JCCV President’s Year-End Message
December 25, 2024
Dear JCCV Members and Friends:
I believe that 2024, my 11th year as President, has been a good year for the Centre.
Jackie Columna, our long-time Custodian, was hired as Deli Chef in August. She also does all the shopping. Viktoriia Bushuieva was hired as Custodian in August. They are both outstanding employees and a pleasure to work with. Along with Edie Reckon, our long-time Office Manager, we have a very capable, reliable, dedicated, and friendly staff.
Latke Mania and the Chanukah Gift Shop were very successful this year.
The 10th annual Victoria International Jewish Film Festival was held in early November and was well attended. Film goers enjoyed the prescreening live music and noshes and commented that this year’s program of films was the best yet.
The Weekly Tuesday Drop-in Mahj, Monthly Thursday Book Club, and Monthly Jewish Conversation Café continued through the year. The Walking Group concluded at the end of May when Leader Juliet Simon retired.
The JCCV website, including the Volunteer Recognition and Tribute Ecard Donation pages, were kept up-to-date. The JCCV online calendar was kept up-to-date and the Centre communicated frequently with over 500 members and friends via MailChimp.
Two Stuart Nemtin performances (“Fiddling with the Stories of My Life, Confessions of a Clown”) in June and July were sold out with about 100 attendees at each and they generated some revenues for the Centre.
We hosted an important Vancouver Island-wide webinar on Hereditary Cancer Risk in the Jewish Community (“Get Wise to Your Genes”) in September.
Several editions of the “Spotlight on Canadian Jewish Culture” authored by JCCV member Jennie Preuss were sent out to the MailChimp list.
Please note that the number of events and programs we can offer at the Centre is dependent on available and interested volunteer coordinators.
Thank you to all our wonderful JCCV volunteers:
Librarian- Leah Freedman
VIJFF Committee- Director Deborah Bricks, Will Banks, Yaron Finzi, Rachel Levee, Mel Macara, April Nowell, Jan Nolan and Yaara Nouri
Gift Shop Coordinator- Nanci Secter
Gift Shop Volunteers- Sandra Glass, Phyllis Arron and Ricki Buckwold
Book Club Coordinators- Cyril Kesten and Leah Freedman
Walking Group Leader- Juliet Simon
Jewish Conversation Café and Spotlight Author- Jennie Preuss
Deli Volunteers- Rose Carr, Karen Savell, Yaaqov Ittah, Nanci Secter, Janis Silver, Willie Markson, Ricki Buckwold, Barbara Humphreys, Ralph Neuman, Billy Kettner and Brenda Firestone
Front Desk Volunteers- Andrea Fill, Sandie Bornstein, Irv Brody, Tim Humphreys, Pam Chang and Mel Macara
Office Volunteers- Edie Reckon and Tim Humphreys
I would like to thank my fellow board directors who provided wise counsel and were a pleasure to work with over this past year.
At the December 19th, 2024 AGM, the following officers and directors were elected to the board for 2025:
Larry Gontovnick, President
Rose Carr, Vice President
Tim Humphreys, Treasurer
Deborah Bricks, Secretary
Irv Brody, Director
Cyril Kesten, Director
Martin Kogan, Director
Mel Macara, Director
Karen Savell, Director
Janis Silver, Director
We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful and dedicated group of volunteers. We could not run the Centre without them and they are greatly appreciated.
I would like to thank Juliet Simon who stepped down this year after coordinating and leading the JCCV Walking Group for the past 10 years. Thank you Juliet!!
And a special thanks to Rose Carr who looks after all aspects of the deli operation.
The JCCV continues to be an important gathering place for Jewish life in Victoria and home to several Jewish organizations and groups:
Jewish Federation uses the JCCV for meetings and events.
Jewish Federation’s PJ Library Toddler Time is held at the JCCV.
Kolot Mayim hold their services, meetings and classes at the JCCV.
Jewish Family Services uses the JCCV for meetings and the parking lot for their spring, summer and fall Green Market.
Bema Productions hold all their auditions and rehearsals at the JCCV.
Victoria Hadassah-WIZO hold events and meetings at the JCCV.
The JCCV is a place in Victoria where any and all Jews can come together to celebrate and enjoy their Jewish heritage whatever their affiliation or level of religious observance.
The Centre is now closed and will re-open in the new year on Tuesday, January 7th.
Thank you members for your support!! I look forward to another good year for the Centre in 2025 and to your continued support.
For a variety of personal reasons, 2025 will be my last year as JCCV President.
Best wishes to you and your family for a Happy Hanukkah and a Happy and Healthy 2025.
Larry Gontovnick, President
JCC Victoria 