The Team Vancouver delegation at the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games in Pittsburgh, Pa. (photo fromJCCGV)
When the Jewish community of Greater Toronto hosts the JCC Maccabi Games this summer, it will mark the first time that the Jewish teen athletics event has taken place north of the border since Vancouver hosted in 2006. And Team Vancouver, based out of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, will bring a delegation of at least 20 athletes to be a part of it.
The JCCs of Toronto will welcome approximately 1,600 Jewish teens from around the world Aug. 2-7, 2026, for this annual Olympic-style sporting event. The games will take over venues around Greater Toronto, offering a variety of team and individual sports.
“With the political climate being what it is these days, it’s really fantastic timing to finally have a set of games in Canada again,” said Kyle Berger, delegation head for Team Vancouver. “I can feel the excitement already building and we expect to be taking our largest delegation since before COVID.”
The JCC Maccabi Games, which engages 3,000-4,000 Jewish teens each summer, is focused on athletic competitions, but, Berger said, the true meaning of the games lies in the unique Jewish peoplehood experience it offers.
“From the powerful opening ceremonies, with the parade of athletes, and through the week of competition and special events, there is nothing that brings Jewish teens together like the JCC Maccabi experience,” he said. “This will be my 23rd set of games, but, when Team Israel enters the opening ceremony, with 10,000 people all waving their Israeli flags, cheering and singing together in a safe environment, it gives me goosebumps every time.”
Berger was involved with the games when Vancouver hosted in 2006 and said he appreciates how much hosting this event can bring a community together.
“Much like the way hosting the Olympics in 2010 brought the cities of Vancouver and Whistler together, hosting the JCC Maccabi Games really is a full-community experience,” he said. “And anytime it is in Canada, it’s special to be part of it and show off our amazing country. We will enter the opening ceremony with extra pride this year.”
The games in Toronto, which will take place at the same time as another set of games in Kansas City, will be one of the larger sets of games in recent years. Athletes aged 13-17 as of the date of the games will be able to compete in their choice of team or individual sports that include ice hockey – with a girls division for the first time – baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, swimming, dance, track and golf.
Aside from the opening ceremony, the games will feature social events for the athletes and coaches, as well as Jewish and Israeli cultural programming, social action projects and an emphasis on the six middot (Jewish values) of tikkun olam (repairing the world), respect, joy, pride, big-heartedness, and Jewish peoplehood.
JCC Maccabi, a signature program of the Jewish Community Centre Association of North America, is part of the overall umbrella of the Maccabi World Union, which also includes the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
OneTable dinners – a platform for young professionals to meet on Shabbat – are occurring in 700 cities, including Toronto, but not yet Vancouver. (photo from OneTable)
My son moved to Florida in August, choosing the Sunshine State for its large Jewish community, great weather and the many outdoor recreational possibilities it offers when Vancouver is soaked with rain. He quickly found opportunities to engage with young Jewish professionals like himself, through a synagogue, but also through OneTable Shabbat dinners.
“I had an amazing Shabbat experience,” he told me, as he explained how it works.
Someone agrees to host a Shabbat dinner for a certain number of people, who each bring an item to help with the meal. OneTable reimburses the host $10 per person, which doesn’t cover the costs, but it helps, particularly if the host is feeling cash-strapped.
In my son’s case, the meal was take-out sushi, which was completely fine with the 20-somethings gathered around that Florida table. They talked, laughed and ate together, kindling new friendships and inspiring my son to play host at a OneTable Shabbat soon.
My curiosity piqued, I started making inquiries about OneTable. What a great fit this would be for Vancouver, I thought, given how difficult it is to make new Jewish friends here. That’s especially true for young Vancouverites looking for Jewish partners in a city with an intermarriage rate of 43%, according to a 2011 study and intermarriage rates in Canada have increased, according to another study that came out this year, so likely Vancouver’s has, too.
But it’s also a challenge for Gen Xers like me. What an incredible idea, to surround yourself with potentially new Jewish friends at a home table defined by challah and shared food! Alas, OneTable is not offered here.
Irit Gross, chief advancement officer at OneTable, described how the organization began in 2014, when two philanthropists united to address the epidemic of loneliness that was occurring. Young Jewish adults were focusing heavily on their mobile phones, and disassociating themselves from the traditional Jewish institutions where their parents and grandparents had socialized.
OneTable sent out a survey, asking young people what it would take to get them to choose Shabbat on a Friday night, rather than another option.
“People were socializing online, so we knew we needed to meet them in a virtual space,” Gross said. “We began investing in a platform similar to Airbnb, where, as a host, you could go online and post your dinner and, as a guest, you could join one. That’s the essence of how we started, with the goal of people going online to be offline.”
The $10 per person remuneration was added when OneTable realized money was a barrier to millennials wanting to host five to 10 people in their homes. The reimbursement allows the host to elevate their offering; for example, by buying better wine, or a nicer tablecloth for the event.
