Special announcement from Federation: Strengthening security for our Jewish communities in Alberta

(Alberta) – Jewish Federations of Edmonton and Calgary are jointly making a special announcement regarding the security needs of the Alberta Jewish communities. They jointly stated the following:

Jewish Federations of Edmonton and Calgary are pleased to announce a major step forward in enhancing the safety and security of our communities. Through generous grant funding from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and in partnership with the Canadian Jewish Security Initiative, both Federations are now formally part of the LiveSecure program—North America’s largest philanthropic effort to strengthen security across Jewish communities. The LiveSecure initiative was launched to ensure every Jewish Federation has the infrastructure and support needed to safeguard community members, institutions, and events, particularly in an era of rising security concerns across the continent.

The safety and well‑being of our community members have always been central to our missions. Jewish organizations throughout Canada and the United States increasingly recognize that professional, coordinated security efforts are essential. By joining LiveSecure, Edmonton and Calgary become part of a broader, continent‑wide network of communities committed to shared best practices, training, and proactive risk reduction, supported by national collaboration and unified standards. This program has already contributed to the rapid expansion of Community Security Initiatives across North America, growing from 25 to more than 100 programs in recent years.

Our Federations have worked diligently to bring this opportunity to our communities. Inspired by the successful approaches taken elsewhere, Edmonton and Calgary are taking a similarly strategic and collaborative approach as part of the Canadian Jewish Security Initiative. This progress reflects the generosity and commitment of donors, partner organizations, and community leaders who, like others across Canada, have recognized the importance of investing in long‑term community security.

New security director to be hired

As part of this initiative, the Federations will hire a Regional Community Security Director who will serve both Edmonton and Calgary. This professional will guide and coordinate a comprehensive approach to community security in Alberta, informed by national models that emphasize local leadership supported by centralized resources such as research, command‑and‑control, crisis management, and training hubs in Montreal and Toronto.

The Director will maintain relationships with law enforcement, strengthen preparedness and response across institutions, and ensure that our communities benefit from the unified threat assessment, shared learning, and national collaboration that are central to the broader Canadian Jewish Community Security Initiative.

By joining the LiveSecure program and the Canadian Jewish Security Initiative, our Federations are ensuring that Edmonton and Calgary benefit from strong security infrastructure, national expertise, and coordinated support—helping to keep our communities safe, confident, and resilient. More information about LiveSecure and its impact across North America can be found through the Jewish Federations of North America. We look forward to sharing ongoing updates as we implement this important initiative and begin the search for our Regional Community Security Director.