May 2, 2007 New Board heralds new era for ORT Toronto The election of a prominent judge as President, together with nine new board members, is seen as the dawn of a new era for ORT Toronto. We have made some headway in recent years and ORT Toronto is no longer the citys best kept secret, said ORT Toronto Executive Director Lindy Meshwork. By reaching out to the broader community we have raised ORTs visibility. With the addition of our new President and Board of Directors we are entering a new era for ORT Toronto. We are all very optimistic about the future. ORT supporters in Toronto are particularly excited by the election as President of Madam Justice Sandra Chapnik. Through her work at Ontarios Superior Court of Justice and for various communal organisations, Justice Chapnik enjoys a high public profile. Madam Justice Chapnik is an experienced fundraiser who is highly respected and extremely well liked, Ms Meshwork said. Madam Justice Chapnik has received several honours and awards including the Award of Distinction and the Award for Distinguished Service from the Canadian Bar Association, and the Womens Law Association Presidents Award. I am excited by the wonderful opportunity to make a difference by becoming associated with this remarkable organisation, Madam Justice Chapnik said. Explaining her decision to support ORT, she said: There are two major plagues threatening our world today; they are crime and poverty. The best way to confront these difficulties, and stem the tide of violence, is through education changing the world one student at a time. Members of ORT Torontos new Board at their first meeting. Her predecessor as President, Carrie Katz-Lehman, said the injection of new members to the Board, of which she is a member, with Madam Justice Chapnik as President was already having an effect. Last week we had our first board meeting. The energy in the room produced new ideas and new undertakings. Sandra and I know we are heading for a big piece of the pie in the Toronto community, Ms Katz-Lehman said. Under her presidency, ORT had managed to raise its profile on Torontos radar screen thanks to the initiation of events such as A Local Hero in a Global Village. ORT Torontos growth was set to continue under its new leadership, she said. Our network is growing, she said. For example, the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews would like to do a project with ORT. Another significant and inspirational event is the projects North American travelling exhibition, Journey of Hope Shanghai Ghetto, which we are doing with Living Bridge International. Also attending the reception at which the new board was installed were Past Presidents of ORT Canada Renette Berman, Harriet Morton, Dorothy Schoichet and Ruth Druxerman. Ms Druxerman, who chaired World ORTs international campaign to found the Braude College of Engineering in Karmiel, said ORT Toronto was set to contribute to ORT projects worldwide. We help people from around the globe to improve their lives, making this a better world, she said. It is important that we involve the next generation in these global initiatives. ORT must support the next generation. The world has become a smaller place and we must be responsible for children everywhere. With Ms Katz-Lehman and Madam Justice Sandra Chapnik on the new Board are: Rose Baum, Matthew Biderman, Richard Bogoroch, Sheila Collin, Sam Wales, Ruth Druxerman, Leila Feldman, Harold Franks, Garron Helman, Loretta Helman, Past President of ORT Vancouver Shelley Lederman-Klein, Maureen Levinas, Shabtay Levy, Michael Miller, Riky Moldaver, Nathalie Rethazy, Professor Marilyn Smith, Anne Sone, Mary Richmond and Madam Justice Gertrude Speigel.