FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEWISH COMMUNITY WELCOMES INVESTMENT IN B.C. HATE CRIMES UNIT

Vancouver, B.C. – July 4, 2025 – The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver thank the Government of British Columbia for its critical investment in the province's RCMP Hate Crimes Unit, which will see its staffing capacity expanded from two to eight full-time investigators.

This announcement comes as B.C. experiences a troubling surge in hate crimes, with the Jewish community bearing the brunt of the violence. A recent survey found that 62 per cent of Jewish British Columbians have experienced an antisemitic incident. 

“It’s a difficult experience for any British Columbian to be a victim of a hate crime, but knowing there’s a specialized unit with the resources and expertise to respond in a timely and effective way makes a real difference,” said Ezra Shanken, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. “This investment by the provincial government will not just help instill confidence that justice will be served, but also provide an essential foundation for healing and a sense of safety.”

“Our community has made it a longstanding priority to work with the Government of British Columbia on ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary resources to do their job,” said Nico Slobinsky, Vice President, Pacific Region, CIJA. “Today’s announcement sends a clear message: all communities targeted by hatred and discrimination in B.C. will receive the protection, peace of mind, and justice they deserve.”

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Media Contact

Sara Bandel
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver
sbandel@jewishvancouver.com

Nicole Amiel
Director, Media Relations and Communications
Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
namiel@cija.ca 

About the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver 
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver is the central planning, convening, facilitating, and fundraising organization for the local Jewish community. Through the Federation Annual Campaign, special project funding, and the Jewish Community Foundation, the Jewish Federation generates the funds needed to meet community needs today, tomorrow and for years to come. Jewish Federation works collaboratively with more than three dozen partner organizations, unifying their work. Together, we touch the lives of thousands of community members locally, in our partnership region in Israel, and around the world.

About the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada by advancing the public policy interests of Canada’s organized Jewish community.