Features
In new book, well-known psychologist argues that autism is grossly over-diagnosed
Book review by TOBY KLEIN GEENWALD Dr. Shoshana Levin Fox has authored a book that will hold you spellbound. Section I is titled “Children.” These first eight chapters are the stories of Jack, Sasha, Annie and others (all the children’s names used are pseudonyms) – children who came into the Feuerstein Institute after having been diagnosed as autistic. They exited with new hope, not only for themselves, but for their parents, who were usually devastated by their children’s diagnoses and needed their own emotional propping up.
The central theme of this book is that autism is grossly over-diagnosed. Levin Fox is a psychologist and play therapist who has worked with children for more than 30 years. In addition to lecturing and giving workshops in North America, Israel and Europe, she worked for 25 years in the prestigious Feuerstein Institute of Jerusalem, founded by the late Sorbonne-educated Professor Reuven Feuerstein.
Dr. Levin Fox lived for nearly twenty years in Canada. She completed an M.A. at Simon Fraser University and a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia and worked for many years as a counsellor in the Special Services to Children program of the Vancouver Association of Neighbourhood Houses. Levin Fox was awarded a SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) post-doctoral fellowship, which enabled her to do research and practical work in the field of autism at the world-renowned Feuerstein Institute in Jerusalem. Coincidentally, for many years Hadassah WIZO Canada were the prime funders of the Feuerstein Institute’s programs related to autism.
I warmly recommend the book, not just for the moving stories of the children who were salvaged from what proved to be inaccurate assessments, and not only for the intriguing descriptions of the practices of the world-renowned Feuerstein Institute, which Dr. Levin Fox combined with the wonders of the DIRFloortime method. This book should be read for its critical message to parents who have received an autism diagnosis for their son or daughter: Believe in your child. Talk to your child. Keep looking till you find her the best and most appropriate help and hope. Don’t let the “experts” get you down, because a true expert will find the formula to lift you – and your child – up.
Most importantly, do not assume that an expert who gave you an assessment of autism, that may feel like an emotional-cognitive death sentence, is right, and even if the assessment is accurate, and the child is truly autistic, that does not mean there is no hope.
This book is not only for parents of children with autistic symptoms; there is a message here for all parents: Even when there is a diagnosis of less daunting conditions — such as learning disabilities, ADHD, or other emotional, cognitive or developmental challenges — keep shopping till you find the professional who will light the way through the tunnel.
The idea of plasticity of the brain, writes Levin Fox, entered mainstream medicine several generations after Prof. Feuerstein had intuited and created materials and methods based on that reality. “There were no sacred cows for the Professor,” she writes, and decries the fact that “the diagnosis of autism is used as a sacrosanct truism…I have found that the term ‘autism,’ as it appears commonly in the field, in actuality is being used to describe children who suffer from a vast range of communication difficulties, from extreme shyness to psychotic conditions and just about everything in between.”
It is not clear to her how research studies can be reliable, writes Levin Fox, “with the current diagnostic criteria of autism so elastic and with the use of the term so liberal.”
The children whose stories are recounted in this book all made significant, even dramatic, progress. Levin Fox writes that, “Not every child began to speak fluently, to learn at a normative level and to play happily with friends…However, it can be safely and honestly stated that, inspired and mentored by the Professor, my colleagues and I made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of children originally thought to be autistic.” She sees them, as a team, as having saved many lives.
Feuerstein sought to find the child’s latent strengths, and what he called “islets of normalcy.” She explains how “islets of normalcy” are identified and worked with. They include, among other elements, eye contact, human relationships, symbolic play, curiosity, humor and more. “The notion of islets of normalcy helps both parent and practitioner recognize the non-symptomatic behavior [of autism symptoms], the sparks of life and the glimmers of normative functioning within a child’s autistiform presentation.”
There was five-year-old Jack, whose parents came to the Institute and Levin Fox discovered in him an engaging child with a rich imagination. His parents told her that, as he had verbal communication problems, they had taken him to be tested and had been told he was autistic.
Levin Fox emphasizes that helping the parents to understand their children’s challenges, and not to be fearful and depressed about them, is part of the battle.
At the Institute Jack thrived, and left the early diagnosis of autism far behind. The details of the process are in a fascinating ten-page chapter.
