Features
Meeting Michael Averbach- and reminiscing about Bredin Drive
By GERRY POSNER There I was sitting in a restaurant, my first time in one in over a year. It was inside or face the wasps outside. And since there was no one else inside, my good friend and former Winnipegger Dan Finkleman and I sat down at What a Bagel for our once a month lunch.
It is at these lunches where we both retreat to the glory years of the past and reflect on how sad it is that our grandkids will never know the kind of joy that came from growing up in the 50s and 60s in Winnipeg. We had just settled in when I spotted a guy who looked familiar to me. I immediately eliminated that thought as I could not imagine his being in Toronto, let alone this restaurant. Yet, he noticed me and fortunately (my mask was now off) he recognized me and he came over to the table. Finkleman remembered him vaguely ( there is a four-year age gap) and of course, his family. For the next 30 minutes, our visitor, Michael Averbach, chatted with us on all things Winnipeg. Now understand, he stood throughout the entire time, no doubt being careful not to get too close to us. I can imagine what our waitress was thinking as she, well – had to wait.
Now, that was a great visit. We covered a whole lot of ground in that conversation, ranging from where the clubhouse at Glendale was located to other matters relating to girls Dan knew or wanted to know, some of whom were related to Averbach and, in fact, ranging to why Averbach was in Toronto in the first place. You get the picture. I wondered who enjoyed this encounter the most, Finkleman, Averbach or me. Suffice to say that seeing Michael made me wonder about several things. The whole meeting with him was really a chance connection since, not only did Dan and I have to be at the same place at the same time as Michael, but we chose on this day to eat inside, as is our usual custom. Had we eaten outside, the likelihood of his seeing us would have been extremely low, because we would have been on the side of the restaurant and not visible to him.
Of course, one topic for discussion was the fact that Averbach was part of the Jewish Bredin Drive families in East Kildonan, There were, in fact more than a few families, but the names of Biillinkoff, Swartz, Freed, Bellan, Glesby, Snaper, Wolchock and Gobuty jump out at me. As well, we discussed Michael’s career, about which Dan was not fully up to date.
Averbach is a retired Chartered Accountant, something he did for over 45 years. Moreover, he is, I told Dan, a top golfer and one who must surely rank as one of the best Jewish golfers of all time in Manitoba (although I admit there is no such award for this category and neither do I know what the qualifications are to be included in the ranking. Just call it the Gerry Posner off the top of his head decision desk for Manitoba Jewish golfing greats.) What is a fact is that he is one of two people who served both on the board of Glendale and who also became President of the Manitoba Golf Association (the other being Manny Bricker). It was during this discussion on golf that we argued about the location of the original clubhouse at Glendale. However, if you think our conversation had little depth to it, you would be wrong, as we did canvass the federal election results and that subject gave way to some very definite opinions.
As Finkleman, Averbach and I concluded our time together, one certainty emerged from our long chat. We all agreed without hesitation that we were privileged to have grown up when and where we did. We had it easier than our children and far easier than it is for our grandkids, irrespective of being in Winnipeg or Toronto or Calgary. We lamented the path ahead for our grandkids today. (Among the three of us, we have 13). We also reached a clear consensus that Winnipeg was the better place to live. And, on that subject, we agreed to continue the conversation when Averbach is next in Toronto.
Later, I wondered where the various descendants of the Bredin Drive group enclave have gone? In fact, what I asked to nobody in particular was the reason why the families that moved to Bredin Drive settled in East Kildonan in the first place, an unlikely place for Jewish families to move to unless it was a desire to be closer to Jerusalem (somehow I think that was not the motivation)? Maybe it was the attempt to populate the area at that time with Jewish families. Or maybe it was the attraction of being close to the Red River. It certainly was not a need to be close to a synagogue since there was none in East Kildonan. And lest I forget, Bredin Drive was not the only street with Jews living in East Kildonan. I recall Glenwood Crescent and Roosevelt Place could round up a minyan. By the way, that information about the names of people and their residences is available to anyone who looks up Henderson’s Directory ( and where has that gone) for the 1950s and the personal information of each family and the address is set out in bold print. Alas, not possible today. What is possible is to go online and find this information without leaving your chair. Still, I took a shortcut and looked at an earlier article in this paper on the street wherein Shael Glesby (whose family lived on the street) listed many of the homes occupied by Jewish families in the 1950s. Here is the list Shael provided:
255 – Ratner (Max and Helen)
265 – Glesby (Bert & Silvia) original owners were Billinkoffs (Ben & Yetta)
275 – Billinkoff (Joe & Ann)
285 – Gobuty (James & Rae)
210 – Snaper (Mark & Ethel)
250 – Brownstein (Vicki)
260 – Wolchock (Bill & Rose)
300 – Freed (Max & Marion)
310 – Billinkoff (Ben & Yetta) after selling 265.
320 – Bellan (Sam & Marjorie)
There were three more Jewish families just north of 320, but I don’t know which houses were owned by which.
