learn about THE J
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNjcc) has welcomed over two million people to the corner of Bloor and Spadina during the building’s 60+ year history. The changing makeup of our membership is a testament not only to the vibrancy and diversity of the Annex neighbourhood but to Toronto’s own evolution. We provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to be active, learn, connect and participate in a wide range of cultural experiences. Rooted in Jewish values, the MNjcc is open to all.
The MNjcc is home to the state-of-the-art Phil Granovsky Fitness Centre and Freddie Shore Aquatic Centre. We also house the 263 seat, accessible Al Green Theatre, four schools, a wide range of arts, cultural and Jewish community programming, and we offer one of the most recognized accessibility and inclusion programs in the city.
In 1953 we moved from Brunswick Avenue to our current intersection, and in 2004 we reopened a brand new centre, thanks to the support of the community through UJA Federation's Tomorrow Campaign and a lead gift from Miles Nadal.
Throughout the years we have become a place of belonging not only to the Jewish community but to the beautifully diverse population of the city in which we live. From infants to seniors, we welcome people of all abilities, cultures, genders and sexual identities.
MISSION / VISION / VALUES
OUR MISSION → The MNjcc strives to be an inclusive and welcoming hub for healthy and joyful community, anchored in Jewish values, where all downtown Toronto feel they belong.
OUR VISION → Where you belong downtown. From generation to generation. L'dor vador
OUR JEWISH VALUES → Education, Community, Culture, Respect for your Body, Loving-Kindness and Compassion
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2020/21)
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Brian Pukier • President
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Natalie Fingerhut
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Steven Friedman
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Karen Goldenberg
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Dennis Hau
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Ben Katz
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Frank Lewinberg
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Miles S. Nadal
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Zach Roher
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Wendy Rotenberg
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Jodi Shanoff • Immediate Past President
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Melissa Smith
PRIORITIES
No Silence On Race
Today, we are proud to announce that the MNjcc has signed on to No Silence on Race: an open letter challenging Jewish institutions to commit to anti-racism, written and endorsed by a broad coalition of Jewish people of colour.
We welcome this call to action. Jewish tradition teaches us that the pursuit of justice is sacred and active work. Work that requires reflection and commitment. Work that is never done. Jewish history and experience create within us a burning desire to root out racism in all its forms so that all people will know freedom and equality.
Over the course of more than 65 years in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Miles Nadal JCC has created a community guided by the Jewish values of embracing diversity and welcoming all. We regard the diversity of our community as a source of strength and richness. We strive to be a Centre where our community may be their full selves and where we work actively against all forms of discrimination and hate, including anti-Black racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, and xenophobia. And yet, we recognize that more work needs to be done. As much as the MNjcc serves as a destination for all people to live moments of joy, health, and values – it must be a place where action happens and where we address racism both within the Jewish community and in the broader society in which we live.
Today and every day we affirm – Black lives matter.
We stand with the Black community, with Jews of Colour, with the Indigenous community, and with communities of colour in Toronto against all forms of hatred and oppression—and specifically against anti-Black racism.
We are committed to building upon our inclusive culture, reflecting the diversity of those we serve.
We are committed to providing an accessible and equitable employment environment.
We are committed to being partners and allies, and to amplifying the voices and efforts of other organizations engaged in the work of anti-racism.
We commit to begin with these steps.
Preliminary Commitment to Action:
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Senior Leadership: Our work towards living our values of anti-racism and inclusion will be led by Senior Leadership and our Board-Staff Task Force on Anti-Racism, Inclusion and Equity, including our Executive Director and our Director of Accessibility and Inclusion. We are working with Tema Smith, a local consultant and educator in anti-racism.
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Staff and Organizational Culture: We will conduct an environmental scan and survey to explore the employee and organizational culture at the MNjcc to determine staff needs and identify opportunities to further align policies and procedures with our values. We will launch a staff advisory committee on anti-racism and will centre the experiences and needs of BIPOC staff. We commit to providing all MNjcc staff with anti-racism and anti-oppression training.
