JWest – Who's Behind This Transformative Project?
Over the past few months, we’ve shared updates about the what, when, and where of JWest—what’s being built, the construction timeline, and yes, where everyone will park. But one important question remains: Who are the people behind this once-in-a-generation project?
Who’s working to transform our beloved—but aging—Jewish Community Centre site into a vibrant new Jewish campus that will serve our community for decades to come? Let’s take it back to the beginning.
A Shared Vision
JWest was born from a bold, shared vision between three cornerstone institutions in our community: the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC), Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV), and King David High School (KDHS).
Several years ago, leaders from these organizations came together with a transformative idea - not just to update the existing JCC, but to completely reimagine the space as a thriving, multi-use Jewish campus. The new campus will include a state-of-the-art JCC, a new home for KDHS, and two residential towers. Since then, a broad network of people has been working tirelessly to bring this vision to life.
Community Leadership at Every Level
The JWest Foundation Board, the JWest Corp Board, and several dedicated volunteer committees, together with leadership from the JCC, Federation, and KDHS, have been guiding the project every step of the way.
JWest Foundation
Responsible for the oversight of campus development and management of future revenue.
Chair: Alex Cristall
Directors: Diane Friedman, Martin Gerber, Hodie Kahn, Lana Marks Pulver, Diane Switzer, Alvin Wasserman
JWest Corp
Responsible for the management of campus construction.
Chairs: David Porte (Chair)
Joe Khalifa (Vice Chair)
Directors: Andrew Abramowich, Chris Andison, Michael Berkson, Alfonso Ergas, Phil Gertsman, Geoff Glotman, Mark Gurvis, Lana Marks Pulver, Lawrence Zimmering
Meet the JWest Staff Team
Now, with the project in full swing, a dedicated staff team has been assembled to support volunteers and partner organizations in delivering the day-to-day operations.
Emily Pritchard
Executive Director
Many in the community already know Emily as the dynamic force behind JWest’s Capital Campaign. Over the past four years, she’s led fundraising efforts with tenacity, warmth, and an unwavering belief in the project.
Thanks to her leadership—and the incredible efforts of the Campaign Cabinet—JWest has raised an astounding $147 million, completing the first phase of the campaign.
As of July, Emily has stepped into a new role as Executive Director of JWest, expanding her leadership beyond fundraising to overseeing the full scope of the project. Her deep understanding of the vision, attention to detail, and trusted relationships across the community ensure JWest continues to move forward with confidence and heart.
Roni Greif
Director of Finance
Roni brings a strategic financial lens to the team, shaped by years of professional experience and deep community involvement through KDHS and Congregation Beth Israel. But Roni’s role goes far beyond managing budgets. She’s instrumental in building the financial systems and structures that will support JWest not only through construction, but well into the future. Her attention to detail, commitment to transparency, and steady hand are helping to lay the financial foundation for this project’s long-term success.
Maurice Ouellette
Vice-President, Development
With a background in architecture and a strong track record in real estate development, Maurice plays a key role in shaping and delivering the physical campus. He works closely with Acton Ostry Architects and liaises with the City of Vancouver to make sure that planning, approvals, and design meet (and exceed) expectations—from sustainability to architectural excellence.
Hayden Kremer
Development Manager
Hayden is deeply involved across all areas of project development and operations for JWest Development Corp. Whether he’s reviewing Oakridge Energy’s proposal for the JCC’s future energy needs, working with Grosvenor on temporary parking during construction, or negotiating rezoning conditions with the City,
Hayden is solving problems, managing logistics, and keeping everything moving forward.
To learn more about the project and explore the incredible community of donors helping bring this vision to life, visit JWestNow.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. And if you’ve missed our previous announcements, you can find them on the News and Updates page of our website.
We gratefully acknowledge the support this project has received from the
Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.