- 1948-04-21 — The following were elected to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Montréal: Siegfried Schopflocher, Gwen Inwood, Arthur Irwin, Milli Tina Gordon, Eddie Elliot, Adline Lohse, Bert Rakovsky; Amine De Mille; and René Roy. [OBCC146, 153]
- 1950-07-06 — The Maritime Summer Conference was held at a tourist home four miles from Wood's Island Ferry with twenty people in attendance.
Three courses were given; Laura Davis on the "Thirst for Spirituality" and others by Hedda and Bert Rakovsky on "Character Development" and "Teaching Methods". [CBN15 September 1950 p5]
- 1953-04-29 —
The sixth National Convention took place in the Unitarian Church of Forest Hill Village and was attended by sixteen delegates as well as over 100 visitors. Elected were: John Robarts, (chairman), Lloyd Gardner, (treasurer), Rowland Estall, (vice chair), Laura Davis, (secretary), Winnifred Harvey, Emeric Sala, Rosemary Sala, Albert Rakovsky and Audrey Westhaeser. [CBN No 41 June, 1953 p2]
- This convention marked the end of the Five Year Plan that had been given to Canada in 1948 upon the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly.
- 1953-07-27 —
Siegfried (Fred) Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Montreal and was buried beside the grave of Sutherland Maxwell in Mount Royal Cemetery at the Guardian's suggestion. He was born in Germany in 1877. [BW12:664-666, LOF390, TG119, CBNS 24 July 2014, Bahá'í Chronicles, SCRIBD, Schopflocher, Siegfried (1877–1953) by Will C. van den Hoonaard; CBN No 43 August 1953 p4; CBN No 44 September 1953 p2; MtC185-187]
- Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii]
- See TG32, 228 and LoF384-390 for short biographies.
- See Schopflocher, Siegfried by Will C. van den Hoonaard.
- For his obituary see BW12:664–6.
- He was known as the "Chief Temple Builder" because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West. [BW12:664-666]
- He made significant contributions to Green Acre both financially and administratively.
- During the period 1924 to 1947 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada fifteen times. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada from its formation until his passing.
- He was instrumental in the purchase of the first property for the Haziratu'l Quds.
- For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles.
- Find a grave.
- His funeral was held on the 31st of July presided by the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly John Robarts. The eulogy was delivered by the vice-chair, Rowland Estall. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p7-10]
- On August 23, the Montreal Assembly arranged a memorial
service in the Maxwell Home which was attended by members
of the National Assembly and friends, mainly from the
Montreal area. This service in Fred's home community was
intimate and personal. Many people recalled with loving
gratitude personal associations with Fred, kindly and helpful
things he had done in his unobtrusive way, gifts of hospitality
or consideration that they had treasured sometimes for many
years. [CBN No 46 November 1953 Insert]
- The Shrines Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly was charged with the erection of the gravestone. A memorial fund set
up to permit believers to contribute to it. [CBN #69 October 1955 p4, 8]
- The National Spiritual Assembly inaugurated the Committee for the Estate of
S. Schopflocher and appointed
Mr. Bert. Rakovsky,
471-A Strathcona Ave.,
W estmount, Que.
Functions : The interest of the National Spiritual Assembly in
the affairs of the S. Schopflocher Estate are
turned over to this committee for representation
in dealing with the lawyers and the
beneficiaries and the committee is to do all
in its power to expedite the handling of
these affairs. [CBN #56 September 1954 p8]
- A memorial service was held in the Temple in Wilmette on the 28th of August. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p3]
- 1954-03-00 — Albert Rakovsky, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly 1953-1956 was the first Bahá'í to visit Anticosti Island. [MtB192-193]
- 1954-04-30 —
The. seventh Canadian Bahá'í National Convention was held at Victoria Hall, Westmount, Montreal. followed by a Teaching Conference held Sunday, May 2nd in the Assembly Hall of the YMCA across the street. The following were elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly: Lloyd Gardner (chair), Allan Raynor, (vice), Audrey Westheuser (sec'y), Peggy Ross, (treasurer), Rolland Estall, Angus Cowan, Winnifred Harvey, Donald MacLaren, Albert Rakovsky. [CBN No 53 June 1954 p3; CBN No 54 July 1954 p1]
- On Saturday afternoon, May 1st, the delegates and friends gathered at Victoria Hall in Westmount for a brief commemoration and prayers. [CBN No 63 April 1955, Insert p4]
- A memorial service for Marion
Jack, the beloved Canadian pioneer to
Sofia, Bulgaria, was held. Miss Jack
was born in St. John, N .B. As an artist,
as well as a believer, she was invited to
Haifa to paint many of the scenes there.
