Dorothy Reitman, C.M.

Dorothy Reitman is a genuine trailblazer, whose extensive involvement in Jewish and non-Jewish community activism at the local, national, and international levels distinguishes her as an inspirational leader and characterizes her exceptional contributions on the issues of human rights, the status of women, poverty, the elderly, and the environment.

Her volunteerism has been marked by a number of firsts: she was the first female President of the Canadian Jewish Congress (1986-89), and was a founding member of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, of Auberge Shalom, a kosher shelter for abused women, of the Portage Program for Drug Dependency, and, most recently, of the Program for Alzheimer’s Dementia and Dementia (PADD) at the Jewish General Hospital and the advisory committee of the Cyril & Dorothy, Joel & Jill Reitman Centre for Alzheimer’s Support and Training at Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto. She is a past President of the National Council of Jewish Women in Canada, a past Co-Chair of the International Council of Jewish Women, Women in Enterprise and Profession, and a past Board member of La Federation des femmes du Quebec and the Match International Centre.

She has received numerous honours for her community service, including the YWCA Montreal Woman of Distinction (2008), the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Commonwealth Jewish Council Award (1989), and the Montreal Jewish Community Leadership Award (1965). In 1997, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

Dorothy continues to be actively involved in the community. She is the Chair of the Canada Committee of the Commonwealth Jewish Council and Honourary Chair of the Friends Committee of the McGill University Centre for Research and Teaching on Women. As well, she sits on the Board of the Montreal Neurological Advisory Board, Project Chances Foundation, the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, Mazon Canada, the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, and Projet Tolerance.