TORONTO — Reena Foundation’s 2008 tribute dinner honouring Tony and Elizabeth Comper is set for June 2 at the Sheraton Centre.
Gary Sim, foundation president, said they are honouring the Compers because of their immense contribution to both the Jewish and the general community.
“Their work has [helped] make the world a more accepting, tolerant [place.]”
In 2005, the Compers founded FAST (Fighting Anti-Semitism Together), a coalition of non-Jewish Canadian business and community leaders who have vowed to speak out against anti-Semitism, after the number of anti-Semitic incidents reached a record high in Canada.
FAST’s two objectives are to encourage prominent non-Jews to publicly denounce anti-Semitism – both headline-making incidents and remarks that may come up in everyday conversation – and to encourage schools to use its educational package, intended for grades 6 to 9.
In other community involvements, Elizabeth worked on the board of the Tarragon Theatre, helped raise money to fund the first Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, a non-profit centre with special sensitivity to Chinese and South Asian cultures, and is active with the Canadian Council for Diversity.
While Tony was a chief executive at the BMO Financial Group, he set up a task force to discover why so few women were bank executives, resulting in an increase to 34 per cent from nine per cent in these positions.
He also launched initiatives to support the hiring of visible minorities, aboriginals and people with disabilities.
Sim said the annual dinner honours people who have made an impact on the community. “They were very open to the idea of being honoured by us, and told us that they are struck by the profound work we do. They told us we ‘do God’s work.’”
For tickets or information, call Dayna Bleeman, 905-764-1081, ext. 30.