She writes about a little girl, Annie, who clearly had developmental difficulties, but, “Each of a child’s tangible, visible symptoms is a world in itself. Like the shoots of a green plant, symptoms have intricate roots.”
Levin Fox gave the parents tools to work with their daughter and continued to follow her progress. When she met her again at the age of six, she wrote, “The sweet, charming, warm, open and communicative child…bore no trace of the detached, imploded, silent, starving two-and-a-half-year-old of years ago.”
Then there was Davie, who had “a longer journey,” and teenaged Joe, who did not make progress to the same extent as some of the other children, but who years later was a happy, functioning adult living in a group setting with other mildly impaired adults. And Mikey, who began to improve significantly when his parents began to talk to him. He still had a long way to go, but Levin Fox writes, “I learned never to give up on a parent.”
There was Max, who had oral dyspraxia, and his lack of speech had been “misunderstood as an autistic avoidance of speech…his story…dramatically illustrates the tragedy of this kind of misdiagnosis.” She cautions that children’s hearing should always be tested; sometimes the non-responsive child is discovered to be simply hearing-impaired.
In Part II, “Theoretical Groundings,” Levin Fox gives the intense and thorough theoretical background to the success stories, which are plentiful. Six more case studies are interwoven in the text to help bring the theory alive.
This section also describes the fascinating roots of Feuerstein’s methods. He began by working with orphan children who had been traumatized after WWII, decided there were flaws in the standard diagnostic tests, and rather than focusing on performance, he focused on the child’s ability to develop learning processes.
“Current studies on brain plasticity…scientifically substantiates what [Feuerstein] proposed two generations ago – that brain cells are modifiable and respond to the stimuli of the environment.” She writes that for Feuerstein it was an “I told you so” moment.
“He understood that human beings can change…when the environment anticipates and promotes such change.” The children mentioned earlier “markedly diminished their autistic-like symptoms…We believed that the potential was there. We sought it. And when we could not see it, we worked hard to elicit it, and even to create new facts on the ground.” The staff saw themselves as warmly interactive mediators.
One of my favorite stories appears in Chapter 15, “A Paradigm Shift,” where Levin Fox describes in great detail the captivating case history of Ben, whom she first met when he was five-years-old. The end of the chapter, with the sub-heading, “Ben’s Epilogue,” describes a chance meeting between Levin Fox and Ben’s parents, many years later, at the luggage carousel in the arrival area of the airport. “Dr. Shoshana!” they called out, and his mother pulled out her cellphone. “The happy faces of Ben and his wife, holding their newborn son, smiled back at me,” writes Levin Fox. “For Ben, the paradigm-shift had indeed been life-saving.”
I found other words to describe the journeys and the miracles of the children portrayed in this book: life-affirming.
And hope.
“An Autism Casebook for Parents and Practitioners: The Child Behind the Symptoms” is published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis and available on Amazon. Read more about Dr. Shoshana Levin Fox’s work at: https://shoshanalevinfox.com/
Toby Klein Greenwald is an award-winning journalist, educational theater director, teacher and the editor-in-chief of WholeFamily.com.
Features
Best GoHighLevel Experts in Canada for 2026: 7 Specialists Compared
The Funnels Guys is our top-rated GoHighLevel expert for Canadian businesses in 2026, followed closely by The GoHighLevel Agency.
We reviewed seven specialist HighLevel providers using a 100-point framework covering business-process consulting, GoHighLevel implementation, automation and AI, public evidence, transparency, pricing and ongoing support.
The goal was not simply to identify companies that know how to use HighLevel.
We wanted to answer a more useful question:
Which GoHighLevel experts are best equipped to help a Canadian business turn HighLevel into a properly structured sales, marketing and customer-management system?
Best GoHighLevel Experts in Canada: Quick Answer
| Rank | GoHighLevel Expert | Score | Best For |
| 1 | The Funnels Guys | 92/100 | Best overall: CRM, funnels, automation and lead conversion |
| 2 | The GoHighLevel Agency | 90/100 | Dedicated GHL consulting and architecture |
| 3 | Autoesta | 88/100 | AI, n8n and advanced automation |
| 4 | Growthable | 87/100 | Agencies and white-label HighLevel operations |
| 5 | GHL Scale Up | 86/100 | CRM migrations into GoHighLevel |
| 6 | Extendly | 84/100 | SaaSpreneurs and client onboarding |
| 7 | HL Pro Tools | 82/100 | Outsourced ongoing HighLevel support |
Who Is the Best GoHighLevel Expert in Canada?
