B'nai Brith describes itself as an “independent voice of the Jewish community,” in Canada.

CBC News

The former regional director of B’nai Brith in Quebec has been charged with possessing child pornography. Bill Surkis appeared Friday at the Montreal courthouse. He had turned himself in to police earlier this month after a police investigation resulted in an arrest warrant issued in his name.

Police were notified after a computer repair shop found several questionable video files on Surkis's PC. Surkis brought his computer in to the shop for repairs after it became infected with a virus.

He left his post as director of B'nai Brith Quebec two years ago.

Surkis was the dean of education at John Abbott College for 22 years. He is also a prominent member of Montreal's Jewish community and was an executive director of the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre.

He was released on bail with several conditions, including that he not be in the company of minors, he avoid areas where minors gather, and not use his computer to access the internet.

He also had to surrender his passport and agree to not leave Quebec. Surkis returns to court on Sept. 24.