Ottawa passes 'bubble bylaw' to protect vulnerable community spaces

April 30, 2026 • Jewish Federation of Ottawa

Ottawa passes Safe Access Bylaw to protect vulnerable community spaces

Ottawa City Council has passed the Safe Access to Social Infrastructure Bylaw, creating buffer zones around vulnerable community spaces like synagogues, schools, and care homes. Advocated for by the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the bylaw aims to balance protest rights with safety and access, ensuring residents can enter essential spaces without fear, intimidation, or disruption from nearby demonstrations.

Soloway JCC marks 75 years with celebration, reflection, and hope

The Soloway JCC is celebrating 75 years as a cornerstone of Jewish life in Ottawa. A special May 20 event will honour its history, from its original Chapel Street location to today’s campus, with speakers, an exhibit curated by the Ottawa Jewish Archives, and festivities. The milestone highlights the JCC’s enduring role as a welcoming hub for connection, culture, and community across generations.

Kathy Kacer on Holocaust storytelling and reaching 80,000 Ontario students

At the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s Yom HaShoah commemoration, award-winning author Kathy Kacer reflected on how her parents’ Holocaust experiences shaped her writing. Now, her book To Hope and Back is reaching nearly 80,000 Ontario students. Kacer's body of work demonstrates how storytelling can instill the memory of the Holocaust for future generations.

Israeli Film Festival to bring new voices and stories to Ottawa

The Israeli Film Festival will return to the Soloway JCC (SJCC) this year and will feature films that touch on contemporary issues in Israeli society today. From comedies to stories of war, the films shown during the festival will be Ottawa premieres. Running from June 4 to 14, audiences will be able to get a glimpse into the social fabric of Israeli society while enjoying these Ophir award-nominated films.

Game: Try our Jewish Heritage Month Crossword Puzzle!

May is Jewish Heritage Month, a time where we celebrate our history, our present, and our future. Our culture is thousands of years old, and in that time, we have cultivated a unique identity. In honour of this special month, we have created a crossword puzzle that contains both parts of our local Ottawa Jewish history, as well as Jewish culture and religion more broadly.

Click here to play now!

Marking life's milestones

The Board of Directors of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation acknowledges with thanks contributions to the following funds as of April 23, 2026.

Click here to view fund contributions