Important Community Update

(Insert date)

Earlier today, the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver received a hoax bomb threat. This appears to be part of a series of similar nuisance threats that have been received recently by JCCs in the US and other parts of Canada.

Thanks to diligent preparation and established security protocols the building was evacuated without incident and everyone remains safe. I want to commend Eldad Goldfarb and the JCC staff for their calm leadership.

The Vancouver Police Department conducted a thorough search of the building and declared the building safe. The incident remains under investigation by VPD. We would like to extend our appreciation to the VPD for their immediate intervention and concern for public safety.

We take all matters concerning safety and security very seriously, and we are treating this false alarm as an opportunity to take extra precautions.

• We have asked VPD to step up their patrols of Jewish community institutions.

• We have notified all Jewish community organizations and advised them to follow their established security protocols.

• Our Community Security Advisory Committee is monitoring the situation and will update Jewish community organizations as needed.

For years, our Federation has taken a proactive approach to community security. We have provided support to 29 different community organizations to address their security needs, and we remain committed to funding ongoing needs and building on the baseline our community has already established.

Sincerely,