The 1919 founding of Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) has been recognized by the federal government as an event of national historic significance for Canada.

Acting on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Stephane Dion, the minister responsible for Parks Canada, has included CJC’s establishment among 14 new designations of people, places and events that have “helped to shape Canada’s past and contributed to its development as a nation.”

The first plenary session of CJC, held in Montreal at the Monument National from March 16-19, 1919, has been hailed by Parks Canada as “a testament to a major nation-wide democratic exercise” to create a body representative of the Jewish community throughout Canada. The 209 delegates were elected by the approximately 25,000 Jews in the country at the time.

“In addition to giving Canadian Jews unity, national status and a voice on the national and international scenes, the CJC would prove to be a veritable forum for Judaism in Canada, as well as a major force in integrating the Jewish community and in recognizing and channelling the contributions of its members,” the announcement said.

Parks Canada notes that CJC has over its history been “at the forefront of many of the great struggles for human rights, equality, immigration reform and civil rights in Canada.”

A plaque commemorating the founding will be placed in the Monument National at a future date.

CJC welcomed the honour.

“The founding of Canadian Jewish Congress gave Canadian Jews their first opportunity to speak with a representative and united voice on national and international issues of concern to their community,” said Congress’ national president Ed Morgan.

“Canada’s Jewish community has contributed significantly to the fabric of Canada, and this designation commemorates CJC’s place in Canadian history. We are honoured to be counted among the others who have received historical designation, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to represent our community here at home and around the world.”

The three other new events of national historic significance are Canada’s participation in the Boer War of 1899-1902; the establishment of the Polymer Corporation in Sarnia, Ont.; and the Franco-Aboriginal Alliance of 1603 forged at Baie Ste. Catherine, Que. There are now 364 national historic events.

In the last couple of years, Parks Canada has been encouraging the nominations of people, sites and event significant among ethnocultural communities.

CJC national archivist Janice Rosen, who convened an ad hoc committee to make nominations from the Quebec Jewish community, said four other suggestions were made.

They are poet A.M. Klein and Hirsch Wolofsky, founder of the Yiddish newspaper Der Kanader Adler and the English-language Jewish Chronicle, which “seem to be getting serious consideration,” she said.

The other nominations were the old garment district on St. Lawrence Boulevard and further north, and the “Jewish campus” of the 1930s and ’40s around Jeanne Mance Street and Mount Royal Avenue, where many community institutions were located.

The recognition of CJC’s founding comes at an auspicious moment, Rosen said. “At a time where so many Jewish institutions are restructuring, and people are wondering whether we need CJC, it seems to reinforce the significance of an organization that continues after more than 85 years.”