Sara Vered

Sara Vered has for all her life believed in the importance of culture. She feels that reading a good book, listening to a concert, going to the theatre, looking at beautiful paintings, all bring us to a higher sphere of being and opens us to a world beyond ourselves. At the same time, Sara believes in education. She was instrumental in bringing the exhibit, Treasures of the Holy Land from the Jerusalem Museum to the Royal Ontario Museum to show the influence of Middle Eastern culture on Western culture.

In addition, to foster a better understanding of Judaism in Canada, Sara established The Vered Canadian Jewish Studies program at the University of Ottawa. Sara supported the National Gallery of Canada and worked as a docent to teach children how to look at paintings. She also enjoyed teaching tourists that came from all over the world how Canadian painters view nature by using the colours and forms of nature from the magnificent Canadian landscape to create their art.

Sara actively supports the NAC Orchestra Mentorship Program for promising young musicians. Sara and her family have supported the NAC since 1998. In 2002, Sara was presented with the Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award by the Ottawa Jewish Community, Vaad Ha’Ir. In 2009 she was honoured at the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Dinner for her commitment to the Jewish Community both in Canada and Israel. In recognition of her outstanding contributions in the Community, Sara was among the first 15 recipients of the Order of Ottawa in 2012. In 2014, Sara’s contributions were further recognized when she was named to the Order of Canada.