How to Share an Egg: In Conversation with Bonny Reichert

Join us in-person for a special book talk with award-winning journalist and chef Bonny Reichert, as she shares her deeply moving memoir “How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty” — exploring how food, family and the legacy of survival intertwine.

In "How to Share an Egg," Reichert delves into her family’s history and the enduring impact of her father’s Holocaust survival, exploring how intergenerational trauma shaped her identity and upbringing. Growing up in Edmonton, surrounded by stories of scarcity and resilience, she recalls baking potato knishes and preparing cholent, experiences that anchored her to her family and heritage. Food serves as a central motif throughout the narrative, symbolizing both sustenance and emotional connection, culminating in a transformative trip to Poland where a simple bowl of borscht reconnects her to her roots and the strength, love, and resilience of her family.

About the Speaker

Bonny Reichert is an award-winning journalist, chef, and author whose work explores the intersections of family, memory, and identity. Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, she was deeply shaped by her father’s experiences as a Holocaust survivor and the stories of scarcity, resilience, and intergenerational trauma that surrounded her. Her writing blends memoir, history, and a profound exploration of how food and memory connect generations.

About the Human Rights and Holocaust Education Fund

In partnership with the Calgary Jewish Federation's Holocaust and Human Rights: Remembrance and Education department.

Human Rights and Holocaust Education programming is a partnership between Calgary Public Library and Edmonton Public Library to raise awareness and engage Albertans in critical dialogue about human rights and the Holocaust. Donor funds support physical exhibits and virtual tours that build on programs and events, facilitate community storytelling opportunities and enhance Library collections related to human rights.

This collaboration between Alberta’s two largest municipal libraries is generously supported by the Balaban family, the Krell family, Viewpoint Foundation, and donors to the Human Rights and Holocaust Education Fund at Calgary Public Library Foundation.