Centre for Community Action

The B’nai Brith Centre for Community Action (formerly Department of Field Services) is responsible for the membership which forms a network of lodges across the country. Through this network, the department co-sponsors a wide variety of activities with many social agencies and community groups.

B’nai Brith offices in Toronto, Montreal, Peel, Hamilton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary are professionally operated and ensure that the ideals, policies and programs of B’nai Brith Canada are realized.

• Glassman Senior Outreach Centre – One-Year Anniversary
  
  
• Green collection bins for the B’nai Brith Canada Used Clothing Program are visible at over 45 sites in the GTA. Donated clothing is sorted and less worn items are given to projects such as Out of The Cold, Zareinu Educational Centre, Eva’s Place, Metropolitan United Church, Yellow Brick Shelter.
  
  
• The 5,000 plus Holiday Baskets delivered by B’nai Brith volunteers and their families broke records last year. Volunteers in Montreal, Toronto, London, Calgary and Ottawa made the holidays a special time for seniors and those in the community who are housebound.


• Working with numerous social service agencies such as Reena, Kadimah,  Big Brothers and Sisters, JFCS, young and old enjoy an evening at the Rogers Stadium as they watch the Toronto Blue Jay in action. This annual event enables those who would otherwise never get to see a ballgame to do so.


• Reach out to a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan by sending a holiday gift. To learn more click here. This program entitled Operation Thank You, has been undertaken since 2006.

• Members from Montreal entertained patients at St. Justine’s Hospital by bringing players from the Canadien Hockey Team. In addition to this, lodge members visit and entertain residents in senior citizens homes.
  
  
• Working with Jewish Family and Child Service, B’nai Brith Canada participates in Chanukah, Purim and Pesach programmes.
  
  
• Seniors in B’nai Brith’s four affordable housing buildings enjoy numerous events celebrating religious holidays and special event days.
  
  
• Regular educational lectures covering a wide range of subjects enable seniors to learn and socialize together.
  
  
• B'nai Brith House In Montreal enables seniors to live a high quality calibre of life.
  
  
• B’nai Brith was fortunate to obtain additional funds from the Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which will ensure social and educational programs for our residents, of which a large percentage are Holocaust Survivors.
  
  
• B’nai Brith will shortly be breaking ground for an Alzheimer’s home in Toronto located at 1 Kenton. The emphasis would be on a homelike atmosphere for 43 residents.

Past Highlights

Heart to Heart was an initiative of B’nai Brith Canada in partnership with individuals and families across Canada who were committed to strengthening and supporting our brothers and sisters in Israel. Aimed at establishing long lasting relationships with Israelis who have been victims of terror, who have lost loved ones, and who live in isolated communities, Heart to Heart facilitated correspondence by letter, by phone, by email or otherwise between Jewish families and individuals in Canada and their counterparts in Israel.This program included schools and classrooms, and involved Canadian Jews of all ages, abilities, and perspectives. What we have in common is more than a shared faith; it is a shared responsibility for one another, and a shared love for our land. Heart to Heart is the embodiment of that responsibility and love.

Become a part of it. Contact us today.

B’nai Brith’s philosophy is embodied by our community Volunteer Services which form the pillars of B’nai Brith Canada. Members are committed to supporting the aged, the physically and emotionally challenged and others in need through social programming. Whether it’s delivering Holiday Baskets to isolated seniors, visiting patients in hospitals to light Shabbat candles, or partnering with other community organizations to offer vital services, B’nai Brith Canada is "People Helping People".

Highlights

• Teal blue collection bins for the B’nai Brith Canada Used Clothing Program can be found at over 45 sites in the GTA. Donated clothing is sorted and less worn items are given to projects such as "Out of The Cold" and relief operations throughout the world.
  
  
• The number of Holiday Baskets delivered in 2002 broke all records. Volunteers in Calgary, Montreal, London, Ottawa and Toronto made the holidays a special time for seniors and those in the community who are housebound. It is a mitzvah many members pass on to their children and grandchildren who join them for the delivery.

As an outgrowth of our ongoing historic commitment to serve the needs of the community, B’nai Brith Canada established an Affordable Housing Program in 1979. Its mission is to provide and maintain affordable, attractive, secure, and welcoming housing to low to moderate income residents. These residents now enjoy a decent home in a friendly community free from discrimination.

In Metropolitan Toronto, the B’nai Brith Canada Family Housing Program has provided and currently operates two senior citizens housing complexes on Bathurst Street, facing Earl Bales Park as well as a third project for seniors and families.

Each of these projects is an independent corporation, with its own Board of Directors, Committees and professional staff. At the same time, each project has access to and is able to benefit from the experience and services of the larger framework and resources of B’nai Brith Canada.

4226 Bathurst Street, North York
Comprised of 130 one and two bedroom air-conditioned units, this facility was the first building sponsored by B’nai Brith Canada Upper Canada Lodge.

4300 Bathurst Street, North York
This 164-unit one and two bedroom air-conditioned apartment building is directly north of our first building.

15 Torresdale Avenue, North York
This 61-unit seniors and family residence is B’nai Brith Canada’s first fully integrated facility providing housing for all segments of the community.

B’nai Brith House, 8000 Cote St. Luc Road
This 95 one and two bedroom residence is located in a much sought after area of Montreal at the corner of Cote St. Luc Road and Westminster. A hot, nutritious, kosher, well-balanced and affordable lunch meal is provided daily to the residents.

Through a combination of our lodges’ volunteer service program and the resident social committee, various events take place on a regular basis: summer picnics and barbecues, evenings with guest speakers, weekly bingo nights, weekly exercise programs, movie nights, card games, holiday celebrations, and religious services on Shabbat and all holidays.

Regular monthly Regional Coordinating Committee meetings take place to update and keep the lodge executives up-to-date on various decisions and policies adopted by the National Executive. This forum also affords the lodge executive the opportunity to interact with other lodge executive members regarding all aspects of B’nai Brith.