Features
Daniel Greaves: music and more
By GERRY POSNER Is it nature or nurture or both – a question that has been asked thousands of times relating to all sorts of different people. Well, I suggest in Daniel Greaves, the answer is easy. He had the nature and he had the nurture and the result was and is very impressive. Music oozes out of this guy and it always did.
Many readers will recognize his name as the lead singer of the Watchmen, a band that made its name famous across Canada in the 1990s and even after. One might ask from whence did that voice, that talent and love of performing come from? The answer is simple.
Just look at mother Faigie (Dozar) Greaves and dad Bill Greaves. They each were very strong in a musical way (although just not in the kind of songs which son Daniel sings). And, according to Daniel, they set the table in the house in terms of the environment they provided him as he grew up. Music was a significant part of the fabric of his everyday life with the Caribbean music of his dad or the popular, Jewish, and indeed classical music of his mother present all the time. Thus, it was no surprise that Greaves soon realized he had some ability and he just took that ability to another level…not just another level, but a much higher one than either parent could have imagined.
Greaves took his early schooling at Ramah Hebrew School, then spent time at Grant Park High School and the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, from where he graduated. He even did a couple years at the University of Winnipeg, but he made a big decision around 1988 when he gave up school and decided to try for a career in the musical milieu. And he did! The Watchmen, consisting then of Joey Serlin, Sammy Kohn (a first cousin to Greaves), and Pete Loewen, was born and continued as a successful alternative rock band, with a replacement for Loewen later in Ken Tizzard. Greaves not only was the lead singer, he also played the harmonica and keyboards. Versatility was his middle name and that quality has stood him in good stead in everything he has done.
The Watchmen were around as a full operating band from 1988 to 2004, during which time they performed all over North America and Europe. They had (and still have) a very large following, particularly in Canada and Australia. And consider this: Every one of their albums achieved either Gold or Platinum status. How many Winnipeggers can make that statement? They officially ended the group in 2004 and since that time Greaves has either worked solo or in partnership with his bandmate Ken Tizzard in a duo called “Music High and Wide”. Greaves also teamed up with another alumnus of the Watchmen, Joey Serlin, and they recently released an album, “Sad Songs For Sale”. On top of all of that, Greaves has worked in the film industry as a music supervisor and composer and has done work for MTV. More recently, Greaves signed on as a substitute guest host on the CBC Music radio network and even has filled in on the Saturday morning show as host for Weekend Mornings.
When I was investigating the Daniel Greaves path, I came across an entry on the internet which gives a slant to Greaves both in print and in audio that is illuminating. In is, he discusses the impact of growing up as a Black Jewish youngster in Winnipeg. If you Google the name Daniel Greaves, an entry will appear that is titled “How Growing Up as a Black Jew Shaped My Identity.” And it also has an audio clip which I promise is riveting with Daniel’s terrific radio voice.
And yet, with all of this, Greaves, father to children now ages 20 and 17 branched out in 2010 when he and his wife Lisa became the owners of a well known bar in Toronto called the Motel Bar in an area of the city known as Parkdale. Even as I chatted with him on the phone for this column, he was busy conducting bar business with a beer delivery at his place – versatility once again.
Another significant part of Daniel’s life over the last number of years has been the return of the Watchmen to the musical world. The group has once again started doing tours, though on a much more limited basis – about 10-15 dates a year. And what is so rewarding for Daniel is that The Watchmen have a legion of fans wherever they perform. Daniel would tell you his favourite place to perform is back in Winnipeg where his musical career began and with his family (including brother David Greaves, well known to many readers of the Jewish Post & News) all on hand. You can take Daniel Greaves out of Winnipeg, but not his music.
