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Oct. 28, 2005
JCC has growing pains
Groups shuffled to accommodate need for space.
BAILA LAZARUS
The Lower Mainland Jewish community is growing and the squeeze
is being felt at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver
(JCC).
Some of the agencies within the centre are going to be moved around
in order to accommodate the need for more space; some might even
have to look elsewhere. The organizations involved are the Jewish
Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV), Canadian Jewish Congress
(CJC), Canadian Friends of Hebrew University (CFHU) and, possibly,
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Habonim/Camp Miriam, Na'amat
and Shalom B.C.
The issue of office space came up when the JCC sent a letter last
year to each of its tenant organizations, asking what their future
needs would be. Federation indicated that they would be needing
a minimum of 500 more square feet, according to JCC executive director
Gerry Zipursky.
"We've been working very hard in trying to accommodate all
the needs of all the agencies," said Zipursky. "Federation
being an anchor tenant of the centre and [having] a very important
presence in the building, the domino effect occurred insofar as
we had to look at ways we could accommodate them."
In order to create contiguous space into which Federation could
expand, that meant CJC, next door, would have to move into the offices
of CFHU. Friends of Hebrew U is now looking at space on the third
floor, which might affect Na'amat and NCJW. The various organizations
affected are now in discussions with the JCC board and with each
other to see who's going where.
"Our goal would be not only to keep peace but to serve as best
as possible and accommodate all the needs of communal agencies,"
said Zipursky. "But there is a reality and that is our community
is growing. Agencies such as Federation have increased needs for
office space and things are different than they were 15 years ago."
Some of the agencies have asked the JCC to consider changing some
of the program space, including the board room and gallery, into
office space to fulfil their needs, said Zipursky, but he added
that's not something the centre are in a position to do.
"We're first and foremost a community centre, not an office
wing, and our first need is to continue offering programs and, as
most people know, when they come into the building today, they see
it's busier than it's ever been," Zipursky said, adding that
the centre is now getting more than 3,000 people through the building
per day.
Out of about 40 or 50 Jewish community agencies, groups and associations
in the Lower Mainland, only 10 have a formal presence in the JCC.
That doesn't include groups that might sub-lease or share office
space, but who don't have lease agreements with the JCC.
Zipursky admitted that the JCC administration has received criticism
due to the office shuffling, but said that programs and services
are a priority. He added that they are requesting that organizations
that currently have a little more space or perhaps an extra desk
accommodate some of the smaller organizations just so they can operate.
In terms of determining priority as to who gets first choice on
staying at the centre, Zipursky said they look first at organizations
that have been involved with the centre and who often co-sponsor
programs with the JCC (such as CFHU's Stretch Your Mind educational
series).
"That's part of the consideration, but I think the other thing
is that our priority is to work with organizations who are in a
financial position also to pay the rent," Zipursky said. "If
we get some organizations who are only able to survive if they find
other organizations [to share the space and rent], to us, it's not
like we don't care, but our priority has to be dealing with those
who are in a position to fulfil or execute an agreement."
As of press time, members of some of the organizations affected
said a letter had been sent to the JCC board to discuss the situation,
but they would not comment further on the matter.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and
illustrator living in Vancouver.
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