Paperny Family JCC

Welcome Shabbat - June 2025
2025-06-13 10:30 - 11:00 (America/Edmonton) | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
The Paperny Family JCC and PJ Library® invite you to celebrate Shabbat with songs, candle lighting, Kiddush, and hamotzi.

Joyful Harmonies. A Choral Celebration
2025-06-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Experience the magic of harmonies and vibrant performances, celebrating the incredible talent within our community.
An unforgettable evening of music awaits as JCC’s Sharim Children’s Choir, Voices Adult Choir, and special guest choirs: Calgary Music Makers, Cantares Latin Choir, and Irish Cultural Society of Calgary Choir take the stage. This is a musical event you won’t want to miss!

Welcome Shabbat - September 2025
2025-09-12 10:30 - 11:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
The Paperny Family JCC invites you to celebrate Shabbat with songs, candle lighting, Kiddush, and hamotzi.

Rosh HaShanah Market
2025-09-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Join us for a delightful afternoon at the Rosh Hashanah Market! Indulge in a gourmet honey tasting from local Alberta beekeepers, perfect for adding sweetness to your New Year celebrations. Experience the magic of community while finding that perfect gift, mezuzah, bracelet, or decorations, etc.

Threads of Hope
2025-09-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
The Calgary Jewish Federation’s Inclusion Program and the Paperny Family JCC Arts & Culture department invite you to join us to create handmade jewelry and notes of encouragement to be delivered to communities in Israel. Together we’ll practice Tikkun olam and Tikkun ha’nefesh through creativity, inclusion, and giving. This is more than jewelry-making — it’s an act of hope, healing, and solidarity. Food drive: Bring a non-perishable food item between September 14 and 21 (kosher) to donate to The Wynne Thal Pantry.
This event is sponsored by Repair the World.
Register online for this free event.reap

Dough It Yourself Rosh HaShanah Challah Baking
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
The JCC’s Arts & Culture and Adults 55+ departments along with Calgary Jewish Federation’s JAC invite you to make your own round challah, symbolizing a sweet New Year.
Learn to braid, shape, and add festive touches such as raisins or honey. No experience needed. Fun for all ages and experience levels.
Book online

Truth and Reconciliation Day
2025-09-29 06:00 - 20:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Join Pearl for a meaningful drum circle, where she will share the teachings behind the practice.
The program will also feature a hands-on workshop to create Orange Shirt Awareness pins in honour of Truth and Reconciliation.
Register for free online, in person at the Customer Service Desk or by phone at 403-253-8600 x0 by Monday, September 22.
Pearl White Quills is a Blackfoot Woman from the Siksikaitsitapi ~ Blackfoot Confederacy. She is an old-style jingle dress pow wow dancer, traditional hand drum singer, professional beadwork artist, seamstress, and facilitator.

Marking October 7th: A Community Commemoration for Reflection & Resilience
2025-10-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Beth Tzedec Congregation, 1325 Glenmore Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Join us for a powerful and meaningful gathering to honour the lives lost and forever changed by the tragic events of October 7.
The evening will also include the screening of The New Jew: Days of War.
This free event is presented in partnership with Calgary Jewish Federation, Beth Tzedec Calgary Jewish Film Festival and the Paperny Family JCC.
Online registration is required.

Open Sukkah
2025-10-06 10:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-07 10:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-08 10:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-09 10:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-10 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-11 10:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-12 10:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-13 10:00 - 15:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Our beautiful sukkah is open for the community to enjoy by sharing a meal or simply spending time in the festive space.
For more information and to book the sukkah for free, email Yanina Rabinovich.

Welcome Shabbat - October 2025
2025-10-10 10:30 - 11:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada

Chanukah Market
2025-11-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Join us for our annual Chanukah Market!
Come find that perfect gift or must-have for the holidays. Shop handmade goods from independent artists from holiday cards to jewelry, and pick up your Chanukah staples.
For information contact Yanina Rabinovich • 403-537-8596

Jewish Book Festival 2025
2025-11-23 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-24 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-25 10:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-26 10:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-27 10:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-30 10:00 - 17:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
The Jewish Book Festival is a dynamic celebration of culture, community, and conversation.
Through books, we explore the richness of Jewish life past, present, and future. With engaging events for adults, children, and families, the festival invites readers of all backgrounds to connect, learn, and be inspired by the power of storytelling.
Don’t miss the opportunity to browse, discover, and take home a wide selection of Jewish literature for all ages.
To volunteer or become a sponsor email Yanina at yrabinovich@cjcc.ca.
November 23, 24 & 30 : 10am–5pm
November 25, 26, 27: 10am–8:30pm
November 28: 10am–2pm
November 29: Closed
View the full schedule
In partnership with Owl’s Nest Books and Calgary Jewish Community Foundation.

Nosh With Micah
2025-11-23 15:00 - 16:30 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Join registered dietician and author Micah Siva, for a hands-on culinary experience! Learn how to craft a stunning mezze board—perfect for your Chanukah celebration. Each participant will receive a personalized cutting board to use in class and take home. In partnership with PJ Library®.
For: Ages 10 and up.
$18 per person. Register now.
About Micah Siva
Micah Siva (Grobman) is an award winning cookbook author, trained chef, and registered dietitian, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. A Calgary native, Micah fell in love with cooking watching her grandmother in the kitchen. After graduating from the Natural Gourmet Institute of Health & Culinary Arts, she pursued a career in nutrition and later worked for global brands, media outlets, and publications in food media. Micah authored the acclaimed cookbook, Nosh: Plant Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine as well as children’s book, 1, 2, 3, Nosh with Me. She shares Jewish-inspired, plant-forward recipes through her blog, Nosh with Micah. Micah lives in Illinois with her husband, toddler, and sheepadoodle.

