Moshe Ronen is a Toronto-based lawyer, international business advisor and prominent community leader. Mr. Ronen is Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress, National Chair of the Canada-Israel Committee and head of its special Missions Committee. By age 20, he was a well-known human rights activist, and later was the youngest president the Canadian Jewish Congress ever elected.

Mr. Ronen is a charismatic public speaker, noted debater and media commentator on Middle East issues and public affairs. In 1996 Moshe was recognized by the Jewish National Fund with its prestigious Jerusalem of Gold Award for his outstanding communal service. Two years later, the Government of Ontario recognized him with a Volunteer Service Award, presented to that province's most outstanding community leaders. Mr. Ronen is a member of the Board of Directors of two leading schools, the North York General Hospital, and several other major charities and institutions.

Mr. Ronen is a director of First Capital Realty Corporation, a growth-oriented publicly traded Canadian real estate developer and holding company with a growing shopping centre portfolio as well as a member of the Advisory Board of Skylink Aviation Group of Companies Inc., which specializes in emergency relief operations for the United Nations and many governments.

Mr. Ronen is married to Dara, and the couple has two children, Sari and Shye.

Jason Caron is a corporate and commercial lawyer practicing at the national law firm of Heenan Blaikie LLP in Montreal, Quebec. Jason has obtained a Bachelor's of Arts degree (political science) from McGill University and civil and common law degrees from the University of Ottawa. Jason is on the Board of Directors of various non-profit organizations including the Quebec-Israel Committee, Jewish National Fund-Montreal and Lord Reading Law Society.

David is a partner at the law firm Fillmore Riley LLP, practicing mainly in the areas of commercial litigation and insolvency law. David serves on the firm's management committee, is a bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba and a life council member of the Manitoba Bar Association.

Beyond the practice of law David sits on the executive of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, is the immediate past chair of the Federation's community relations committee, and is active in the Liberal Party of Canada. In 2004, David was the recipient of the United Jewish Communities' Harry Silverberg Young Leadership Award.

Marc Gold was born in Montreal, and is a graduate of McGill University. He holds law degrees from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Law School, and is a member of the bar of Ontario. A former law professor and Associate Dean at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, he currently is Vice-President of Maxwell Cummings & Sons Holdings Limited and an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University.

He is the immediate past Chair of the Canada-Israel Committee, the First Vice-President of Federation CJA, a member of the Executive Committee of United Israel Appeals Federations Canada and a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel. He is also a member of the Conseil de l'Université, Université de Montréal, a member of the Conseil de Direction, Centre de recherché en droit public, Université de Montréal, a Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Executive Committee of la Fondation de la Tolérance.

He is married to Nancy Cummings Gold, and has two children, Jennifer and Jonathan.

Ken Boessenkool is Senior Vice President for Hill & Knowlton Canada. Based in Calgary, Alberta he provides public affairs and communications counsel to a wide variety of clients across Canada. Previously, Ken was Senior Policy Advisor and strategist to National Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. He played a senior role in the Conservative election campaigns of 2004 and 2006, and in three national leadership campaigns. He has also worked on leadership campaigns in Alberta and Ontario.

Prior to working in Ottawa, Ken established an Alberta-based consulting practice, was Senior Economist with two Calgary-based electricity companies and also served as a policy advisor to two Alberta Finance Ministers.

Also active in public policy, Ken has been an Adjunct Research Fellow as well as a Policy Analyst with the C.D. Howe Institute. He taught Canadian Public Finance at the University of Calgary and has published over thirty-five academic articles. His writings have appeared in Time Magazine, The Globe and Mail, National Post, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen and other newspapers. He is currently a Research Fellow at the Canada West Foundation in Calgary.

Ken was named one of Calgary's Top 40 under 40 in 2007 by Calgary Inc. Magazine. Ken is married and has four daughters.

Father Raymond J. de Souza is a Roman Catholic priest. Ordained in 2002, he resides in Kingston, Ontario. Known as a columnist for the National Post and a frequent contributor to both religious and secular media, his principal work is as the chaplain at Newman House, the Roman Catholic centre for students at Queen's University. Trained as an economist before he entered the seminary, he completed graduate degrees at Queen's as well as the University of Cambridge, England. He completed his theological studies in Rome, during which time he was an accredited member of the Vatican press corps (1998-2003). While a commentator on cultural affairs, he devotes his time primarily to pastoral work, often preaching missions and retreats.

