The new board of directors for Ometz Top row: Micol Haimson, Karen Sigman, Geneviève Busbib, Jeffrey Berkowitz (Chair of the Board) Bottom row: Gilbert Tordjman, Frédéric Dayan, Danielle Pollack, Janice Heft, David Martz, Dominique McCaughey (Ometz CEO), Joel Shalit, Igor Bernadski Not pictured: Linda Schacter, Bonnie Lester, Brenda Gewurz, Mark Brender.
On Tuesday, June 18, over 100 supporters came out to celebrate Agence Ometz’s 2024 Annual General Meeting. The uplifting evening began with a cocktail dînatoire sponsored by Sacha Brand (the founder and head of both CICE GESTION CANADA and COMPTOIR400), PAJAR and donor Déborah Levy. Attendees then moved to the Gelber Conference Centre for the main program, which featured remarks from CEO Dominique McCaughey and the Board of Directors, as well as first-person client testimonials.
Ometz’s Chief Program Officer Susan Karpman – who is retiring this summer after a long and distinguished career – delivered the opening remarks, speaking about the importance of Jewish values to social work. Chair of the Board Jeffrey Berkowitz gave an overview of the agency’s accomplishments over the past year, highlighting that Ometz reached over 12,000 people through its wide-ranging immigration, employment and social services.
McCaughey spoke eloquently about the impact of Hamas’ October 7 terror attack and rising antisemitism on the agency and the community as a whole, emphasizing the courage and resolve of Ometz clients and team members alike when faced with these unprecedented circumstances. She also praised the organization’s accomplishments over the past year, which included significant growth for L’Annexe: the Ometz Centre for Young Adults, providing temporary respite services to over 90 Israelis during the war, and continuing to offer urgent resettlement services to over 300 Ukrainian Jewish newcomers.
The evening closed with moving testimonials from three clients – representing immigration, employment and social services – who described the profound impact Ometz has had on their lives.
To learn more, visit ometz.ca and follow @agenceometz on Instagram and Facebook.