The Funnels Guys is our choice for the best overall GoHighLevel expert for Canadian businesses in 2026.
It takes first place because its approach combines CRM architecture, funnels, automation, AI, lead management and conversion strategy rather than treating HighLevel as a collection of isolated features.
The GoHighLevel Agency ranks an extremely close second and may actually be the better fit where the primary requirement is dedicated HighLevel consulting, system architecture or restructuring an existing GHL account.
Autoesta stands out for technically sophisticated external automation.
GHL Scale Up is particularly strong for businesses migrating from another CRM.
Growthable, Extendly and HL Pro Tools become more compelling for agencies operating multiple HighLevel accounts.
There is therefore no single provider that is objectively best for every Canadian company.
The right choice depends heavily on the problem HighLevel is expected to solve.
Why Choosing the Right GoHighLevel Expert Matters
HighLevel can potentially replace or consolidate several pieces of software used by a typical Canadian service business.
Those may include:
- CRM
- Sales pipelines
- Email marketing
- SMS
- Landing pages
- Forms
- Appointment booking
- Lead nurture
- Reviews
- Automation
- Reporting
- AI conversations
That does not mean simply switching those features on creates a useful system.
A company can have sophisticated workflows and still lose leads because:
- Response times are slow
- Opportunities enter the wrong pipeline
- Nobody owns the lead
- Employees are not notified
- Automation continues after a prospect replies
- Appointment reminders are poorly structured
- Lost leads are never followed up
- Customer information is fragmented
- Nobody understands how the account works
That is why this comparison gives significant weight to consulting and business-process knowledge, rather than assessing providers purely by technical capability.
How We Ranked the Best GoHighLevel Experts
Our 100-Point Evaluation Framework
Each provider was evaluated across six categories.
Publicly available information was used wherever possible.
Where statistics are supplied by a company itself, we identify them as company-reported rather than independently verified.
1. Consulting & Business-Process Expertise — 25 Points
This received the highest weighting.
Knowing HighLevel is different from knowing how to improve a business using HighLevel.
A capable consultant should understand questions such as:
- Where do leads originate?
- How quickly are new enquiries contacted?
- How are leads qualified?
- Which pipeline should they enter?
- Who should own the opportunity?
- When should SMS or email be used?
- What happens if somebody replies?
- What happens if they book?
- What happens if they do not respond?
- When should automation stop?
- When should an employee intervene?
- What happens to lost opportunities?
- What happens after a sale?
- How are results measured?
Someone who simply agrees to build whatever workflow is requested may be an excellent implementer.
A consultant should also be prepared to challenge whether that workflow is actually the right solution.
2. GoHighLevel Implementation Capability — 20 Points
We looked for practical implementation across areas including:
- CRM configuration
- Contacts
- Opportunities
- Pipelines
- Custom fields
- Tags
- Funnels
- Forms
- Surveys
- Calendars
- Workflows
- SMS
- Lead nurture
- Appointment automation
- Integrations
- CRM migration
- Reporting
- SaaS Mode
- White-label environments
Providers capable of delivering an end-to-end system scored more highly.
3. Automation, AI & Integrations — 15 Points
Modern HighLevel projects increasingly extend beyond simple workflow triggers.
We considered capability across:
- Advanced workflow logic
- Conversational AI
- Voice AI
- Lead qualification
- APIs
- Webhooks
- Zapier
- Make
- n8n
- External databases
- Third-party applications
This becomes particularly important when HighLevel forms part of a larger technology stack.
4. Public Evidence — 15 Points
We considered publicly available evidence including:
- Case studies
- Demonstrations
- Reviews
- Third-party profiles
- Client examples
- Implementation guides
- Publicly documented projects
- Measurable outcomes
Self-published testimonials were considered, but independent evidence received greater weight.
5. Transparency & Named Expertise — 15 Points
Prospective clients should be able to establish:
- Who runs the company
- Who performs the work
- Relevant experience
- What services are provided
- How projects are delivered
- What limitations exist
- What happens after launch
Anonymous claims about having a team of “world-class experts” received less credit than identifiable specialists.
