MONTRÉAL, QC – This evening, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) hosted its annual Words & Deeds Leadership Awards, in recognition of leaders whose contribution to humanitarian causes, pluralism, and civil discourse in Canadian society is truly outstanding.

The 2018 Words & Deeds Leadership Award honoree was Mr. Charles Sirois, a pioneer in telecommunications and a leader in the not-for-profit sector. Sirois has led campaigns for, among others: Centraide; ORT; Québec Cancer Foundation; and the Segal Cancer Centre at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital. He also, with his wife, Susan McPeak, founded the McPeak-Sirois Group for Clinical Research in Breast Cancer.

Charles Sirois is a recipient of the Order of Canada, was appointed Knight of the Ordre National du Québec, and inducted into Canada’s Telecommunications Hall of Fame.

“Tonight, the Jewish community honours Mr. Charles Sirois with the Words & Deeds Leadership Award for his remarkable contributions to the lives of Quebecers and Canadians across the country,” said David J. Cape, CIJA Board Chair. “Mr. Sirois’ commitment to strengthening Canadian healthcare through research and investment has had an immense and positive impact on so many Canadians. We are delighted to celebrate him this evening. On behalf of the CIJA Board, I congratulate him on receiving this honour.”

“Mr. Sirois’ remarkable vision and success in the field of communications, his active leadership in developing entrepreneurs across the globe, and his commitment to the charitable sector make him an ideal recipient for the Words & Deeds Leadership Award,” said Joel Reitman, Vice-Chair of the CIJA Board and Words & Deeds Dinner Co-Chair. “His relentless commitment to progress and his dedication to our community are a testament to his strength of spirit.  We are very pleased to be paying tribute to his work.”

Additional Information:

• Hundreds of leaders from the business, academic, cultural, and volunteer sectors join federal, provincial and municipal politicians to salute the dedication of our honourees to community-building at a gala dinner.
• The Words & Deeds Leadership Award recognizes leaders whose contribution to humanitarian causes and to tolerance, inclusion, and civil discourse in Canadian society is truly outstanding. Recipients of the award are those who demonstrate – by their Words and Deeds – that the efforts of one can benefit many.
• Photos will be available here throughout the evening

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA.

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For more information, please contact:

Adir Krafman
Manager, Senior Manager, Media Relations
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
416-820-6871 – akrafman@cija.ca