Penny Krowitz, CAE
Executive Director

Penny joined Act To End Violence Against Women, known at that time as B’nai Brith Women of Canada, in 1984. She assumed the role of Executive Director in 1987. 

Since that time, she has guided the organization through a number of significant changes and has played a leadership role in identifying the critical issues facing Jewish women and their families and developing and implementing strategies, programs and projects to strengthen their lives. In the late 1980s, Penny was instrumental in developing a shelter program for Jewish abused women and their children in partnership with Jewish Family and Child Service of Toronto.

Recently, Penny has played a critical role in reorganizing and repositioning Act To End Violence Against Women, giving it a dynamic new face while strengthening its work. Penny is passionate about the issue of violence against women and about the importance of providing education and resources to address this issue. 

She has helped to attract funders, supporters and community members to bring the collective voice of women together to end violence against women. Penny’s belief and passion for the work of Act To End Violence Against Women is clear as she advocates for abused women and for attitudinal changes and works to develop materials and programs to achieve the goals of the organization.

Penny came to Act To End Violence Against Women after an extensive volunteer career focusing on membership development, leadership identification, training and advocacy. Previously, Penny taught elementary school and special needs children.

Penny graduated with Honours with a Certificate in Voluntary Sector and Arts Management from The Faculty of Administrative Studies at York University.  She has a Certificate in Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector Management from The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and she earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in June 1995.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Society of Association Executives as Co-Director of Professional Development and on the membership committee.

Tzipie Freedman
Regional Director, Montreal 

A native of Winnipeg, Tzipie has been JWIC’s Regional Director in Montreal since January 1999. 

She received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Manitoba, and later a Diploma from the Executive Development Course of the Management Institute of McGill University.

She worked at the Winnipeg JCC as Day Camp Director and Supervisor of programs for Children and Teens.  In Montreal, she developed the first JCC Day Camp in Laval, followed by programs for children, teens and families, as well as a department of Educational Services and Cultural Arts.  She later coordinated all Community Services there, and then served as Branch Director. She was also in charge of the JCC’s West Island program in Dollard des Ormeaux. 

She later became Membership Director for the Montreal JCC, following which she coordinated some major projects for Federation CJA.

Tzipie was an elected School Commissioner and served a term as Chairperson of the Laval School Board.  She was a member of the Program Committee of Gilda’s Club in Montreal, and was also active in other community organizations.  She has won various awards for her work and for her community service, including the Canada 125 Commemorative Medal, Certificate of Achievement from the Mayor of Laval, and the Y-JCC Program Staff Award “for leadership, dedication, and outstanding service”.

Liat Lev-Ary Goldstein
Fundraising and Program Specialist

Liat joined Act To End Violence Against Women in 2006 as a program specialist and fundraiser.  During her tenure, she has developed, presented and facilitated curricula and workshops for presentation in high schools, colleges and universities about healthy dating relationships and sexual assault prevention. She has also written educational pamphlets and co-produced a DVD on sexual assault prevention.

Liat has trained approximately 20 young animators to be our facilitators to work with young adults and has planned a national conference on sexual assault for professionals and students. Liat has been extensively interviewed in the written and broadcast media on issues of VAW and has actively utilized social media as a vehicle to promote Act To End Violence Against Women's missions and goals.

Liat has been instrumental in bringing Act To End Violence Against Women's first Library Project to fruition and has coordinated the resources, acquisition of furnishings, books and learning toys for a dedicated children's library space in an abused women's shelter in Montreal.    She has been involved in several Act To End Violence Against Women fundraisers and has attracted donors, supporters, community members and federal and provincial grants to support Act To End Violence Against Women's mission and goals.

Liat was born in Israel where she is a trained lawyer. She moved to Montreal in 2006.

Miriam Navy
National Office Administrative Assistant

  Miriam has spent most of her professional career in the not-for-profit sector of the Jewish community where she has focused on special events, public relations, fundraising and administration.   Prior to that, she was a Registered Insurance Broker who maintained and serviced a $1,000,000 portfolio.   In the health care arena, Miriam is a trained doula, assisting women during the process of labour and childbirth.

 Miriam is a graduate of the Toronto Jewish day school system and lived in Israel after graduation. She served as Assistant to the Executive Director of Cheder Chabad of Toronto for 5 years and has worked with Act To End Violence Against Women (formerly JWIC) since October 2000.