6. Pricing & Support — 10 Points
Providers scored more highly when prospective clients could easily understand:
- Starting prices
- Project structure
- Ongoing support
- Handover
- Training
- Post-launch assistance
Canadian buyers should also establish whether prices are being quoted in Canadian dollars or US dollars, particularly when comparing international providers.
GoHighLevel Expert Scoring Matrix
| Provider | Consulting 25 | GHL Implementation 20 | AI & Automation 15 | Evidence 15 | Transparency 15 | Pricing & Support 10 | Total |
| The Funnels Guys | 23 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 92 |
| The GoHighLevel Agency | 24 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 90 |
| Autoesta | 20 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 88 |
| Growthable | 18 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 87 |
| GHL Scale Up | 18 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 86 |
| Extendly | 18 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 84 |
| HL Pro Tools | 15 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 82 |
Scoring note: These scores represent our editorial assessment against the methodology above. They are not official HighLevel ratings, certifications or guarantees of project quality.
Different project requirements can produce a different winner.
1. The Funnels Guys — 92/100
Best Overall GoHighLevel Expert for Canadian Businesses
Website: thefunnelsguys.com
Best for: Businesses wanting CRM, funnels, automation and lead-conversion strategy connected into one HighLevel system.
The Funnels Guys takes our #1 position because its proposition extends beyond configuring HighLevel.
Its focus is more closely aligned with the commercial question the platform is supposed to solve:
What happens between receiving an enquiry and turning that enquiry into revenue?
That distinction matters.
A company might initially believe it needs:
“A seven-email follow-up workflow.”
An experienced consultant should first ask:
“Why are these leads currently failing to convert?”
Perhaps leads are waiting several hours for a response.
Perhaps the correct salesperson is not being notified.
Perhaps prospects are entering the wrong pipeline.
Perhaps follow-up continues after somebody has already booked.
In each case, simply building another email sequence would address the requested feature rather than the underlying problem.
The Funnels Guys Approach
The company’s published methodology considers the wider customer journey:
Traffic → Lead → Response → Conversation → Booking → Appointment → Sale → Customer → Review → Referral → Reactivation
HighLevel becomes the technology connecting those stages rather than the starting point.
Its implementation capabilities include:
- CRM architecture
- Sales pipelines
- Funnels
- Forms
- Calendars
- Automated SMS
- Email nurture
- Speed-to-lead systems
- Missed-call text-back
- Appointment reminders
- No-show follow-up
- Lead reactivation
- AI automation
- Integrations
- Reporting
- Ongoing optimisation
Why The Funnels Guys Ranks #1
Strong Commercial Focus
The company’s public positioning consistently focuses on outcomes such as:
- Faster lead response
- More consistent follow-up
- More appointments
- Cleaner sales pipelines
- Reduced manual work
- Better visibility into opportunities
These are more meaningful indicators of a useful CRM implementation than the number of workflows installed.
Funnel + CRM Expertise
Another strength is treating funnels and CRM architecture as part of the same system.
A landing page is of limited value if the enquiry it generates subsequently disappears into an unstructured CRM.
Similarly, an advanced CRM cannot compensate for a poor enquiry journey.
Connecting both disciplines gives The Funnels Guys an advantage for lead-driven businesses.
Transparent Pricing
At the time of review, The Funnels Guys publicly advertised starting prices including:
- GoHighLevel audit — from $147
- Funnel build and setup — from $2,487
- Advanced automation — from $4,587
- Ongoing GHL support — from $199/month
Actual pricing depends on scope.
Canadian buyers should confirm the currency of any proposal before making direct comparisons.
Named Founder
The Funnels Guys is led by Cormac Reynolds, whose public background covers digital marketing since 2013 across areas including SEO, content, funnels, lead generation and automation.
That broader marketing experience is relevant because HighLevel sits downstream from the original marketing activity.
Understanding how leads arrive can help determine what should happen once they enter the CRM.
Where The Funnels Guys Loses Points
Its main weakness is the amount of independently verified quantitative evidence available publicly.
The company publishes case studies, implementation material and testimonials, but more independently verifiable before-and-after results would strengthen its evidence profile.
It therefore receives 12/15 for public evidence rather than full marks.
Who Should Consider The Funnels Guys?