That first year, OneTable began in the Jewish heartbeat of North America – New York City. As the organization fundraised and collaborated with local federations in other cities, it quickly expanded to Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami.
“We knew where the young adults were and went to set up shop in those locations,” said Gross. Today, OneTable dinners are occurring in 700 cities, including Toronto, and 49 states, as well as Washington, DC.
The organization has engaged 320,000 unique individuals, with many returning for more. “Those 320,000 people have come back and either guested or hosted two or three times. That engagement rate shows that our goal and mission of creating a Shabbat ritual is coming to fruition and happening in the community,” she said.
Prior to Oct. 7, 2023, OneTable was engaging 40,000 unique individuals annually. “After Oct. 7, that jumped to 82,000 unique people, meaning we doubled in 2023 and sustained that increase in 2024,” Gross noted. “It’s been a marker for our organization, catapulting us to really think not just about how we’re addressing millennials, but, also, bringing Gen Zs together.”
After reading reports about how Jews across many different age groups were looking for ways to find community, OneTable expanded its offerings, though its core audience remains the 20-to-30-something demographic, which accounts for 95% of its time and budget.
The organization’s research is far from over. “We’re still trying to figure out how to stay relevant and continue to be the number one choice for young adults in their 20s and 30s, so they can create their own Shabbat rituals,” said Gross.
Five years ago, the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto requested collaboration with OneTable, beginning a conversation that would take two years before the program launched. OneTable began operating in Toronto in 2023 with a three-year funding grant, and Gross said Toronto has been one of its most successful communities.
OneTable is not in Vancouver, and there seems to be no conversations about it coming here. Prior to Oct. 7, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation reached out to OneTable.
“I think it’s a great organization, but we’re not funding in the space of young adult engagement,” said Mark Gurvis, the foundation’s chief executive officer. “If we were funding young adult engagement, we’d fund this for sure. Federation’s involvement is the key for this, and whether we’ll step in with Federation remains to be seen.”
I asked the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver about the possibility.
“While Vancouver doesn’t have OneTable, we’re fortunate to have many organizations that host meaningful Shabbat dinners and gatherings that bring people together throughout the community,” said Caryl Dolinko, Federation’s communications and marketing director.
“We are continuing to develop a family-connector model to strengthen engagement. We’re also happy to explore other initiatives and opportunities that are out there in the community, as we would love to do with OneTable.”
She continued, “Our focus remains on supporting the many partnerorganizations and community initiatives that already create opportunities for meaningful Shabbat experiences and peer connection.”
Dolinko gave the example of Axis, a Federation initiative for Jews in their 20s and 30s. “Last year, Axis held 15 events for 682 unique participants, with 345 attending multiple events,” she told the Independent. The network connected 32 volunteers to community organizations and maintains active WhatsApp and Instagram engagement, she said.
“We are restructuring our PJ program to prioritize mixed-heritage families and have expanded PJ Library access into public school libraries, pediatrician offices and other community spaces,” she added.
With an intermarriage rate like ours in Vancouver, I’d argue that the current model is not working. But no one is asking me.
I moved to this city to start my family, in 2000. Now, a quarter-century later, three of my children have left for other cities and countries, where their odds of meeting Jewish partners are much better. My youngest will follow in two years. I miss them desperately, but I want them to spread their wings – and I want them to marry someone Jewish.
Gross understands all too well that funding dollars need to go to other worthy initiatives.
“There are a lot of people out there fighting against hate,” she noted. “I don’t know if there are enough people fighting for the joy of Jewishness, the special rituals that remind us why we love our traditions.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated from the print version to better reflect Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s commitment to youth engagement in the community.