Swartz
Averbach
Jacobson
As I examined these names, I returned to my original question as to what ever happened to all of the descendants of the street, that is the kids from my time? I invite the readers to weigh in on the whereabouts of the Bredin Drive children (now, likely grandparents). There is a reunion waiting to happen. And to think all this was triggered by meeting Michael Averbach at a lunch in Toronto.
Ed. note: If you’d like to read my original article about Bredin Drive, which Gerry references and which appeared in our Sept. 16, 2020 issue, you can find it elsewhere on this website at http://jewishpostandnews.ca/8-features/561-a-tale-of-two-streets-that-proved-to-be-very-attractive-for-jewish-families-in-years-gone-by. By the way, that story quotes from a 1949 story in The Jewish Post that explained how Bredin Drive came to be and how so many Jewish families ended up there.
Features
Football: Which team from Israel could we see in the European Cup next year?
With Europe’s club competitions heading into another summer of drama, Israeli football is on the table. The domestic season is done, trophies picked up and now a new batch of clubs can now try their luck against continental competition.
What are the prospects of these teams in Europe next year and who are they? It all starts with Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s title, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup win and the competition of the best Israel football teams against each other, as fans look to Champions League on Wincomparator to see what teams are in contention.
How Israel’s clubs qualify for Europe: The 2026-2027 spots
Qualification to join the European elite hinges on the 2025-26 Israeli Premier League table and the Israel State Cup. Israel will have one Champions League spot, one Europa League spot, and two Europa Conference League spots in 2026-27.
That means the league winner gets into the Champions League, the State Cup winner goes on to Europa League qualifying. The next eligible league’s finishers take the Conference League slots. It’s a good model as it provides a tangible reward for consistency at home, while at the same time demonstrating the importance of each playoff game. A top three finish can help a club’s summer, bring in better players and provide fans with a European tour before the next season’s start.
The Champion’s quest: Israel’s hope for the Champions League
Meet the 2025-26 Premier League winner: Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Be’er Sheva have qualified for Israel’s Champions League after their Israeli Premier League title win with 79 points scored in 36 games. Ran Kozuch’s side closed the gap on the three-point lead but also showed significant strength in the attacking phase to secure a win in a crucial championship round with Beitar Jerusalem.
Their challenge also comes as their reward. Hapoel Be’er Sheva are only expected to begin in the second round of the Champions League, not the league round. To get to the main competition they need to pass through the first round of the other national champions in two-legged ties, and their seeding, fitness and sharpness in early-season competition could be a game breaker.
While the club has experience in Europe and a rabid Turner Stadium following, the path is tough. It takes one bad outing to wipe out a year’s worth of work. However, as long as the bedrock remains the same and they are able to put some depth into the team, the champions have the balance to fight.
Battling in the Conference League: Israel’s other European contenders
The State Cup winner and league runners-up
Maccabi Tel Aviv go to Europe after the Israel State Cup final 2-1 win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. That win denied Be’er Sheva a home double, and also meant that Maccabi got into the Europa League qualifying, where they were put in the second qualifying round thanks to access-list rebalancing.
The Conference League qualifiers are Beitar Jerusalem who finished second in the league with 76 points, and Hapoel Tel Aviv who finished fourth with 60 points. The importance of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup victory lies in the fact that it unlocked the rest of the way in the league. Beitar’s season was particularly impressive as they scored 78 goals and lost just four matches. On the other hand, Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to remain above Maccabi Haifa in the final table standing, earning them a well-deserved European berth.
The Europa Conference League is no consolation prize for these clubs. It’s a realistic platform. Although there are still a few hurdles to navigate, Israeli sides consider this competition to be the most realistic one for European football in the autumn.
A look at past successes and future hopes
This group has reason for belief, based on recent history. Israeli teams can make significant nights in Europe, and Maccabi Haifa did just that, when they made it into the Champions League group stage in 2022-23, and then impressively took out Juventus 2-0 in Haifa.
There is significant monetary and sporting worth in qualification. A UEFA cup can make a difference to a club, as can better attendance, TV coverage and recruitment opportunities. The early storylines will be the draw for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League, as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa league and the two Conference League routes — Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv. They all have tricky paths to follow, but all four provide Israeli football with a realistic European presence next summer.
Features
At one time one entire block of McAdam Ave. was almost totally Jewish
This story originally appeared in a November 2014 issue of The Jewish Post & News:
1994 McAdam Ave. reunion (names inside story)By GERRY POSNER (This story first appeared in November 2014.)
Once upon a time when life was simpler and gentler, there was a street in the north end of Winnipeg which was like all other streets in the city except in one significant way. Everyone, but for one family, living on McAdam east of Main Street was Jewish.
Features
Cheap Weed In Canada: A Smart Shopper’s Guide
Since legalisation, cannabis has settled into Canadian life as an ordinary, regulated purchase. And like groceries or gas, the price can vary a surprising amount from one shop to the next once you start comparing.
