Local News
The Jewish National Fund is taking the federal government to court after its charitable status is revoked
By JONATHAN ROTHMAN (Canadian Jewish News) The Jewish National Fund of Canada is taking the federal minister of national revenue to court over Canada Revenue Agency’s decision to revoke its status as a charitable organization.
The federal tax agency’s review of JNF’s funding activities followed reports that it was funding projects in Israel related to the military, which would violate Canada’s rules for charitable organizations.
JNF’s court filing says it will contest CRA’s “wrong and unjustified decision to revoke our charitable status,” according to a letter from JNF’s board president Nathan Disenhouse and CEO Lance Davis posted online July 25.
The organization says that while the matter is before the courts, JNF’s charitable work will continue, “including collecting donations and issuing charitable receipts.”
The CJN made multiple requests for an interview to JNF, including to Davis specifically. While JNF did not grant an interview, the organization provided an emailed response to The CJN’s questions about the matter.
“The CRA has only signaled its intention to revoke, and its policy is to revoke only after the charity’s avenues of appeal are exhausted. So, it is the status quo until there is a court ruling. In the interim, we remain open to working with the CRA on alternate courses of action,” JNF told The CJN.
In its federal court appeal notice, JNF also posits there is a “reasonable apprehension of bias in the decision,” saying Canada’s revenue minister “was under great public pressure to revoke [JNF’s] registered charity status.”
JNF maintains the core issue for the revocation remains “the CRA’s assertion that our original founding charitable object that it accepted almost 60 years ago is now no longer considered to be a charitable object.”
Media reports about JNF’s struggles with the CRA since the July 24 court filing have inaccurately referenced past projects, conflating two different matters, Disenhouse and Davis wrote in an email to Canadian supporters on July 30. JNF sought to “clear up a misconception” it said had been “advanced in numerous articles recently published about JNF Canada,” they wrote in the July 30 email.
“The articles conflated the matter of JNF’s community projects on IDF bases and our recent notice of confirmation to revoke our charitable status. In the June 26, 2024 correspondence from CRA, there was not one mention of the projects on IDF property.”
Some of the previous projects, critics of JNF alleged over the past decade or so, had taken place on land that crossed into the West Bank, or involved infrastructure supporting the military, like building playgrounds on a military base. (One of its fiercest critics, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), a Canadian Jewish group which supports the boycott and sanctions movement against Israel, has been involved for more than a decade in the attempt to have CRA revoke JNF’s charitable status.)
“The fundamental issue was with respect to our charitable purpose. It was very unfortunate that certain journalists shared content from articles about JNF Canada from many years ago that was not referenced in CRA’s recent correspondence,” Disenhouse and Davis wrote to supporters.
In the late 1960s, the minister of national revenue approved the organization’s purposes and activities, and so “we did not know that there was an issue with our purposes or activities because previous CRA audits did not reveal an issue,” JNF wrote to The CJN in a response to emailed questions.
The organization has been audited five times by the CRA since it began in the 1960s, with the most recent audit in 2014. As a result of that audit, which was based on work done in 2011 and 2012, JNF learned in 2019 that the CRA intended to revoke its charitable status.
JNF said that since the original notice of intent to revoke was issued in 2019, the CRA has been unwilling to meet in person with them.
JNF points out that, according to CRA’s website, they revoked three to five percent of charities audited, “and a large number of them are for failing to file their annual documentation with the CRA. It is evident, based on the statistics, that it is only in rare occurrences is a charity revoked.”
JNF’s email went on to explain that CRA had refused to pursue options other than revocation of its charitable status.
“There are a number of options available to the CRA aside from revocation and we do not understand why they would pursue the most punitive course of action,” JNF wrote.
JNF said CRA had not taken the steps that are outlined on its website, including “exploring compliance measures such as education letters, compliance agreements and sanctions before revoking an organization’s charitable status.”
“The CRA not only skipped steps one to three, it also refused to entertain our suggestions of new objects for our charity or to discuss a compliance agreement,” wrote JNF in the email, adding that CRA representatives “refused to sit down with us at any point in the 10 years of this audit, except for one meeting a few months ago when two representatives of the appeals division granted us an hour and arrived at the meeting with no agenda and no questions for us.”
