Features
New book about sensational 1913 murder of young Winnipeg Jewish mother about to be released
By BERNIE BELLAN In November 2016 we received a very interesting email from someone by the name of Wayne Hoffman. As it turned out, Wayne was the executive editor of Tablet magazine, an online Jewish magazine, from which we’ve run stories from time to time.
But the reason for Wayne’s email was quite fascinating. As he wrote back then, “My great-grandmother Sarah Feinstein was murdered in her sleep in 1913 in the North End of Winnipeg. It was a huge event at the time, staying on the front page of the daily papers for weeks. The funeral drew some three thousand people, and the investigation dragged on for weeks before ending without resolution. It was one of the most brutal crimes the city had seen, drawing a record reward from the city and provincial governments, to no avail.
“I’m attaching the front page of the Tribune from August 1, 1913, the day of the murder, to give you an idea of how big the story was. There were dozens more stories following up.
“I’ve been researching the story of Sarah Feinstein (sometimes spelled Fainstein) – my mother’s mother’s mother – for a few years. Allan Levine met with me in 2013 on a visit to Winnipeg, as did Ava Block-Super. I also went to visit her grave in Transcona…”
In March 2017 Wayne followed up that initial email with another one, this time asking for help in finding relatives who might be in Winnipeg. Here’s what he wrote then:
“I don’t know if I have distant relatives still living in Winnipeg – I think I probably do, even though most of the more immediate family moved away in the 1950s. But there may still be people connected to the family, and my murdered great-grandmother in particular, who still live there…
“I’d love to find people who are related to Harry Fainstein, Louis Fainstein, Morris Fainstein, Isadore Fainstein, Harry Dorfman, Louis Gelmon, or Joe Gelmon; those were my great-grandfather David Fainstein’s brothers and brothers-in-law back in the 1910s. I can figure out if there’s a connection if someone isn’t sure. Mostly, I’m hoping to get more information about the family – not just the murder of my great-grandmother, but how the whole family lived before and after that. Any information would be much appreciated (and might, just might, help solve a hundred year old murder!)”
As it was, Wayne did connect with three long-lost relatives upon his visit to Winnipeg in the fall of 2017 (when I also had the chance to meet with him in my own home):
“Beth Goldenberg, Linda Katz, and Lisa Fainstein — all my second cousins, once removed.” (By coincidence, when Wayne mentioned that after he was going to leave my house, he was going to be going to Beth Goldenberg’s house for lunch, I told him he didn’t have far to go. “Beth lives right behind us,” I said.
Then, in February 2019, Wayne sent me a story that also appeared in “Tablet” magazine, titled “My Great-Grandfather, the Jewish Cowboy”.
Here’s the introduction to that story:
“While I was doing research for a book about my great-grandmother’s murder, I discovered stories I’d never heard about my great-grandfather–stories of gambling, wild horses, organized crime, and a forgotten slice of Jewish life on the Canadian prairies.”
Now, with all that as preamble, I’m delighted to report that Wayne Hoffman did finish his research into his great-grandmother’s murder in 2013, and he has turned that story into a fascinating book titled “The End of Her”, which is just about to be released.
The title, “The End of Her”, however, has a double meaning for, at the same time that Wayne was beginning his long investigation into his great-grandmother’s still unsolved murder, he was also dealing with his own mother’s worsening dementia.
Since the story of Sarah Feinstein’s murder and his own mother’s quite apparent slipping into dementia were approximately 100 years apart, Wayne decided that it would be appropriate to combine the two stories into one.
What follows, therefore, in “The End of Her” is both a murder mystery and an agonizingly personal account of Wayne’s watching his once brilliant and vivacious mother deteriorate into a shell of her former self. The stories are intertwined and, while I’m sure Winnipeg readers will have a particular interest in reading the very detailed accounts of the murder and the follow-up reporting in Winnipeg newspapers at the time, the description of Wayne’s watching his mother’s deterioration is moving to the point where it is impossible not to feel so totally saddened at the tragedy that has befallen the two women in his family who are the central characters in the book.
Focusing on the Winnipeg aspect of the story, however, as any good reporter would do, Wayne examined every last shred of reporting that he was able to find about a story that absolutely gripped Winnipeg in the summer of 2013. By quoting from the actual newspaper accounts of the day, Wayne is able to take the reader back to a time when newspapers competed with one another on a daily basis to try and get one more scoop – often resorting to all sorts of chicanery to achieve that goal. In fact, as Wayne shows, much of the reporting was horribly inaccurate, with a variety of explanations constantly being put forward for Sarah Feinstein’s ultimately inexplicable murder.
As someone for whom writing is his profession, thrusting himself into a search for clues as to why his great-grandmother might have been murdered offers Wayne the opportunity to demonstrate both his admirable investigative abilities along with a mastery of the English language – as one could see even in those brief excerpts of emails that Wayne sent to us over five years ago.
In the days to come you’re going to be reading and hearing a lot more about Wayne Hoffman and “The End of Her”, as the Free Press is also going to be reviewing his book, plus providing an excerpt from it.
On February 20 at 1 pm, noted historian Allan Levine will be talking to Wayne Hoffman about his new book in a program sponsored by the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada. See the adjoining notice for information about that program.
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.