(May 6, 2013) Winnipeg – The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg’s annual Kavod Evening in celebration of community volunteers will take place on Wednesday, May 29th at 7:30pm at Congregation Etz Chayim, 123 Matheson Avenue East.

Larry Vickar will receive the Sol Kanee Distinguished Community Service Medal in recognition of his many years of service to the Jewish and general communities. Larry has been a Federation board member, Chair of Financial Resource Development, CJA Campaign chair and Israel Mission co-chair, and received the 2009 Max and Mollie Shore Award. Larry was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Larry and his wife Tova have been honoured by the Jewish National Fund and Winnipeg’s Filipino community. They founded the L’Arche Tova Café in Winnipeg, and have been involved in water development projects in Israel. They also support cooperative projects between Israelis and Palestinians. Larry’s current community participation includes the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, the JNF and the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation. He has worked in the automotive industry for over 40 years and is a Canadian Automobile Dealers Association Laureate winner in the Ambassadorship Category.

Gerry Kalef will receive this year’s Max and Mollie Shore Memorial Award. Gerry received Federation’s Shem Tov award in 2000 in recognition of being a Combined Jewish Appeal canvasser for over 30 years and having served numerous terms on the Budget and Allocations Committee. He also canvassed for the Asper Campus and Simkin Centre capital campaigns, was President of Glendale Golf and Country Club, and served as board treasurer for the Sharon Home, Ramah Hebrew School and Mount Carmel Clinic. His community service extends into the general community, where he has served on the boards of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Foundation, Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg, the Long Term Care Association, and Skills Unlimited (STEPS). Gerry graduated as a Chartered Accountant in 1955 and was awarded Fellowship in 1978. He is President of Fort Garry Care Centre and operates an independent living and supportive housing complex.

The Larry Hurtig Jewish Communal Professional Award will be presented to Leslie Marks, who served our community for 30 years as Executive Director of the YMHA. Les graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Masters of Social Work degree in 1962, following his entry into the faculty as a recipient of a YMHA JCC Social Work Scholarship. Les was a Social Work Field Instructor and Group Work Lecturer at the University of Manitoba’s School of Social Work until 1970, a post he held concurrent with his position at the Y. His volunteer contributions include Past President of the Manitoba Association of Social Workers, and five years as a division director for the United Way Campaign. He continues to serve as a Commissioner with the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission. Les was honoured by Herzlia-Adas Yeshrun Synagogue for his service to community with a Professionals’ Award in 2012.

Two Young Leadership Awards will also be presented. Aileen Berger-White will receive the Max Nathanson Young Leadership Award and Dov Secter will receive the Harry Silverberg Young Leader of Distinction Award.

Shem Tov awards will be presented by Federation’s beneficiary partners Aleph-Bet Child Life Enrichment Program to Marc Zynoberg, B’nai Brith Jewish Community Camp to Irwin Corobow, Camp Massad to Paula Sturrey, Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre to Marlene Golden, Jewish Child & Family Service to Murray Hyman, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg to Marilyn Raber, Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada to Abe Anhang, Rose & Max Rady Jewish Community Centre to Eric Sawyer, Shalom Residences to Joe Elfenbaum, and Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education to Marshall Stitz. Na’ama Miller will receive the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Teaching Excellence.