היום השאלה האם להמשיך ולגור בישראל, לעזוב או לחזור ולגור בה או לעשות עלייה -היא רלוונטית יותר מאי פעם. מצד אחד ישראל נמצאת במצב בטחוני, כלכלי וחברתי לא פשוטים, ומצד שני האנטישמיות ופגיעה בישראלים וביהודים היא ממשית ביותר
אני עזבתי את תל אביב ועברתי לגור בוונקובר שבמערב קנדה לפני למעלה מעשרים שנה. אני יכול רק להצטער שלא עזבתי שנים קודם לכן בעת היותי צעיר יותר כי זה היה חלום חיי. חברו לחלום ההרגשה שהפכתי להיות זר בישראל ולכן העדפתי להיות זר בחו”ל. בנוסף, המצב הבטחוני של ישראל גם הוא הטריד אותי. אילו הן שלוש הסיבות המרכזיות שהביאו אותי לעזוב את ישראל. כבר בראשית שנות השמונים (אחרי השירות הצבאי) התחלתי לחלום על מעבר לחו”ל ולצערי רק כעבור עשרים שנה הגשמתי זאת
לקום ולעזוב לחו”ל זה דבר לא פשוט שכרוך בהרבה מאוד סיכונים. וצריך גם אומץ רב והאמת שזה היה חסר במקרה שלי. רק בסוף שנת 2004 כאשר קיבלתי את הניירת ההגירה לקנדה החלטתי שהפעם אני לא נותן לעצמי שום הנחות ותירוצים – מדוע שלא לעזוב. כעבור שלושה חודשים סיימתי את כל ענייני בתל אביב ועליתי למטוס שהביא אותי לוונקובר, בה אני חי עד היום
בשנות השמונים והתשעים רציתי לעבור לאירופה (תחילה ללונדון ולאחר מכן לאמסטרדם). בראשית אלפיים זכיתי בגרין קארד ואז החלטתי לעבור לניו יורק. אך היעדר האומץ כפי שציינתי והעבודה שכל כך אהבתי בתחום המדיה: “החזיקו” אותי בישראל. עבדתי בעיתונות במשך שבעה עשרה שנים והיה לי מאוד קשה להיפרד ממנה. בשנים האחרונות למגורי בישראל קיבלתי הצעות מפתות מהעורכים המובילים בעיתונות אך דחיתי את כולן, כי אחרת הייתי מתקשה עוד יותר קשה לעזוב. משה ורדי הציע לי לעבוד בידיעות אחרונות, אמנון דנקנר – מעריב, גיא רולניק ואיתן אבריאל – דה מרקר (שהיה מופרד אז מהארץ) וחגי גולן – גלובס
לבסוף הצלחתי להתגבר על כל המכשולים הנפשיים ועזבתי את ישראל לטובת קנדה. מרבית בני משפחתי וחברי הבינו אותי, ותמכו בצעדי. כמובן שהיו בודדים שלא ראו בעין טובה את “ירידתי” מישראל ולאורך הזמן היחסים ביננו הפכו לקרירים ואף נותקו. הגעתי לוונקובר, ובשנותי הראשונות עבדתי כמחפש מידע בחברה כלכלית. לשמחתי במשך מרבית שנותי כאן כתבתי (כפרילנס) עבור ידיעות אחרונות ווינט על מה שקורה בקנדה. לפני למעלה מאחת עשרה שנים הצטרפתי לחברה הפיננסית המספקת הלוואות סאב-פריים, ואני משמש מבקר החברה ואף עובד מהבית בשמונה השנים האחרונות
עוד שגרתי בישראל ראיתי עתיד שחור למדינה שהופכת להיות יותר דתית-חרדית-ימנית-לאומנית. אז התחלתי לקלוט שאין לי יותר מקום במדינה בה נולדתי וגדלתי ושהייתה בית מצויין במשך שנים. לצערי המציאות השתנתה לרעה וכאמור התחלתי להרגיש זר בישראל. מצאתי את עצמי שייך למיעוט שהוא וקטן וכיום ההבדלים בין שני המחנות עצומים ולא ניתנים לגישור. מלחמת ששת הימים עם הניצחון הגדול הביאה את תחילתה של תנועת ההתיישבות בשטחים הכבושים. וכך גם החל לגדול המחנה המשיחי. ומטבע הדברים לדתיים וחרדים יש הרבה ילדים והמספרים מנצחים. מציאות זו לא מתיישבת עם עקרונותי ודרכי ועל כן מצאתי לי בית חדש בקנדה
כיום אני מנותק כמעט לחלוטין מהוויה והתרבות הישראלית ורק השפה העברית מקשרת אותי לישראל. הקשר עם בני משפחה וחברים בישראל עדיין חשוב לי אך במקביל המרחק ביני ובין המדינה הולך וגדל. ישראל לא תשוב עוד להיות ביתי
On the weekend of Oct. 11-12, the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre hosted a memorial exhibit to mark two years since Oct. 7. It was designed as a series of information booths, to allow visitors to engage with the material at their own pace. (photo from OJC)
On the weekend of Oct. 11-12, the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre (OJC) hosted a memorial exhibit to mark two years since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. The program brought together Kelowna, West Kelowna and Okanagan area residents, the Jewish community, other faith groups and allies, as well as local, provincial and federal elected representatives and some of their staff.
The exhibit, created by Mila Shapiro and Harley Kushmier, was designed as a series of information booths, to allow visitors to engage with the material at their own pace. Each station explained different parts of the story: the historical context, the scale of the violence and the hatred that drove it. Displays showed how people from all backgrounds – left or right, foreign nationals or Israelis – were targeted and suffered the same nightmare.
One of the most difficult-to-view sections showed video footage recorded by the Hamas terrorists during the attacks. The reaction from visitors was intense, with many saying it was overwhelming, but also something they needed to see to understand the scale of the cruelty.
(photo from OJC)
On the Saturday evening, the guest speaker, Nitzan, shared her story of Oct. 7 to a room filled to capacity.
