High Level Appointments in Ottawa

Toronto, January 30, 2003

For Immediate Release

Toronto, January 30, 2003 — Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President of B’nai Brith Canada, is pleased to announce that the organization is heightening its profile in Ottawa in response to the increasing challenges faced by the Canadian Jewish community. The following high level appointments have therefore been made in Ottawa, effective February 3, 2003. Lawrence David Lederman, former Canadian Ambassador to Chile and former Chief of Protocol for Canada, will assume the post of Director of Government Relations, while political and media consultant Joseph Ben-Ami will serve as Director of Communications.

Lawrence Lederman brings to his position a distinguished career of over 32 years in the Canadian Foreign Service. He represented Canada in Embassies and Consulates General in Europe, South America and the United States of America, as well as holding several posts within the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. His most recent assignments included Ambassador of Canada in Chile (1997/2000), Chief of Protocol for Canada (1993/1997) and Consul General of Canada in Cleveland, Ohio (1987/1992). In 1992, he was Canada’s representative on the Monitor Mission to the former Macedonia of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, for which he received the Canadian Peacekeeping Medal.

Joseph Ben-Ami is a management and communications consultant, lecturer and political analyst. Most recently, Mr. Ben-Ami was a consultant to the Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament and was Director of Operations for Stockwell Day’s 2002 leadership campaign. Prior to this position Ben-Ami worked as a consultant analyzing government policy and training grassroots activists. Ben-Ami has also served as a Training Consultant/Lecturer for the Department of National Defense.

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Lawrence Lederman can be reached at: Cell # 613-746-6273
Joseph Ben-Ami can be reached at: Cell # 613-294-7313

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.