She was in Bulgaria during the war and
suffered greatly. Because of this, the
Guardian invited her to leave and return
to Haifa. She decided, however, to remain,
even though the difficulties were
great, and stayed at her post until her
passing March 27, 1954. She is interred
in the British Cemetery in Sofia. [CBN No54 Jul 1954 p1]
- Polly Pollexfen, Ethel Martens and Hart Bowsfield were injured in a motor vehicle accident while travelling from Winnipeg to the National Convention in Montreal. It was a serious accident and recovery was slow. [CBN No57 Oct 1957 p2]
- 1955-02-00 — The first fireside was held in Hull, Quebec at the home of one of the friends of the Faith. Bert Rakovsky of Westmount was the speaker. [CBN No 63 April, 1955 p2]
- 1955-04-29 —
The National Convention was held in Toronto with the meetings and the Public Congress held in the King Edward Hotel. Elected were: Lloyd Gardner (chair), Allan Raynor (vice-chair), Audrey Westheuser (secretary), Peggy Ross (treasurer), Rowland Estall, Angus Cowan, Winnifred Harvey, Donald MacLaren, Albert Rakovsky. [CBN No 65 June 1955 p4]
- List of delegates. [CBN No 62 March, 1955 p1]
- On May 1st the friends shared in a Memorial Service for Marion Jack. The delegates and other believers gathered in Victoria Hall in Westmount for a brief commemoration and prayers in advance of the main Memorial Service at the Temple. [CBN No 62 March, 1955 from the 4-page insert]
- The Guardian's message to the National Convention dated 17 April 1954 was distributed as an insert to CBN No 54 Jun 1954. The message list recent accomplishments.
- See the National Convention report, the Guardian's supplementary message to the Convention and a letter, Progress at the World Centre from the International Bahá'i Council. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p4]
- 1957-05-00 —
About twenty-five different itineraries
were arranged for Canadian
Bahá'í teachers who served on the
Intra-Regional circuits and, in addition,
teaching programmes were arranged
and organized for several visiting
teachers from outside the Dominion,
including Mr. Alan Pringle
from Honduras and Mrs. Meherangiz
Munsiff of the United States.
Our
Canadian teachers included the
following: Mrs. Laura Davis, Mr.
Albert Rakovsky, Mr. Hartwell Bowsfield,
Mr. Rowland Estall, Mr; Alan
Raynor, Mre. Peggy Ross, Mrs. Lily
Ann Irwin, Mrs. Katherine Moscrop,
Mr. Fred Graham, Miss Nancy Campbell,
Miss Amy Putnam and Miss
Winnifred Harvey. [CBN No88 May 1957 p1]
- Seven weekend
seminars conducted by Allan
Raynor on "The Covenant and
the Individual" were organized
throughout Canada for the deepening,
strengthening and confirming of
believers and close contacts.
The course "The Covenant and the Institutions" was first conducted first in BC in March, 1956 and subsequently in every other province. Bahá'ís and prospective believers were encouraged to become with the Will and Testement of 'Abdu'l-Baha, The Tablet of the Branch (BWFp207), The Book of the Covenant and the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah. Participants were also encouraged to study the Covenant and the Administration". (Note: the name of the course was reported as both "The Covenant and
the Individual" and "The Covenant and the Institutions".).
[CBN No88 May 1957 p2; CBN No 89 June 1957 p1]
- 1971-01-09 — The passing of Albert (Bert) Rakovsky (Radowsky). [CBN No 247 February 1971]
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