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Community - Allyship and Partnerships: We will launch a community advisory committee on anti-racism; we will continue to pursue and expand partnerships with BIPOC groups and Jews of Colour organizations; we will deepen our partnerships with Circles of Reconciliation; we will expand our partnerships with newcomer, accessibility, and LGBTQ+ organizations and collectives; we will bring together diverse community voices in our programming and offer the community a platform to explore and discuss diversity and anti-racism through programming, and we will offer Jewish community groups a platform to explore and discuss diversity and anti-racism through the more than 45 organizations of the Downtown Jewish Community Council.
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Education Programs: We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our education programs. We will embrace the opportunity to broaden our Jewish cultural and educational programs by developing programming that celebrates diverse and multi-cultural Jewish identities. We will audit our curricula in both children’s and adult education to ensure that we are teaching through the lens of diverse histories and anti-racism.
OUR 2018-2021 STRATEGIC PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
FOCUS AREA 1 - BELONGING & INCLUSION
•Build the next generation of MNjcc community
•Be the community hub of downtown Jewish life
•Build on our successful leadership in Inclusion
FOCUS AREA 2 - MODERN EXCELLENCE
• Go digital and operate in modern ways
• Strive to be a destination for excellence, by focusing on what we do best and enhancing the JCC experience
• Increase opportunities for engagement and strengthen our financial sustainability
FOCUS AREA 3 - HEALTH & WELLNESS
• Be a community-oriented fitness and wellness centre that welcomes and retains the next generation
• Strengthen our portfolios in therapeutic and inclusive fitness and wellness
• Win on program experience and build a culture of engagement
COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
Diversity and social inclusion are at the heart of what we do at the Miles Nadal JCC. We regard the diversity of our community as a source of strength and richness.
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We are committed to identifying, preventing and removing barriers -- in our facilities, programs and services -- as we work towards becoming a barrier-free JCC.
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We will ensure that diverse individuals and communities share in program development, have the opportunity to give feedback, are involved in decision-making processes and have fair access to information and services.
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We are committed to providing an accessible employment environment.
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We are committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and aim to ensure that dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of JCC culture.
The MNjcc strives to be an LGBTQ+ Positive Space and is committed to welcoming, including, and embracing all members of the community. We seek to create and maintain a safe, welcoming, affirming and inclusive environment for members of the MNjcc community of any gender or sexual identity, and a community that is free of discrimination and harassment based on gender expression and sexual orientation.
Programs for People of All Abilities
At the MNjcc, we envision a community where everyone acknowledges and respects our differences and celebrates all of our contributions. We are committed to the integration of people of all abilities into our programs, and we want to explore how we can best meet your needs.
Thanks to support from the Wagner Green Family Trust, we are engaged in an ongoing initiative to assess and improve the accessibility of our facilities, programs and services, and to create a culture of inclusion. The Accessibility and Inclusion team, along with programming staff, will work with individuals with disabilities and their families to create a successful and meaningful experience at the MNjcc. All of our programs are open to people of all abilities. We also offer programming designed to meet specific needs identified to us by people with disabilities and their families. We want to hear about your experiences, your ideas, and your program needs. Contact Liviya Mendelsohn, Director of Accessibility and Inclusion: ; (416) 924-6211 x330 or Grace Smith, Accessibility and Inclusion Manager at (416) 924-6211 x335
The MNjcc is an accessible facility, with wheelchair access to programming and meeting rooms, the Phil Granovsky Fitness Centre, the Freddie Shore Aquatic Centre and the Al Green Theatre. This is due, in part, to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. All washroom areas also have designated accessible facilities. All staff have undergone AODA training in compliance with Government of Ontario regulations.
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity by:
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Ensuring that all customers receive the same value and quality
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Making allowances to customers with special needs; enabling them to manage tasks more easily and at their own pace when accessing goods and services as long as this does not present a safety risk to themselves or to others
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Using alternative methods when possible to ensure that customers with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner
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Taking into account individual needs when providing goods and services
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Communicating in a manner that takes into account the customer’s need.
Read the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre Accessibility Policies and Plan 2014-2019
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre shall provide customers with the opportunity to provide feedback on the service provided to customers with disabilities. Feedback forms along with alternate methods of providing feedback such as verbally (in person or by telephone) or written (handwritten, delivered, website or email), will be available upon request.