Features
Why Fitness Routines Fall Apart — and How to Rebuild Yours
Every spring, gyms see a flood of hopeful faces. New shoes, fresh playlists, unwavering intentions, by mid-summer? Half of them vanish into the fog of abandoned routines. The story repeats year after year until it starts to feel almost scripted. Why does enthusiasm evaporate? The easy answer involves willpower but that explanation misses the point. Habits don’t fail because people are weak. Life stress, boredom, and monotony ruin routines. Timely lever pulls can change narratives. The hardest part is persevering when motivation wanes.
Mistaking Motivation for Momentum
Most chase that opening surge, the lightning strike of motivation, but then stop searching once enthusiasm fizzles. A scroll through sites like PUR Pharma (pur-pharma.is/) or a glimpse of an influencer’s progress triggers a burst of action: new workout gear ordered, plans scribbled in planners destined for dusty drawers. Yet momentum fades when small setbacks pop up (a late meeting here, rainy weather there). Real progress comes from building systems stronger than any fleeting pep talk. Those who frame fitness as something owed to motivation end up back at square one every time life interrupts, which it always does.
Overcomplicating Everything
It’s tempting to turn wellness into a science fair project with spreadsheets and specialized equipment lined up on day one. This is the allure of complexity disguised as seriousness, a new diet paired with seven types of supplements and four color-coded bottles. Simplicity gets lost in the noise almost instantly. Most successful routines rely on two principles: keep it simple and keep showing up even when everything else is chaos outside those gym walls. Anyone insisting that perfection is required before taking step one has already constructed an excuse not to begin at all.
Forgetting Fun Completely
Who decided exercise must hurt or look like punishment? Somewhere along the line, fun got swapped out for grind culture and “no pain, no gain.” That isn’t just unappealing, it’s unsustainable over months or years. If sessions feel like torture devices borrowed from medieval times, nobody should be surprised when commitment falters fast. Seek activities that actually spark some joy or curiosity, a dance class instead of yet another treadmill session, maybe, or play a pickup game rather than slogging through solo circuits again and again.
Ignoring Recovery (and Reality)
Sleep deprivation, disguised as discipline, fools anyone, except perhaps uncritical Instagram followers. Ignoring recovery turns ambition into tiredness faster than any missed session. Because bodies break without rest, routines must breathe with owners. Cycling, real leisure, and honest self-checks regarding weekly goals build endurance, not continual pushing.
Conclusion
Change rarely arrives by force alone but usually grows quietly from patterns repeated imperfectly over time, even if last month looked nothing like this week so far. Drop the hunt for nonstop inspiration. Instead of breaking behaviors at the first hint of stress or boredom, build habits that last. People who rebuild methodically after every stumble or detour make progress, not those who peak and then fall.
Features
How DIY Auto Repairs Can Help You Cut Costs—Safely
Regular maintenance and minor repairs are the greatest approach for many car drivers to save money without sacrificing dependability. DIY repairs can save you a lot of money over the life of your car since most of the expense is in the labour. DIY helps you learn how things work and notice tiny issues before they become costly ones. Every work requires planning, patience, and safety.
Test Your Talents with Safe Limits
DIY solutions succeed when one is honest about their talents. Wiper blades, air filters, and occupant filters are beginner-friendly. With the correct equipment, intermediate owners can replace brake pads, spark plugs, coolant, and brake fluid. Pressurized fuel, high-voltage hybrids, airbags, and timing components are risky. Only professionals should manage them. Limitations protect you and your car. Drivers trust sources like Parts Avenue to find, install, and schedule manufacturer-approved work.
Set Up a Reliable Workspace and Tools
Good tools pay for themselves quickly. Ratchets, torque wrenches, combination wrenches, heavy jack stands, and wheel chocks are essential. It is advisable to engage specialists for specific tasks. A clean, flat, well-lit, and open space is essential. Please take your time. While working, keep a charged phone nearby to read repair instructions or write torque patterns.
Find the Problem before Replacing the Parts
It may cost more to replace something without diagnosing it. Instead of ideas, start with symptoms. OBD-II readers detect leaks, sounds, and DTCs. Simple tests like voltage, smoke indicating vacuum leaks, pad thickness, and rotor runout might reveal failure. A good analysis saves components, protects surrounding parts, and fosters future trust.