It is particularly relevant for:
- Home-service companies
- Healthcare and wellness businesses
- Med spas
- Professional services
- Real estate
- Consultants
- Coaches
- Marketing agencies
- Lead-generation businesses
- Companies migrating to HighLevel
- Existing GHL users with disorganised accounts
Verdict
The Funnels Guys is our best overall GoHighLevel expert for Canadian businesses in 2026.
Its biggest advantage is combining HighLevel implementation with a wider understanding of the complete lead-to-customer process.
2. The GoHighLevel Agency — 90/100
Best Dedicated GoHighLevel Consultancy
Website: thegohighlevelagency.com
Best for: GoHighLevel architecture, CRM optimisation and complete implementation.
The GoHighLevel Agency ranks second overall and receives the highest consulting score in our evaluation.
Its proposition is tightly centred on HighLevel itself.
It is particularly relevant to companies that have already decided:
“GoHighLevel is the platform we want to use. Now we need somebody to architect it properly.”
What Does The GoHighLevel Agency Do?
Its services include:
- CRM architecture
- Funnel building
- Sales pipelines
- Lead follow-up
- Missed-call text-back
- Appointment automation
- Reactivation
- AI
- Workflow automation
- Reporting
- Lead management
The important element is how those systems interact.
Consider a new website enquiry.
A simple implementation might send an automated email.
A properly designed system should ask:
- Does the contact already exist?
- What campaign generated the enquiry?
- Which service are they interested in?
- Which pipeline should they enter?
- Who should own the opportunity?
- Should SMS be sent?
- Should an employee call immediately?
- What happens when the prospect replies?
- What happens when they book?
- What happens if they do not respond?
- When should short-term nurture stop?
- When should longer-term nurture begin?
That is CRM architecture rather than simply workflow creation.
Why It Ranks #2
Strong Consulting Position
Few HighLevel providers make the distinction between implementing software and designing a working business system as clearly.
Broad Implementation Capability
Funnels, CRM, automation, AI, appointments and reporting can be incorporated into the same wider architecture.
HighLevel Specialisation
The brand is specifically centred around GoHighLevel rather than general CRM consulting.
Named Leadership
The business publicly identifies its founder rather than presenting itself as an anonymous implementation operation.
Why Doesn’t It Rank #1?
The gap is small.
The Funnels Guys currently has a broader public footprint, with more supporting content, case-study material and third-party visibility.
The GoHighLevel Agency is a newer and more narrowly positioned brand.
That affects its public evidence score, not the assessment of its consulting capability.
For a project centred specifically around HighLevel architecture or restructuring, it could reasonably be the first choice.
Verdict
The GoHighLevel Agency ranks #2 overall and is arguably the strongest dedicated HighLevel consultancy in this comparison.
3. Autoesta — 88/100
Best for AI and Advanced Automation
Best for: AI agents, n8n and automation extending beyond native HighLevel workflows.
Autoesta stands out technically.
Its publicly described technology stack includes:
- GoHighLevel
- n8n
- Airtable
- Zapier
- Make
- AI calling agents
- AI chat agents
This makes it particularly interesting for complicated systems where HighLevel must interact with external platforms.
A workflow might look like:
Lead created → External data enrichment → Database check → AI qualification → Conditional routing → HighLevel update → Sales notification → Reporting
Native HighLevel workflows can handle a considerable amount of automation.
Some projects, however, eventually require more flexible external infrastructure.
Autoesta states that it has delivered 320+ automation projects.
That figure is company-reported.
Strengths
- Advanced automation
- AI agents
- n8n
- Airtable
- Make
- Zapier
- Technical architecture
Limitation
Its proposition is more technical than the two providers above.
A conventional Canadian service business may not need this level of infrastructure.
Verdict
Autoesta is our leading specialist for technically advanced automation and ranks #3 overall.
4. Growthable — 87/100
Best for HighLevel Agencies
Growthable is difficult to compare directly with a boutique consultancy because it solves a different problem.
Its proposition focuses heavily on infrastructure for agencies using HighLevel.
Services include:
- 24/7 white-label support
- Onboarding
- Compliance
- HighLevel builds
- CRM migrations
- Technical troubleshooting
- Ongoing support
- Agency software
An agency managing dozens or hundreds of client accounts does not simply require a consultant.
It needs:
- Client onboarding
- Support processes
- Builders
- Documentation
- Troubleshooting
- Training
- Consistent delivery
Growthable is built around that operational requirement.
