BBYO Expands Presence in Vancouver, Launching New Partnerships and Programs in Thriving Jewish Community

VANCOUVER, CANADA— On the heels of a successful event at Creekside Community Centre on Sunday night, where BBYO hosted over 80 teens and adults for the closing party of Festival Ha’Rikud, BBYO is announcing plans to significantly expand its year-round AZA and BBG programs in the greater Vancouver area, which boasts a flourishing community of over 25,000 Jewish residents.

In a show of commitment and investment in the community, BBYO is forging a partnership with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCCGV), including a shared staff person, which is designed to establish a foothold in the region, serve as one of its program bases, and revive its rich history in the Greater Vancouver area. BBYO programing in Vancouver will engage teens in meaningful experiences and build their connections to peoplehood and identity, while making a positive impact on their high school experience.

“Through this exciting partnership with the JCCGV, it is our hope not only to involve more Jewish teens in more Jewish experiences, but to connect Vancouver teens to the national and global BBYO community,” said Matt Lemchen, Vice President of Community Impact, BBYO. “We look forward to a successful year ahead filled with fun and meaningful programs, and an exciting kickoff event in the fall where we hope to bring Jewish teens together from across Vancouver to learn more about BBYO and have a great time!”

Since their establishment in 1924 and 1944, the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) and B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) have served as BBYO’s core teen leaders. AZA and BBG are made up of hundreds of chapters across the world, and each chapter is part of a council, region, or country and has its own chapter leadership that is elected by the members of the chapter each year. Chapters hold regular programming for their members, participate in council/regional athletic leagues, participate in service and advocacy project across the community, and enjoy the brotherhood and sisterhood components of AZA and BBG. 

“I am so excited that BBYO is coming back to Vancouver in partnership with the JCC and the local congregations, including Temple Sholom,” remarked Rabbi Dan Moskovitz, Senior Rabbi of Temple Sholom,and 65th Grand Aleph Godol of BBYO. “My years as a teen in BBYO were the most formative of my life and the primary reason I decided to become a rabbi and a Jewish professional. The friendships I made during my time in the organization, the skills I learned, and the love and passion for Judaism, the Jewish people and Israel that BBYO instilled in me, still guide me every day. I am doubly excited that BBYO will be here for my own children and for everyone in our wonderful Vancouver Jewish community!”

In partnership with the JCCGV, BBYO is currently seeking to fill the role of Vancouver BBYO City Director & JCC Youth Outreach Coordinator. This professional will focus on programs that foster engagement and create connections with and for teens and young adults ages 12 -18 in the community, as well as expand programs into secular high schools, build BBYO chapters for high school teens throughout the Vancouver area, communicate through social media and digital platforms, and be an active staff member within the JCC teen department. The Coordinator will also liaise and build partnerships with Jewish and secular community organizations working with young people throughout the area.

To learn more about BBYO in Vancouver, including upcoming events and kickoffs in the fall of 2018, please contact Lara Rodin, AZA BBG Canadian Growth Specialist, at [email protected].

About BBYO

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For more than 90 years, BBYO‘s leadership programs the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG, high school sorority) have been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of more than 400,000 alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts and Jewish communal life. Now, BBYO’s network of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences. With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities and inspiring world-wide travel experiences, BBYO’s broad program menu enables teens to explore areas of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israel education and Jewish values.

Please note that BBYO should not be referred to as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, but rather as “BBYO.”

For more information on BBYO, please visit bbyo.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.