Crash of the Heavens
2025-11-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Join acclaimed author Douglas Century as he presents his latest book, Crash of the Heavens: The Remarkable Story of Hannah Senesh and the Only Military Mission to Rescue Europe’s Jews During World War II.
FREE
About Douglas Century
Douglas Century is the author and co-author of numerous bestselling books including Hunting El Chapo, Under and Alone, Brotherhood of Warriors, Barney Ross: The Life of a Jewish Fighter, The Last Boss of Brighton, and Takedown: The Fall of the Last Mafia Empire. His World War II non-fiction narrative, No Surrender, co-authored with Chris Edmonds, was the recipient of a 2020 Christopher Award. Born and raised in Calgary, Century graduated from Princeton University. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and The Guardian.

Chasia’s Enchantment
2025-11-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
A timely and timeless Q&A, with Hilda Chasia Szternfeld Smith, award- winning poet, artist, teacher, healer, and author of Chasia’s Enchantment (Volumes One and Two, Durvile Publishers).
FREE
About Hilda Chasia Szternfeld Smith
Hilda will present Storytelling — Who was and is Chasia? What relevance do these poems, artworks, and meditations have historically, holistically, and universally on both a personal and global stage today?
The internationally and locally award-winning author’s books hold a key to inner peace and world peace. In addition to a Q&A, there will be a poetry reading and storytelling session about what motivated Hilda Chasia and led to her invitation by a Canadian publisher to write these books — and more.
Hilda Chasia is a first-generation Canadian, a retired school teacher with nearly six decades of experience, and an active poet, artist, musician, composer, soprano, spiritual teacher, and counsellor. Her passion for life and learning is unstoppable, as is her ability to share with others our universal and personal need to stay positive and uplifted.

Writing it Right: Family Histories in Print
2025-11-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
Local and overseas, self- and traditionally published, their own family story or someone else’s — we’ve lined up an experienced and talented panel featuring authors: Izak Paul, Sydney Sharpe, and Betty Sherwood, to talk about their experiences with the family history book writing process. Moderated by Maxine Fischbein. In partnership with Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta.
Local and overseas, self- and traditionally published, their own family story or someone else’s — we’ve lined up an experienced and talented panel featuring authors: Izak Paul, Sydney Sharpe, and Betty Sherwood, to talk about their experiences with the family history book writing process. Moderated by Maxine Fischbein.
About Izak Paul
Izak Paul is a retired professor of Biology. During his career, he received three teaching awards. He was the founding Mount Royal University coordinator of the annual Holocaust Education Symposium and served as the MRU coordinator for 30 years. He received a Human Rights Award from MRU as well as four community service awards from Calgary’s Jewish Community Council / Calgary Jewish Federation. Izak and his wife Hindy love spending time with their three amazing children and many beautiful grandchildren here in Calgary and in Jerusalem.
Izak’s book describes how he discovered what happened to his paternal grandparents and great-grandparents during the Holocaust. Izak grew up knowing that they had been murdered in the Holocaust but there was very little information known about what actually happened to them. During a vacation trip in Europe, he visited the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp (near Prague) and unexpectedly discovered Nazi records of his great-grandparents’ imprisonment there and records that described their ultimate fate. This discovery sparked a quest to discover many more details (including Nazi documents) about the tragic experiences of his paternal grandparents and great-grandparents during the Holocaust. It took him over nine years to complete all the research and write his book, Journey of Discovery.
About Sydney Sharpe
Sydney Sharpe is an award-winning author and co-author of 10 published books. They include The Gilded Ghetto: Women and Political Power in Canada; Notley Nation: How Alberta’s Political Upheaval Swept the Country (with Don Braid); as well as biographies of Sam Switzer, Doc Seaman, Clay Riddell, and Alvin Libin.
Sydney was senior columnist for the Calgary Herald, Calgary Bureau Chief for the Financial Post, and has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and anthologies. She was a tenured professor in anthropology and sociology at Athabasca University and MacEwan University.
About Betty Sherwood
Born in Sarnia while her father was stationed there for a wartime engineering project, Betty pursued her education across several Canadian cities, including Edmonton, Sarnia, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, fostering a lifelong love of learning and literature. Betty devoted more than three decades to her career as a teacher and teacher-librarian in Toronto before relocating to Calgary fifteen years ago.
Since then, she has been an active volunteer with Heritage Park, Historic Calgary Week, the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta, and Jewish Family Service Calgary. A dedicated member of the CWLC for the past 10 years, Betty enjoys attending the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, opera, and ballet, as well as traveling and researching her family history. While her preferred reading is nonfiction, she appreciates that the club inspires her to explore a wide range of literary works.
Betty’s past presentation subjects include: Helen Humphreys, Alan Bennett, Shirley Hazzard, and Gary Shteyngart.

Welcome Shabbat - November 2025
2025-11-28 10:30 - 11:00 | Calgary JCC, 1607 90 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4V7, Canada
