TORONTO — B’nai Brith Canada celebrated a milestone anniversary Monday night as community leaders, supporters, and guests gathered in Toronto for a gala marking the organization’s 150 years of advocacy and service to Canada’s Jewish community.
The event honoured Shelly Avital with the 2025 Award of Merit in recognition of her leadership and dedication. The award was presented during an evening that organisers described as “a truly special celebration” of B’nai Brith’s long record of humanitarian, community, and human-rights work.
Former Israeli special envoy Noa Tishby joined the gala for a fireside conversation reflecting on global antisemitism and efforts to combat delegitimization. In recognition of her public service on these issues, B’nai Brith presented Tishby with the inaugural Michael Mostyn Human Rights Award. The new prize memorializes the late Michael Mostyn, the organization’s former CEO, and honours individuals whose work advances human rights and defends Jewish communities. Organizers said the award celebrates Mostyn’s “vision and courage” and aims to continue his legacy.
Ben Mulroney, B’nai Brith Canada’s ambassador, moderated the program. Organizers thanked him for what they described as his “signature warmth and expertise.” The gala combined formal presentations with personal testimony and remarks from community leaders, creating a forum for reflection on B’nai Brith’s past achievements and future priorities.
Security and volunteer support were highlighted as key to the evening’s success. B’nai Brith publicly thanked volunteers from Shomrim Toronto and the Jewish Security Network, as well as private security firm Blackmark Protection, for their roles in ensuring the safety and comfort of attendees. Organizers and community leaders noted that robust volunteer and professional security arrangements have become essential for large public gatherings in the current environment.
The Toronto gala capped a year of milestone activities for B’nai Brith Canada. Organizers announced that the celebration would continue with a final gala in Montreal, closing out the 150th anniversary year and offering another opportunity for members and supporters to mark the organization’s contributions to communal life.
Guests’ and community leaders’ reactions emphasized the gala’s dual purpose: to celebrate past service and to galvanize future action. Speakers at the event reiterated the need for sustained advocacy on antisemitism, community safety, Holocaust education, and public policy that protects minority rights. The presentation of the Michael Mostyn Human Rights Award was framed as a call to renew commitment to human-rights work at home and abroad.
B’nai Brith’s 150 years encompass a wide range of programs and campaigns, from social services and community support to public advocacy and legal interventions. The anniversary year provided an occasion to review those efforts and to spotlight contemporary challenges facing Jewish Canadians, including rising antisemitism and threats to civic institutions. Organizers stressed that the gala was not only a commemorative event but also a platform to rally resources and attention for ongoing community priorities.
The organization expressed gratitude to its donors, volunteers and partners for enabling the anniversary events. B’nai Brith singled out its national staff and local volunteers for their roles in planning the Toronto gala and supporting programming throughout the year.
Looking ahead, the Montreal gala is expected to attract community leaders and supporters from across Quebec and Canada. B’nai Brith said the event will continue the organization’s approach of combining commemoration with forward-looking initiatives designed to strengthen communal resilience.
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This article is based on verified information from B’nai Brith Canada’s public announcement and social media posts concerning the Toronto gala, award presentations, and acknowledgements of volunteers and partners.