Your feedback is important to us. You can provide feedback in person, by email, or by phone to:
Director of Operational Excellence • 416.924.6211 x551
naomik@mnjcc.org
Questions about the administration of the AODA policy can be directed to:
Director of Accessibility and Inclusion • 416.924.6211 x330
inclusion@mnjcc.org
Statement of Accommodation
The MNjcc is committed to accessibility. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs. Contact Liviya Mendelsohn, Director of Accessibility and Inclusion: inclusion@mnjcc.org; 416.924.6211 x330
Service Disruptions
Information about service disruptions will be communicated through an alert bar on this website and with physical signage on site.
CODE OF CONDUCT & POLICIES
Our Policies
Scent Free Policy
The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre supports the creation of a fragrance-free environment so that chemical barriers will not prevent access to the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre for people having chemical sensitivities. All staff, guests and members are asked to refrain from using, wearing, and bringing scented products and materials into the MNjcc properties and buildings, and to be mindful of the by-product of smoking on their person and others. Compliance with this policy relies on the goodwill of staff, members and guests. Some people are very sensitive to certain chemicals; they can suffer a wide range of health effects such as rashes, severe headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, whenever they are exposed to very low levels of chemicals in scented products, cleaning agents, and the by-product of smoking. The potential impact of chemicals in scented products on human health is magnified as most people on a daily basis use soap, shampoo, deodorant, laundry products, hair spray, lotions, cosmetics and fragrances. Many scented products are respiratory irritants. They are known triggers for asthma, allergies and migraines. Even people that do not have pre-existing health problems can have an irritation to their upper airways, eye symptoms and general malaise. Section 25 (2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act imposes a requirement upon the employer to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of the worker and guest. Thus this regulation requires the employer to limit the exposure of workers and guests to chemical substances. Scented products are by their very nature shared with others. For people who report multiple chemical sensitivity or environmental illnesses, their ability to function depends on having air free of chemicals. A worker who experiences these adverse health effects when exposed to scented products has a legal right to refuse to work in a situation that is likely to endanger him or herself. This right is outlined in Section 43 (3)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) affirms its commitment to providing a safe & inclusive environment for all employees, and to accommodating persons with disabilities in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Commission’s Disability Policy. Therefore, the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre must take action to limit these exposures to both staff and members, guests and patrons.
Anti-Discrimination Policy
Privacy Policy
With respect to cookies: We use cookies to record session information, such as items that consumers add to their shopping cart.
C.I.I.F
Organizational ByLaws
(Preamble) The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (the “Corporation”), a non-share capital corporation continued under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (the “Act”), provides comprehensive athletic, cultural and social programs to its Members, to the Jewish community and to the community at large. The Corporation is intended to be a central focal point of Jewish communal activity, strengthening and encouraging these ideals through the development and encouragement of programs for the greater good and use by all organizations, groups and individuals in the Jewish community. The Corporation is supported by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, which similarly supports other Jewish community centres in the Greater Toronto area. It is the intention of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto that there shall be programmatic and other cooperation between all of the Jewish community centres that it supports.
Refund Policy
Photo/Video Policy
The MNjcc and/or its agents may record and/or photograph events, performances and classes for archival or other purposes. Such recording and/or photographing may include audience pictures or class participants unless waivers have been signed. Your attendance and/or participation shall be deemed your consent to appear in such programs and/or photographs without compensation.
Inclement Weather Policy
Fitness Membership Terms & Conditions
This Agreement does not have a set term. Membership dues will automatically be billed on a perpetual basis hereafter.
In order to cancel the membership, thereby terminating this Agreement, the member must deliver written notice to the MNjcc staff Once received, the member will have access to the facility until the end of the calendar month for which payment was most recently received. No further billings will take place. The MNjcc shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice to the member to the extent that it is in the best interests of the membership to do so.
The member agrees to pay the MNjcc the fees specified in this Agreement on the last day of the month, for the following month, irrespective of the amount of use the member makes of the MNjcc.
If any charges to the member’s bank account or credit card do not clear upon processing for any reason whatsoever, or in the event of a returned cheque, the MNjcc will automatically charge a $40 decline fee to member’s account.
