Gershon Zeilic Arenstein left Russia, then travelled to New York and Montreal, and finally reached Calgary in 1905. He travelled to Canada with his two brothers-in-law Elachman and Alman Kanevsky. His wife Chava Sara prepared to join him. This involved selling their general store, bidding good-bye to her brothers and sister and readying her three sons and three daughters for the trip.

      They arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, in April, 1906, crossed Canada by train and were met in Calgary by Gershon Zeilic. They walked from the CPR station to their new home at 6th Avenue and 4th Street E.

      Gershon Zeilic delivered goods by wagon until 1907, when he purchased a grocery store in Riverside. In 1912, after selling the store to the Nagler family, he built a new one on what is now the site of the General Hospital parking lot.

      In 1908 Gershon Zeilic became a British subject and from then on was know as Jacob Austin. In 1913 Jacob became ill and died in 1914 before the onset of the war. His eldest daughter Mary died of appendicitis at the age of 22 and his eldest son Aaron died of tuberculosis, also at a young age.

      Jacob believed in the importance of music as well as education and all of his children studied music as they were growing up.

      His son David, a serious violinist, was given a violin by Micha Elman when he played in Calgary in 1909. David married Mary Freeman in 1928. The lived behind their store, the Valentine Confectionery, where they worked long hours. He and Mary had two children: Zelda (Hanson) and Harold.

      Other children of Jacob and Chava were:

      Morris (1898-1989) married Clara Edith Chetner. Their three children ware Jack Austin, Eva Sarah and Josephine.

      Rose (1900-?) married Raphael Waterhouse and had two daughters: Joan and Connie.

      Sophie (1903-1988) married Nathan Lipetz.

      Ann (1907-1965) married Sam Litchinsky. Their children were Dena, Daniel and David.

      Joseph (1909-1960) married Anne Schecter. Their two children were Harvey and Sheila.

      Jacob Barron came to Calgary in 1911 and was admitted to the Law Society of Alberta the following year. He continued as an active member of the Law Society until his death in 1965.

      In 1923 he acquired the Palace Theatre in Calgary and operated it until 1928. Among the many great concert artists he brought to Calgary were Rachmaninoff, Heifitz, and the London String Quartet.

      Jacob Barron resumed the active practice of law from 1928 to 1936 when he acquired the Grand Theatre. He operated that theatre as well as the Uptown, the Odeon and the 17th Avenue Drive-in until his death.

      In 1948 he built the first office building constructed in Calgary since the 1920's. Called the Barron Building, it was responsible for anchoring the headquarters of the oil industry in Calgary rather than in Edmonton.

      On July 8, 1914, Jacob Barron was married to:

      Amelia moved to Calgary in July 1914, following her marriage to Jacob Barron. They had three children; William (born July 28, 1915), Robert (November 29, 1916) and Richard (April 13, 1921).

      Amelia was active with Hadassah from its inception in Calgary. She became President of the Calgary Chapter and held that office for many years until her death. As Hadassah President she brought many outstanding women speakers to Calgary, including Goldie Myerson (later Meir) and Elanor Roosevelt.

      Myer and Goldie (Mintz, formerly Minitzer) Belkin came to Winnipeg in 1906 from Gomel, Russia, with their infant son Alex. They settled in the North End and eventually had five more children: Jim, Lily (who died in her teens), Sarah (Lapkin), Murray (Morris), Dave, and Frances (Bronstein, Shaw).

      Alex graduated from the University of Manitoba Medical College in 1928. In 1929 he married Gertrude Smalley, whose parents Shimon and Basa Smalley (formerly Smaller), had come to Winnipeg from Mezhirich, Russia, about 1908.

      Alex and his bride settled in Eastend, Saskatchewan, where he practiced medicine until 1939. During that time they had two daughters: Naomi (Buddy) and Annette.

      At the outbreak of the war, Alex joined the Army and served in the Medical Corps in England. Gertie and the two girls returned to Winnipeg for the duration of the war.

      Upon his return to Canada, Alex was stationed in Calgary and, on demobilization, decided to bring his family here to settle. He practiced as internist until his death in 1984.

      Naomi Belkin married Allan Kerr and they have four children: Bev, Jeff (married to Joyce Aizenman), Roberta (Dave Lapsley) and Laura (Larry West). They have five grandchildren.

      Annette Belkin married Leonard Friedman. They had three children Mark (d.1995), Sharren (Rick Patterson) and Sam. They were later divorced. Her present husband is Alan Kolinsky. She has two grandchildren..