Alpha Omega Fraternity
On December 29, 1921, a charter was granted which
made ALPHA OMEGA an International Dental Fraternity. This charter was granted to Pi Chapter at the University of Toronto. Irving Abramson, who was initiated into Beta in 1919, came to Toronto two years later and was the spark which ignited the flame of ALPHA OMEGA in Canada.
On January 5, 1922, the first election of officers re sulted in the naming of Louis Perlman, Chancellor; Irving Abramson, Vice-Chancellor; Saul Simon, Quaestor; John A. Sherman, Scribe; Murray L. Dyment, Editor, with Drs. J. J. Lavine, M. Kates, Sam Perlman and Sam Model in various alumni positions or advisory capacities.
In the fall of 1923, the first fraternity house was occupied at 2172 Davenport Road. The chapter numbered 12 in 1924, due in part to the efforts of Dr. S. Perlman. In 1925, the fraternity house went to 177 Grace Street, which was open house for the 1925 Convention. Nineteen hundred and twenty-six saw the house at 317 Markham, thence to 40 Sussex, which was vacated in 1930.
Activity and numbers dwindled until in 1935 Pi got a new Fraternity Room at the Medical Dental Building at 455 Spadina. There, due to the efforts of Saul Simon, Harry Jolley, and officers from the Detroit and Buffalo Chapters, 12 new pledges were pinned, and again Pi was healthy and active. Dr. Harry Jolley and Dr. Bob Siden berg saw to it that Pi's health and activity continued. In their capacities as Praetors, they rendered yeoman service to the chapter.
Nineteen hundred and thirty-nine saw the beginning of the war for Canada and for the fraters of Pi. Percy Singer was the first undergrad to enlist from Pi in 1940. The whole life of the University was disrupted by hostil, ities, so that in 1941 the membership of Pi had dropped to four. In 1942, 25 neophytes were pledged and again a fraternity house became a necessity. The generosity of Dr. S. W. Leslie made this possible and a new home at 372 Brunswick was made available to the men of Pi. Sam Spivak was Chancellor that year, and was active in the formation of the Jewish Interfraternity Council.
Our International scope as an organization really met its first test when Canada entered World War II prior to the United States and the proposal was advanced that a drive be undertaken by ALPHA OMEGA FRA TERNITY to present to the Canadian Dental Corps a mobile dental unit. Within a matter of months, the drive was authorized and under the Chairmanship of Edward Pressman was quickly completed. The presentation was made at Toronto, on the campus of the University of Toronto, on November 27, 1941. The presentation cere monies were held at Hart House and at a luncheon in honour of the occasion over 60 men were present, high
officers of the Dental Corps, Alpha Omegans, men in the Service of the Empire. At the head table were the Mayor of Toronto; the head of the Dental School, Dean Mason; the President of the University, Canon Cody; Colonel Lott, the ranking officer of the Canadian Dental Service; Regent Sidenberg; Chairman Pressman; Supreme Chancellor Siden berg; and Supreme Scribe Rich.
By 1948, the chapter had grown to 33 members. A committee was set up to raise funds and find a site for a new fraternity house. Under the inspired leadership of Dr. John Sherman, assisted by Hart Levin and Harry Tregebov, a home was finally purchased for $26,000. The Alumni made this purchase possible by the contribution of $14,000 in, shares, and "a home of our own" at 42 Bedford Road was a reality on April 22, 1952.
In 1951 the first Annual Piece of Pi was published.
The successful 1952 National Convention at Toronto saw Pi hosting undergrads from all over North America. Pi received its first National President's Undergraduate Efficiency Award that year. On November 13, 1952, Dr. Sherman was awarded a plaque by Pi in recognition of his yeoman service to the chapter. In 1953 Hart Levin received a similar award. Bob Yasney was the first Alpha Omegan to direct the annual faculty show "Dentantics" on campus.
In 1953, with the aid of a grant of $30,000 from the National Fraternity, The School of Dentistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was founded. As of January, 1959, Alpha Omega has collected $350,000 of the $420,000 which has been pledged, for the erection of the New Dental School in Jerusalem. The Annual Charity Ball of the PI Chapter, the Alumni, and The Ladies' Auxiliary of Toronto have done their share in raising money for this worthy cause.
An achievement medal for meritorious service in Dentistry or its Allied Sciences has been established on a national basis by the Fraternity, and is presented to an individual in recognition of his or her professional contribution. Some of the recipients in the past have been: Isaac Schour, 1947; Charles H. Best, 1952; Albert Einstein, 1951; W. K. Kellog Foundation, 1953; and Jonas E. Salk, 1955.
Today, on her own local level, PI looks to the future -to try and do her share as an integral part of ALPHA OMEGA. Under the capable leadership of Alan Green, and with a membership of 100, PI continues to grow, prosper and fasten its close association with the Alumni Chapter and ALPHA OMEGANS everywhere.
Murray Wagman Historian 1958-59
Bibliography—50-year History of Alpha Omega
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