Michael Diamond, a resident of Toronto, is currently a business consultant and investor while not involved in various activities in support of the Jewish people and Israel. A teacher and lawyer, by training, and a former CEO of a Toronto-based software company, Michael invests much of his time working to educate Jews and non-Jews alike about the shared interests that we all share. In addition to CIC, he is involved in such initiatives as Leave Out Violence, Chairs the BJE's Makom Committee, is a member of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, is on the regional Board of Leave Out Violence, as well as being the National Vice President of that organization, and is heavily involved with various committees as well as the Foundation Board of Holy Blossom Temple. Michael is well known for his pro-Israel activism and has maintained an email service since 2000, sending out articles and commentary on a regular basis.

Born in South Africa, and now a resident of Vancouver, Michael Elterman is a clinical psychologist who specializes in forensic evaluations. Dealing primarily with criminal and civil cases throughout the entire Pacific North West, Michael has published extensively in the areas of family law and child custody. He has served twice as the president of the Canadian Jewish Congress' Pacific region and has also held the posts of national secretary and Executive Co-Chair. Michael received his PHD from Queen's University was the first person to ever receive a Young Leadership Award.

Professor Karen Eltis is a member of the faculty of law at the University of Ottawa, specializing in human rights, new technologies and comparative law. She is Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre in Ottawa and holds law degrees from McGill University Faculty of Law, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Columbia University School of Law.

Prior to joining the faculty, Karen practiced law in New York and in Israel respectively, focusing primarily on litigation and international arbitration.

Barbara Farber is Chief Executive Officer, of the Leikin Group, a family-owned, Ottawa-based real estate development and property management company. Aside from her professional business role, Barbara is active in the community as a provincially appointed member of the Ottawa Police Services Board and a newly-appointed first Chair of the Algonquin College Foundation Board. She is Co-Chair of Leadership Gifts for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre and also Treasurer/Vice President Administration for UIAFC. She is a previous CIC executive board member and past president of the Ottawa Jewish Community.

A senior advisor with Ogilvy Renault, Mr. Farber advises clients on tax policy issues, assists in the resolution of tax disputes and provides a valuable resource to members of the firm'stax practice in connection with tax planning and advice.

In his previous position as General Director of the Tax Policy Branch of the federal Department of Finance, Mr. Farber had general responsibility for all tax legislation developed for the Government of Canada for tabling and passage in the House of Commons. He was the principal witness of the Department of Finance before the House of Commons Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce with respect to income tax matters and tax legislation.

He has represented the Canadian government at the OECD, in tax treaty negotiations and as a member of the Council of the International Fiscal Association (Canadian Branch).

Mr. Farber is a member of the International Fiscal Association and the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Paul Forseth is from New Westminster British Columbia. He represented his area in the House of Commons for over 12 years, and was elected with the Reform Party in 1993 and 1997. He was a member of the Canadian Alliance when elected in 2000. He was re-elected as a Conservative in 2004 and served until the election of January 2006. He was a member of the Canada Israel Friendship group in the House of Commons.

Paul previously for 21 years was a Family Justice Counselor, Divorce Mediator, Child Custody Investigator, Probation Officer and Youth Court Officer in the Corrections Branch and Courts of B.C.

Paul has spent considerable time on human rights issues, democratic renewal, and religious freedom in other countries.

Robert Gasner is a well known Toronto-based Real Estate entrepreneur. Mr. Gasner is presently working with Re/max Realtron Realty Inc., a leading Brokerage firm on the Toronto Real Estate Board. He focuses on both residential and commercial re-sales.

In the past Mr. Gasner was one of the founding members of Network Canada and serves as its Chairman from 1980 to 1981. He was an Officer of Canadian Jewish Congress – Ontario Region, first during the 1980's and later in the late 1990's. As President of the Canadian Association of Ethiopian Jewry, he helped bring the plight of Ethiopian Jewry to the forefront on the world stage. A past Secretary, Treasurer and Vice-President of Shaarei Shomayim Synogogue of Toronto

Presently, Mr. Gasner is on the boards of Canadian Friends of Laniado Hospital of Netanya, Israel and The Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Mr. Gasner is married to Julea Gasner and the couple have 3 lovely daughter, Orly, Kayla and Elisheva.

Brenda Urman Gewurz, B.Sc., MBA, is a real estate broker and is VP Marketing & Sales of Proment Corporation, a residential real-estate company in Montreal.