Nitzan, who preferred to go by her first name for this article, grew up in a small northern town in Israel, where having to take refuge in a shelter wasn’t necessarily a scary experience.
“Back then, we didn’t have Iron Dome, we didn’t have an alarm system,” she said. “We heard the whistle and then the boom.
“As we grew older, my sister moved to the south of Israel, where she fell in love and built her life in Kibbutz Be’eri, an amazing peaceful, community. Be’eri made the desert bloom.”
On Oct. 7, Nitzan’s sister sent a photo of her and her family in their safe room. “I called her, asking why they were in the safe room, what’s happening. She said the amount of rockets is insane. We’re in the safe room, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen to the people partying at the music fest – they have nowhere to go.”
A few minutes later, “She was outside with the kids and, on a video call, I said to her, what if they come?”
The family returned to their safe room, said Nitzan. But the doors to safe rooms don’t lock. “You have to hold the handle up,” she explained.
Fifteen minutes later, texts started flooding in – attackers were in the kibbutz, they were breaking into people’s homes.
“As the night went on,” said Nitzan, “they, Hamas, were burning the houses, smoking people out of their homes, shooting, killing, murdering whoever they could. They broke into my sister’s house five times. She and her husband held onto the door, not letting go, not letting them in.
“As the night went on, her texts were begging for help, saying goodbye, not thinking they were going to make it through the night.
“Her husband’s family all live in the kibbutz – his two sisters and his mom. His mom was hosting her sister, her husband and son. They didn’t make it,” said Nitzan. His mom, Pessi, her sister Hanna, husband Zizi and son Tal were all killed.
“My friend Abouya answered my texts, saying he’s holding onto the door and then he stopped reading my messages. They had shot him in the stomach, and he died at home. He was a close family friend…. His grandkids,two 12-year-old-year-olds, a boy and girl, Ynai and Liel, were being held in Pessi’s house. They were murdered with her. The terrorists gathered 15 neighbours, murdering 12 of them.”
(photo from OJC)
Nitzan knew many others who were killed.
“I ended up in an emergency room,” she shared. “I couldn’t bear the horror. I was throwing up, sweating, shaking. When I got to emerg, the doctor told me he had to give me something to calm me down. I said, I can’t take it. If I need to make the decision to go home, I need to be able to make it. He looked at me and understood. When I saw him a few months after, he asked me, how are you doing? Did your family survive?
“They did, and I am so grateful for that.”
Nitzan spoke about the rising amount of antisemitism in Canada and around the world.
“We have to stick together, we have to find each other, support each other and find why,” she said, mentioning former hostage Eli Sharabi’s book, Hostage, in which he describes meeting Hersh Goldberg-Polin, another hostage, who was murdered in the tunnels of Gaza with five others in August 2024. Goldberg-Polin told Sharabi, “If you have the why, you’ll find the how” to survive. Sharabi talks about how this idea, also expressed by Friedrich Nietzsche (“he who has a why to live for can bear almost anything”) helped him survive 491 days in captivity.
“It has been two long years, years of hurt, of pain,” said Nitzan. “I wish for all our hostages to come home … victims’ bodies are still there. I wish for us to be united, to know that we are stronger together, that we have many friends that support us and that we are not alone.”
(photo from OJC)
The evening concluded with a Q&A session. Questions and comments ranged from the sharing of personal experiences, to questions for Nitzan, to concerns about antisemitism and the growing fear that many Jewish Canadians are now living with.
On Sunday, Liel, who also didn’t want her surname used for this article, shared her story about Oct. 7. She spoke about the loss of someone very close to her and the continuing impact that day has had on her perspective and sense of community. As well, she discussed the challenges on Canadian and American university campuses, describing how painful it has been to witness the reactions and divisions that have emerged.
“We can’t stop talking about the victims of the seventh of October,” said Liel, the more than 1,200 “innocent people who lost their lives in senseless violence,” and those who were kidnapped.
“We can’t forget about the heroes of that day,” she said, talking about the soldiers and civilians who fought hard that day, the “heroes that saved countless lives by sacrificing themselves. We must keep all of their memories alive by continuing to remember them and talk about them, and share their stories.”
“As a Jew, I carry the weight of my ancestors’ pain and resilience. Our voice must never be silent,” said Kushmier about why it was important for him to help create this exhibit. “The pain in Israel and in the Jewish diaspora has been profound, yet we rise above the hate. We stand as ourselves, stronger and united, showing the world that we will endure, heal and continue to thrive.
“Every generation of our people has faced hardship, but we have never been broken,” he said. “Through centuries of persecution, we have built communities, told our stories, and held onto our faith. Our people are strong, and our unity is our power. In the face of hatred, we choose love and life.”
Shapiro said the Oct. 7 massacre hit very close to home, and her family lost someone very close to them at the Nova music festival.
