{"id":49881,"date":"2026-09-25T00:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T07:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=49881"},"modified":"2026-09-28T07:53:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T14:53:09","slug":"jwest-construction-to-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2026\/09\/25\/jwest-construction-to-begin\/","title":{"rendered":"JWest construction to begin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A violinist played tunes from Fiddler on the Roof<\/em>, as dignitaries and community members joined the JWest groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 14, amid tight security. A mound of soil in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver parking lot symbolized the start of construction of the new JWest campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat a way to start 5787!\u201d exclaimed David Porte, chair of JWest Corp. \u201cIn the coming months, this will become a construction site for a six-storey community centre with expanded child care, a rooftop play area, senior services, an eight-lane swimming pool, two gymnasiums, a theatre, art gallery and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. It will be a jewel in the neighbourhood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"photo
David Porte, JWest Corp chair, addresses those gathered. (photo from JWest)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Porte introduced the speakers at the ceremony, many of whom spoke affectionately about what the JCC meant to them. Wendy Cocchia, lieutenant governor of British Columbia, described JWest as an \u201cextraordinary legacy. At a time when antisemitism and hatred remain painfully present, this work could not be more important,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very grateful that JWest has put meaningful inclusion at the heart of this project,\u201d she added. \u201cOne of the greatest gifts is that our future generations will truly feel they are welcome and meaningfully included. What you will be doing here is remarkable, and it\u2019s the gold standard for the future in BC.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taleeb Noormohamed, member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, said that, while the dignitaries present represented different political parties, \u201cas parliamentarians, we\u2019re all united in our support of JWest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"photo
Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver staff at the Sept. 14 JWest groundbreaking. (photo from JWest)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis project is what happens when we bring the best of ourselves forward,\u201d he said. \u201cJWest represents the future where our kids can play together and where we can live side by side. This is a moment of hope and excitement when things feel difficult in the world, a moment of deepening roots. And the roots you\u2019re putting down today are not just for yourselves \u2013 you\u2019re growing the trees that will give shade to every community that sets foot here for years to come. It\u2019s a gift from your community to this city, province and country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"photo
Dr. Seth Goldsweig, head of King David High School, speaks at the ceremony. (photo from JWest)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Jewish community of Vancouver belongs here,\u201d he concluded. \u201cThis is your home \u2013 and, as elected officials, we\u2019ll make certain you will always feel safe here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim recalled how he visited the JCC when he was a child in grades 2 and 3. \u201cI still remember the generosity of spirit of the Jewish community \u2013 it\u2019s played a big role in my life,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat you\u2019re doing here has a massive impact and, by supporting this, you\u2019re planting seeds of understanding, compassion and caring to the broader community for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of Jewish Federation of British Columbia, became emotional when he took to the podium. \u201cThis is not really a parking lot, it\u2019s a promise our community made to ourselves and, today, we start keeping it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen times are hard, our community doesn\u2019t shrink, it builds \u2013 with partners who believe in a stronger community for everyone,\u201d he continued. \u201cTo my sons, your abba is doing this for you. At a time when you had to walk past police to go to school, I\u2019m doing this for you, because I know you will do this for the next generation, when it comes your time to lead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"photo
Sarah Kleiner and Abby Strauber sound the shofar. (photo from JWest)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jill Diamond spoke of how the JCC has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. \u201cOur parents sent us to day camp here. I learned to swim here, and I brought my own children here,\u201d she said. \u201cToday, my parents\u2019 seven great-grandchildren come to the JCC. So, when I say it\u2019s a special place for our family, I really mean it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur parents and grandparents taught us we have a responsibility to make our community stronger for those that come ahead, and that belief is at the heart of JWest,\u201d she said. \u201cThis will be more than a new JCC \u2013 it will create a true community campus, serving people through every stage of life. For our family, helping write the next chapter in the JCC story is an incredible source of pride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the community has raised more than $150 million towards JWest, approximately $12 million is still needed, noted Porte. \u201cIt will take a good \u2018tush push\u2019 to get this across the line,\u201d he quipped, urging more donors to commit funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on the project, visit jwestnow.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lauren Kramer<\/strong>, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A violinist played tunes from Fiddler on the Roof, as dignitaries and community members joined the JWest groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 14, amid tight security. A mound of soil in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver parking lot symbolized the start of construction of the new JWest campus. \u201cWhat a way to start 5787!\u201d exclaimed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":49882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[23076,7335,22283,42,1182,21863,1559,1047],"class_list":["post-49881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","tag-david-porte","tag-development","tag-diamond-family","tag-jcc","tag-jewish-community-centre-of-greater-vancouver","tag-jwest","tag-kdhs","tag-king-david-high-school"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49881"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49891,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49881\/revisions\/49891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}