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”.
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: established scholarships for Graduate Women’s Studies at SFU and 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 and Partners with Elizabeth Fry Society and 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
Also Supported:
• 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