The Jewish Public Library Announces New Executive Director

(January 9, 2024) The Jewish Public Library is delighted to announce the appointment of Alain Dancyger as the Library’s new Executive Director, effective January 15, 2024. Mr. Dancyger succeeds Michael Crelinsten, who is retiring after 12 years of service. Mr. Dancyger brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit arts and cultural sector, most recently as the Executive Director of des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal.

On behalf of the board and the JPL staff, JPL Board President Robert Bohbot wishes to thank Michael Crelinsten for his passion, dedication, and devotion in leading the JPL over the last 12 years.

Mr. Bohbot also said he is delighted to welcome Alain to JPL’s executive management team.

“His extensive experience in arts and culture management, his strong creative ability, and the breadth of his achievements, are undeniable assets in developing a dynamic and forward-looking vision for our institution.”

Mr. Dancyger said he is delighted and honoured to join the team and the many friends and volunteers of the JPL on the eve of its 110th anniversary. “This important institution traces the lives of all the individuals who not only shaped our collective history, but also made significant contributions to the knowledge, enrichment, and development of our community. It is a celebration of the human spirit and its creativity, of its ability to imagine a world where we can all live together respectfully and harmoniously. What better mission could there be?”

A man of vision, a creative spirit, and a seasoned manager, Mr. Dancyger has presided over the dynamic development of the Centre Saidye Bronfman and des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montrèal, advocating an open and inclusive approach to the world, favoring a holistic vision rooted in the valorization of human beings and their creative capacities. The move of Les Grands Ballets to the Quartier des spectacles, the creation of the first dance-therapy center on the international scene, the Nutcracker Market and the Nutcracker Fund for underprivileged children, the Loisirs division, as well as the development and international influence of Les Grands Ballets, are among his many achievements.

Mr. Dancyger has been a member of numerous boards and committees of organizations and institutions, including the Regroupement québécois de la danse, the Canadian Arts Summit, the Holocaust Centre, and the Canadian Dance Assembly. He has also been a frequent speaker at cultural and educational conferences in Montreal and internationally, and has acted as a consultant in strategic analysis, management, and governance for NPOs. He has also been a guest professor in HEC Montréal’s Arts Management program. In 2018, he was named Officier de l’ordre du mérite by the French government in recognition of his overall contribution to the artistic and cultural world.