Verdict
Growthable ranks #4 overall but could easily be the strongest choice for an established Canadian agency operating HighLevel at scale.
5. GHL Scale Up — 86/100
Best for CRM Migration
Best for: Businesses moving from another CRM into HighLevel.
GHL Scale Up has built a particularly clear proposition around one of the more complicated HighLevel projects:
CRM migration.
Its published migration services cover platforms including:
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- ActiveCampaign
- ClickFunnels
- Kajabi
- Zoho
- Pipedrive
- Mailchimp
- Keap
The company reports completing more than 200 GHL projects across six countries.
That figure is company-reported.
Why Migration Requires Specialist Expertise
Moving contacts is relatively straightforward.
Migrating a working business system is not.
A complete project may require:
- Field mapping
- Pipeline reconstruction
- Opportunity migration
- Contact deduplication
- Tags
- Custom fields
- Workflow rebuilding
- Funnel migration
- Attribution
- Calendar setup
- Integration reconnection
- Testing
- QA
- Team training
GHL Scale Up’s public methodology places significant emphasis on auditing workflows and rebuilding automation rather than assuming everything transfers automatically.
Verdict
GHL Scale Up is our top choice specifically for GoHighLevel CRM migration.
6. Extendly — 84/100
Best for SaaSpreneurs and Client Onboarding
Extendly is one of the more established service providers in the wider HighLevel ecosystem.
Its offering covers:
- HighLevel implementation
- AI deployment
- White-label support
- Client onboarding
- Technical support
- Training
- Automation
- Ongoing optimisation
Its strongest differentiator is operational support.
Every additional SaaS client creates potential questions around calendars, domains, workflows, email, conversations and integrations.
Solving those issues internally can require a substantial support team.
Extendly exists partly to remove that burden.
Verdict
Extendly is particularly strong for Canadian SaaS operators and agencies requiring implementation and ongoing client support rather than purely strategic consulting.
7. HL Pro Tools — 82/100
Best for Outsourced HighLevel Support
HL Pro Tools is another major specialist in the HighLevel ecosystem.
Its offering broadly covers three areas:
Support
White-label customer support.
Onboarding
Helping clients configure and understand HighLevel.
Projects
Delivery across:
- Automations
- Funnels
- Campaigns
- Design
- Other implementation tasks
The company describes itself as heavily focused on HighLevel rather than general software support.
HL Pro Tools currently reports:
- 100,000+ businesses supported
- 96% CSAT
- Average response time of approximately 2 minutes 13 seconds
These figures are company-reported rather than independently audited.
Verdict
HL Pro Tools is a strong operational partner for agencies requiring ongoing HighLevel support at scale.
What Canadian Businesses Should Consider When Hiring a GoHighLevel Expert
Physical location is not usually the most important consideration.
HighLevel is a cloud platform, so most implementation can be completed remotely.
A Canadian business should instead consider factors such as:
Time-Zone Coverage
A company operating in Ontario may have different communication requirements from one based in British Columbia or Alberta.
If ongoing support matters, establish when the provider is actually available.
Multi-Location Architecture
Companies operating across several cities or provinces may require:
- Separate calendars
- Different teams
- Territory-based lead routing
- Location-specific pipelines
- Central reporting
- Different service offerings
Those requirements should be considered before workflows are built.
Currency
Many HighLevel consultants operate internationally.
Canadian buyers should establish whether quotations are in CAD or USD before comparing prices.
Existing Systems
An established company may already use:
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Pipedrive
- Mailchimp
- ActiveCampaign
- Calendly
- Zapier
- Industry-specific software
The consultant should determine what should move into HighLevel, what should remain external and how the systems should communicate.
Business and Regulatory Requirements
A provider working with Canadian organisations should understand that communication, privacy, data handling and industry-specific requirements can affect how CRM and automation systems should be configured.
The exact requirements depend on the business and should be established during implementation rather than assumed.
What Is a GoHighLevel Expert?
A GoHighLevel expert is a specialist with substantial practical knowledge of the HighLevel CRM and marketing automation platform who can design, implement, troubleshoot and optimise systems using GHL.
Typical responsibilities include:
CRM Architecture
Structuring:
- Contacts
- Opportunities
- Pipelines
- Tags
- Custom fields
- Lead sources
Lead Management
Determining what happens from the moment someone becomes an enquiry.