“My land and my people are suffering and I believe it’s critical to bring historical facts and context to the forefront, so others can truly understand the roots of this conflict,” she said. “Only through education and awareness can we make change toward truth and justice.
“In addition, in the aftermath of such a horrific tragedy, I believe it can be deeply healing to come together in mourning – to honour and remember those who were brutally murdered, massacred, burned and tortured. Their lives were taken in unimaginable ways, and we owe it to them and to ourselves to remember their names, their stories and their humanity. Mourning together is not just an act of remembrance – it’s an act of resistance against forgetting.”
In a city where the Jewish community is small but strong, the exhibit was a chance to learn, to bear witness and to connect, said Kushmier and Shapiro, who thank Nitzan for sharing her story.
They also thank their families and the volunteers, including Bitachon (security) members, who assisted with the two-day exhibit, which was funded by donations from the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, and included material from StandWithUs.
Samantha Kushmier is a member of the Okanagan Jewish Community, and mother of exhibit organizer Harley Kushmier.
Orca Wiesblatt was to play for the ECHL’s Allen Americans this season. The 25-year-old died in a car accident on Vancouver Island Sept. 14. (photo from allenamericans.com)
A crowdfunding initiative is underway to honour the memory of Orca Wiesblatt, a professional hockey player who died in a car accident on Vancouver Island Sept. 14, and to help his family and friends navigate through the hardship of losing a loved one who was only 25.
Paula King, a family friend of the Wiesblatts, launched the GoFundMe campaign shortly after news of the tragedy broke last month. The goal is to raise $22,000. Thus far, more than $16,000 has been contributed.
“There has been such an outpouring of love for this young man in statements from so many fans, friends, former teammates and every organization he has played for. His talent, love of life and infectious smile never went unnoticed on or off the ice; it is one to be recognized and to be remembered with such a high regard,” King, who knew the Wiesblatt family through the hockey community in Calgary, says on the site.
“I want the Wiesblatt family to know that they are not alone,” writes King. “Every friend, teammate and fan that has come to know them, we are here, standing united as a deep-rooted hockey community from near or far away. It takes a village, and we are here for them now more than ever.”
Wiesblatt was one of four hockey-playing brothers born to deaf parents. The children learned American Sign Language before they could speak English, and each could communicate in French and Quebec Sign Language as well.
Raised in both Kelowna and Calgary, Wiesblatt’s skills as a hockey player were evident early. In 2007, at age 7, he was ranked the best player in his class in the Okanagan.
The family was featured in a Nov. 9, 2007, article by Kelley Korbin in the Independent. At the time, his father, Art Wiesblatt, said, “Orca’s able to steal the show. I feel bad for the other parents, but he just gets out there and he’s all over the ice and the other kids just can’t keep up. Like Ocean (his older brother), he’s beyond the age range of the other boys he’s playing with. He’s at a whole different level.”
Wiesblatt’s death has been met with shock and grief from the teams he played for in his professional career. The Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, where Wiesblatt got his start, said in a statement, “It is with great sadness that we mourn the tragic passing of [former Hitmen] Orca Wiesblatt. We are heartbroken for his family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him.
“On behalf of the ownership, management, coaches, players and staff of Calgary Sports and Entertainment, we extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies during this very difficult time.”
Scott Hull, president of the Athens (Ga.) Rock Lobsters of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL), where Wiesblatt spent the 2024-25 season, said, “Orca will always be remembered as one of the players who helped set the tone for our franchise in its very first season.
“His passion for the game and his infectious energy made him a fan favourite and a true teammate. But, more than that, Orca was an even better person off the ice – kind, humble, and someone everyone was grateful to know. We are devastated by this loss and our thoughts are with his family.”
Wiesblatt was slated to play for the Allen (Tex.) Americans of the ECHL (formerly called the East Coast Hockey League) for the 2025-26 season after the team signed him in August.
“We are all heartbroken,” said Steve Martinson, the Americans general manager and head coach. “Orca was really looking forward to this next step in his hockey career. He wasn’t just skilled, he was a momentum-changing hitter. I can still see his grin when he would return to the bench after one of his big hits. That is what we will miss the most, his infectious smile.”
The Americans will pay tribute to Wiesblatt during their home opener on Oct. 24.
According to Vancouver Island’s CHEK News, Wiesblatt was driving a vehicle that veered off the road in Nanaimo and struck a light pole during the early morning hours of Sept. 14. He died at the scene. A passenger was treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Wiesblatt and his brothers were the subject of a 2019 Sportsnet Home Team Heroes segment titled “The Remarkable Story of the Wiesblatt Family.” Done in English and ASL, the piece covered the determination of Wiesblatt’s mother, Kim White, to have her sons participate in sports.
In the video, Wiesblatt credits his mother for paving the way for their hockey careers. “You don’t hear of a lot of people that have five kids in their family, four of them playing high elite hockey. She sacrificed everything for us. She is a hero to us.”
