I am a Past-President of Jewish Vocational Services & the JVS Sheltered Workshop and was involved with the agency for over thirteen years. My first involvement came in 1987 when I was asked to join as a mentor of the Entrepreneurial Advisory Program (EAP), which led to chairing committees and being nominated to the Board of Directors, where eventually I became President. Interestingly, I was the youngest President, and only the third woman at that time in JVS’ fifty-year history. It was a different time back in the late 1990s, and I feel like I broke a bit of a glass ceiling and encouraged other women to join the board.

As part of my leadership work as President I headed a team responsible for the 50th anniversary celebration of the agency, during which we rebranded, launching new materials including brochures, logos, and the first website. We also hosted a special anniversary celebration in Ogilvy’s Tudor Hall that was very well-received. Another one of my contributions to the agency was that I took a 53-member board that existed at that time and brought it down to 32 members in the span of my presidential term. Restructuring the board and executive made for a much more effective and involved management team of Jewish volunteers, and the agency benefited greatly from it.

A personal benefit from being President was that I was nominated and accepted into the first Montreal Wexner Heritage Programme group, which took place from 1998-2000. It was a life-changing experience because it propelled me into the business that I currently run. My work and travel schedules do not permit me to do board volunteerism at this time, however when I am in town I volunteer at the YM-YWHA to help small groups of new immigrants perfect their English skills. In the future, if my travels lessen, I will be happy to rejoin a board—perhaps even Ometz! I strongly believe in “Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”—giving people the guidance, empowerment and opportunity to lead the life they desire.

One of the agency’s most important functions was that we received a large amount of government funding and grants. Employment and vocational services are a cornerstone of Jewish community life, and this is still the case for Ometz today. Whether they are less fortunate, unemployed, or newly arrived: we need all our constituents to thrive in order for the community to prosper. Mazel tov to Ometz’s continued success in these endeavours.

Above photo: During my presidency we moved the JVS Sheltered Workshop from Royden Street to its current location on Mountain Sights. I was the President during the Mezuzah Dedication Ceremony, and coincidentally, Rabbi Shoham, well known in our community, dedicated both the Royden and Mountain Sights buildings.