Vancouver Peretz Institute

Formerly the Vancouver Peretz Institute this organization is actually called the «Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture.»
It was founded in 1945 and is unique in that it offers an alternative to religious studies and functions more as a community centre for the study & preservation of secular Judaism.
I attended classes when I was a kid and I kvetched at the time but it was the only place in Vancouver that offered a non-​religious education. Apparently they still offer Yiddish classes and teen and seniors programs.
They host a variety of public events like dinners and banquets on Passover and Purim and other holidays. All from a non-​religious /​historical perspective. No praying or other boring stuff. And the food is pretty good.
They also host numerous lectures and seminars and multi-​denominational outreach events. Last summer they hosted a week long conference to guests from all over North America. I was given the opportunity to return to present one of the seminar /​workshops. It was a really worthwhile experience and the whole conference was extremely interesting. It was well attended and the Peretz Centre is obviously still a vibrant and essential part of the community.
One of their most important functions is that it houses the largest library of Yiddish literature in Canada and one of the largest in North America.
The building is relatively new. About 10 years old. It has a huge auditorium and stage. Two kitchens, one of which is massive. Classrooms & lounges. They rent the space out for private functions like wedding etc.
An invaluable & often overlooked cultural asset to Vancouver.