About us

Who Are We?

The purpose of the Canadian Friends of the École Biblique (CFEB) is to advance the academic study of religion by offering scholarships to Canadian graduate-level students and academics to study and do research at the distinguished École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusalem.

When funds are available, the CFEB also contributes to library acquisitions and IT enhancement, teaching, and other academic projects at the École Biblique.

The CFEB is a registered charity under federal statutes in Canada, a status that allows us to provide funds that will enhance Canadian academic life to an approved education institution outside the country.

History of the CFEB

The CFEB was established by Dr. William Klassen, a Canadian professor of New Testament, in 1995. In its early years, it raised money for a major renovation, expansion and modernization of the century-old library of the École Biblique.

When this project was completed in 2001, the Canadian Friends redirected their fundraising priorities to providing the opportunity for Canadian graduate students and professors to study and conduct research at the École Biblique.

In 2014, the Quebec section of Alumni and Friends of the Ecole Biblique (established by Prof. Guy Couturier in 1975) merged with the CFEB.

Since 2003, the CFEB has granted more than 30 scholarship awards totaling more than $155,000. Other projects have been undertaken as funds permit (see CFEB PROJECTS).

 

News

Our president, Dr Michael Higgins, began a two-year term as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College in Vancouver, BC on July 15, 2020.

Congratulations to CFEB Board member Dr Peter Warrian on his recent appointment to the Order of Canada!

 

 

Our Board

The CFEB Board consists of scholars and non-scholars, Protestant as well as Catholic. The board meets three to four times a year.

Michael W. Higgins

President, Author, biographer and Distinguished Professor of Catholic Thought, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT

 

Dona Harvey

Vice-President, Retired journalist and editor, Waterloo, ON

Rev. Edward Jackman

Secretary-Treasurer, Priest, historian, philanthropist, Kleinburg, ON

Eleanor Clitheroe

Anglican priest and Military Chaplain, St. Catharines, ON

Sandra Demson

Retired family lawyer and Presbyterian elder, Toronto, ON

Jean Duhaime

Emeritus professor of Biblical Interpretation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC

Dr. Marie de Lovinfosse, CND

Professor of Biblical Studies, Institut de formation théologique de Montréal, Montréal, QC

 

Michel Gourgues, OP

Faculty of Theology, Dominican University College in Ottawa, ON, and guest teacher at the École Biblique, Jerusalem

 

Dr. Peter Warrian

Senior Research Fellow, Comparative Program on Health and Society, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto

Murray Watson

Adult Faith Animator, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board

Administrator

 

 

Former board members include:

Glenn Byer, Editor
Lorraine Caza, CND, professor and former superior general of the Congregation of Notre Dame
R.P. Guy Couturier, CSC, President Emeritus, retired professor, l’Université de Montréal*
Chris Foley, Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Tim Hegedus, Retired Professor, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary
Philippe LeBlanc, OP, Founding Vice-President, international human rights worker, Toronto
Jean-Jacques Robillard, OP, Founding President, former prior in Jerusalem and provincial of the Canadian Dominican Province
Joseph Sinasac, publishing director of Novalis, Toronto

*We are sad to report that Fr. Guy Couturier passed away on May 9, 2017 at age 88. We shall miss him.

Founding Director

 

William Klassen, Retired professor of New Testament, Principal Emeritus of St. Paul’s University College, University of Waterloo