Canadian citizen with 'deep ties to Ottawa' killed by Hamas, Jewish Federation of Ottawa says

A Canadian citizen living in Israel who has deep ties to Ottawa was killed by Hamas, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa says.

CEO Andrea Freedman spoke on behalf of the family of Adi Vital-Kaploun.

"Our family lost a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin," Freedman said, reading from the family's statement. "Her children are miraculously home and safe, but she is not. She was murdered by terrorists in her home just for being Jewish."

Adi Vital-Kaploun was 33 years old and was living in Kibbutz Holit, a small community near the border with Gaza.

"Her love was like rays of sunshine warming the world around her with her smile, her warmth and compassion," Freedman said.

The family's statement described Vital-Kaploun as an amazing mother and an amazing woman with many talents, from dance, to saxophone, to basketball. She had recently completed her Master's degree in chemical engineering. She worked in cybersecurity. She had dual citizenship and considered herself a proud Israeli and a proud Canadian.

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"Adi loved her country of Israel... Adi also loved Canada and was a proud Canadian citizen from a local Ottawa family with deep community ties," Freedman said.

Freedman explained that the family wanted to tell her story, but out of respect for their privacy, Freedman did not reveal any of the specific details of Vital-Kaploun's death.

"We want the world to remember Adi for who she was, not for how she was brutally taken from her family, from her friends, and how society will never benefit from the myriad of contributions that she still had to give," Freedman said. "She's got a very large extended family in Ottawa and they are deeply mourning right now."

Freedman said the scale of war can sometimes obscure the individual stories of the people involved.

"I think why the family was willing to share her story with all of you is because we get lost in numbers sometimes," she said. "We hear that 1,100 Israelis were brutally murdered. We have trouble seeing their faces. We have trouble remembering that all of these people were somebody's child, they were somebody's mother, who had friends and family who are in deep, deep mourning. Adi's family was willing to share her story so that you could have a face of one of those 1,100 Israeli families who are shattered, all because of the terrorist entity Hamas."

Alexandre Look, of Montreal, and Ben Mizrachi, of Vancouver, are the other Canadians who have been identified as victims of Hamas attacks. 

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told reporters after Wednesday's city council meeting that he had spoken with a family who lost a loved one in Israel on Tuesday.

"Yesterday, I spoke with a family member who has lost someone in Israel, someone who was killed by the terrorists, and over the last few days I've been following the events and it really breaks my heart to see what's happening there," he said. "My thoughts are with all of the victims and all of the families in Ottawa that have been affected by what's been happening over the last few days."

Sutcliffe later posted on social media to say he was devastated to learn of Vital-Kaploun's murder, identifying her as the granddaughter of a prominent Ottawa shop owner.

"I spoke with Adi's mother and family members today to offer my support and my deepest condolences on behalf of Ottawa residents," Sutcliffe said.

To date, the federal government has confirmed two Canadian deaths in the conflict that began this weekend. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Global Affairs Canada’s assistant deputy minister for consular security and emergency management Julie Sunday have only said that a third death is "presumed", as Israeli authorities have not provided confirmation.

FULL STATEMENT FROM FAMILY OF ADI VITAL-KAPLOUN

Our family lost a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin. Her children are miraculously home and safe, she is not, she was murdered by terrorists in her home, just for being Jewish. Adi Vital-Kaploun, 33-years old, was a beautiful person, with a warm soul that touched her family and friends with love. Her love was like rays of sunshine, warming the world around her with her smile, her warmth and compassion.

Adi was an amazing mother, teaching her children and nurturing them in a loving and caring way, focused on their development and place in this world. Adi was so completely moved by the love she had for her husband cherishing every day they had together making a life for her family. Adi brought love, laughter and a sense of purpose to her parents and siblings, the one always leading the way in a very close family. Adi was an amazing woman with so many talents. She expressed herself through her dance, playing saxophone, and was an amazing basketball player. Adi was driven from a young age on a path to success in everything she set her mind to do, having recently finished her Masters after completing a degree in Chemical Engineering, and had a very successful career in cybersecurity. Adi loved her country, Israel. She lived on the land in a kibbutz surrounded by her mishpacha. Adi also loved Canada, was a proud Canadian, from a local Ottawa family with deep community ties, and made sure to convey this pride to her children.

We are standing with the people of Israel in their fight against the terrorists that undertook this heinous act. Adi will be greatly missed by her family and many friends; we are in mourning trying to process this unconscionable act of terrorism in her kibbutz Holit and across the country. May her memory be for a blessing.