Our History

First Council Girl Guide Troupe formed by Ada List. Average attendance was 120 girls per week.

Junior Council acquires Fairview Cottage. Housed 30 girls per week during 15 weeks of Summer. This was the precursor of Camp Camperdown for girls and the forerunner of the Jewish Camp Council.

Jewish Girls Club was born. Activities included ESL, typing, athletics and housing for homeless girls.

Canadian Division of NCJWC begins. It is renamed NCJW of Canada.

Council joins with YMHA and B’nai Brith to form the Jewish Camp Council with the United Jewish Welfare fund.

Council pledges $10,000.00 over a 5 year period to help purchase a new day camp site.

2,400 meals are served at Council House during the week of Passover.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, is taught to Moroccan mothers and children twice a week. ADULT BASIC LITERACY is held 5 times a week. PRE-SCHOOL programs are running concurrently with both language classes. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY – World Jewry Committee addresses plight of the Refuseniks.

Toronto Society for the Jewish Hearing Impaired (TSJHI) begins at Council House.

Council members host CITIZEN COURT on a monthly basis at 55 St. Clair Avenue East A public forum is held at Council House ” The Jewish Disabled in our Community – A Time for Action”. This was co-sponsored with the Canadian Jewish Congress, which led to the formation of TASK FORCE ON JEWISH PERSON WITH DISABILITIES.

“TWO WAY STREET”, a film featuring Jewish disabled is produced. Facilitators are trained by NCJWC to show the film to the community.

“Private Violence” a symposium dealing with battered women, rape, violent pornography and child abuse is sponsored by 5 Jewish women’s community Organizations.

Family Abuse forums begin – “Women in Power”, panel discussions are held discussing the role of women.

Women in Politics – issues and perspectives. A Referendum on Charlottetown Accord.

Taking Charge by Taking Care – Breast Self Examination program initiated by Toronto Section and co-sponsored by the Canadian Breast Caner Foundation.

Citizenship classes held at Council House. Formation of Young Women’s Group. Kids on the Block partners with Epilepsy Association, Canadian Diabetes, Spina Bifida, Arthritis Society, CNIB, Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy.

Taking Charge by Taking Care – Wellness for Women, topics include Osteoporosis, Menopause, Safety for Women. Assistance to the homeless through clothing donations to shelters. Co-sponsor Forums on Racism at St Lawrence Centre. Canada is twinned with Croatia in helping elderly Jewish people with programs and recreation.

Centennial Celebrations Opening of Archival Exhibit at Multi-cultural Historical Society of Ontario. Established the “Helen Weisbrod Memorial Scholarship”.

Child Poverty – Breakfast Club was initiated to provide a nutritional breakfast to children in a subsided apartment building. Toronto Section initiated involvement with 10 Women’s shelters, by providing household items, furniture and clothing.

Child Poverty Second Breakfast Club, in cooperation with Topcliff Junior School, North York. Lunch & Learn for Seniors. Multi-faceted puppet programs dealing with such topics as aging, elder abuse, inter-generational programs. Out of the Shelter Women’s Support Club, a program for women and their children. Now assisting 11 women’s shelters. Seniors program, and Outreach to those who may be vulnerable and falling through the cracks and make them aware of current Seniors’ Services.

Lunch & Learn for Seniors’ name is changed to Susan Zajdner Seniors Lunch and Learn Program – Educational speakers, outings and activities in a warm social setting where participants are welcomed with a hot meal and interesting programmes.

International Snack Program providing nutritious hot & cold snacks for school children. Reading Angels, a reading recovery program helping children to discover the wonders other printed word. Nan’ Pops Family an educational puppet project dealing with seniors ‘issues, abuse, racism, illness, stereotypes, disability and cultural differences. Lilac Project,- Living is for Learning and Caring. A fundraising umbrella for NCJWC-TS numerous charitable activities, with each year the project choosing a partner to share in the campaign proceeds. Think Pink Campaign educates, raises awareness & money for breast cancer research in partnership with the Princess Margaret Hospital. Jewish Genetic Diseases Awareness and Screening Project launched to educated and create awareness of Jewish genetic diseases in the Jewish community.

Susan Zajdner Seniors Lunch and Learn changed to The Susan Zajdener & Fay Mosoff Seniors’ Lunch & Learn program. This program provides education speakers, outings and activities in a warm social setting where participants are welcomed with a meal and interesting programs. Seniors Educational Current Events program, Education speakers, outings and activities in a warm social setting where participants are welcomed with a hot meal and interesting programs.

Simcha Baskets introduced- these were used in lieu of a flower arrangement for a table centerpiece for various occasions. Women’s Support & Care Group, holds weekly meetings to enable former residents of women’s shelters and other isolated women to socialize, network and share information with others. Special events and speakers scheduled periodically.

HeART and Soul Art and Silent Auction was initiated on a trial basis as a major Toronto Section fundraiser, this event took place at the Capitol Event Theatre with over 225 tickets sold. Passover Food Drive expands to support those who have left the confines of a shelter, shut-ins, students living away from home, the incarcerated and their families, those on a fixed income, the disabled and seniors. They also provide a Seder meal for the homeless. NCJWC-TS holds its first in a series of Depression Symposium conferences, which raises awareness about depression and other mental illnesses throughout the community, with moderators, keynote and guest speakers including psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. The “Just for me Backpack” program is launched – Backpacks are filled with items which children can treasure and call their own. These children have fled abusive homes with their mothers.

New branches formed the first of its kind – Single Women’s Branches. These branches function in the same way as other NCJWC Branches, but are for women in their 20’s – 60’s. HeART and Soul Art and Silent Auction second event held at the York Event Theatre. Art ranging from watercolours and oils to lithographs and sculptures. The Toronto Jewish Quilting Group is adopted by NCJWC-TS. Interested volunteers hand sew beautiful quilts to be gifted for people touched by cancer.

Drive for Dreidels, a Chanukah Toy Drive begins at Council House. Toronto Sections forms a partnership with Jewish Family & Child and the Shear-Cooper Family. New unwrapped toys will be collected and then distributed.

Gift of Life Program, Councils Organ and Tissue Donation Project in partnership with Trillium Gift of Life Network kicks off. L’Chaim Cancer Support Group for Jewish Women affiliates with Toronto Section. Communication for the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, National office is assumed by the Toronto Office. Summer Closet Sale is launched following Yachad Branch June Garage Sale. Mah-Jong lessons begin at Council House every Wednesday afternoon. Another opportunity for women to get together to socialize and learn.

Kids on the Block assumes the mantle of Teaching Awareness Through Puppetry to better tailor its programming to the Canadian/Toronto cultural context and needs. Jewish Genetic Awareness Week is launched to promote awareness for the continued need for screening. Afternoon lecture series are initiated to meet the interests of members and general community.

Gift of Life Program, Organ and Donation Program is adopted by National Council of Jewish Women of Canada.

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Toronto partners with National Council of Jewish Women of Canada to increase public awareness of Human Trafficking.