Canadian Foundation Donates $50 Million to University of Kiryat Shmona

In a transformative boost to Israel’s northern periphery, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation of Vancouver has donated 50 million Canadian dollars to the newly named University of Kiryat Shmona, marking the largest gift in the institution’s history.

The donation will establish the “Roadburg Campus,” a major new academic and research center focused on applied innovation in artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, and regional development. The announcement comes as the region emerges from prolonged displacement and security challenges, and looks toward long-term recovery.

The gift coincides with the Council for Higher Education’s recent approval of Tel-Hai Academic College’s transition to full university status. Now formally named the “Kiryat Shmona University of the Galilee,” the institution is poised to expand both its student body and academic offerings beginning next academic year.

“This is a defining moment,” said University President Prof. Eliezer Shalev. “This extraordinary investment strengthens our role in rebuilding the Galilee through research, education, and innovation.”

Stephen Gaerber, a director of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, emphasized that the timing of the gift was intentional. “This is about supporting the resilience and recovery of Israel’s north through higher education. The Galilee’s future is tied to knowledge, research, and opportunity,” he said.

Founded in 2021 through the estate of Vancouver businessman Ronald Roadburg, the foundation has supported numerous causes in British Columbia’s Jewish community, as well as initiatives related to addiction, climate, and social impact. This new investment cements a growing bond between Canadian Jewry and Israel’s northern frontier.

The university noted that ties between Canadian Jewish communities and the Galilee are deep and longstanding, and described the donation as a “cornerstone gift” as the new university embarks on an ambitious chapter of growth.

By supporting research in AI and sustainable agriculture fields with both local and global importance the Roadburg Campus is expected to attract new talent and drive economic opportunity in the region. For residents of Kiryat Shmona and surrounding communities, the donation symbolizes more than institutional support it is a signal that the north matters.

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