Maintenance That Pays off is Most Crucial
Jobs compensate for time and tools differently. Prioritize returns and maintenance. Change the oil and filter, rotate the tires, evaluate the air pressure, replace low brake fluid, clean the coolant with the right chemicals, and replace belts and filters before they fail. These items extend automotive life, stabilize fuel efficiency, and reduce roadside towing issues that can take months to resolve.
Do as Instructed, Utilize Quality Parts, and Follow Torque Requirements
Understand the service. Set the jacking points, tighten the screws in the appropriate order, and use threadlocker or anti-seize as suggested by the maker. Rotor wear can cause leaks, distortions, or broken threads. Choose components that meet or exceed OEM requirements and fit your car’s VIN, engine code, and manufacturing date. Cheap parts that break easily cost extra.
Test, Record, and Discard Carefully
Safely test the system before patching. Check under the car for drops, bleed the brakes again, and check fluid levels after a short drive. Note torques, parts, miles, and repair date. Photo and document storage for car sales. Properly dispose of oil, filters, coolant, and brake fluid. Controlling hazards protects your community and workplace.
Know When to Seek Professional Help
Self-employed individuals recognize their constraints. If a task is challenging, requires special instruments, or involves safety, consult an expert. Collaboration makes cars safer, cheaper, and more efficient. Selecting, planning, and implementing processes properly improves performance, lowers costs, and ensures safety.
Features
What It Means for Ontario to Be the Most Open iGaming Market in Canada
Ontario is the most open commercial iGaming market in Canada, having been the first province to open up to commercial actors in the online casino and betting space since 2022.
Since gambling laws in Canada are managed on a provincial level, each province has its own legislation.
Before April 4th, 2022, Ontario was similar to any other Canadian province in the iGaming space. The only gaming site regulated in the province was run by government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, also known as OLG. However, when the market opened up, numerous high-quality gambling companies established themselves in the province, quickly generating substantial revenue. As the largest online gambling market in Canada, it’s now, three years later, also one of the biggest in North America.
The fully regulated commercial market is run under iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. These licensed casinos and online sportsbooks are thus fully legal and safe for players to play at, while at the same time, the open market allows companies to compete and offer different products and platforms as long as they all fit within the requirements set up by the state of Ontario.
This means that Ontarians have a wide choice of licensed sites, whether they’re interested in sports betting, live dealer games, or slots – all with strict consumer-protection rules that keep them safe while exploring the many options. (Source: https://esportsinsider.com/ca/gambling/online-casinos-canada)
There are many benefits to online gaming, especially in a country that’s as sparsely populated as Canada, leaving physical venues often few and far between for those living outside the biggest cities.
Even before Ontario launched its own gambling sites, online gambling had been common among Ontarians. Regulating the market and offering alternatives regulated by the province has often added safer and more controlled options.
Since 85% of Ontarians now play at regulated sites, the initiative of opening up the market seems a clear win in more than one way.
Despite the huge success of the Ontario market, most provinces in Canada haven’t changed much in the iGaming sector in the past few years. Some provinces keep Crown-run monopolies, while others limit activity to a single government-run platform. This often leads Canadians to seek offshore alternatives instead, since the options are so few in their own province.
But 2025 marks an important change. The provinces seem to have noticed that Ontario picked a winning strategy, and Alberta has clearly been taking notes.
While the province of Alberta has previously opted for controlled gambling through one government website, the province is now opening up the commercial online gambling market. The Alberta iGaming Corporation will be in charge of licensing and inspecting actors that operate in the province. This will mean many more options for players, coupled with consumer protection and a high level of safety.
Meanwhile, the Ontario iGaming market continues to prosper, grow, and develop. Now that a second province is following in its footsteps, it seems more likely that other provinces will also start following the trend.