Bias in the audit, JNF claims
JNF said its appeal filing argues that “there is a reasonable apprehension of bias in the audit.”
An access to information request made it evident “that there was a campaign of anti-Israel organizations, unions, political parties, etc. calling upon the CRA to revoke JNF’s charitable status.
“We have written to the CRA with our concerns that this content may have biased the audit process. CRA replied in writing that there was no bias in the audit.
“This evidence of bias comes from the CRA’s own records, which show that the public pressure on the CRA and the minister to revoke JNF’s status was an important consideration within the chain of authority at the Charities Directorate,” the charity told The CJN.
JNF clarified its position regarding potential CRA bias.
“To be clear, we are not suggesting the CRA is antisemitic,” JNF wrote.
“As a Zionist-inspired organization, however, JNF Canada has many vociferous antisemitic detractors who we believe have influenced the decision-making process in this matter. “
The work done by JNF
Established in 1967, JNF, one of Canada’s oldest Jewish charities, is known for its tree-planting and environmental work in Israel, along with building playgrounds for children. Its more recent projects include JNF Quebec division’s Climate Solutions Prize, which encourages the development of innovative technology addressing climate change by nonprofit institutions and early-stage companies.
However, some of JNF’s projects, which its critics allege support the Israeli military or are on land in the West Bank, have made it the focus of scrutiny by Canadian critics of Israel. Adding to that scrutiny, former prime minister Stephen Harper—criticized by some for his pro-Israel stance–was a visible JNF supporter during his years in office, and JNF named the visitor centre at its Hula Valley bird sanctuary in Israel which opened in 2006 for Harper,
In its email to The CJN, the charity says that it has “systematically and comprehensively addressed” the issues raised in CRA’s 2014 audit.
“Although we do not concede that building parks and playgrounds on IDF land is a violation of charity law, we are no longer are involved with projects on IDF land or any projects that may in any roundabout way benefit the IDF.
“While JNF Canada disagrees that it is contrary to Canadian foreign policy to develop projects on disputed territory (there are dozens of Canadian charities that operate in the disputed territories with CRA’s blessing), we have not supported new projects in the disputed territories since this matter was brought to our attention.”
JNF said that it has an Israeli lawyer review issues of land ownership before undertaking a project “so that we can be certain that we are not doing anything in violation of CRA policies,” and that it had hired a new chief financial officer “who has worked closely with our legal counsel to enhance our record keeping.”
On its website, JNF says its mission currently is “focusing our efforts on the greatest needs in social and environmental infrastructure.”
“We will continue to raise funds in support of building Israel’s charitable social infrastructure to the benefit of vulnerable populations such as youth-at-risk, victims of domestic abuse, children with special needs, veterans and the disadvantaged” while the court appeal proceeds, JNF wrote.
“JNF Canada’s projects benefit all residents of Israel regardless of their religion, ethnicity, creed, [or] orientation.”
Years of anti-Zionist activism led to this moment
The current legal challenge follows years of scrutiny from opponents of the organization, including but not limited to IJV.
IJV’s national coordinator, Corey Balsam, who trumpeted the victory on social media, said the decision came after years of the group’s work on this file, though he noted JNF’s court appeal notice.
“Can’t believe it happened! IJV started working on this 15 years ago, building on decades of work by Ismail Zayid and others,” posted Balsam, referring to one of the four individuals IJV had helped to organize the campaign to have JNF’s charitable status probed and removed over JNF’s Canada Park project.
In 2017, IJV filed a complaint against JNF with federal authorities, alleging that the charity’s activities contravened the Income Tax Act, international law and CRA guidelines.
Then, in a highly critical CBC News article in January 2019, reporter Evan Dyer wrote that JNF had been the subject of the CRA audit over a complaint that it used charitable donations to build infrastructure for the Israel Defense Forces “in violation of Canada’s tax rules.” (JNF maintains that its last CRA audit was in 2014, though conflicting reports reference an audit in 2018. The notice of intent to revoke JNF’s status by CRA is dated August 20, 2019.)
JNF pushed back on the allegations that JNF Canada and its Israeli parent organization, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF), were supporting projects at several military bases, including outdoor fitness areas, developing a new training base, upgrading an existing auditorium for solider intake and new mess hall facilities at two air force bases.
