With more than five decades as a Pharmacist and a deep commitment to community life, this longtime KBI member brings thoughtfulness, attentiveness and humanity to everything he does. Norm has long been one of the quiet forces behind KBI’s day-to-day life. He is also involved in the L’dor V’dor Society’s “Life & Legacy” initiative, which aims to help secure the Shul’s future for generations to come. To raise awareness, services will be dedicated this Shabbat on June 6th, to this vital endeavour. In conversation with Communications and Marketing Committee member Suzan Zilahi, Norm contemplates a life shaped by care, connection and community.
1. Where did you grow up and what was your vocation?
I grew up in Montreal, mostly in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG). After earning my Pharmacy degree from the Université de Montréal in 1966, I worked at several locations across Montreal for many years.
2. What inspired you to become a Pharmacist?
Around Grade 10, my parents arranged aptitude testing, which suggested Pharmacy would be an ideal profession for me because I was analytical and enjoyed working with people. I’d never seriously considered it before, but it was a good fit.
3. When did you leave Montreal for Ottawa?
In 1978. I had been considering a move, and a colleague had just moved to Ottawa and taken over a pharmacy at Les Galleries de Hull, which worked well with my Quebec license. I moved shortly after that and immediately began working toward my Ontario license. I retired a little over eight years ago, after 51 years as a Pharmacist.
5. When did shul life become important to you?
Not right away. I wasn’t affiliated when I first moved to Ottawa. I met my wife here through a close friend in 1979, and we married in 1980. What truly brought us into shul life was our special daughter, Vicky. We adopted her and when she was a teenager, the Tamir Foundation ran a Bat Mitzvah program at Agudath Israel that helped participants learn and prepare. We then joined Agudath and later moved to Beth Shalom before the two Congregations amalgamated in 2015.
6. What do you love most about the community now?
The people. When I moved from Montreal, I knew very few people. My wife comes from a large “old Ottawa” family, and through family and congregation, I built friendships that go back decades. It became a network. It became home.
7. From serving on multiple shul committees, to acting as a past Board Vice-President, Gabbai to keeping Yahrzeit lists up to date and coordinating weekly honours, to making Costco runs so the shul can prepare Kiddushim for congregants – you’re known for lending an invaluable hand and paying close attention to people. How did you develop that skill?
As a Pharmacist, you see people regularly. You learn their names, their stories, what’s happening in their lives. You notice. You remember. That carries over into community life too by showing up when it matters and making people feel welcome and valued
8. How do you relax?
Playing golf provides me an opportunity to turn off the noise and relax for a few hours. It is said that “golf is a good walk spoiled.” I disagree. It makes a good walk even better.
9. Is there something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I was in the West Hill High School instrumental music program in high school, and I used to play violin, flute and other instruments but don’t ask me to play now. I seriously considered pursuing music as a career but realized it would be a hobby and not a career. I love most kinds of music, as long as it doesn’t involve screaming.