Brenda's passion for volunteer work began in the educational field. She was the first female President of the Hebrew Academy from 1987 to 1991 and President of the Jewish Education Council from 1997 to 2001, where she is still involved today. She sits on the Bronfman Israel Experience Center and has led the Montreal delegation of the March of the Living.

Brenda is the V.P. of UIA Canada and chair of the planning and allocations committee, and VP of QIC. She is presently a member of the Board of Directors of Federation CJA, of the Board of Directors of Hillel., of the executive and board of Jewish Community Foundation.

Brenda is married to Samuel Gewurz, a real-estate developer. She and Samuel have three children and four grandchildren.

Paul Goldman practices corporate and securities law, focusing on the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance, and is the managing partner at the Vancouver office of Goodmans LLP. He was a member of the British Columbia Securities Commission's Securities Law Advisory Committee from 1995 to 2003, and also served as a member of the B.C. government's Securities Policy Advisory Committee from 1998 to 2002. Paul is a regular speaker and conference panellist and has written numerous papers on securities law matters, particularly on interjurisdictional and cross-border issues. He has served on the Advisory Committee of CIC, Pacific Region since December, 2004. Paul has been a member of the boards of Beth Tikvah (Richmond) and Beth Israel (Vancouver) synagogues, and was a member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver's Task Force leading to the formation of the Richmond Jewish Day School. He previously served on the Calgary Jewish Community Council and was a member of its Community Relations Committee.

Cary Green, graduated from York University, with an Honours Arts Degree. He has been Verdiroc's Executive Vice President since 1996. Previously, he held other senior management positions with Verdiroc and related companies. Cary is responsible for the development and re-development of the Company's properties for residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use projects.

Originally from Calgary, Alex Halpern has been an active and innovative student leader in the Montreal community since he began attending McGill University in 2004. He has dedicated large amounts of his time towards adding Jewish value to campus life across the country and around the world. Currently he is the National President of the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students (CFJS), which serves as a national community and student voice for Canadian Jewish students. He served as the Chair of Israel Affairs and Jewish Advocacy at Hillel Montreal in 2005-06 before becoming its Vice President of External Affairs the following year. He has participated for the last two years in the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) Fellowship program. In addition to his local and national involvement, he is also extremely active the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS), serving as an Executive Member. He is the sole student representative to the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy (CIJA) and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the United Israel Appeal Federations Canada (UIAFC).

Donna Holbrook is the Canadian Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem [ICEJ], a non-denominational faith ministry supported by the voluntary contributions of members and friends world-wide. She holds a BA from Wilfred Laurier University and a teacher's certificate from York University. In 1983, she established the Hall Holbrook Agency Inc, a firm that represented manufacturers and designers of ladies fashion apparel to retailers in Ontario. Donna has worked closely with the Jewish community and the Israeli government to increase awareness of the need to support Israel and to speak out against anti-Semitism.

She is past Vice-President of AMEN (Anti-Semitism Must End Now), a member of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, Canadians Against Suicide Bombing, The Speakers Action Group and helps facilitate meetings for visiting key note speakers. Aired frequently on TV, Martin Himel's End of Days documentary portrays her life as a Christian Zionist.

In July 2006, Donna initiated the first CIC-ICEJ Campus Scholarship Mission to Israel for young leaders graduating from Christian Colleges across Canada to better understand the complexities of Israel in the Middle East.

In Nov. 2006, Donna was an honoree 'Woman of Vision' of the Canadian Friends of the Meir Medical Center [K'far Saba Israel] which raised substantial funds to build a new children’s critical care facility.

She was executive producer of the ICEJ Canadian premiere live staging of the historical musical, The Covenant: The Story of God's People, from Toronto with simulcast to theatres from Halifax to Vancouver. The Covenant will reach many more thousands with the Jewish story through its new HD DVD release August 2007 and network broadcast especially important during the 40th anniversary of the undivided Jerusalem and the forthcoming 60th celebration of the modern State of Israel.

Claude Lajeunesse is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC), which he joined in January 2008, following his tenure as president of Concordia University in Montreal. Prior to this, he served as president of Ryerson University in Toronto for 10 years, where he led the institution through significant increases in enrolment, a major development of its academic and research programs, and engineered a renewal of campus facilities. He is also past president and CEO of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).

A native of Quebec City, Claude Lajeunesse obtained a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, following a B.Sc.A. in engineering physics from the École Polytechnique de Montréal. He is currently a member of the boards of TD Meloche Monnex and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). A fellow and past president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, he is also a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, and a member of the board of the Canadian Liver Foundation.

