For 75 years, the Soloway JCC has been at the heart of Jewish life in Ottawa — a place where generations have gathered, connected, and built community. Now, as it marks this milestone anniversary, the SJCC is inviting the community to celebrate not just its history, but the people and moments that have shaped it.
On May 20, the SJCC will host a special anniversary celebration, bringing the community together to honour its journey, from its early days on Chapel Street to its current home on Nadolny Sachs Private, while looking ahead to the next 75 years.
“We are so excited to mark 75 years as an institution,” said SJCC President Sarah Beutel. “On May 20, people will get to view an exhibit featuring photos from previous years, curated by the Ottawa Jewish Archives, hear from speakers who have been instrumental in the SJCC’s past and present, and much more.”
Attendees can look forward to remarks from former board chairs Stan Levine and Jeff Gould, as well as reflections from former president and COO Linda Kerzner on key memories and milestones following the opening of the current facility. Former board chair Allan Shefrin will also speak about the road ahead. The evening will include refreshments, music, and dancing.
Jewish Community Centres have played an integral role in community life from the early 20th century to the present. Historically, Jews were not allowed to be members of other public sporting clubs, such as the YMCA.
Even though that has changed, JCCs are still the gathering place for many in Jewish communities across North America and have transformed from sporting clubs to cultural hubs.
Originally located on Chapel Street, near the historical heart of Ottawa’s Jewish community, the JCC continued to grow and expand as the city’s Jewish population grew. As more Jews began leaving the city centre and started moving West, the need for a bigger, more centralized Jewish community campus was evident, and by the 1990s, the ground was broken on the SJCC’s current home on Nadolny Sachs Private.
“The success of today ... was made possible by a village, really,” said Beutel. “The SJCC couldn’t be what it is now if it had not been for the entire community’s dedication and involvement.”
The SJCC continues to be relevant in the lives of Jewish Ottawans thanks to its wide variety of programs and services. From the Greenberg Families Library to the Ganon Preschool and Early Beginnings, to the Vered Israel Cultural Centre and summer camps, there is no shortage of activities that keep the building abuzz all year long.
Beutel emphasized that these programs and more have helped create lifelong connections.
“The role that the JCC plays in the community is unique in that it’s a central gathering place not only for the Jewish community, but for everyone, regardless of affiliation or level of involvement,” she said. “We serve the entire community.”
Beutel says much of the success is owed to the fact that the SJCC fosters a welcoming and safe atmosphere, and that it is a place where all people can connect with one another and come as they are.
To learn more about the SJCC’s 75th anniversary celebration and how to get involved, click here.