Initiatives
November 18, 2009 BBFF hosts a Peace Soirée, that both acts as the launch event for the Canadian Peace Grantmakers Network, and serves to develop a network around constructive peace and non-violence initiatives.
October 2009 BBFF pays for 40 youth from Leave Out Violence and 50 students from schools associated with the Centrale des sydicats du Québec/Écoles Vertes Brundtland program to attend the Dalai Lama¹s public talk at the Bell Centre in Montreal entitled "Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion."
August 2009 BBFF supports the Dalai Lama's visit to Montreal through a stand-alone contribution to the planning and organizing of the visit. The BBFF was especially interested in the central theme of the visit, "ethics through education." This visit included both a public talk at the Bell Centre entitled "Educating the Heart: The Power of Compassion," and, most significantly, an event at which the Dalai Lama met with over 500 teachers-in-training, who will be instituting Quebec's new Ethics and Religious Culture program in the coming years. (For further information regarding the visit, see: www.dalailamamontreal2009.org)
Summer/Fall 2009 BBFF creates the Canadian Peace Grantmakers Network, in order to lay the groundwork for peace initiatives — defined as positive, practical and productive efforts to create a more non-violent society — to be a more effective area of philanthropy. (For further information about the Canadian Peace Grantmakers Network, see: www.cpgn.ca)
November 2008 BBFF contributes to inter-religious dialogue and understanding through its contribution to the screening of the film "The Imam and the Pastor," as organized by Inititatives et changements.
November 2008 BBFF makes an initial contribution to human rights group Equitas, in support of their ³Play It Fair² toolkit, and in recognition of the program¹s award-winning quality.
June 2008 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation is playing a key role in supporting an initiative of the Centre de ressources sur la non-violence (CRNV), entitled Option Paix/Option Peace. The initiative is intended to provide a safe and effective way for those who value peace to fund activities in the domain.
May 2008 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation announces its support of an initiative to improve the quality of mediation services in China. The Foundation is donating $25,000 as seed money to assist with the start-up phase of a project that is intended to (a) provide mediation training, initially through the Center for Legal Action for Pollution Victimes, (b) create a mediation centre, under the auspices of the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), and (c) develop a dual-degree program between Woodbury College and the CUPL. See more on boston.com.
April 2008 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation doubles its support of Amnesty International, as a gesture of support for the important human rights work undertaken by the organization.
April 2008 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation continues its
support of Community Advocacy Lod, an effort to empower a highly
underprivileged Israeli community, while building bridges between its
ethnically diverse population. Community Advocacy is an important
element of the McGill Middle East Program in Civil Society and
Peacebuilding.
February 2008 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation web site is launched, at www.bronfman.ca.
29/7/07 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation provides the very first grant to support activities in Montreal celebrating United Nations International Peace Day for 2007.
25/4/07 – The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation provides the funding needed to move the Montreal office of Leave Out Violence (LOVE) to a bigger, brighter and more centralized locale at 460 St. Paul East in Old Montreal. The office's Gallery is dedicated to the memory of LOVE co-founder and BBFF original board member Harry Hopmeyer.
7/12/06 - The Brian Bronfman Family Foundation, in conjunction with David Bronfman, helps to complete the final philanthropic project of the Edward Bronfman Family Foundation, successor to the BBFF. Through this endeavour, the Post Partum Unit of the Jewish General Hospital is restored, renovated, and renamed in Edward Bronfman’s memory.