About Our Founder, Ami Reiss

Ami Reiss was born and raised in Montreal, and loves the people, culture, communities and spirit of this world-class city. Beyond that, he knows that the city is only as great as its neighborhoods. The diversity of Montreal’s communities and neighborhoods not only makes the metropolitan area extraordinary, but also makes investing in, developing and managing rental units for the people of Montreal challenging — and fun.

As the founder of Reiss Management, Ami is an authority on Montreal real estate, trusted by tenants, landlords, owners, investors and building managers throughout the region. He has accumulated a portfolio of high-value apartment rentals in a variety of city and suburban neighborhoods. Ami’s expertise and experience span projects large and small, from the simple apartment in Laval to the Palais des Congres, where he served as project manager during the construction of this downtown landmark.

His involvement in Montreal real estate began in 2009, with the purchase of select properties for his inchoate portfolio. Five years later he founded Reiss Management, quickly building it into an engine of innovation, excellence and discovery.

To understand the foundation, you must first understand the background, perspective and life philosophy of Ami Reiss. As an Orthodox Jew with values predicated on the Torah, Ami studies the foundational texts of his faith every day, and strives to put these core beliefs into practice in his daily life.

This tradition and set of principles is the compass he uses to find my purpose and inspiration. Charitable giving, or Tzedaka as it is called in Hebrew, is a fundamental pillar of the teachings in the Torah, and is a core element of who Ami Reiss is, and who he strives to be.

Giving is a reflection of not just what we believe, but also who we are. It’s also so incredibly rewarding. As author H. Jackson Brown Jr. once wrote, “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”

Currently, his foundation’s focus centers on schools, medical organizations, synagogues, federations, food banks and special needs charities. In practice, this includes support for students at Hebrew Academy and Yeshiva Aderes; these are schools with educational philosophies which Ami and his family believe in. Hatzolo and Vefuah V’Chesed are two examples of medical organizations with a focus on the needs of the Montreal community whose work Ami values dearly and supports. The Family Store in Montreal is able to subsidize the cost of food for hundreds of families in need, a form of Tzedaka that he very much takes pleasure in participating in, as it strives to help rather than simply give.

The foundation is also a long-time supporter of the Combined Jewish Appeal, as well as the Montreal Torah Center, Kollel Keser Torar, Biet Chabbad, Cabad TMR and the Chai Center, whose missions are all to strengthen Jewish life, and the general well-being of the communities they serve. The Friendship Circle and Camp HASC are two organizations focusing on special needs children that Ami is proud to support.

Ami Reiss has always believed that we must first support the needs of our own community and then extend our reach as far as it can go. As someone who grew up in Montreal, became successful here, and who loves the city, he knows the people and the neighborhoods well. He sees the hardships, and has learned based on years of experience in property management how to target resources to effectively address social issues.

He has learned that education and faith provide strong support to individuals and families, giving people the skills and inspiration to rise from their circumstances. Ami believes that food and medicine are basic rights for all people, or should be. No one in Canada should ever go hungry, or lack the medicine and care they need.

He is very aware that some children need a higher level of assistance and attention, which is why special needs charities are so important to Ami, and to his family foundation.