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JNFOTTAWA.CA [email protected] 613.798.2411 Call 613-798-4696, ext. 256 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin APRIL 30, 2018 | IYYAR 15, 5778 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 HOWARD SANDLER There were few dry eyes at the April 13 press conference when the Tamir choir sang Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World,’ led by Joel Yan. $5.1-million Ontario grant to fuel Tamir project Ottawa’s first Integrated Living Centre to benefit people with developmental disabilities BY PAULINE COLWIN Tamir’s executive director. “Individuals with developmental disabilities face amir saved my life,” explains Barbara many challenges,” Palmer told the more than 50 invit- Grinfeld. ed guests in attendance, including MPP Yasir Naqvi, Grinfeld is a “Tamir mom.” Her son, Ottawa Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor, health-care repre- Danny, a sociable, happy young man, has a sentatives, Tamir and Federation board members, and ‘T“catastrophic epileptic syndrome,” coupled with devel- community members. opmental disabilities. Just over a year ago, Danny, now “They are among our most vulnerable in society. in his early 20s, moved to a Tamir residence. For the Many need help with the basic activities of daily liv- Grinfelds, this was life-saving and life-altering. Not only ing, things you and I take for granted. They often have is Danny thriving in a friendly, active and safe environ- complex medical needs, but they want to find mean- ment, but the immense 24/7 strain of caregiving has ingful ways of engaging in society. Often, they are in been lifted from the family. This is just part of the dif- desperate need of affordable supportive housing, a ference Tamir makes in people’s lives. place to feel accepted and belong, a place to call home. Grinfeld shared her family’s story after an emotion- HOWARD SANDLER “At Tamir, we have made great efforts to plan a al press conference on Friday, April 13, at the Soloway Lily Penso, the founding president of Tamir, looks over plans model which will offer affordable housing and support JCC where MPP Bob Chiarelli announced a $5.1-mil- for the new Integrated Living Centre. services to people in critical need. We want to offer this lion Ontario government grant to build Ottawa’s first efficiently and effectively, within a fully inclusive envi- Integrated Living Centre (ILC), which will be operated donating the land, while the Ministry of Community and ronment.” by Tamir and located on the Jewish community cam- Social Services will be funding ongoing operating costs. Palmer expressed his gratitude to the government pus. An additional $2.5 million for the project was Tamir is a Jewish community agency dedicated to and explained that the new centre will “transform also announced by Myer Bick, Director of The Azrieli ensuring that people with developmental disabilities what Tamir can do for the community” by creating a Foundation. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is proudly live with dignity and respect, explains Mark Palmer, See Tamir on page 2 Touching Yom HaShoah ceremony > p. 3 Photos around town > p. 8 & 9 Chief Rabbi makes historic visit > p. 10 inside: AUDI SPRING SPECIAL SPIRIT EVENT Audi Mark Motors of Ottawa 2018 Audi A5 Coupé 295 W Hunt Club Rd. 613-723-1221 Lease from Lease from Includes * * Audi Ottawa $338 2.9% $5000 »NEW 458 Montreal Rd. Bi-weekly for 48 month term Spring Special Credit 613-749-5941 $0 down payment *Conditions apply. 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KEVIN DEAGLE ART DIRECTOR ADRIAN JEAN CGD PUBLICATION TRIM SIZE 10.25”W X 1.5”H APPROVALS PRODUCTION MORGAN DUNBAR INSERTION TYPE --- COMMENTS SPECS INSERTION DATE --- April 30, 2018 2 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Tamir: A model for the whole province Voices Continued from page 1 “Ladies and gentlemen, our Tamir ILC vision “welcoming, and integrated environ- is something vibrant and alive, filled with ment with 34 well-equipped and acces- services and opportunities, great hopes and sible apartment units, 45 beds, and a practical help. major day-services area.” I asked Bob Thompson, Immediate Past As a major supporter of the proj- President of Tamir and father of a young man ect, Bick, of The Azrieli Foundation, with Angelman Syndrome, to describe what explained how his organization is the ILC means to him and his family: dedicated to funding knowledge and ‘We are not just building a building for understanding of our past, as well as Tamir,’ he said. ‘We are building dreams for people. I am excited because the ILC, ways to better our present and future. as a model for the entire community, will He expressed how the ILC was perfectly allow and encourage families to chase their aligned with this philanthropic mission dreams for their loved ones. To dream about and how he was impressed by the hard and actually realize life in a safe, secure and work of all those involved. welcoming environment with opportunity to Chiarelli, who also delivered a mov- live as full citizens each and every day.’ ” HOWARD SANDLER ing Yom HaShoah message from Pre- – Mark Palmer, Happy to join in the momentous announcement were, from left: Tamir Chair Richard Zuker, mier Kathleen Wynn, shared his deep executive director of Tamir Ottawa Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor, Tamir Executive Director Mark Palmer, MPP Bob Chiarelli, respect for the work undertaken by Director of The Azrieli Foundation Myer Bick, Jewish Federation of Ottawa CEO Andrea “Many people have made the ILC vision organizations like Tamir. He explained Freedman and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Hartley the $5.1-million grant was the part of come together. Many people in the public Stern. service, in the public health and social ser- provincial funding of $1.8 billion, to be vices, as well as people in political service. made over three years to agencies in the Note how the word ‘service’ applies to all developmental services field, marking the whole city of Ottawa.” of these people – we all share in the work “the single largest investment in the This sentiment was highlighted by The Integrated Living Centre of helping others, serving the needs of our developmental services area in the his- a heart-warming performance by the to be built on the Ottawa Jewish community and our province. This project tory of the province of Ontario.” Tamir Neshama choir, which brought Campus will: has also benefited greatly from advice and “We want an Ontario where all peo- many in the audience to tears as they • create 34 apartment units, with support of Brain Keshen, CEO of Reena, ple with developmental disabilities can sang “What a Wonderful World.” After 45 beds; Tamir’s big sister organization in Toronto, live their lives to the best of their abili- the performance, choir member Debbie • operate a Supported Independent and the chair of the Intentional Community ties. …The Tamir Integrated Living Cen- Wasserman, speaking on behalf of Tamir Living program (SIL) to help Consortium.” tre will help us do just that.” participants, stood in front of the crowd individuals live successfully in – Richard Zuker, chair of the board of directors for Tamir The Jewish community, as a whole, and spoke directly to the ministers: their own apartments; was recognized by both Chiarelli and “This is a dream come true; thank • significantly expand respite care places, to help caregiving “Who are we here today? We are mothers, Naqvi, who congratulated the Federa- you from the bottom of our hearts.” fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, tion, its social service beneficiary agen- Certainly, the Tamir participants’ families; • create transitional living capacity and friends within a community. We are cies, as well our community members, smiles were contagious and impressed bound by our DNA with infinitesimally small to assist individuals improperly for our inclusivity, generosity and sup- upon all those present the real reasons differences between us. We are bound by housed in hospitals, long-term port of people with special needs. behind the need for the ILC project – to our community: our Jewish community, the care facilities, or Ottawa Chiarelli explained that being at the ensure all people may live their lives city of Ottawa, province of Ontario, Cana- Community Housing units, SJCC for the announcement helped put fully and to the best of their abilities, in da. All true, but I submit what truly binds freeing up those beds and spaces; the Jewish community’s work “into per- happiness and safety as a respected and is here today is our set of values. A set of • create a seniors’ living section for spective.” He explained that the new ILC dignified part of the community. This is values which says we will ensure that those older individuals who can no lon- sisters, brothers, friends who by force of project is clearly the next building block the vision of Federation’s Jewish Super- ger manage meal preparation and accident cannot advocate for the same in the vision of the Jewish community highway with the goal of creating a net- other chores on their own. quality of life as the rest of us shall not of Ottawa that began decades ago. work of meaning Jewish experiences and • centralize and expand day services; want for the support they need to enjoy all “I remember very well when this site journeys where the entire community is • create a seniors’ program to pro- that we hold dear.