TORONTO — Two people who have helped the Israeli community in Toronto were recognized at Beth Chabad’s fifth annual Spirit of Community Dinner.
From left are Sam Ciccolini, who received Beth Chabad’s community spirit award; Rabbi Yisroel Landa of Beth Chabad; and Bill Fisch, also a recipient of a community spirit award. Below: Rabbi Landa with York Regional Police Chief, Armand P. La Barge. [Eli Amon photo]
Attended by about 800 guests, the June 4 event, hosted by the Beth Chabad Israeli Community Centre, honoured York Region chairman and CEO Bill Fisch and entrepreneur and philanthropist Sam Ciccolini.
“[These individuals] ask not what everyone else can do for them, but what they can do for [their] fellow people,” said guest speaker Rabbi Yossi Jacobson.
Fisch started off as the ward councillor for the town of Markham and is now in his fourth term as chairman and CEO of York Region. He received the community service award for his role in developing the communities of York Region, an area with a large Israeli population. Fisch played an important role in creating York Region’s Viva Rapid Transit bus system and helped to plan two future subway expansions into York Region.
“Bill has established himself as a person who gets things done,” said Markham mayor Frank Scarpitti. “He is an admired and respected community leader [and he] represents the long journey of creating one of the best regions in the country.”
Fisch, who was born in a displaced persons’ camp in Germany, spoke about York Region’s diverse community.
“I take great pride that I, personally, played a small part in making our community such a great place to live in. Twenty years ago, I’m not even sure I knew where the region was, now it’s Ontario’s rising star. It has a vibrant economy, [it’s] multicultural and ethnically diverse and its population is growing,” he said.
Ciccolini, the co-owner of Masters Insurance Limited and a recipient of the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada, was given the community spirit award for philanthropy. Ciccolini has supported Beth Chabad, as well as the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Hospital for Sick Children and Youth Bocce Canada, which helps athletes with disabilities in the Greater Toronto Area and York Region.
“Sam is a highly regarded, successful entrepreneur, but with his busy day he still makes time to support [the community],” said Ciccolini’s friend Bonnie Silver.
At the dinner, Beth Chabad raised about $250,000 for its community centre, which serves the Israeli and Hebrew-speaking population in Toronto and York Region.
After dinner, Rabbi Jacobson spoke about the importance of supporting the Jewish community.
“The human being wasn’t created only for herself or himself, but for [others],” he said. “There’s a mission statement behind each soul. Every individual is [here] to make a difference.”