Harry Kershman (1923-1997) was born and grew up in Montreal. After service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, he moved to Ottawa to join his brother, Judah’s Capital Commercial Laundry. Then he worked in the Ottawa retail clothing business as a customer pedlar before establishing his own business. Sylvia and Harry Kershman married on July 4, 1948. They later established Bonnie Cleaners in October, 1956. They had two sons, Stanley (1952- )and John (1955- ).

Sylvia (Shima) Bodovsky was born in Ottawa, (1926- ) daughter of Wolf(1881-1970) and Kele Bodovsky (1890-1973). She attended York Street Public School and graduated from Lisgar Collegiate in 1942. Sylvia worked for the Government of Canada as a Clerk, Grade 3 in the Directorate of Procurement Aircraft, Air Material Services, Air Force Headquarters between 1942 and 1945. Sylvia had two sisters, Anne (b. Russia, 1913 - ) and Goldie Reva (b. Ottawa 1922-1977). Sylvia became interested in radio reporting and took diction and language lessons from a tutor, Claude Parker. She wrote her own scripts, interviewed people and delivered the programs for the RA Association ( Recreational Association of Federal Government) at CKCO, a private, third floor radio station at his home on Somerset Street, owned by Dr. G.M. Geldert. She was also interested in Jewish theatricals and met her husband, Harry Kershman (1923-1997) at the Ottawa Hebrew Seniors Association which assembled in the old Talmud Torah building, George Street, Ottawa. Sylvia and Harry Kershman married on July 4, 1948. They later established Bonnie Cleaners in October, 1956. They had two sons, Stanley (1952- )and John (1955- ).

Bonnie Cleaners opened as a dry cleaning business in October, 1956 at 51 Main Street, Ottawa East. It was owned and operated by Sylvia and Harry Kershman. They also designed the Bonnie Cleaners logo and organized the advertising. In 1961, they moved their business to 1061 Merivale Road, and in 1971 opened a second store at 1181 St. Laurent Blvd. Over the years, they contracted with the Federal Department of National Defence and other departments to service draperies. In 1963 and 1964, the Kershmans won one of four Canadian management scholarship from Dow Chemicals. Sylvia Kershman, always an equal business partner, attended the National Institute of Dry Cleaning at Silver Springs, Maryland for four weeks of tuition, followed by her husband in 1965. The Merivale Road business was sold in 1981 and the following year the St. Laurent location was also sold.