For five decades, the Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre (JDD) has helped hundreds of young people struggling with mental health challenges by providing them with the skills and support they need to reintegrate into the mainstream education system. On June 3, we celebrated the JDD’s 50th anniversary at our Dining at the Diamond event.

The event was hosted in the school's newly renovated backyard. Students and staff from the JDD proudly welcomed guests to a 5-course dinner crafted by James Beard-nominated chef and JDD alumnus Jordan Wagman, along with a team of talented volunteer chefs. With 150 community members and donors in attendance, we shared smiles, stories from students, and delicious food.

Thanks to the generosity of our many donors and event sponsors, Dining at the Diamond raised $80,000 to support the JDD. These funds will be used to enhance mental health support, counselling and other unique school programs.

To view the photo gallery from the event, please click here, and to watch the highlights video, click here.

JF&CS has seen a rise in community members experiencing mental health challenges. As a result, we have partnered with the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto to create a workshop designed for participants to help identify the early warning signs of mental health struggles. The workshop teaches the tools and skills needed for community members to identify, communicate with, support and provide resources to those experiencing mental health issues. 

The workshop is for those who interact and/or work with youth or adults. Participants in the workshops might be group leaders, camp counsellors, teachers, spiritual leaders, peer engagers, educators, friends, parents, etc. We aim to help participants identify, understand and provide initial responses to those struggling with their mental health and wellness, and engage in supportive, nonjudgmental conversations about why mental wellness is important.

We are currently offering the workshop free of charge in a group format (suggested size: 12 to 25 participants). For more information or bookings, please contact Shirley Shedletsky at SShedletsky@jfandcs.com or 416-638-7800 x 6260.

JF&CS is extremely grateful to all the individuals and families who open their homes to our children and youth in care. Our caregivers are dedicated to providing a safe space full of warmth and compassion, which is why we recognize them with a summertime celebration every year.

This year, our celebration was held at the Lipa Green Centre, decorated with balloons and banners. Magician Mike Durzo left our guests with a sense of inspiration and awe, blowing everyone away with his illusions and tricks. Children and youth in care participated in the show, heading up on stage for some of the tricks, eliciting smiles and laughs from everyone in the room. 

Lunch was catered by Kapara Kitchen, serving up a huge 8-foot-long challah stuffed with kosher schnitzel and all the best sauces and sides. 

With everyone's bellies full from the schnitzel and their hearts full of joy, we were so happy to celebrate another incredible year with all our children and youth in care and their caregivers and families!

June is recognized as Pride Month, with Toronto hosting Canada's largest Pride celebration. This year, JF&CS was proud to once again participate in several ways, showing our support for the Jewish 2SLGBTQI+ community in the GTA. 

Hanging in our reception area is a Pride flag with an extended yellow stripe. This serves as a powerful symbol of our agency's continued advocacy for hope and freedom for all while honouring the hostages still being held in Gaza. 

We also heard from Israeli Transgender Activist Daniel Brosh, who shared his personal story about overcoming hardships and building a path to self-love while raising a family in Israel during a time of war. He led a meaningful discussion with staff about identity and what it means to be a Jewish person with many intersectionalities. Everyone in attendance was left feeling contemplative, inspired, and hopeful.

To conclude the month, JF&CS marched in Toronto’s Pride Parade, joined by other Jewish organizations and community members in a united delegation organized by CIJA. We were proud to be part of the largest Jewish delegation marching in a PRIDE parade worldwide - over 100 strong. Staff were met with words of love and acceptance as we showed our unwavering support for the Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ community. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped us demonstrate that JF&CS is a safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ people.

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