Of his other brothers, Ocean Wiesblatt currently plays for the Danville Dashers of the FPHL,Oasiz Wiesblatt for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League and Ozzy Wiesblatt for the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators.
To learn more about the family and King’s fundraising effort, visit gofund.me/9000f7caf.
Sam Margolishas written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC.
Jewish agencies have filed a complaint against Sean Orr, a Vancouver city councilor who spoke earlier this month at an event they say has links to terrorism.
Orr was elected to council in a by-election last April, representing the Coalition of Progressive Electors. He spoke at the “Flood Vancouver for Palestine” rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery Oct. 4.
The protest was organized by Al-Awda Vancouver, an organization that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) says has documented links to Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Movement, which the Government of Canada last year designated as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
CIJA identified Al-Awda Vancouver as being connected with Samidoun through Samidoun’s international coordinator, Charlotte Kates, who was listed as a member of Al-Awda’s national board as recently as Nov. 6, 2024, on a webpage that has since been deleted. Both Al-Awda and Samidoun are members of the NY4Palestine Coalition, according to CIJA, which noted that Dave Diewart, a director listed on Samidoun’s corporate filings, was seen working at the Oct. 4 event.
CIJA, with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, filed a formal complaint with the City of Vancouver’s integrity commissioner, Lisa Southern, regarding Orr’s participation in the protest.
“Sean Orr is an elected official of the city of Vancouver,” Nico Slobinsky, CIJA’s vice-president, Pacific region, told the Independent. “We strongly believe that those who hold public office should hold themselves, and should be held to, a higher standard. We believe that it is inappropriate for an elected official to use their public office, to use their platform, and to give legitimacy to organizations that have links to terrorist organizations, terrorist entities.”
The complaint was filed on Oct. 9, and an acknowledgment from the integrity commissioner’s office was received. The complainants are now waiting to hear back.
Sean Orr, a Vancouver city councilor, spoke at the “Flood Vancouver for Palestine” rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery Oct. 4. (photo from vancouver.ca/your-government/sean-orr)
Orr’s speech was shared on social media. The councilor insists there is nothing controversial in his remarks.
“Being against what the UN calls of a genocide is not controversial,” he said. “Being against apartheid is not controversial. Calling for an end to illegal settlements is not controversial. Being in favour of enforcing international law is not controversial. Condemning the murder of journalists, doctors and children is not controversial. Calling for an arms embargo is not controversial. Calling for a boycott on Israeli wines is not controversial. But here we are. I think silence is controversial. I think famines are controversial. I think blockades are controversial. I think intercepting aid ships is controversial.”
Orr cited his family’s history as explaining his position.
“As someone whose parents are from the north of Ireland, I’m deeply aware of the effects of colonialism, famine, checkpoints and collective punishment,” he said in the speech. “So, while some will criticize me for speaking here today, I will remember where I’m from.”
Slobinsky said Orr’s presence at the rally sends the wrong message.
“At a time when cities in our country are seeing an unprecedented rise in antisemitism,” said Slobinsky, “and when cities like Manchester … have come face-to-face with the deadly impacts of extremism and support for terrorism, our civic leaders in Vancouver should be a model for dialogue, for inclusion and for protection and safety for all communities. I would like to remind Sean Orr that that is his duty to the residents of the city.”
Prior to and after his election on April 5, Orr was called out by Jewish organizations and others for statements on social media, including statements after the 10/7 terror attacks in Israel.
“[M]erely 23 days after Hamas’s barbaric Oct. 7 massacre in which over 1,200 Israelis were murdered, Councilor Orr falsely accused the state of Israel of committing acts of genocide while it acted to defend its citizens and sovereign territory from terrorist aggression,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and CIJA said in a joint statement three days after Orr was elected. “Such reckless and inflammatory language not only distorts reality but also endangers Jewish communities by further inflaming antisemitism and denying Israel’s right to defend itself.”
An Ontario court has handed down a 12-month prison sentence to a man who incited hate against Jews in public during a vigil last year at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto.
“We commend the Court for making clear that there is a difference between free speech and hate speech, and for demonstrating that those who target our community, or any Canadian community, will be held accountable under our country’s laws,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s director of research and advocacy.
Razaali Bahadur, 45, was convicted this past June of inciting hatred at the April 7, 2024, event. His outbursts included blood libel, such as that Jews enjoy killing children and are, as a collective, responsible for killing Jesus.
During Bahadur’s sentencing, B’nai Brith Canada delivered an impact statement reflecting the fear and anguish many Jewish Canadians have felt as antisemitism has increased in this country.
As part of its advocacy at the federal level, B’nai Brith Canada penned a formal submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, which is preparing an official report to inform the federal government’s fall budget.
