The Canadian Friends of The Hebrew University (CFHU) and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem will honour business leader and local philanthropist Joe Bova with the 2011 Scopus Award at a gala dinner at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on Monday, May 16. The Scopus Award is the highest honour conferred by the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University to individuals who demonstrate leadership and involvement with humanitarian causes throughout their careers, and who have excelled in their respective fields. Named for Mount Scopus, where The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s first cornerstones were laid in 1918, this award has come to symbolize the University’s highest ideals.

Mr. Bova is being presented the 2011 Scopus Award in tribute to 'his lifelong dedication to cultural philanthropy, his leadership in fostering community renewal, his extraordinary professional career, and for his concern and respect for the Jewish people. Our community and The State of Israel have a stalwart friend in Joe, as demonstrated by his tremendous interest in and generosity toward Jewish and Israeli causes,” states Faith Kaplan, CFHU Manitoba Region President. “We are delighted Joe has accepted this overdue honour, and look forward to celebrating his many achievements in the company of his friends.”

Dinner co-chairs Gisele MacDonald and Abe Anhang are enthusiastic about the Scopus Gala dinner. “We are honoured to be chairing an event where one of the most generous and giving individuals we know will be recognized. Joe is a gentleman whom we are both proud to claim as a dear friend. The Scopus Gala dinner is an opportunity to recognize an individual whose quiet leadership has improved the lives of so many people.” Honourary co-chairs Gail Asper and Nathan Jacobson concur.

Proceeds from the Scopus Gala Dinner will go to support collaborative research at the Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada (IMRIC), located at The Hebrew University’s Ein Kerem campus in Jerusalem.

For more information, please contact Sharon Zalik, Executive Director of CFHU Manitoba Region, at 942-3085 or [email protected].

Joe Bova
Joe founded the Man-Shield Group of Companies 39 years ago with partner Terry Ferraro.   He is the past President of the Man-Shield Group of Companies and Director of Gibraltar Concrete Canada Ltd., B & F Masonry Canada Ltd., Laureate Developments Inc., Man-Shield Construction Inc., and DonEve Holdings Inc. The Man-Shield Group of Companies have their head office in Winnipeg, with other permanent offices in Thunder Bay, Calgary, and Edmonton, and are involved in development and construction projects from Ontario to B.C.

Joe graduated in 1971 from the University of Winnipeg with a BA (honours) in Political Science and Economics, and was awarded an honourary doctorate by that University in 2000.  He was also the recipient of The Entrepreneur of the Year Institute’s 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Manitoba region.

Joe has served in various capacities on a number of Boards of Directors, including the Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, the Italian Canadian Communities Development Corporation, the Manitoba Theatre Centre, the Winnipeg Library Foundation, the Manitoba Opera Association, the Misericordia Health Centre, the Sons of Italy, and the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University.

Joe’s involvement in community development spans four decades. He was a member of the Company of Young Canadians and worked with the Italian and Portuguese communities in Winnipeg’s West End.  He represented the University of Winnipeg, Institute of Urban Studies as an organizer on the Roosevelt Park Project. He organized the Corydon Merchants Association to plan the renewal of Corydon Avenue. At the request of then Mayor Susan Thompson, he co-chaired The Main Street Task Force with Mary Richard to direct the redevelopment of the area bounded by William Avenue, Princess Street, the Red River and Higgins Avenue. The City of Brandon engaged him to lead a development consortium which generated a concept plan, market analysis, building and site assessment, and prospecting for potential tenants for the Brandon Mental Health Centre site. Man-Shield recently completed construction of Chabad-Lubavitch of Winnipeg’s new Jewish Learning Centre, providing Chabad Lubavitch with a permanent new facility.

Born in southern Italy just after World War II, Joe has made Winnipeg his home since 1962. He and his wife Eveline have 2 sons.