JNF Canada says it stopped funding those projects in 2016 following CRA guidance and told Dyer for that report that JNF operates within CRA rules concerning the organization’s charitable status.
JNF’s CEO, Lance Davis, said at the time the projects were carried out on land owned by the IDF, but that JNF Canada’s charitable funds never flowed to the IDF.
Davis told The CJN in 2019 that with regards to projects “in disputed territory,” JNF is committed to continuing to work with the CRA “to ensure we are in full compliance,” and referred to a 2015 opinion piece in The CJN written by Alan Baker, Israel’s former ambassador to Canada, which argued that the land on which Canada Park sits was “never part of any Palestinian state or entity.”
In 2021, JNF Canada announced it had distanced itself from KKL-JNF which is “an Israeli public benefit corporation.”
“KKL serves as an agent to JNF Canada on a number of our charitable projects. This means that KKL works for JNF Canada in realizing projects that our board selects and agrees to fund. There is a long history between our organizations and we proudly collaborate with KKL on a variety of projects that advance Zionist education and enhancing the environment as well as the quality of life for the people of Israel,” JNF wrote in its email to The CJN.
“There was confusion with respect to the relationship between the two organizations so we rebranded to clarify that we are an independent Canadian charity.”
What the CRA has to say
A spokesperson for CRA declined The CJN’s request for an in-person interview, instead offering written responses to questions.
Addressing JNF’s allegations of anti-Israel sentiment within the CRA’s ranks influencing the charitable status revocation decision, CRA spokesperson Nina Ioussoupova told The CJN via email that the agency is “committed to administering acts for which it is responsible in a fair and impartial manner.”
“The CRA assesses all concerns about registered charities against a clear regulatory and risk framework designed to prevent bias in our decision-making process,” she wrote.
“Additionally, the CRA has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the tax system and the charitable sector and fulfills this responsibility through a balanced program of education, client service, and responsible enforcement, including audits.”
Citing confidentiality provisions under the laws it administers, CRA declined to comment on specific details of court cases.
The website Charity Intelligence Canada currently lists JNF Canada at a one-star rated charity. “JNF Canada is not financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are not posted on its website nor provided when requested,” the website reported.
Its last audited financial statements in 2022, show that JNF received $13.2 million in donations and spent $6.2 million on programs and grants, according to the Charity Intelligence page. JNF Canada’s reserve funds are $30.8 million, the website reports.
“JNF Canada works in Israel and Canada. Its programs in Israel focus on funding social and environmental infrastructure, while its Canadian projects focus on outreach and education in Jewish communities,” the Charity Intelligence page reads.
The website lists the charity’s five core programs as Builders Circle, Climate Solutions Prize, JNF Education, JNF Families, and JNF Future, but notes that JNF “does not provide a breakdown of spending by program.”
As of July 26, Charity Intelligence Canada has updated its JNF page with the following information:
“After nearly [five] years of review and exchanges with JNF Canada, the CRA Charities Directorate announced its decision to revoke its charity status. This would mean that support for JNF Canada no longer receives donation tax receipts. JNF Canada is appealing this decision claiming that the CRA Charities Directorate’s decision is wrong and unjustified.”
Local News
Gustavo Zentner talks about his role as CIJA Vice-President for Manitoba and Saskatchewan
By BERNIE BELLAN Gustavo Zentner has played many roles since arriving in Winnipeg from his native Argentina in the early 1990s.
In a May 2022 article written for The Jewish Post & News by Myron Love, Myron wrote this about Zentner, who had just become President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg at the time:
“The new president of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg – who originally hails from the city of Corrientes in northeastern Argentina – notes that his great-grandfather –among the earliest Jewish immigrants to the city, was one of the founding members of the organized Jewish community and its cemetery – and his mother was the first (and thus far still the only) female to lead the community.
“ ‘My earliest memories are of my mother always chairing meetings of the Federation,’ he recalls.
Thus, it is no surprise that Zentner threw himself into volunteering with the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg very soon after he arrived in our community – among the wave of Jews from Argentina who immigrated here 20-25 years ago.
“ ‘I was delighted to come to Winnipeg,’ the new Federation president says. ‘I found a warm and welcoming community and was happy to contribute in any way I could.’ Zentner adds, ‘This is a wonderful community and I believe that everyone counts, every person has a story to tell and something to contribute, let’s make sure everyone is part of the conversation’.