Brian Morris is the senior partner in the law firm of Morris & Morris L.L.P. He is past President of B'nai Brith Canada and a past Chair of the Canada-Israel Committee. Brian currently serves on the Board of numerous Jewish organizations.

A graduate of the Faculty of Law at McGill University and the Harvard Law School, Berl Nadler is a senior partner and member of the Management Committee of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP where he conducts a wide-ranging business law practice in its Toronto office. Berl has published numerous papers, articles and book chapters on various legal subjects and is a frequent speaker at professional and academic conferences and seminars Berl is Immediate Past President of the Bnei Akiva High Schools of Toronto (Yeshivat Or Chaim and Ulpanat Orot Girls School) and a member of the Board of Directors of the UJA Federation of Toronto.

Born in Hadera, Israel, Joe Nadler immigrated to Canada (Montreal) as a child, and presently resides in Toronto. During his time attending McGill University, Joe started up a small eyeglass frame factory which has grown into one of the leading fashion eyewear and industrial safety supply companies in Canada and the USA, "Optiq Frames", and "OnGuard Safety". Joe is also one of the founders of "HealthLink Technologies", a provider of practice management software to the health care industry. Joe has been active in the Reform Movement for Progressive Judaism, and has been a member of the Board and the Executive of Temple Har Zion.

Nancy Rosenfeld is the Vice-President (Canadian Affairs) of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies and the Executive Director of the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Family Foundation and The Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation. From 1995-98, she was a Special Advisor to Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque and from 1991-95, the Executive Director of the Montreal YM-YWHA community centres. Nancy has served on the Board and/or Executive Committees of many organizations including the Trans Canada Trail, Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal, Philanthropic Foundations Canada, UIA Federations Canada, Federation CJA, Canada Israel Experience Centre, QIC, Shaare Zion Synagogue, St-George's School and the Canadian Jewish News. She is past Chair of the Allocations Committee of Mazon Canada and a member of the Status of Women Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Ms. Ryder is currently the Director of Business Development for the White Iron Group of Companies.

Her past professional experience includes senior retail management with Eatons of Canada, Associate Publisher for Key Porter in Calgary, specialty shopping centre property management and as the Executive Director for Calgary 2000 developing the City of Calgary's major Millennium legacy projects such as Shaw Millennium Park and the City's official celebrations.

Ms. Ryder is Chair of the Council of Chairs for the Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes, which represents over 13 major educational institutions in Alberta. She is chair of the Bow Valley College Board of Governors, a past public member of the Alberta College of Optometrists, past Board member and Chair of Uptown 17 Business Revitalization Zone. Community organizations that have benefited from Ms. Ryder's expertise include The Calgary Foundation, Community Kitchen Programs of Calgary, Wings of Hope Breast Cancer, Calgary Health Trust, Rideau Roxboro Community Association, Canadian Breast Cancer Society, Canadian Woman's Foundation and the Calgary Jewish Community Council and United Jewish Appeal.

In 2000, Ms. Ryder's 25 years of community and volunteer work earned her the Premier's Leadership Award for outstanding volunteer service, as well as the Lighthouse Award from the Calgary Board of Education for outstanding community service. In 2005 she was nominated and was conferrred with an Alberta Centennial Medal by Premier Ralph Klein in recognition of her community leadership.

Ms. Ryder is married to Larry Ryder, with one daughter and is a proud grandmother of three girls.

Lisa Samson is a Principal with Strategy Corp Ottawa, one of the country's leading public affairs and government relations firms. In this role, Lisa brings her wide range of strategic and communications experience to clients all across Canada.

Originally from Calgary, Lisa has been involved in Conservative politics since 1988. After moving to Ottawa, she rose rapidly through the ranks of the party serving in various roles including Media Logistics Director on the 1997 national tour.

Following the 1997 election, Lisa was appointed Assistant Campaign Director for the Reform Party of Canada. As a key member of the national election readiness team, Lisa was involved in the Official Opposition's strategic planning and a variety of sensitive projects. Foremost among these was the United Alternative campaign which was the precursor that eventually led to the realignment of Canada’s political right.

In the 2006 election Lisa was a key member of the Conservative Party war room. She also serves as a frequent media commentator for her Party.

She has two children – Katherine and Thomas.

