Joel Diener, Co-chair

I identified the need to bring activity to the National Holocaust Monument several years ago when it was void of any activity on Yom Hashoa in 2019. I am a son of a Holocaust survivour, the son of a Partisan fighter who came to Canada to start a new life in a strange land. My father opened up a thriving meat business which my brother and I took over and turned it into an Ottawa institution. I am now retired but am very active in Jewish and non Jewish causes, always looking out for the little guy who needs that little bit of help achieving their goals. I am happy when the Monument is full of people learning the lessons of the Holocaust and when sharing with other persecuted minorities the pain that we and them went through so we can work together preventing these genocides from ever happening again.

Lawrence Greenspon, Co-chair

Born in 1954 in Montreal, Lawrence grew up with his father, a holocaust survivor, liberated from Auschwitz at age 18 weighing 60 lbs. His Dad’s parents and his sister Maja, after whom Lawrence’s daughter is named, were all killed.

As a young boy, Lawrence recalls walking with his dad in the annual Survivors of Nazi Oppression March. Inspired by his father, Lawrence has been a human rights lawyer for over 40 years.

He has been the President of the J.C.C and the Defence Counsel Association and been honored as the Negev Honoree and received the Advocates Society Award of Justice, the Lincoln Alexander Award for Community Service and the Order of Ottawa.

Annette Wildgoose, President

During her extensive career in the Public Service of Canada, Annette has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in national and international sport administration, in particular, having received The Deputy Minister’s Award for dedication and enthusiastic leadership in the area of policy and program development. Annette was also the Director of Legacy and Special Projects for the National Organizing Committee of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

Annette now offers consultation services in leadership and management training, governance and event management.

However, it is her mother’s story of survival and resilience that led Annette to contribute towards the revitalization of the National Holocaust Monument and to contribute towards Holocaust education. Her mother, Alice Meister, was born in Leipzig 1920 and was a Holocaust survivor.

“I hold this volunteer position close to my heart and I am honored to be a member of the National Holocaust Monument Committee and to work along such a dedicated group of individuals. My mother taught me the importance of never giving up and I continue the legacy on her behalf and from those who came before us.”

Annette has recently participated in several documentaries; “39-45 en sol canadien” a 12 part French documentary series hosted by Claude Legault from TV5 and “Hear Their Voices; Ecoutez nos Voix’ by Carleton and Ottawa Universities, a bilingual online course to educate students on the Holocaust and Antisemitism.

Rabbi Idan Scher

Rabbi Idan Scher was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, but frequent trips to Ottawa to visit his large extended family always made the Nation’s Capital feel like his second home. He has fond memories of skating on the canal, playing pond hockey with his cousins, and going to more Senators games than he can count.

Rabbi Scher is a dynamic and sought-after speaker, and a warm and engaging relationship-builder. And though he loves spending time with congregants inside the shul, he especially loves hosting guests for Shabbat meals at his home, together with his wife Shifra, their son Shlomo, and their daughters, Esther and Shayna.

Rabbi Scher earned an undergraduate degree from Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah in New York, a Masters degree in Talmudic Law from the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, and an M.A. in Public Policy and Management from John’s Hopkins University. He holds rabbinic ordination (semikha) from both Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, the director of the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court, and from Rabbi Gedalya Schwartz, the director of the Beth Din of America. Rabbi Scher also studied at Yeshivas Brisk in Jerusalem, where he was a student of Rabbi Shalom Schechter.

Please feel free to contact Rabbi Scher to discuss a life-cycle event, an idea for the shul, or just for a good schmooze! He can be reached at 613.521.9700, or rabbischer@cmhottawa.com

Harry Prizant

Born and raised in Montreal, I moved to Ottawa in 1982 after completing my optometry degree from the University of Waterloo.

My mother, a survivor of 7 concentration camps was from Koscice, Czech and my father who survived labour camps was from sighet, roumania.

The legacy to remember the lessons of the shoah and the promise of “never again” has been instilled in me, which is why the holocaust monument project is so important for our community and for the community at large.

Jonathan Allen

I am the National Executive Director of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem. I am originally from New Waterford, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island and have lived in Toronto for the last 25 years working for a number of Jewish organizations. Prior to Covid, the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem organized the national Yom HaShoah ceremony in Ottawa. During the pause on in-person events during the pandemic and having met with Joel Diener, our Board recognized this ceremony should only be held in person at the National Holocaust Monument going forward. I am honoured to be part of this committee.

Nicole Adwokat

Nicole is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who has joined the Committee to ensure their and others’ stories of that time continue to be remembered by all and shared with future generations.

Andrea Freedman

Throughout her career, Andrea has worked in the non-profit world, primarily in the Jewish Federation movement. She spent six years at Federation CJA (Montreal) including serving as Director of the Israel and Overseas Department. At UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, amongst her many responsibilities, Andrea was responsible for major gift fundraising and corporate partnerships, significantly increasing giving. Working for UIA Federations of Canada, she successfully consulted with communities across the country and provided an extensive demographic study. Prior to joining the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation as President and CEO in 2013, Andrea served as Vice President of Philanthropy and Operations at Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation in Toronto overseeing all operations, governance, annual fundraising, legacy giving and events. On December 1, 2023, she will assume the position of CEO, Ben Gurion University Canada.

Adam Cantor

Adam Cantor joined the National Holocaust Monument Committee in 2023. His professional interests and 20+ years of working in the private sector have been focused in areas where success requires the alignment and integration of a company’s business, financial and change management strategies. Adam is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Masters in Business Administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business. He is Prosci Change Management certified and has the Partners, Directors, and Senior Officers (PDO) certification from the Canadian Securities Institute.

Adam is Chair of the Board and President of the Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care Foundation. He is enthusiastic about hiking, hockey, and travel.