“As a board member, Zentner has, over the past 15 years, chaired first the Human Resources Committee – followed by the Community Planning, Allocations Committee, and most recently served as Treasurer, chairing the Finance and Audit Committees. He has volunteered with many other organizations; no doubt that experience will serve him well as he builds bridges throughout the community.
“In his business career Zentner is the president of InterPOC (International Point of Commerce), an international business consultant, and Honorary Consul of Brazil in Manitoba. Zentner places a lot of emphasis on consultation and planning.”
It was during his term as President of the Federation, in the immediate aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, that Zentner played a pivotal role in rallying, not only members of the Jewish community, but members of the larger Winnipeg community, in support of Israel.
Zentner chaired three large rallies that year – the first at the Asper Campus in October , when over 2,000 individuals crowded outdoors on the campus lawn , followed by another large rally at the Manitoba Legislature, and finally a rally in the Rady JCC gym in memory of the late Vivian Silver.
Each time Zentner touched just the right chord, demonstrating an eloquence along wth a sincere passion for Israel and the Jewish community here. In 2024 Zentner developed strong lines of communication with various levels of government to bring awareness of the heightened antisemitism that had sprung up everywhere in the wake of the October 7 attack. Zentner was especially successful in forming a strong bond with then-Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth, along with other members of the WPS, in an effort to respond to and, where possible, prevent antisemitic attacks in the city.
Thus, it was no surprise that, not too long after Zentner’s completion of his term as Federation President, he moved into a new position, this time as the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Vice-President for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
This past September 25th, Zentner spoke at the Remis Forum Luncheon, where he told the audience about his role with CIJA.
Zentner began by describing his own firsthand experience witnessing terrorism as a young Argentinean Jew during the 1990s: “I was there when there were two terrorist attacks – in March 17, 1992 and July 18, 1994. That forged my Jewish identity and my commitment to becoming more visible in terms of leadership in the Jewish community, while building a business or working for others or working for government.”
While Zentner spent a great deal of time during his talk focusing on the need for Winnipeg Jews to support Israel and especially to engage the younger generations in supporting Israel, he also took time to explain just what it is that CIJA does and what his particular role is in that organization.
“Our main business is Canadian Jewish advocacy,” he said. “CIJA is the advocacy agent of Jewish federations across the country.”
The head office of CIJA is located in Toronto, Zentner noted.. The president and CEO of CIJA, Noah Shack, took over from his longtime predecessor, Shimon Koffler Fogel, in June this year. In addition to the Winnipeg office, CIJA also has staff in Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.
“Our core objective today is to combat antisemitism across Canada,” Zentner stated. But, in addition to that role, CIJA also consults with other Jewish communities around the world in a group Zentner described as the “J7” (similar to the G7 group of countries that discusses economic issues).
“Canada’s is one of the seven largest Jewish communities in the world,” he noted. (In order, the world’s seven largest Jewish communities are in: Israel, the US, France, Canada, the United KIngdom, Russia, and Argentina.)
As Zentner explained, “So, when we know that the Prime Minister in Australia or the Prime Minister of Great Britain is thinking of something, and our counterparts in those countries are considering what the reaction will be, we are (engaging) in a lot of discussion so we can anticipate and respond, (not only to) support another Jewish community in another country, but also (to) understand what may be the implications of such policies here.”
In addition, Zentner noted, CIJA is also the representative organization which handles compensation for Holocaust survivors through the Claims Conference.
When it comes to combatting antisemitism, however, Zentner stressed that his “background in economic diplomacy” has been instrumental in affecting how he “engages with governments.”
As CIJA’s representative here, Zentner said that his approach to dealing with various levels of government “is different than many other Jewish organizations. And I can guarantee you it’s mostly different than what most Jews in Winnipeg expect of me because I used to speak in a different way. Today I have to go to meetings with the chief of police or the chairman of the Winnipeg police board, and around the table there are many other minority groups. And while they each focus on their own activities, sometimes what people say is not reflecting on reality. So that’s a very diplomatic way of saying, ‘What are you talking about?… My community, the Jewish community has been intimidated since last Yom Kippur (2023).”
Zentner added that he has been very direct in telling various levels of government, especially the police “to take action” to combat antisemitism.
