I often quip that I’m in the growth business—antisemitism or community—and then jokingly say you decide which. It’s my attempt at humour, but it also reflects a very real tension we live with today. We can choose where to direct our energy, while remaining vigilant to both.

And the truth is, we are doing both.

While we continue to monitor hate incidents, engage in ongoing advocacy, and now launch a new community security initiative, we are equally committed to strengthening Jewish life through connection, partnership, education, and shared experience.

Earlier this week, I was made aware of an open letter sent to the Heritage Festival calling for the rejection of our pavilion and taking issue with statements and actions of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton—including comments attributed to me. Sadly, this is consistent with other efforts we have seen to marginalize our community and politicize our connection to Israel as an essential part of Jewish identity.

At the same time, CBC Radio interviewed me this morning about Edmonton Police Service (EPS) hate incident data and what our community is experiencing. These two moments, unfolding side by side, illustrate precisely why we must remain clear, grounded, and unwavering. We will continue to speak out. We will continue to advocate. And we will continue to show up—proudly and visibly—in the face of rising hate.

We know that the most powerful antidotes to hate are education and a strong Jewish identity. Much of our programming speaks to the latter, and this week also powerfully reflected the former.

We held our annual Dianne z’l and Irving Kipnes Holocaust Symposium at the Edmonton Public Library’s Stanley Milner Branch. We were oversubscribed, and I want to express our deep appreciation to the schools and teachers who made the effort to attend. Our committee chairs, Francie and Leon, courageously shared their parents’ stories through the Second Voices Project, reminding us that memory is not passive—it is an act of responsibility. Sydney thoughtfully moderated the morning, and in a novel approach this year, teens watched a film and then participated in small-group discussions. We look forward to feedback from both teachers and students as we assess the impact of this format.

In addition, Jenn and Zion partnered with the Azrieli Foundation last week to deliver a full day of teacher training on how to teach about the Holocaust. This impactful and necessary program was also fully subscribed, reinforcing what we already know: educators are seeking tools, context, and confidence to teach this history well.

As we respond to antisemitism, I urge you to continue reporting incidents through our community antisemitism reporting tool and the EPS online system. Another meaningful way to support our community this month is by completing the 2026 Census. You’ll receive a form with a unique code in the mail. This data matters—to policymakers, to funders, and to us—as we plan for the future based on the size and needs of our community.

Growth, however, isn’t only about numbers. It’s about connection.

Whether you have attended every Yom commemoration and film screening, or are joining us for the first time, we are seeing more people engage—and it has been a joy. Being together, sharing experiences, and welcoming new faces strengthens us in ways that statistics alone never could.

If you haven’t yet joined us, we are off to an outstanding start with the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival. For those who attended the From October 6 to October 7 screening, we recognize there were some logistical challenges, and we will be reaching out to address those. I appreciated Yaron Deckel’s efforts to join us in person and the opportunity to reflect together on The Jewish Agency for Israel and our enduring connection to it.

The coming week will continue to showcase some of the best of contemporary Israeli and Jewish film. I have a particular fondness for stories of strong, visionary Jewish women, so I’m especially looking forward to our Mother’s Day feature on Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah and a trailblazing Zionist leader. We are honoured to welcome producer Abby Ginzburg for a fireside chat following the film. There is also still room to register for our free family screening of Shrek—please sign up in advance.

Film, like education, is bridge-building. Bring a friend to Among Neighbors, a thoughtful and timely story, and join us on closing night, Wednesday, May 13, for Matchmaking 2—a joyful comedy that captures cultural nuance with warmth and humour.

Community growth is also literally taking shape. There is a real buzz around the Oshry|Kipnes Jewish Community Centre (JCC), and I’m pleased to share that our JCC redevelopment committee met last night and that tangible progress is being made. We look forward to sharing updates and photos in the coming weeks. Naming opportunities remain available, and I invite you to contact Becky Saegert if you’d like to explore this further.

Finally, you’ll soon notice new faces in our office, thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program. This coming week, we’re delighted to welcome back Praise Idowu to our communications portfolio and to introduce Caprice St. Pierre, who will join our development team.

So yes, I remain firmly in the growth business.

Growth of resilience, growth of knowledge, growth of Jewish pride, and growth of community.

Shabbat Shalom,

Stacey