David is a semi-retired dentist. He is a past president of the Ontario Dental Association. In that capacity he has organized and led several important lobbying initiatives. He is impressively well read on issues related to Israel. He has survived 2.5 years as president of the toughest federation around. He has well established Conservative credentials. Last year, he was appointed to a board that reviews appeals on disability benefits.

Hymie Weinstein, Q.C. is a partner in the law firm of Myers Weinberg LLP specializing in criminal law for the defence. He is a life bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba, member of the Canadian Bar Association, Manitoba Bar Association and Manitoba Trial Lawyers Association. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers.

He has lectured at the Bar Admission Course, the Winnipeg Police Academy, and for eighteen years at the National Criminal Law Program sponsored by the Federation of Law Societies.

Hymie is a past chairperson of the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre and is presently a member of the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. He is also a member of the Board of the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation.

Brent Belzberg was born in Calgary, and resides in Toronto with his wife Lynn, and three children, Bram, Kate and Zack. Mr. Belzberg is currently Senior Managing Partner, Torquest Partners Inc. since 2001. Torquest Partners, based in Toronto, manages in excess of $700M of private equity funds, principally in Canada.

Mr. Belzberg is a director of CIBC; Four Seasons Hotels; DayMen Lowepro. He is a director of Mount Sinai Hospital, and Chair of its Quality Committee; Canadian Council for Israel & Jewish Advocacy, "CIJA" (Founder); and a member of the Toronto Foundation; Dean's Advisory Council, Faculty of Management, University of Toronto Law School.

From 1991-2001, Mr. Belzberg was President & C.E.O., Harrowston Corp. (formerly First City Financial Corp.); he was President & C.E.O., Harrowston Inc. (parent co. of Harrowston Corp.) 1993-2001; and prior to that he was Chairman.&& C.E.O., Harrowston Developments Corp. (formerly First City Development Corp. Ltd.) 1979-2001.

Formerly Mr. Belzberg was Chairman & C.E.O., First City Capital Markets, Toronto 1986-93; Chairman & C.E.O., First City Trust Co., Toronto 1991-92; President & C.E.O., First City Trust Co., Toronto 1989-91; and Solicitor, Tory, Tory, Deslauriers & Binnington 1975-79.

He graduated from the University of Toronto, LL.B (J.D.) in 1975, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976.

Dès son arrivée à Montréal en 1967, Joseph Gabay est intimement associé à la fondation de l'Association Sépharade Francophone dont il sera le président du Comité culturel. Il siègera notamment au conseil d'administration de l'École Maïmonide, du Centre Hillel et de la Fédération Sepharadie canadienne.

Joseph Gabay a assumé la présidence du Centre Communautaire Juif, de la Congrégation Beth Yossef et de la Congrégation Or Hahayïm.

En 1985, il participe à la création de la Communauté Sépharade du Québec dont il sera membre élu jusqu'en 1992, date à laquelle il en devient le président jusqu'en 1996. Joseph Gabay a été officier, puis vice-président de Fédération CJA entre 1993 et 2000.

Officier du Congrès juif canadien région du Québec de 1985 à 1988 et depuis 1993 jusqu'en 2001 date à laquelle il est nommé président, fonction qu'il assure jusqu’en mai 2004. Depuis il est vice président national du Congrès Juif Canadien.

Il a été le récipiendaire de l'Ordre du Mérite Sépharade en 2000, année où il s'est vu décerner le prix de Leadership Exceptionnel de la Fédération CJA. En 2004 il reçoit la Médaille des arts et métiers du multiculturalisme pour son travail dans le domaine communautaire et le rapprochement interculturel.

Joseph Gabay a été professeur de mathématiques au Cégep Rosemont de 1968 à 2002, il est marié à Dolly et est père de trois enfants dont deux vivent en Israël. Ancien élève de l'École d'Orsay, il est connu pour son rôle actif dans la propagation de la pensée juive et de l'exégèse biblique.

Leo Kolber was Chairman of Claridge Inc. until September 1, 1993. For almost 30 years, he was also President of CEMP Investments, the business arm of the trusts established by the late Sam Bronfman. Leo is also known for having established The Fairview Corporation., a leading real estate development company which later became The Cadillac Fairview Corporation. Leo served in the Senate of Canada from 1983- 2004. He was Chairman of the National Revenue Committee of the Liberal Party of Canada. Active in many community, social, cultural and philanthropic activities, Leo was president of the Centre Board of The Sir Mortimer B. Davis General Hospital from 1997-99.