor|LLD]] (née Block; 1920 – February 26, 2015) was a Canadian community activist and philanthropist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albertaonrecord.ca/is-glen-1304|title=Archives Society of Alberta}}</ref> A member of the [[Order of Canada]], she and her late husband [[Harry B. Cohen]] (1912–1990) spearheaded a variety of major civic projects. She received an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] from the [[University of Calgary]] in 1982.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/drumheller-mail-sep-15-1982-p-26/|title=Drumheller Mail Newspaper Archives, Sep 15, 1982, p. 26|date=1982-09-15|work=NewspaperArchive.com|access-date=2018-03-30|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald-sep-18-1982-p-16/|title=Mother Receives Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree|last=|first=|date=1982-09-18|work=Lethbridge Herald Newspaper Archives, Sep 18, 1982, p. 16|access-date=2018-03-30|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref>


==Life and education==
Cohen was Born in 1920 in [[Calgary, Alberta]] to parents were Rebecca and Peter Block.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sanderson|first=Kay|title=200 Remarkable Alberta Women|year=1999|publisher=Famous Five Foundation|location=Calgary|page=92|url=http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/loc_hist/page.aspx?id=917863}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.greatpast.utoronto.ca/GreatMinds/ShowBanner.asp?ID=27|title=University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work}}</ref> Cohen has four children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald-jul-19-1980-p-91/|title=When Martha Cohen Decided to Raise Money...|last=|first=|date=1980-07-19|work=Lethbridge Herald Newspaper Archives, Jul 19, 1980, p. 91|access-date=2018-03-30|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref> In 1982, she received an honorary doctorate from the University fo Calgary.<ref name=":3" />

Cohen died on February 26, 2015.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/martha-cohen-calgary-philanthropist-dies-1.2974024|title=Calgary Philanthropist Dies, CBC News, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/calgary-philanthropic-legend-martha-cohen-dies|title=Calgary Philanthropic Legend Martha Cohen Dies, Calgary Herald, 2015}}</ref> After her death, The Martha Cohen Theatre and the Dr. Martha Cohen School were named in her honor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/alberta-150-the-wrestlers-the-team-builder-and-the-professor|title=Alberta 150: The wrestlers, the team builder and the professor|date=2017-06-20|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=2018-03-30|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Her 30-piece art collection made headlines when it was auctioned off.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/martha-cohen-art-collection-to-be-auctioned-off|title=Martha Cohen art collection to be auctioned off|date=2015-11-07|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=2018-03-30|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Achievements==
* Chairwoman of the Board for the [[Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts]] during creation of the Centre.
* Chairwoman of the [[Mount Royal College]] Board of Governors during the construction of a new campus, becoming the first woman to head a higher educational institution in Alberta.
* Founder/Past Executive Director of the Jewish Family Service in Calgary.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww2.glenbow.org/search/archivesMainResults.aspx?XC=/search/archivesMainResults.aspx&TN=MAINCAT&AC=QBE_QUERY&RF=WebResults&DL=0&RL=0&NP=255&%0AMF=WPEngMsg.ini&MR=5&QB0=AND&QF0=Main%20entry+%7C+Title&QI0=Jewish+Family+Service+Calgary+fonds|title=Calgary Jewish Family Service Bureau}}</ref>
* President of the [[National Council of Jewish Women of Canada]]<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww2.glenbow.org/search/archivesMainResults.aspx?XC=/search/archivesMainResults.aspx&TN=MAINCAT&AC=QBE_QUERY&RF=WebResults&DL=0&RL=0&NP=255&%0AMF=WPEngMsg.ini&MR=5&QB0=AND&QF0=Main%20entry+%7C+Title&QI0=National+Council+of+Jewish+Women+Calgary+section+fonds|title=National Council of Jewish Women (Calgary Section)}}</ref>
* Councillor, [[Alberta Order of Excellence]] (1980-1985) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/Aoe/council/index.html|title=Council for the Alberta Order of Excellence}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==

The Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation is a private family foundation which provides grants primarily to Calgary-based charities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hmcohenfoundation.com|title=Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation|accessdate=February 27, 2015}}</ref>

In 1983, Martha Cohen's late husband, [[Harry B. Cohen|Harry]] donated $1 million to have a theatre named at the [[Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts]] in honor of Martha Cohen's birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.artscommons.ca/rentals/allvenues/marthacohentheatre|title=Martha Cohen Theatre}}</ref>

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. <ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/new-cbe-school-will-be-named-after-community-builder-martha-cohen|title=New CBE School will be Named after Community Builder Martha Cohen}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/building-and-modernizing-schools/Pages/new-brighton-copperfield-middle-school.aspx|title=Dr. Martha Cohen School}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b612/|title=Dr. Martha Cohen School}}</ref>

==Awards==
* Prime Minister Medal, [[State of Israel Bonds]] (1970)<ref name=":1" />
* [[Order of Canada]] (1975) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=322|title=Governor General of Canada - Archives}}</ref>
* [[Alberta]] Achievement Award (1975)
* [[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]] (1977)
* Sesquicentennial Year Plaque, [[University of Toronto]] (1977)
* [[Calgary]] Citizen of the Year (1979)
* Honorary doctorate, [[University of Calgary]] (1982)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucalgary.ca/facultyandstaff/memoriam/cohen|title=University of Calgary Honorary Doctorate}}</ref>
* [[Scouts Canada|Boy Scouts]] of Canada Medal (1984)
* [[Variety Club]] International Lifeliner Medal (1984)
* [[City of Calgary]], [[Centennial Award of Merit]] (1985)
* [[Scopus Award]], Canadian Friends of the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] (1994) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfhu.org/news/canadian-friends-of-hebrew-university-announces-2014-scopus-award-recipient|title=Scopus Award}}</ref>
* Distinguished Citizen Award, [[Mount Royal College]] (1995)
* Honorary Bachelor of Applied Communications, [[Mount Royal College]] (1995)
* Angel Award, [[International Society for the Performing Arts]] (ISPA), New York (1995) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/leading-canadian-arts-angel-honoured/article1337218/|title=Angel Award, ISPA}}</ref>
* Great Minds Banner, 175th Anniversary, [[University of Toronto]] (2002)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.greatpast.utoronto.ca/GreatMinds/GreatMindsBanners_exceptional.asp|title=Great Minds for a Great Future, University of Toronto}}</ref>
* [[Alberta Centennial Medal]] (2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/gazette/2006/pdf/09_May15_Part1.pdf |title=Alberta Centennial Medal, Province of Alberta }}</ref>
* Distinguished [[Alumni]] Award, [[Calgary Board of Education]] (2006)  <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.educationmatters.ca/about-us/distinguished-alumni-award/|title=Distinguished Alumni Award, Calgary Board of Education}}</ref>
* Best of Alberta Award, [[Calgary Herald]] (2008)
* [[Global News]] Woman of Vision (2009)
* Western Legacy Award, 100 Outstanding [[Albertans]], [[Calgary Stampede]] (2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.calgarystampede.com/upload/media_element/34/02/2012-wla-recipients.pdf|title=Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KSPiKJQfTfoC&pg=PA264 |title=Canadian Who's Who, 2003}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/alberta+greatest+citizens+revealed/847783/story.html|title=The Best of Alberta, Calgary Herald, 2008}}
* {{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/pages/calgary-woman-of-vision|title= Global Woman of Vision, Global News, 2009}}
* {{cite web|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/alberta-150-the-wrestlers-the-team-builder-and-the-professor|title=Alberta 150: The Wrestlers, The Team Builder, and The Professor, Calgary Herald, 2017}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Martha}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Jewish Canadian activists]]
[[Category:Jewish Canadian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:People from Calgary]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:University of Alberta alumni]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing]]
[[Category:National Council of Jewish Women]]