In response to the ongoing status of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Rady Jewish Community Centre has been forced to undertake a number of drastic measures in order to minimize the potential further spread of illness.
March 13, 2020 – Rady JCC cancels or postpones all onsite and offsite programs and classes for the foreseeable future.
March 16, 2020 – Rady JCC closes doors to fitness and aquatic centre at 3:00 p.m., affecting over 5000 members. All memberships and ongoing payments are frozen at no cost to the members.
March 17, 2020 – The 48th Annual Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sports Dinner, scheduled to take place Tuesday, May 12, 2020, is officially cancelled.
March 19, 2020 – Effective end-of-day March 31, Rady JCC regretfully proceeds with layoffs to over 90% of staff until further notice.
“The decisions the Board has had to undertake in the past number of weeks are some of the most difficult in our rich community history,” said Lindsay Sawyer Fay, Rady JCC President. “We are guided by our responsibilities as community partners to ensure we are doing our part to curb the spread of COVID-19 while fighting this global pandemic. The impact to our valued team, members, and community saddens us all and it is with profound regret we write this chapter at the Rady JCC. We look forward to doing our part to support the #stayathome movement so that we may find brighter days ahead and celebrate welcoming everyone through our doors again.”
Both of the Rady JCC Early Learning Centres, the Kaufman Child Care Centre and David and Ruth Asper Early Learning Centre, have been approved by Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) to provide continual care for front line workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“The impact of this virus is not unique to our organization,” said Rob Berkowits, Rady JCC’s Executive Director. “It is being felt throughout our city, country, and around the world.”
The Rady JCC aspires to be a vibrant and welcoming community where Jewish culture and values flourish, where families and friendships are strengthened, where healthy and active lifestyles are encouraged, and where it contributes to the well-being of the entire community by ensuring its programs and services are available to all.
“We here at Rady are a family,” said Berkowits. “I anticipate the day we can be together again, stronger than ever.”