Memorial by the Sea: Join us in Vancouver to honour the victims of Iranian massacres

PLUS: Israeli pride beyond the parade, AVI Student Ambassadors recall trip highlights in Venice, celebrating Fête Nationale with CJPAC, and more!

Click the above flyer to register

Six months after the tragic mass killing of Iranians on January 8th and 9th, 2026, we will be gathering our Vancouver community members to remember over 42,000 lives lost. ⁠

Together with our Iranian allies, at the beautiful Spanish Banks Beach on July 12th, 4:30pm, we will honour the victims, reflect on their memory, and stand in solidarity with their families, loved ones, and all those affected.⁠ Light refreshments will be provided⁠.

To register, please click here.

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“Israel’s LGBTQ+ story goes back decades…”

Israel Content Lead and AVI Alumna Ora Bar ends off Pride Month by taking us through a brief history of Israel’s LGBTQ+ story. From the stage and television, to government and the soccer pitch, this country’s sense of “pride” has long extended beyond just Tel Aviv’s famous parade in the month of June.

Contrary to false and hateful narratives, Israel stands as a beacon of tolerance, coexistence, and plurality for all! 

To watch this fun and informative video, please click here.

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On the Venice leg of our Common Ground Italy trip, our Communications Associate Sharon Krasni spoke to Common Ground Ambassadors Uri and Justice, asking them what moment stood out most for them so far – and how encountering Italy’s sacred art, history, and holy spaces has shaped their own sense of identity as a Jew and Orthodox Christian, respectively.

In a place where centuries of beauty and complexity meet, their reflections reminded us that travel is never just about seeing sites but about seeing ourselves and each other more clearly.

At Allied Voices for Israel (AVI), we believe meaningful dialogue begins in moments like these: honest questions, shared curiosity, and the willingness to listen across difference.

⁠To watch, please click here.

Click the above still for more photos from CJPAC's Jean-Baptiste Day festivities

Recently, as Quebecers and francophone communities across Canada celebrated Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, AVI came together with CJPAC, Hillel Montreal, Federation CJA on Campus, and StandWithUs Canada for a BBQ ahead of this important celebration and Quebec’s upcoming election season.

For generations, Jewish Montrealers have been part of Quebec’s civic and cultural life. The evening brought together students, young professionals, and alumni to celebrate that connection and strengthen friendships across our community.

It was also a reminder of the importance of engagement, allyship, and relationship-building. Strong connections help build bridges, ensure diverse voices are heard, and strengthen our place within Quebec society.

We are especially encouraged to see the next generation stepping up, getting involved, and willing to elevate their community.

To see more photos, please click here.

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AVI Common Roots Ambassador Alexa ran "Can you Run a Country?" with BC USY (May 20, 2026)

Teens from the Langley community in British Columbia recently came together for a fun and interactive Shavuot program “Can you Run a Country?”, in partnership with AVI and USY.

The event was led by Common Roots Ambassador Alexa. Through candy, teamwork and creativity, participants built their own “countries” while exploring leadership, collaboration, and community values. Alexa also shared meaningful lessons from her experience in the program, inspiring fellow teens through her leadership and initiative.

Click the above still to watch

“To be indigenous means you gotta be connected to the land, learn your language, and tradition.”

In honour of Indigenous History Month, we shared a throwback to our Building Indigenous-Jewish Friendship Symposium, where AVI, CAEF,⁠ Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem, and Kanada House brought together Indigenous and Jewish leaders, academics, and advocates from across Canada to explore shared values, ancestral connections to land, and global paradigms of education and identity.⁠ ⁠

During the symposium, we asked attendees of all backgrounds what indigeneity means to them.

To hear their meaningful responses, please click here.

Click the above graphic to read Consul General Idit Shamir's full speech at our recent Building Indigenous-Jewish Friendship Symposium

Consulate General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada, Idit Shamir, gave a powerful speech at our Building Indigenous-Jewish Friendship Symposium. 

“I am Idit. It appears in the Bible. And it means... fertile earth. My parents gave me a name, and that name is the land itself. Not a symbol of the land. The land.

“When someone calls my name, they are invoking something ancient, soil that has known rain and drought, sun and shadow, and the footsteps of my ancestors for thousands of years,” said Idit in her speech. 

“I have carried that land in my name every single day of my life, before I could speak a word, before I knew what it meant. I tell you this because I believe you understand it.

“You know that land is not where you live. It is who you are. It lives in your language, your ceremonies, your children's names, your dreams. The connection cannot be legislated away, negotiated away, or narrated away by someone who finds it inconvenient.”

To read Idit Shamir's full speech, please click here.

Click the above photo for AVI's Canada Day message

AVI’s Founder & Executive Director Daniel Koren delivered an important message on Canada Day, reminding us of the importance of upholding sacred Canadian values of plurality, diversity, coexistence, and understanding.

To listen to his message, please click here.