Message from Gail Gould, Executive Director

Do you feel it in the air? The wonderful beginnings of spring and renewal. From the fresh smell of snow melting to longer daytime hours – a sense of hope and promise. As we celebrate spring at the Bernard Betel Centre we will also be focusing on the ’rebirth’ of new programs and services for our members and community participants. This past winter we began the process of operationalizing our new ‘strategic plan’ and looking at the future of the Bernard Betel Centre over the next three years. We will continue to engage in discussion with our membership, past, present and hopefully future members to assist us in implementing the next stage of Betel’s history. Join us for these important discussions as together we continue to grow, renew and celebrate rebirth of the Centre.

Next month, we will be celebrating the return of Connect! Betel’s quarterly program guide. To ensure our members and community participants receive this guide we will be doing a one-time mailing and will have several hundred on-site for individuals who did not receive the mailing to pick up while at the Centre. Because of our commitment to excellence in providing you with the highest calibre of programs and services, we will be introducing some new programs and events over the coming months. In response to the needs of our community, we have decided to maintain our current membership fee this year, however, we will need to raise some of our individual program costs as we continue paying for the best instructors and facilitators. The cost of membership or attending courses at the Centre should never be a barrier for anyone. We will never turn anyone away who is unable to afford our membership fee.

This past January, I returned to hosting my monthly ‘Tea with Gail.’ If you haven’t attended one of these monthly get-togethers, I would be honoured to have you join me for a cup of tea with other Betel Members to chat and share information. In our ongoing attempt to be inclusive and respectful of our diverse membership, I will be hosting separate sessions in both English and Russian.

In the meantime, on behalf of the Bernard Betel Centre staff and Board of Directors, we wish you and your family a healthy, happy spring.

Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim! Enjoy!!

Gail Gould
Executive Director
Bernard Betel Centre