![\"photo](\"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/oct-10-BC.10.JCCV-president-Larry-Gontovnick.jpg\")
<\/a>Gontovnick, by far the longest-serving president of the JCCV since its founding in 1989, oversaw the raising of grant monies to renovate the centre\u2019s kitchen, revitalize the interior and exterior of the building, enhance its security system and improve its audio-visual system.<\/p>\n
The technical side of operations witnessed the redesign of the JCCV website, which now offers an online calendar and a PayPal option for donations and membership dues. A newsletter was implemented for communications with members and friends, and a payment device was installed at the centre for purchases.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am most proud of maintaining the warm, friendly and welcoming environment of the deli and centre, and maintaining this important facility for the Jewish community in Victoria,\u201d Gontovnick told the Independent<\/i> about his time running the JCCV. \u201cI am very thankful for the wonderful staff and volunteers at the centre and the board members, who have all been a great pleasure to work with.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will now turn my attention to three beautiful grandchildren and being the best zayde I can be. My wife and I will continue our travels, as well as thoroughly enjoy living in one of the most beautiful places on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n
A notable and ongoing program started under Gontovnick\u2019s leadership is the Victoria International Jewish Film Festival (VIJFF), now in its 11th year.\u00a0 <\/span>Bricks is the current director of the VIJFF.<\/p>\n \u201cI am so pleased that Deborah, a current board member and director of the VIJFF, will be standing for president at the upcoming AGM,\u201d said Gontovnick, who believes the energy and enthusiasm he brought to the centre will be furthered by his successor. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An event planner with deep roots in Jewish culture and community, Bricks has been designing and orchestrating arts and culture events \u2013 music, cinema and literature \u2013 through Deborah B Event Management, both in Toronto and, for the past 10 years, in Victoria. She holds a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Toronto in religious and cinema studies and a master\u2019s in media and communications from the New School for Social Research in New York.<\/p>\n \u201cThe JCCV president role \u2013 a combination of strategic direction, community building and operational oversight \u2013 is especially important now,\u201d Bricks said. \u201cJCCV provides a home, a makom<\/i> [place], for programs, services and events important to communities of Canadian Jews and our culture, such as the Lox, Stock & Bagel Deli, loved by community.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there are untapped directions for new, meaningful programs, services and events that build community among Jews in Victoria, seniors and families alike, and with our neighbours in Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of her community-building goals, Bricks is already engaging younger Victoria-area Jews from her own network to join the JCCV and its board, as well as older community members, who may enjoy the experience of Jewish community via the JCCV.<\/p>\n Part of her vision as president, Bricks said, is to direct a new strategic plan for the JCCV that eventually transforms it (i.e., its constitution) into a Jewish community arts and culture centre. As a formal arts organization, the centre could access more local, provincial, federal and other grants.<\/p>\n Bricks told the Independent<\/i> that she sees the JCCV \u201cserving up something Jewish-ish for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n While president, Bricks will continue as director of VIJFF, leading its planning, film curation and event strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Victoria\u2019s only Jewish cultural festival, we try to spotlight Canadian-Jewish filmmaking and filmmakers,\u201d Bricks said. \u201cThis year, we have three films by Canadians, ranging from stories about a Franco-Moroccan mother and son, about Yiddish in Sweden, and about the early Jewish immigrant experience in Montreal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Also playing will be Sabbath Queen<\/i>, which follows the story of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, the heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis who became a drag queen and the founder of Lab\/Shul, an experimental \u201cGod-optional\u201d congregation based in New York. It will be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Sandi DuBowski (via Zoom) and Victoria drag king Dublin Tendre.<\/p>\n<\/a>