Executive Team
Pauline Colwin
Vice President, Communications
Pauline joined the Federation in May 2013. She is responsible for the marketing and communication needs of both the Federation and the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation, as well as our social media, and websites. Pauline was integral in launching the Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin, which she continues to manage. Prior to the Federation, Pauline was an editor at the Ottawa Citizen. She received an Honours Degree in English Literature from Ottawa University and holds a diploma in Journalism.
Away from work, Pauline enjoys camping with her family, writing, listening to audio books and experimenting with mixed media art.
pcolwin@jewishottawa.com
Rena Garshowitz
Vice President, Operations
Rena is thrilled to rejoin the Federation team as VP, Operations, having spent the majority of her career serving the Ottawa Jewish community. For the last five years Rena held the position of Executive Director at Kehillat Beth Israel (KBI), overseeing all areas of the synagogue’s operations. Before joining KBI, Rena spent seven years at Federation, first as Event Planner and Sponsorship Coordinator before moving over to Annual Campaign manager. She previously held positions on Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park and with a foreign embassy.
The oversight areas for Operations include: Campus Management, Security, Governance, and the Ottawa Va'ad HaKashrut.
In her downtime, Rena enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves experimenting in the kitchen while listening to show tunes.
Connect with Rena at rgarshowitz@jewishottawa.com
Mark Gruner
Chief Financial Officer, Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation
Mark was born in Montreal. He has been working overseas in the nonprofit field for the past 25 years. His focus has been working to help reduce poverty and hunger. Before that, his focus was on helping the people of Bosnia & Hercegovina regain their property rights after the war in the Balkans.
He did his undergrad degree at McGill in Biochemistry and then completed a Graduate Degree in Public Accounting. He did his stage in Montreal with a small firm and then moved to Cooper's & Lybrand. He spends his spare time writing and cooking with his wife Alexandra, who comes from Peru.
He can be reached at mgruner@jewishottawa.com
Anne Read
Vice President Impact, Partnership & Allocations
Anne joined the Federation team in late 2019. Before taking a role with Federation, Anne worked as a consultant to Ontario school boards developing and facilitating equity, diversity and inclusion programs. Prior to that, she was a professor at the University of Waterloo — Anne holds a PhD in Sociology of Religion. Anne started her career as an Assistant Publisher at Ascent Magazine, where she managed a small but mighty team of yogis.
When not at work, Anne is more than likely repainting her dining room, working on her table tennis backhand, or out on her land building bat habitats. Anne has two children, who keep her humble and on her toes.
Anne can be reached at aread@jewishottawa.com