For a lot of buyers, that has turned the focus to value. Affordable options like cheap weed prove a lower price and a tested, quality product can go together. This guide explains how to shop smart in Canada without cutting corners.
Why Has Affordable Cannabis Become So Popular?
Because the novelty has worn off, and buyers now shop like they do for anything else. In the early days, people paid whatever the new legal stores asked. That has changed.
A few things drove that shift:
- A maturing market, with more retailers competing on price.
- Online sellers, whose lower overhead keeps costs down.
- Savvier buyers, who now compare rather than grab the first option.
- A wider range of formats and budget-friendly bulk sizes.
The result is a real focus on getting value for money. Crowdsourced figures put the early average near $6.85 a gram, and cannabis price data from Statistics Canada shows how legal and illegal prices have differed since 2018.
That gap is exactly why shopping around pays off. A careful buyer can pay noticeably less than a careless one for a comparable product. The sticker price is only where the comparison starts.
How Do Canadians Shop for Cheaper Weed?
With the same care they bring to any regular expense. A handful of habits make the biggest difference. These are the ones worth adopting:
- Compare the per-gram price. It is the only fair way to weigh two options.
- Buy larger formats. Bigger quantities almost always lower the unit cost.
- Skip premium markups. Plain flower beats pricey pre-rolls for value.
- Watch for sales. Online retailers run them often, especially on holidays.
- Match potency to the plan. A stronger product means you use less each time.
None of these involve settling for a worse product. They simply put your money to better use, the same way you would stretch your money on any other purchase. The cheapest sticker is rarely the best value, and the priciest is seldom worth it.
The same logic applies whether you shop in person or online in Canada. Read the label, weigh the cost per gram, and let the numbers guide you rather than the branding.
Is There a Catch With Low-Priced Cannabis?
Not in the legal market, which is the part newcomers miss. In Canada, every legal product is tested and labelled to the same standard, whatever it costs.
That means a budget option from a licensed seller has cleared the same checks as a premium one. It is screened for contaminants, and its potency is verified. Price reflects branding, packaging, and store margins far more than basic safety.
The genuine differences are in the finer points. Premium flower might offer a better aroma or a richer flavour, and some formats simply cost more to make. For everyday use, though, a well-priced choice usually performs just fine.
The real catch is buying outside the legal system. Health Canada’s overview of the Cannabis Act is a sensible read on what legal really means. Buying legal protects you, not buying expensive.
What Makes a Cheap Purchase a Smart One?
A couple of quick checks, mostly. A real bargain holds up to a second look, while a false one does not. The table below shows what to weigh.
| Check | Why It Matters |
| Is the seller licensed? | Only legal retailers guarantee tested product |
| What is the per-gram cost? | The headline price can hide a weak deal |
| Is potency on the label? | Higher strength can stretch your money |
| Are there bulk or sale deals? | These usually beat single-unit pricing |
| What does delivery cost? | Shipping can erase an online saving |
Any shaky answer there is a reason to pause. A licensed seller with clear pricing and labelling is the safe choice, while a suspiciously cheap unlicensed source is not. The legal age applies regardless, at 18 or 19 depending on the province.
Treat cannabis like any other considered purchase. Compare, check the details, and let value rather than habit lead the decision. That is how modest savings add up across a whole year.
Before You Buy
- Cannabis prices vary widely by retailer, format, and store overhead.
- Comparing the per-gram cost is the fairest way to judge value.
- All legal Canadian cannabis is tested, so cheaper is not unsafe.
- Bulk buys, sales, and plain formats keep spending down.
- Always buy from a licensed source, and factor in delivery fees.
Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels
Alt text: A shopper comparing prices online at home
Smart Savings, No Compromise
Buying affordable cannabis in Canada is not about chasing the lowest number you can find. It is about understanding what shapes the price and shopping with a little intention. Stick to licensed, tested products, compare the real cost per gram, and lean on bulk deals and online pricing. Do that, and an affordable choice stays a smart one, purchase after purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheap Weed Safe to Buy In Canada?
Yes, provided it comes from a licensed retailer. All legal cannabis in Canada is tested for contaminants and labelled for potency, regardless of price. A lower cost usually reflects branding and overhead rather than weaker safety, so a budget option from a legal seller is still a safe one.
How Do I Find the Best Cannabis Deals?
Compare the per-gram price, buy larger formats, and watch for sales from online retailers. Checking potency against price helps too, since a stronger product can mean you use less. The key is shopping deliberately instead of defaulting to the same brand or store each time.
Why Is Cannabis Cheaper Online?
Online sellers usually carry lower overhead than physical stores, and they run sales and bulk deals more often. That lets them price competitively while still selling tested, legal product. Just remember to factor in shipping, which can offset the saving on a small order.
Does Paying More Mean Better Cannabis?
Not necessarily. Price reflects branding, format, and store margins as much as quality, and all legal product meets the same testing standards. Premium options may offer a better aroma or appearance, but a well-priced choice often works just as well day to day.
