Rosalind Goodman

Rosalind Druker Goodman grew up in Outremont and received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English from McGill University in 1963. From the age of 17, Rosalind took on the role of a committed and professional volunteer and community leader.

Some examples of her leadership include serving as founder and Chair of the first Mazon Food Fest to feed the hungry, helping to launch the organization that is now in its 17th year; bringing the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Musée Pointe-à-Callière in Montreal; chairing the United Jewish Communities (UJC) International General Assembly, involving over 1,000 volunteers and 3,500 delegates; and bringing the Tel Aviv University photographic exhibit “Visas for Life” for public viewing at the Université de Montréal and Montreal City Hall.

Rosalind has served in many leadership roles in Montreal and in Canada, and has chaired numerous gala events. McGill University has always remained close to her heart and she was the driving force behind several inaugural events, including The Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC) Gala in June 2010 on the McGill University campus; the GCRC Public Lecture Series and the Dr. Marla Shapiro Public Forum. Through the passionate involvement of the volunteers that she recruited, these events have not only raised significant funds for the GCRC, but have also brought awareness of cancer research and treatment into the public eye.

Past honours include the State of Israel Bonds, the Jewish Public Library and Mazon. In addition, Rosalind was honoured as the 2009 recipient of the Kipnis – Wilson Friedland Leadership Award at the National Women’s Philanthropy-United Jewish Communities Conference in Washington, D.C.

Not one to sit still, Rosalind is currently involved as a board member of the Allegra Chamber Music Group; National Executive and board member of National Women’s Philanthropy; board member of Canadian Friends of Hebrew University and Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University and Montreal Co-Chair of the Canadian Friends of the Israel Museum.

As co-founder with her husband, Morris of The Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, Rosalind works tirelessly to support and strengthen hundreds of charitable organizations in Canada and to inspire new generations of volunteers and professionals.

Rosalind has been married to Morris, Chairman of the Board of Pharmascience, for almost 50 years. She considers that her most creative role was in bringing up their four children - Debbie, David, Jonathan and Shawna, and in “leading by example” as a woman who truly cares about the needs of others. Three of her children are also McGill graduates and she is grandmother of nine.