Dayhu Group gives $5M in support of JWest

December 14, 2022

At this time of year in particular, we are reminded of the generosity that exists within our community. It’s this generosity that makes our Jewish community here in Greater Vancouver special and unique. With this in mind, it is with gratitude and appreciation that we announce a generous gift of $5 million to the JWest project from the Dayhu Group of Companies in association with the Ben & Esther Dayson Charitable Foundation, under the leadership of Shirley Barnett and Philip Dayson.

Shirley Barnett and Philip Dayson were one of JWest’s first supporters, providing seed funding early on for the project. They were pleased to see that their visionary gift was a portion of the $25 million match that met the Diamond Foundation’s historic $25 million gift to the JWest capital campaign.

The Dayson family’s connection to Vancouver runs deep, and their involvement with the Jewish Community Centre spans a remarkable four generations. In the 1920s, Boruch Deezik z”l (later becoming Ben Dayson z”l) and Esther Nemetz z”l, together with her large family, immigrated to Canada from Russia. What’s amazing about their story is that although they were both from the same village, they never met until they came to Canada.

Ben and Esther Dayson's z"l wedding at original JCC in 1936

On a chilly February day in 1936, Ben z”l and Esther z”l were married at the original JCC located on Oak St. and 11th Ave. Settling first in Saskatchewan, they moved to Vancouver in 1949. After a short time as a merchant in Marpole, Ben z"l founded Dayhu Investments, which later became a leading real estate investment development and property management company. The generations that followed have carried on the Dayson family legacy not only in real estate but also in giving back to the community by supporting causes within the Jewish community of Canada, Israel, and in the wider community. Priorities of their philanthropy have always been and continue to be for projects that support the basic needs of those less fortunate than them.

Both Philip Dayson and Shirley Barnett have fond memories of attending the former JCC as youth—particularly the dances, clubs and community meetings, all of which taught them the importance of being part of the Jewish community and giving back. As lifelong supporters of the JCC, their major contributions in the past include The Dayson Boardroom and The Ben and Esther Dayson Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Centre. In 2001, Shirley Barnett was an honoree of the JCC Gala. Now, the JCC continues to have a multi-generational impact on the family, with the youngest generation of Daysons making their own memories as they participate in JCC programs and events.

Alex Cristall, chair of the JWest capital campaign, had this response to the gift:

“The Dayson family have been pillars in Vancouver’s Jewish community for more than three generations, and through this generous gift, they have demonstrated their continued commitment to Jewish life in Vancouver. The multigenerational hub that they are helping to make possible will enhance the lives of Lower Mainland residents, and we are so grateful for the early enthusiasm from the community for this project.”

JWest project rendering

We are filled with gratitude for this gift, which will support our vision of delivering a state-of-the-art community centre, expanded space for the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, a new theatre, and in the second construction phase, a relocated high school and two residential towers that will provide mixed-use rental housing (a portion of which will be offered at below market rates). This was incredibly important to the Dayson and Barnett families, who appreciate the integration of schools, activities, support and social housing for its community benefits.

Shirley and her brother Philip had this to share:

“Fundamentally, we believe that the Jewish Community Centre plays an integral role in an inclusive and healthy Jewish community, and it will provide a welcoming social, cultural, recreational and educational asset for all to enjoy. Our family has long appreciated the celebratory and community aspects of the Jewish Community Centre. The JWest project is the most important undertaking in the history of this region, and we hope that our gift inspires others to contribute to this space that will be a critical resource for thousands of people of all ages and from all walks of life.” - Shirley Barnett

“It was the desire of our parents to support those both within the Jewish community and those outside of it. The Jewish Community Centre is not only the heartbeat of Jewish life in Vancouver but also continues to be an inclusive, welcoming place for all. We are particularly thrilled that this new campus will include much-needed social housing and that the residents of these towers will be able to enjoy the vital programs, services and amenities next door to them. We are privileged to be able to support this project at such an early stage “ - Philip Dayson

We’d like to thank once again the Dayhu Group and the Ben & Esther Dayson Charitable Foundation for their support of one of the largest capital projects currently underway in Vancouver. This project is not possible without the support of donors and the encouragement of the community. We will continue to provide updates on the campaign and opportunities for how the community can contribute to the project.

We gratefully acknowledge the support this project has received from the Government of British Columbia, which gave $25 million to the project. We also share our deepest gratitude to the Government of Canada, who recently also gave $25 million to the redevelopment of the JCC.