Machzikei Hadas relocated in 1973 to a newly designed synagogue on Virginia Drive in Alta Vista, extending services from 100 families in 1974 to 500 families in 1995. The congregation provided many youths, seniors, educational and public awareness programs. The congregation maintained an eruv, or private space and housed Clergy for a United Canada. In 1994 it was the first synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations to be granted arms by the Canadian heraldic authority. Congregation Machzikei Hadas declined by about one-third over the past 15 years, said Jonah Rabinovitch, president of Ottawa's oldest Orthodox congregation to about 300 families.