National Council of Jewish Women of Canada - Vancouver wants to spread our message of hope and compassion.
We believe that a single action can make a difference in the community and that collective action can greatly impact the world. Through advocacy and outreach activities, our team works tirelessly to contribute our part to the greater good.
Our Mission
National Council of Jewish Women of Canada - Vancouver is a volunteer organization that is dedicated to the needs of both the Jewish and general communities through advocacy, education and social action. Since 1924, we have identified concerns and issues facing the community and developed innovative programs to address them. We continuously nurture new projects that focus on a wide variety of concerns.
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Board of Directors and Staff
President: Cate Stoller
Past President: Debby Altow
VP for Social Action: Anne Lerner
VP of Admin: Rochelle Garfinkel
Treasurer: Fran Ritch
Recording Secretary: Linda Arato
phone: 604 257 5180
The fiscal year is May 1 to April 30.
The AGM is scheduled within 6 months of the fiscal year end.
Our Distinguished History
1924: Founded Vancouver Section, established Sunday am religious school, night school for English study for immigrant Jews.
1927: Established Well-Baby clinic till 1938, when Metropolitan Health Centre became responsible; founded Council Camp.
1932: Published first Council Cookbook.
1933: Established noodle factory to create employment for newcomers on relief in the depression.
1937: Opened first permanent Jewish camp in Western Canada.
1942: Provided library and recreation area for soldiers in Terrace, BC.
1949: Sponsored English night school classes, sent overseas aid to Israel through “Ship-a-Box”.
1949: Donated $12,500 to JCC building fund for Golden Age lounge.
1950: Opened the first Golden Age Club at the JCC, led by Bessie Diamond and Thelma Ginsburg
1953: Operated thrift shops until 1979 as fundraisers and assisting disadvantaged
1956: Helped resettle Hungarian refugees
1965: Initiated first Head Start preschool in Vancouver in Riley Park
1970: Established Jewish Historical Society of BC with CJC, Pacific Region; UBC Bessie Diamond Memorial Scholarship for mature women students
1971: Initiated Schools for Citizen Participation; established Welcome Wagon/Info Centre at JCC
1972: Piloted preschool hearing screening program, leading to the gift of two mobile screening vans to Vancouver Health Dept.
1973: Coordinated first Tay Sachs clinic on European Jewish genetic diseases
1974: Published fifth edition of the Council Cookbook, A Treasury of Jewish Recipes
1975: Launched support for Israel Family Counselling Agency (now ALUMA) with Council sections across Canada
1980: Inaugurated: scholarship for Graduate Women’s Studies at SFU; scholarship at Vancouver Academy of Music
1982: Co-sponsored and provided seed money for creation of L’Chaim, Adult Day Care Centre
1985: Published first edition of “Shalom! Welcome to Vancouver Directory”
1987: Hosted International Council of Jewish Women and NCJW Canada convention
1988: Published second edition of “Shalom!”, funded by Jewish Federation of Vancouver
1990: Published seventh edition of Council Cookbook, Bubbe’s Kitchen
1990: Established Shalom BC Welcome and Referral volunteer service; outreach program for seniors; STAR volunteer register for the community;
1991: Piloted the HIPPY program (originating in Israel) with Simon Fraser University and Britannia Community Centre to enhance the lives of immigrant children and their families
1994: Piloted Kosher Meals on Wheels
2001: Established Books for Kids to donate new and gently used books through Vancouver Public Health nurses network
2001: Established Operation Dress Up to provide clothing for disadvantaged children and gift certificates to enable adolescents to choose their own clothing
2002-2019:
Expanded Books for Kids - partners with Elizabeth Fry Society, Safe Babies program (for all infants in foster care), Vancouver Public Library, Public Health nurses for children in at-risk families, Vancouver Children’s Hospital for paediatric assessment, Healthiest Babies
Provide books in the first language of pre-post natal mother at risk
Jewish Family Services Food Security including Kosher Meals on Wheels
Wellness for Inner City Children - basic hygiene, dental health, anger management, anti-bullying, healthy eating, making good choices
Visions for At Risk Youth - after school athletic enrichment activities, help with homework, field trips
Mothers Matter (Indigenous HIPPY) - distribution of books, nutrition boxes
Nanook Daycare - funded critical kitchen equipment for Mount Pleasant Early Childhood and Family Centre
Strong Start Vancouver School Board Program - equipment purchase
YWCA Crabtree Corner - Bags, Books and Babies program
Aluma - continued support for Israeli family counselling agency
Jewish Book Fair at the Jewish Community Centre
Feel free to contact us:
National Council of Jewish Women of Canada - Vancouver
302 - 950 West 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC , V5Z 2N7
604 257 5180