“To do that, we consult with and engage with law enforcement on an ongoing basis,” he said. And, when it comes to defending Jewish members of the community, Zentner emphasized that we should be looking to the police to do that job – not to members of our own community: “We look to law enforcement to do that for us,” he stressed.
But, by asking governments to be proactive in defending members of the Jewish community, Zentner explained, ..We’re not telling “civil society government to defend the Jews,” he said. “No, we’re saying ‘defend Canadian values’.”
A second objective for him though, Zentner suggested, is to revitalize “partnerships” with Israel so that governments can have “positive, healthy relationships with Israel…In my organization, and in my job, I am in charge of ensuring that we have viable, credible, open lines of meaningful engagement and communication with levels of government. And that is not easy.”
A “third component” of his role as CIJA representative, he said, is “community mobilization,” educating members of the Jewish community “on the importance of all of us remaining not only vigilant, but active.”
“Moving on,” Zentner said, he wanted to talk about CIJA’s “advocacy” work – “advocating for Jewish life, protecting synagogues, our community centres, and our schools – changing the course of policy…” through such measures as “Bill C9,” the Federal Government’s recently passed law banning “hate crimes” as defined in the statute.
Zentner went on to discuss the Federal Government’s recent decision to recognize a Palestinian state, and criticized that announcement, saying that “recognition cannot be without expectation of clear conditions for that Palestinian statehood.”
CIJA had been communicating with Prime Minister Carney since he first signalled this past July that Canada would be recognizing a Palestinian state in September, Zentner said, wanting to make sure that what the government said it would do was not going to be a unilateral preemptive gift reward to Hamas.” Again, he emphasized that what CIJA was trying to do was impress upon the government that it was not advocating for Israel – or even for the Jewish community alone, it was advocating for upholding “Canadian values.”
Another element of CIJA’s work, Zentner said, is “providing anti-Semitism training and Holocaust education. We provide support to other organizations that are training…. I’m working with the provincial government, the civil service commission, to ensure that they have anti-racism policies in place that there is (sic.) curricula to address antisemitism and anti-Zionism.”
Zentner went on to field a number of questions from the audience, touching upon consultations in which he’s been involved with the police – especially around the time that Folklorama was happening and there were regular protests from pro-Palestinians outside the Asper Campus. Those discussions led to an agreement that “Basically, to make sure that there is, whether through permits or other activities for next year, not to have protesters or pro-Hamas protesters outside the campus, the way they have been doing the tradition for the last ten years.”
He added that the Winnipeg Police Service is “committed to making sure they (will) have a strong presence and that they will act more effectively than what they” did this year.
At the end of his talk, Zentner harkened back to reminding the audience that he and his family left Argentina following two terrorist attacks against Jews (in 1992 and 1994).
He said, “We must not go into a dark space. That’s my role every day. And it’s a difficult role. But I’m not going to let that define who I am or how we define our community. I fully support and need to make sure that we all support our relationship between our community, Canada and Israel… I understand that there is more to (being) Jewish and identity than being Israeli and serving in the army,” but we have to be “moving forward. We have not lost anything. These are difficult times and I know it’s easy to feel lost, but we are not.”
Local News
New play structure – “Gan Reut” (Friendship Garden) opens at Asper Campus
By BERNIE BELLAN It was a gorgeous Friday afternoon, October 3, when Lori Binder, Gray Academy Head of School (also Board of Jewish Education CEO) welcomed about 40 individuals to the opening of a brand new play structure on the Asper Campus – situated exactly where the old play structure (which had opened in 1997 with the opening of the campus) had been.
Most of the individuals who were there that day had played a role helping to see the new play structure built – either as donors, or as members of organizations that had participated in the planning and construction of the new play structure.
As Binder explained, “We wanted to call this the Friendship Garden. We wanted it to have a Hebrew name. ‘Reut’ – play, is the language of friendship and it’s also the language of learning. And so today for the very first time, as our kids were watching the structure be built – and that too was also an amazing learning tool, they began to learn to use the structure.”
Why was there a need for a new playground, some might wonder – when the old one was only 28 years old?
Binder cited several reasons for wanting a new play structure: “A lot of injuries were happening because there was pea gravel, and the pea gravel was surrounded by a border of wood. And if you did not have the ability to step over or walk through the pea gravel, you could potentially have an injury.”