If the member’s balance is not cleared prior to the subsequent billing date, the MNjcc will bill the member for the full outstanding amount in addition to any current charges.
By use of MNjcc’s facilities or services, the member hereby expressly agrees that the MNjcc or its nominees, associates and affiliates or their employees shall not be liable for any damages arising from personal injuries sustained by the member in and about the premises of the said facilities, or from injuries arising from participation in MNjcc virtual programming, nor shall the MNjcc or its nominees, associates and affiliates or their employees be held liable for any loss or theft of personal property, whether such injury, loss or damage is caused by any act of negligence or omissions of staff, management or any other person.
The member understands that the fitness club may be unsupervised during certain hours of operation and that he/she participates at his/her own risk. The member further acknowledges that it is his/her responsibility to obtain training in the proper use of any equipment prior to any use thereof.
The member agrees to abide by the rules, regulations, and Code of Conduct of the MNjcc and any amendments which may be enacted hereinafter. Any breach of these rules could constitute reasons for termination of this Agreement and the membership created hereby.
Programs and services provided as part of the membership may change from time to time at the discretion of the MNjcc.
The MNjcc is authorized to change the amount of the monthly payment by giving the member 60 days notice of the change. Failure on the part of the member to advise in writing of his/her disagreement with the change within 30 days of the receipt of this notice by the member shall be deemed to be in full acceptance of such change. Any notice to the member shall be deemed to have been duly given via e-mail or in writing and sent to the e-mail or physical address provided by the member (as outlined in the personal information clause).
The member’s e-mail and physical address for services or notice shall be set out on the reverse side of this Agreement or at such other address as the member may from time to time advise the MNjcc in writing. The member is required to provide updated information regarding emergency contact, contact phone number, and health status. The member’s personal data is stored in an offsite facility in Canada. The MNjcc is following all Canadian Privacy laws (PIPEDA) to ensure the member’s data is kept secure and only used for the purpose that it was given. It may, however, be accessible to law enforcement and national security authorities of that jurisdiction.
The MNjcc is committed to protecting personal information by following responsible information handling practices in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act. The member hereby gives permission for the MNjcc or its nominees, associates, and affiliates or their employees to collect any personal information contained in this document, maintain personal information already on file and to collect further information for the purpose of contacting the member by mail, fax, telephone and/or email.
Members are permitted to freeze their memberships in one month increments. A monthly freeze fee will replace membership dues for the duration of the freeze. The MNjcc requires five days’ notice prior to the first day of the requested freeze period. Please note that a freeze cannot be applied retroactively and that access to the facility is not permitted for the duration of the freeze.
This fee of 4% is included in membership dues, before HST. These funds will increase our ability to undertake capital improvements throughout the facility.
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Members of Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre will be held as follows:
DATE: Monday, February 8, 2021
TIME: 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Zoom Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to:
a) Accept as Members of the Corporation those Members listed in good standing tabled and delivered by the Secretary of the Corporation;
b) Approve the Minutes of February 3, 2020
c) Elect its Directors;
d) Approve the Financial Statements for the Corporation for the year ended August 31, 2020;
e) Appoint auditors and authorize the Directors to fix their remuneration
f) Ratify and approve all the acts, proceedings, transactions, commitments, contracts entered into, and undertakings given by or on behalf of the Corporation by the Board of Directors from the date of the last Annual General Meeting to the date hereof;
g) Transact such further and other business as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Members of the Corporation may be nominated by written petition signed by not less than twenty-five (25) persons, who are members and eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting. The petitions must be accompanied by the written consent of the nominee and must be received by the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Annual Meeting, after which time no further nominations shall be accepted.
To attend the Virtual AGM please register here by Monday, February 1st.
If you cannot attend, please complete your proxy form either by clicking the green button below or by completing the print version proxy form and returning it to maxineb@mnjcc.org by Feb 5th.
Details to access the AGM will be sent to all registrants by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 4th, 2020.
DATED the eighth day of January 2021
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Zach Roher, Secretary
Anyone wishing to see the full Financial Statements for Fiscal Year ending August 31, 2020 should contact cfo@mnjcc.org