In addition, B’nai Brith Canada is calling on the federal government to use the Budget Implementation Act to eliminate a loophole that temporarily allowed Samidoun, which was listed as a terrorist entity in this country in 2024, to continue operating as a nonprofit corporation.
“It is astonishing that, in Canada, an organization does not automatically lose its corporate status when it is declared a terrorist entity,” said Robertson.
In its fall budget submission, B’nai Brith recommended that the government:
• Make new investments to strengthen Canada’s resilience against violent extremism;
• Ensure that recipients of federal grants are in compliance with Canada’s anti-racism strategy: Changing Systems, Transforming Lives, 2024-2028;
• Develop a five-year plan to enhance Canadian youths’ understanding of contemporary antisemitism, as outlined in the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which Canada adopted in 2019; and
• Make mandatory the existing antisemitism training approved for federal public servants.
White Rock South Surrey Jewish Community Centre’s first-ever Fall Speaker Series, starts Oct. 29, with a talk on Jewish immigration to Canada. (image designed by Chloe Heuchert)
On Oct. 29, I will help launch White Rock South Surrey Jewish Community Centre’s first-ever Fall Speaker Series, which will also feature presenters from the Jewish Genealogical Society of British Columbia and the Jewish Museum and Arch-ives of British Columbia over the coming months.
For my presentation, I will give an introduction to the history of the Jews in Canada and some of the adversities they have had to face. I start off with the first known Jewish settlers, who came here in the 1760s, following Britain’s conquest of New France. So, Jews first came to Canada when it was under the British colonial rule. While there were no legal restrictions on them, the opportunities for integration into public life and to hold public office were limited.
One of the earliest Jewish settlers was Aaron Hart, a fur trader who lived in Trois-Rivières, Que. The Hart family was influential over generations and laid the groundwork for Canada’s first Jewish community, in Montreal, in the late 1760s.
Most formal Jewish communities – which grew into the ones we inhabit now – were established in major Canadian cities during the 19th century. Most of these Jewish Canadians would have been small business owners, farmers and traders. While small in number, they established the first synagogues and communal organizations.
During the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, a significant surge of Jewish migration from Eastern Europe occurred. Between 1880 and 1920, Canada’s Jewish population grew from a few hundred to tens of thousands. These individuals found jobs as garment workers, shopkeepers and tailors, among other things, contributing to the industrial economy. They formed organizations, published English and Yiddish newspapers, held social gatherings, etc. In the larger community, Jewish immigrants were regularly at the forefront of labour, social justice and human rights movements, in part because of their own experiences with marginalization.
While Jewish immigrants had thriving communities, they also faced adversity. Antisemitism dates back millennia, before there was even a word for it. In the context of the first Jewish settlers in Canada, Jews were often treated with suspicion and faced social exclusion. Certain professions, institutions and clubs were closed to them. Different publications and political figures depicted Jews as a threat to Canadian morality and economic stability. Restrictive measures were put in place in the 1910s and 1920s, as Jews were seen as “undesirable.” The 1923 Immigration Act severely restricted Jewish and other immigration. (Most notably, it effectively banned Chinese immigration.)
Antisemitism continued to be prevalent during the interwar years, becoming more organized and explicit. Hotels, social clubs and resorts often displayed signs barring Jews and there were several groups advocating for even more restrictive policies. The government of William Lyon Mackenzie King was antisemitic and, during the Second World War, only permitted a small percentage of Jews into Canada – the attitude of “none is too many,” in reference to Jewish immigrants, applied. Many Jewish boys and men were put into internment camps and the government imposed strict financial responsibility requirements on those wanting to sponsor others to enter the country or be freed from internment. While immigration policies began to loosen after the Holocaust, antisemitism is an ongoing challenge in Canada.
White Rock South Surrey Jewish Community Centre’s new speaker series was created to highlight and celebrate Jewish heritage and identity in Canada. Its goal is to engage the community in exploring Jewish genealogy, culture and history, while encouraging intergenerational dialogue and a personal connection to the past. Ideally, it will serve as a platform for education, reflection and preservation of Jewish life in Canada, inspiring attendees to delve into their own histories and contribute to the broader communal narrative.
To register for any of the series talks, go to wrssjcc.org.
Chloe Heuchert is an historian specializing in Canadian Jewish history. During her master’s program at Trinity Western University, she focused on Jewish internment in Quebec during the Second World War.
Building Bridges, Kolot Mayim Reform Temple’s annual six-part free lecture series, returns this year, beginning Nov. 2, 11 a.m., on Zoom. The theme for this season is Kolot Zemirot: The Many Voices of Jewish Music, exploring the role of music in shaping and sustaining Jewish identity across generations worldwide.
The series opens with Dr. Lori Şen presenting Classical Echoes in Ladino: Sephardic Songs Reimagined. Rooted in the folk melodies of Sephardi Jews and shaped by centuries of migration, Sephardi art song brings a distinctive voice to the Western classical stage. Şen explores the transformation of Ladino folk songs – an expressive Judeo-Spanish language enriched with influences from Turkish, Arabic, Greek and other cultures encountered throughout the Sephardi diaspora – into Western classical art song.
