A message from Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO Jewish Federation of Edmonton

by Stacey Leavitt-Wright

(Edmonton) – As we mark National Volunteer Appreciation Month, it feels important to say this plainly: volunteers are the backbone of Jewish life in Edmonton. Without them, there are no festivals, no commemorations, no programs that educate, inspire, or connect us across generations. Their gift is time, but the impact is belonging.

Jewish community does not happen on its own. It is built carefully and lovingly by volunteers. By people who arrive early and stay late. Who schlep, cook, plan, welcome, remember, and stand. Often quietly. Always generously. The secret sauce to a Jewish Federation is how we can support and partner with our volunteers who continuously show up for our community.

Showing up also means building for the future. As our new Oshry | Kipnes Jewish Community Centre emerges, it is being guided not only by vision, but by volunteers who have taken on the careful, complex work of stewardship—asking thoughtful questions, offering professional expertise, and holding the long view of what our community will need in the decades ahead. Their leadership is a reminder that volunteering is not only about what happens today, but about creating the foundations for Jewish life tomorrow.

In the weeks ahead, that same spirit of presence will be visible again. At the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival, volunteers help transform films into conversations—spaces where stories deepen understanding and spark connection. Later this summer, at the Israel Pavilion at Heritage Festival, volunteers will once again welcome thousands of visitors with warmth, dialogue, and pride. These moments of public Jewish life happen because people choose to say yes.

Volunteering is not about filling a slot or checking a box. It is about stepping into relationship. Many volunteers will tell you—often with a smile—that they receive more than they give: friendships formed, purpose renewed, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing they helped shape something meaningful.

Community does not endure because of buildings or budgets alone. It endures because people say Hineni, here I am—to each other, to memory, to responsibility, and to hope.

To every volunteer who has shown up this past year, and to those who will in the months ahead: thank you. You are the steady hands and open hearts that hold our community together.

Stacey Leavitt-Wright is CEO, Jewish Federation of Edmonton.