We call on the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity to stop enabling the art-washing of war crimes and genocide
The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is allowing the Azrieli Foundation and other organizations to art-wash war crimes and genocide.
From September 3 to 6, the Banff Centre is hosting the Banff International String Quartet Festival (BISQFest). Among the sponsors is the Azrieli Foundation.
A bit about the Azrieli Foundation: The Azrieli Foundation (TAF) is a Canadian charity that has significant investments in the Azrieli Group, an Israeli real estate company. It was established in 1989 as a public foundation. It also has ties to The Azrieli Foundation Israel, TAF’s Israeli counterpart.
TAF donates significant amounts to Israeli universities that are tied to the Israeli military. TAF also provides fellowships to former Israeli military personnel, including those who participated in the genocide in Gaza, and those who are acting as consultants for Israel’s Ministry of Defence.
It is also worthwhile noting a few things:
- David Azrieli founded both the Azrieli Group and the Foundation. In 1948, he was part of the paramilitary Haganah group. His unit, the Seventh Brigade, was responsible for the “Battle of Jerusalem” which forcibly displaced approximately 10,000 Palestinians.
- As of the company’s last financial report (June 2025), they held about 2.3% of the Bank of Leumi (an Israeli bank that provides “financial foundation and services for settlement activities and settlement expansion”).
- Both foundations have significant investments in the Azrieli Group. The Canadian organization holds 8.55% of the company’s shares, and the Israeli foundation 5.69%. The only other investor with more shares is the Azrieli Holdings Company with 55.62% of Azrieli Group shares. You can see a full list of investors here.
- All three institutions share directors, namely Sharon Azrieli and Naomi Azrieli, who are on both boards. Additionally, Amir Gissin is on both Foundation boards. Finally, Dana Azrieli Hakim is on the Israeli Foundation board and her husband Danny Hakim is on the Canadian Foundation board.
- In Canada, Azrieli Foundation gives significant funds to other Canadian charities across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and the arts, and in this case The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Learn more about The Azrieli Foundation in this regard.
Learn more about the donors to the Banff Centre including Azrieli and others.
The Azrieli Foundation’s support for various Canadian organizations, such as hospitals and arts performers, is simply an attempt at cultural ‘washing’ (e.g., artwashing, sportwashing, pinkwashing). To reject these attempts, we must first expose them!
Email the leadership at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity to insist they stop art-washing war crimes and genocide.
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Actions have started as “Together We Demand the CRA End the Canada to Israel Charity Pipeline.”
Congratulations to Belleville for Justice and Peace who were in front of the Belleville CRA office to kick off the two week of action!
As you plan your action, be it at a CRA office or another location, let us know! Register your action.
We also have resources you can use! Flyers, posters, social media templates and more! Check out these resources you can use!
More details below on how you can get involved, be it as a group or individual!
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For decades, Canadian charities have funnelled taxpayer-subsidized funds to Israel. Some send money directly to support State activities, including illegal settlements and military operations. Others give indirectly to pro-Israeli organizations that spread zionist propaganda and anti-Palestinian racism.
We call this the Canada-to-Israel Charity Pipeline, and we’re here to shut it down!
Join us for our third annual year of action!
From August 31 to September 12, our communities will directly confront complicit organizations, demanding they stop using charitable donations to fund genocide, apartheid, and the illegal occupation of Palestine.
Join the Action
Together, our communities will directly confront complicit organizations, demanding they stop using charitable donations to fund genocide, apartheid, and the illegal occupation of Palestine.
1. Choose a complicit organization in your area.
2. Plan an action that targets them.
This can be a phone or email blitz, a leaflet or poster campaign, social media posts, a rally, or any other creative idea!
3. Register an action
Let us know about it by filling out this form or by emailing us at info@justpeaceadvocates.ca” style=”color: rgb(17, 85, 204) !important;”>info@justpeaceadvocates.ca
We’re here to help you! If you’d like our assistance with any of these steps, including finding a complicit organization and brainstorming an action, shoot us a message at info@justpeaceadvocates.ca” style=”color: rgb(17, 85, 204) !important;”>info@justpeaceadvocates.ca
Read more >>
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Various ways to get involved
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A few of the focuses that various groups are considering include. You may want to consider these or other approaches.
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Christian Organizations
While Palestinian Christians continue to fight against the occupation of their lands and genocide of their people, Christians in Canada fund it. This is why it is important to expose Christian Zionism. Check out one example: International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). Find out who is funding IFCJ and demand they end support for genocide.
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University Groups
Canadian universities have accepted funding from organizations that promote Zionism and fundraise for Israeli settler infrastructure and the Israeli military and donor families and individuals with ties to Israel’s Crimes. We identified $188.8 million worth of funding from 27 pro-Israel donors between 2000 and 2025.
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Boycott Indigo Books
Not sure where to start? An easy way to get involved is by targeting Indigo Books. Unfortunately, nearly every city in Canada has at least one Indigo Books stores. Its founder, Heather Reisman, and her husband, Gerald Schwartz ave founded multiple charities, most notably The Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman Foundation and the HESEG Foundation. Together, they assist non-Israeli’s in joining the Israeli military – all with tax subsidized dollars.
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Arts, Medical, and Education Orgs
The Azrieli Foundation’s support for various Canadian organizations, such as hospitals and arts performers, is simply an attempt at cultural ‘washing’ (e.g., artwashing, sportwashing, pinkwashing). Check out their full list of recipients to find a target.
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