Through musical examples, historical context and stories from her research, Şen reveals a genre that not only preserves Jewish memory but also expands understanding of what Jewish classical music can be. Her presentation offers listeners a rare sound world that bridges history, culture and art.
Şen is a Turkish mezzo-soprano and Fulbright alumna known for her versatility across opera, art song, musical theatre and jazz, with an international performing and teaching career. She uniquely bridges the worlds of art and science with a background in physics coupled with vocal pedagogy and voice science. As a dual citizen of Turkey and Spain, her multicultural perspective drives her pioneering research in Sephardi art song. She is recognized as the first to catalogue Western classical settings of traditional Sephardi folk songs and to create a Ladino diction guide specifically for singers.
Currently assistant professor of vocal pedagogy at Shenandoah University and part of the voice faculty at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Şen has shared her work worldwide.
For more information about the Building Bridges series, visit kolotmayimreformtemple.com. The series is partially supported by the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island. Donations are gratefully accepted, with tax receipts for gifts over $25.
Though North American stock indexes have risen to new heights in recent months, anyone who regularly checks financial news these days is unlikely to encounter the words “calm” and “steady” indescriptions of present-day markets. Rather, financial media are inclined to employ adjectives such as “turbulent” and “rocky.” Some headlines are saying the market (or sectors within it) is in bubble territory. Meanwhile, gold, often a refuge for those looking for stability, has also climbed to all-time highs.
David Heyman, a financial adviser for Edward Jones in Victoria, said it’s hard to decide whether we are in a bubble or not. COVID, he argues, exposed the vulnerabilities of the world’s supply chains, and many governments, especially in the United States, focused on domestic industries as a means not to be dependent on suppliers in other parts of the world.
“This is inflationary and costly, but it partly explains the strength in stock markets. Trump, in particular, is determined to bring industrial production back to the US. This trend is expected to continue for many years,” Heyman said.
To avoid risk in the event of a precipitous market decline, Heyman advises those close to retirement to have portfolios heavier in bonds and GICs (guaranteed investment certificates). For those in the earlier stages of their careers, he thinks equities, in the long run, are the way to go.
“History shows you can make a lot more in the stock market than you can in the bond market, but you’ll have to be able to withstand the volatility and endure the next recession, which will come one day,” he said.
In Canada, Heyman said, high prices in the housing market and the fact that interest rates may not fall as low as hoped have put the domestic housing market under pressure. Further, unemployment in Canada is heading upwards, while tariffs are in place and a trade deal remains elusive. There is a similar situation in the United States, he added, with inflation expected to remain high.
“The impact of tariffs in Canada has not been fully felt, as the Canadian dollar has declined to compensate, but Canada is more exposed to US tariffs than most countries. Sharply lower immigration in Canada will also have a dampening effect on the economy,” Heyman said.
Shay (Shy) Keil, senior wealth advisor at ScotiaMcLeod, said many people are worried that a market correction is imminent but that each investor would be impacted differently.
“Be mindful of what you own and make sure you are not overly concentrated in any one area,” Keil said. “When you are young, you have the time to weather 10-15% declines in the stock market. When you are retired or nearing retirement, your ability to withstand a market decline is absolutely a function of how you are invested, and the reality is that many people do not know what risks are in their portfolios.
“The challenge is that, when markets are volatile, investors often shift to much lower rate GICs/bonds without considering the significant impact it will have on their monthly income,” said Keil. “We would recommend to consider investing more into blue chip investments that will potentially maintain strong income and historically may not be as impacted by market volatility.”
Keil specializes in guiding clients with tax-smart strategies and cash flow solutions. “Earning predictable and consistent income is valuable in all market and economic cycles,” he said. “Our clients sleep better knowing they can draw from this income without touching their original capital, even when markets are volatile.”
This year has been a stellar one for technology stocks. As of Oct. 16, the sector on the S&P 500 index, where many mutual funds are invested, has risen more than 19%, with some companies climbing nearly 35% year-to-date. Consumer and energy stocks have shown much more modest increases and have declined in some cases.
On the Toronto Stock Exchange, most sectors have done well in 2025, with IT and materials leading the way during the current bull market. Consumer staples, utilities and health care are often considered stocks that perform well in bear markets.
In general, bonds, while offering a lower return, tend to be more stable than stocks. GICs are investments with set rates of return that are guaranteed up to $100,000 by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).
When investing, one should understand that there is a risk of losing money. While financial institutions may present packages that draw attention to positive returns over the course of several years, they will also include words to the effect that funds are not guaranteed to go up, values fluctuate and future results may not mirror past performance.
Sam Margolishas written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC. This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or other advice.
