Ward 4 Civic Hero Award presented to Rabbi Yechezkel Deren

May 1, 2019 2:00 p.m.

​Local leader honoured for compassion and community service

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco and Members of Council, celebrated the accomplishments of Rabbi Yechezkel Deren who is the 2018 recipient of the Ward 4 Civic Hero Award. Surrounded by family, friends and loved ones, Rabbi Deren was honoured during today’s ​Council meeting.

 
A long-time resident of Ward 4, Rabbi Deren was formally nominated by Councillor Racco for this recognition. In 2008, he founded Chabad of Maple, an affiliate of Chabad Lubavitch of Ontario, to serve the thriving, dynamic and rapidly growing Jewish community of Maple. Chabad of Maple is a charity dedicated to bringing families together through programs and services.
 
Rabbi Deren cares deeply about supporting the people and families he serves, and this is evident through the various services offered at Chabad of Maple, which includes: the Chabad Maple Hebrew School, a learning centre to enrich students of all ages, and Kids for Kindness, a unique program that allows young children and their families to volunteer their time and talents with older adults. Chabad of Maple remains a popular gathering place for people to renew their faith and to take part in High Holiday services.
 
Rabbi Deren’s ceremonial presentation coincides with the start of Jewish Heritage Month, which is being supported and promoted through the City of Vaughan’s Culture Days program. The City has partnered with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs to help host Jewish Heritage Month and to give the broader community further opportunities to learn, share and celebrate the history and culture of Jewish-Canadians. The City recognizes several cultural heritage months and commemorative days throughout the year. 
 
QUOTES
 
“It is fitting that on the same day we mark the beginning of Jewish Heritage Month, we also recognize Rabbi Yechezkel Deren on earning the Ward 4 Civic Hero Award. Rabbi Deren is a uniting force in the community. Like the many diverse places of worship in our city, Chabad of Maple brings people together to renew their faith and to celebrate among neighbours. Vaughan is fortunate to have Rabbi Deren as one of its spiritual leaders. He is a shining example of why Vaughan’s Civic Hero Awards were created.”
-        Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
 
"Rabbi Deren exemplifies impactful local leadership and I was honoured to nominate him for the 2018 Ward 4 Civic Hero Award. Rabbi Deren is known for engaging, supporting and meeting the needs of the community through warmth, compassion and acts of charity. He strongly promotes the importance of volunteerism and giving back through his work at Chabad of Maple and through his teachings as a sought-after spiritual leader and mentor.”
-  Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco
 
QUICK FACTS
 
  • The Civic Hero Award is presented annually to residents from each of Vaughan’s five wards.
  • The awards recognize outstanding achievement and individual contributions to the community.
  • In April, Mayor Bevilacqua, Ward 2 Councillor Tony Carella and Members of Council presented Deborah McCracken-Nangereke, founder of The Olive Branch for Children, with the Ward 2 Civic Hero Award.
 
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