Eliana Di Biase to be honoured by Jewish community

Vaughan Weekly
April 1, 2014  

They say that behind every great man, there is a great woman. This is particularly the case with Eliana Di Biase, wife of Regional Councillor and former Vaughan Mayor Michael Di Biase.

That’s the message of Chabad Flamingo, a Thornhill-based Jewish community centre, that has announced it will honour Mrs. Di Biase with a Woman of Valour award. The award will be presented at a ceremony during the Chabad Flamingo annual gala on June 9.

“The annual gala will recognize and honour the unique virtues and contributions of exceptional women who have made a difference in our wider community,” said Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, Spiritual Leader of Chabad Flamingo and Chaplain with the York Regional Police, holding rank of Inspector. “At the same time, it will applaud these women for their simultaneous traditional roles of being a constant support, pillar of strength and inspiration for their families, an accomplishment that is rarely acknowledged in today’s world.”

Mrs. Di Biase, a resident of Vaughan, will be honoured at the Chabad Flamingo event along with two other Vaughan-based women – Gila Martow, newly–elected MPP for Thornhill, and Faygie Kaplan, wife of Rabbi Kaplan and Director of the Thornhill-based Rose Schwartz Nursery School.

In announcing the selection of Mrs. Di Biase for the Woman of Valour award, Rabbi Kaplan explained that her ability to successfully balance both the traditional and modern feminine roles, with the “added privilege and burden of living a public life,” is an extraordinary achievement.

“Eliana Di Biase has successfully synthesized and harmonized the diverse roles of being the matriarch of the family while being committed to the betterment and welfare of our free, inclusive Canadian society, including the Jewish community,” he said.

An educator with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), Mrs. Di Biase was a teacher at North York-based St. Jane Frances Catholic School for more than 30 years. Currently Director of the Vaughanwood Ratepayers Association, she was previously Director of Hospice Vaughan and has been active in a wide range of organizations over the years, including the Canadian Cancer Society, Variety Village, the Woodbridge Soccer Club, the Woodbridge Swim Club, St. Michael’s College School, St. Margaret Mary Church and the Share Life Committee.

Mother of three children, Mrs. Di Biase now divides her time between helping to take care of her seven grandchildren and aging parents, as well as supply teaching for the TCDSB.

“I’m truly honoured and very excited to receive this award,” Mrs. Di Biase said. “The Jewish community is so fortunate to have Rabbi Kaplan and his wife, Faygie, as leaders – even those from our community who have heard Rabbi Kaplan speak are so inspired and can listen to him all day.”

For more information about the Chabad Flamingo gala and to reserve tickets to the event, please visit www.chabadflamingo.com or call 905-763-4040.