She added that “pea gravel is only used in 3% of playgrounds today because you might skid and need a bandaid or have a cut.”
“But we also recognized that with the broken structure and the inability for all children in our community to play we wanted to begin to envision a new structure,” Binder added.
The actual project took shape in a relatively short period of time. Design and construction was handled by a company known as Playgrounds R Us. President of the company, Matt Lacroix, noted that “typically a playground of not even this size” would take much longer to plan and build.
“We typically work with schools probably three to five years, sometimes two. So, from start to finish, for us to start a year and a half ago to now is pretty phenomenal,” Lacroix observed.
There are many new innovations included in Gan Reut, including the resilient rubber foundation, the handicap accessible play structures (that can even accommodate children in wheelchairs) and, on an unexpectedly hot October day – something that proved to be most welcome: shade everywhere you went.
Getting the project done required cooperation among Gray Academy, the Rady JCC, and the Asper Campus. When Binder first approached the Jewish Foundation for funding assistance, however, she said that initially, “we got denied.” However, rather than that being an impediment to moving forward, Binder said “it turned out to be a blessing.”
The reason, she explained, is the Jewish Foundation “plays such an integral role in matching us with potential donors, helping us bring something to light or getting something started.”
In the case of the playground project, it was the Rich family, led by Gavin Rich, who stepped up as lead donors. There were many other donors as well. (You can see all the donors’ names in the accompanying photo.) Also, the Jewish Foundation did come through with a grant – for the rubber foundation.
Binder spoke of the important role that play serves in children’s development: “Diane Ackerman states that play is the brain’s favourite way of learning. And if you go into the daycare or into any of our early childhood classrooms, you will see that they learn through play. Dr. Stewart Brown notes that nothing lights up a child’s brain-like play. And I bet some of you will want to also play because even at as adults, we like to play.”
The blue and white colour of the playground was also a deliberate choice, Binder noted. “Blue and white,” she suggested, was “very purposely chosen to match the colour of the Israeli flag and give us a reminder every day of coming to this amazing Jewish community campus.”
When it came to planning what would go into the playground, Binder thanked Rob Berkowits from the Rady JCC and Curtis Martin from the Asper Jewish Community Campus, “who were along for the journey…We also have many of our educators, an occupational therapist, early childhood specialists, elementary specialists, student life coordinators, all coming together with all of the different ideas.”
“I have to say it is overwhelming,” Binder added. “I’ve not really been involved in such a renovation project; it’s hard to make decisions. You can have a million different kinds of playgrounds.”
Not only will the playground, however, serve as a major enhancement to be enjoyed by students at Gray Academy and the Rady JCC daycare during weekdays, it will be open to everyone in the community 24/7, Binder noted.
Following Binder’s remarks, attendees heard from Rob Berkowits, CEO of the Rady JCC, who acknowledged the key role Binder had played in bringing the project to fruition: “I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Lori Binder, Head of School at Gray Academy, for unwavering leadership in bringing this vision to life.”
Finally, Jill Winograd, who was representing the Asper Jewish Community Campus, offered remarks: “Spaces like this are more than slides or swings. They’re about belonging, imagination, and giving kids a safe place to grow together. So this project wasn’t about starting fresh, but renewal, taking something well used.
“So what makes this playground matter isn’t just the newer equipment or the safer surfaces, but the thoughtfulness behind it. Accessible roots, quiet corners. And spaces that welcome kids, parents and grandparents together. It’s built for inclusion and community. And I think grandparents is such a key word here because it’s really so lovely to see from our sponsors how many are in memory of grandparents and how special that time is at the playground for them.”
And, with that – and a ceremonial ribbon cutting by Gavin Rich and Marni Slonim, Grade 2 students from Gray Academy descended upon the structure – many with parents in tow, to demonstrate all the many features of the beautiful new playground.
Local News
Gray Academy registration numbers continuing their upward trajectory
By MYRON LOVE Lori Binder, Gray Academy’s Head of School and CEO of the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education, is happy to report that this year’s enrolment stands at 517 – the highest back-to-school number since 2013-2014. “We have had to add a second Junior Kindergarten class and, for the second consecutive year, a third kindergarten class,” she says.
