Giving has never been a single decision for Arliss Miller. It has been a way of life, shaped over decades and carried forward through her family.
During her childhood, that example was constant.
Her parents’ commitment to Jewish life was clear in their active support of their synagogue and their contributions to causes in Canada and Israel. They did not explain their giving in long conversations. It was simply part of everyday life.
“They always had a little pushke on the hall table,” says Arliss. “Every time you went by, you put a few coins in.”
That quiet, steady practice left a lasting impression.
Arliss gradually established her own leadership legacy in Edmonton. She became involved in Jewish and broader community organizations, volunteering, fundraising, and bringing people together around shared goals.
A defining moment came when she helped lead a campaign for the Winspear Centre, organizing a group to sell 1,000 seats at $1,000 each to raise significant funds.
“We did it,” she says simply.
In her experience, recognition has never been the point. The goal has always been to contribute in ways that matter.
“I felt it was an honour that I could participate,” she says of her decision to champion the new Oshry | Kipnes Jewish Community Centre.
Arliss was the first one at the table to support the project. Her gift of $1 million helped launch the JCC endowment fund for the building’s long-term sustainability.
Arliss understands the importance of that kind of commitment.
“Endowment funds are important to keep buildings on track,” she says. “They have to be maintained.”
Those lessons are already taking root in the next generation and have influenced her daughters and son, Catherine, Josh, and Lisa, who grew up watching it unfold. Arliss’ grandchildren also witnessed their parents and grandparents contribute their time and resources, carrying forward a tradition shaped over many years.
“We saw it… we just absorbed it,” says Lisa who also remembers when Catherine’s young children were playing with their plastic shopping cart and asked where they were going, they responded that they were going to a meeting. L’dor v’dor.
That influence continues today.
When Josh was on the Jewish Federation board, he sat on the sub-committee that was involved in the sale of the old JCC building, which helped to generate the seed money for the new facility.
“Declining demographics had been an issue for the Edmonton Jewish community for years, and we felt that a new JCC would not only help retain the next generation of Jewish families, but also help attract other Jewish families to make Edmonton their home,” says Josh.
And now, Lisa has taken on a leadership role as vice-chair of the Oshry | Kipnes JCC redevelopment committee, contributing both time and expertise to the project.
Catherine, Josh and Lisa, along with their spouses, also supported the endowment fund, recognizing its role in sustaining the centre well into the future.
“This is about ensuring the building can operate in perpetuity,” Catherine says.
For Arliss, the purpose of a Jewish community centre is straightforward.
“I think it’s important for all ethnic groups to have a reminder of where they came from,” she says. “People want to be with others who share that history and those traditions.”
From her perspective, the centre is a place where that sense of identity can take shape, while also offering a welcoming environment for everyday interaction.
She defines its success by how people engage with it.
“Just use it,” she says. “People go there, then they see the value.”
Leadership, in her view, also means being visible in giving.
“If you’re going to be philanthropic, don’t do it anonymously,” says Arliss. “Let people know that you gave.”
At the same time, she is clear about what matters most.
“It’s the cause that’s the motivator,” Arliss says.
The intention is not recognition, but example.
By giving openly, she hopes to encourage others to participate in ways that are meaningful to them.
“Every contribution helps,” Catherine says. “People can give at the level they are comfortable with and still feel ownership in what is being built.”
Looking ahead, Arliss imagines something simple.
“I want to see all those kids running through the (Oshry | Kipnes) Jewish Community Centre,” she says.
Not just her own family, but the broader community.
“It’s for everybody,” she adds.
In her view, what matters most is that the space becomes part of everyday life.
It will serve as a place for gathering, for celebration, and for sustaining connection to Jewish life in Edmonton.
Like the small acts of giving she witnessed as a child inspired a lifetime of community support, they will continue to shape what comes next.