The 2017 Federation Annual Campaign surpassed its goal and generated $8.7 million to meet community needs, including $850,000 in targeted funding. As our Jewish community’s primary fundraising initiative, the Federation Annual Campaign supports vital programs and services delivered by 35 partners locally and globally.

It was a record year at the Jewish Community Foundation, our endowment program. The Foundation realized unprecedented asset growth, including a record $8.8 million in contributions, bringing the overall assets under management to $60 million.

Many steadfast supporters of the Annual Campaign have the capacity and motivation to fund special projects that meet high-priority needs in our local community and in our partnership region in Israel.

Increasing access to both day school and supplementary (part-time) Jewish education options continues to be a significant priority. Day school affordability, identified by the Jewish Education Task Force as a significant issue, dominated our conversation about day school education this past year.

We have also been actively working to implement a variety of new approaches to attract families that are not currently connected to any existing part-time Jewish education options. Our work has greatly benefited from special project support that is enabling us to identify and pilot some specific initiatives...

Jewish Federation created and hired for the new position of director of security, marking our organization’s single most important investment to date in the ongoing safety of our community and its institutions.

Jewish Federation worked closely with donors to generate $380,000 in special project funding to provide support for local programs and services above and beyond the Annual Campaign allocations that our partners receive.

- Security Grants
- Community Engagement Grants
- Inspiring Inclusion Grants
- Connect Me In Community Engagement Grants
- Supplementary School Innovation Grants

Jewish Federation is the central planning organization for the local Jewish community. Our Planning Council has restructured to facilitate greater engagement in the community planning process under the new title of the Planning and Community Engagement Council.

With the introduction of the Connect Me In Community Engagement micro-grants we are providing financial assistance to community members who want to pilot a new program or activity to address community needs.

Our Connect Me In initiative is playing an increasingly important role in the regional communities, delivering over 36 programs and events over the past year.

One unique component of our regional communities programs has been the involvement of the Shinshinim, teen emissaries from Israel who spend a year volunteering in our community to help children form meaningful connections to Israel.

A joint initiative of Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Services, formation of the task force was an outcome of the 2017 Affordability Summit.

PJ Library offers free, high-quality, age-appropriate Jewish children’s books and music to families on a monthly basis.

An initiative of Jewish Federation, Axis empowers young adults to build a community that reflects their passions and interests. Axis welcomes the participation of people of all abilities, backgrounds and sexual orientations; encourages meaningful participation; and creates a special sense of belonging.

In June, Axis hosted a Shabbat Diner en Blanc for 90 people at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens that provided opportunities for meaningful conversations and to welcome Shabbat together.

The Dr. Dre-idel '90s Throwback Annual Hannukah Party was a huge hit, with over 250 young adults coming together to celebrate Hanukkah.

For those looking for a new way to connect, there’s now the Axis Novel Brunch Book Club, which has sparked new ways to find common ground and build friendships while sharing different perspectives.

Masa, Birthright Israel and Axis staff launched a new initiative for Birthright Israel participants To harness their enthusiasm upon their return. Participants took part in a one-on-one meeting during which they were introduced to Masa and Axis and were guided through the various ways in which they can become more involved in the local Jewish community.

Already a successful youth centre that engages 65% of Kiryat Shmona’s young people, Beit Vancouver has evolved beyond being a physical building into a growing network of communities sharing services.

Developing new young leaders in our partnership region of the Upper Galilee Panhandle is a strategic focus of our Israel and Overseas Affairs Committee.

Youth Futures helps children, youth and families living in Israel’s socio-economic periphery by providing three to five years of essential services that address multiple challenges, including learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, poverty, and familial instability.

Gesher Chai (Living Bridge) programs promote global Jewish identity and unity through people-to-people connections between Canadians and residents of the Galilee Panhandle.

Through Gesher Chai and our Israel scholarships program we continued to support the King David High School grade eight trip to Israel, during which students spend time in our partnership region of the Upper Galilee Panhandle.