Gray Academy students speak of feeling safe and being able to connect with their roots. As Binder points out, many of the students have parents and even grandparents who attended Gray Academy or its founding high school, Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate. In addition, 25% of the staff are Gray Academy alumni.
The school also plays an integral role in helping families moving to Winnipeg from Israel, Argentina, Brazil and other countries to adapt to their new homes. Over the past two years, the EAL (English as an additional language) program has expanded significantly to accommodate growing needs.
Gray Academy is one of the only JK-12 Jewish day schools in Canada. The school remains committed to academic excellence, along with programming that builds community and connection. Gray Academy was the first Jewish day school in Canada to receive accreditation from Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), a community of independent schools that meet and exceed rigorous national standards that inspire excellence and ongoing school improvement.
New this year, Binder notes, is the just-built AJCC Gan Re’ut (Friendship Garden), a fully accessible playground that children of all ages and abilities can use and enjoy. A new rubber foundation and accessible equipment make the new playground safer and more accessible for everyone.
She further reports that the four-year-old Gray Academy-Tough Duck Community Ice Rink, located on Danzker Field, has been enhanced with an asphalt base so that the facility can be used year-round for a wider variety of activities.
The school has also expanded its after-school music programs this year. In addition to traditional band and drumline programs, students can also take part in jazz, rock and vocal ensembles.
Binder notes that parents and grandparents of children are welcome to engage with the school. “Last year we launched a new “Grandpals” program for grandparents,” she says. “We offer several different ways for grandparents or any special seniors in students’ lives to engage with the school while being able to see their grandchildren.”
And did I mention that, over the years, Gray Academy’s outstanding debating program has been placing very well in national and international competitions?
In terms of tefillah and spirituality, Binder reports that the school is building on past informal connections with local clergy to allow more student interaction with our community’s rabbis and cantors. Throughout the year, clergy from various congregations will be coming in to the school in a more formal way.
A very important part of Gray Academy’s mission is fostering a love of Israel. Over the years, quite a few Gray Academy graduates have made Aliyah.
An important part of Israel education has been the nearly 30-year-long Jewish Federation of Winnipeg P2G (Partnership 2Gether) student and teacher exchange programs linking Gray Academy high school students with their counterparts at Danciger High School in the northern Israeli community of Kiryat Shmona and Nachshonei Hachula Elementary School in Yesod Hamala in the Hula Valley. For many years, Gray Academy would send groups of six to eight Grade 10 and 11 students to visit Danciger. Likewise, Danciger would send students to visit Gray Academy.
In fact, a group of Danciger students and faculty happened to be in Winnipeg on October 7, 2023. When the group was forced unexpectedly to extend their stay in Winnipeg until flights to Israel could resume, Danciger students and staff participated in our community’s subsequent show of support for our brothers and sisters in Israel.
While the program has been paused since then, Binder reports that she was in Israel in July and visited both schools. “With many Israelis having been able to return to their homes in the north after nearly 18 months of displacement, we are hoping to restart the exchange programs in the spring,” she says.
Binder adds that two young Israelis volunteering with Shaarey Zedek Congregation in something called the “ShinShinim program” (which is a year of service in the Diaspora prior to serving in the IDF) have recently arrived in Winnipeg and will be paying weekly visits to the school. The Jewish Agency for Israel’s ShinShinim program sends Israeli Grade 12 graduates to Jewish communities in the diaspora to enhance the teaching of Hebrew and love for Israel.
To commemorate October 7, the school – for the third year in a row – will be holding “Havdallah for Hope,” a memorial program for high school students, followed by Havdalah for the entire student body and community guests.
Binder points out that the school has a strong focus on affordability. “It is very important to us that no child is turned away because a family can’t afford to pay,” she says.
She notes that Manitoba is one of only a few Canadian provinces that fund independent schools such as Gray Academy, with the school receiving approximately 50% of comparable public school funding per student. Binder adds that the school offers a robust Bursary Assistance program, strongly supported by funding from the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg’s Combined Jewish Appeal. “Over 60% of our families receive some level of bursary support,” she reports. “We work with every family to ensure that no child is ever turned away because of inability to cover the full parental contribution.”
Just weeks into the new school year, Gray Academy is already looking ahead to enrolment for next September.
For more information about what Gray Academy has to offer and application dates, phone 204 477-7425 or email admissions@grayacademy.ca.