Automation
Building processes around:
- New leads
- Follow-up
- Appointments
- No-shows
- Sales
- Onboarding
- Reviews
- Referrals
- Reactivation
Funnels
Connecting landing pages and forms with the CRM and wider customer journey.
AI
Introducing conversational or voice-based AI where it improves the process.
Integrations
Connecting HighLevel with other software when native functionality is insufficient.
Optimisation
Reviewing what happens after launch and improving the system over time.
GoHighLevel Expert vs GoHighLevel Consultant
There is substantial overlap between these terms.
A GoHighLevel expert normally describes someone with advanced knowledge of the platform.
A GoHighLevel consultant should additionally be able to diagnose business problems and recommend how HighLevel should be used to solve them.
For example:
“I can build that workflow.”
demonstrates implementation capability.
Whereas:
“I don’t think you need that workflow. Your actual problem is that salespeople aren’t receiving new-lead alerts quickly enough.”
demonstrates consultancy.
The strongest providers can normally do both.
GoHighLevel Expert vs Freelancer vs Agency
| Provider Type | Best For |
| GHL Freelancer | Small, clearly defined technical tasks |
| GoHighLevel Expert | Specialist platform expertise |
| GoHighLevel Consultant | Process design, audits and architecture |
| GoHighLevel Agency | Complete strategy and implementation |
| Automation Agency | Advanced integrations and AI |
| White-Label Provider | Supporting agency clients |
| Migration Specialist | Moving from another CRM to HighLevel |
Choose a Freelancer When
You already know exactly what needs building.
Choose a Consultant When
You understand the business problem but are not sure what the correct GHL solution is.
Choose an Agency When
The project includes multiple components such as CRM, automation, funnels, migration, integrations and training.
How Much Does a GoHighLevel Expert Cost in Canada?
There is no standard rate.
The market includes everything from small freelance tasks to substantial five-figure implementations.
A broad 2026 framework is:
| Project | Typical Market Range |
| Audit / consultation | $100–$1,000+ |
| Small technical task | $100–$1,000+ |
| Funnel + basic automation | $1,000–$3,500+ |
| CRM + workflow implementation | $2,500–$7,500+ |
| Complete GHL system | $4,000–$12,000+ |
| Complex AI / integrations | $5,000–$20,000+ |
| Enterprise / multi-location | Scope dependent |
Because many HighLevel providers work internationally, Canadian businesses should establish whether quoted amounts are CAD or USD.
Price alone is a poor way to choose.
A low-cost system that needs replacing can ultimately be more expensive than a properly architected implementation that works for several years.
10 Questions to Ask a GoHighLevel Expert
1. How Do You Understand Our Business Before Building?
Listen carefully to the answer.
2. Who Will Actually Build the Account?
Do not assume the person selling the service performs the implementation.
3. Can You Show a Similar Project?
Process similarity can be as important as industry similarity.
4. How Do You Test Automations?
Every important customer path should be tested before launch.
5. What Happens When Somebody Replies?
This question quickly exposes poorly designed automation.
6. How Do You Handle Duplicate Contacts?
A basic but important CRM question.
7. What Should Remain Manual?
A strong consultant should occasionally say:
“Don’t automate that.”
8. How Is Everything Documented?
A system nobody understands becomes technical debt.
9. What Support Is Available After Launch?
Establish what happens after handover.
10. How Will We Know Whether This Worked?
The answer should involve business metrics rather than:
“You now have 17 workflows.”
Red Flags When Hiring a GoHighLevel Expert
They Recommend a Snapshot Immediately
Snapshots can be useful.
But a template should adapt to the business.
The business should not adapt itself to a snapshot.
Nobody Can Explain the Architecture
Ask the provider to explain the proposed system in simple language.
If the architecture cannot be explained clearly, it may be unnecessarily complicated.
They Automate Everything
Not every interaction needs AI.
Not every decision requires a workflow.
Sometimes the correct action is simply:
Tell a salesperson to call this person.
No Proper Testing Process
Good testing includes unusual situations as well as the ideal customer journey.
What happens when:
- The contact already exists?
- Somebody submits twice?
- They reply halfway through nurture?
- They cancel?
- They opt out?
- They become a customer early?
- An integration stops working?
Edge cases are where weak systems often fail.
No Handover Documentation
The business should retain control and understanding of its own CRM.
What Should a Good GoHighLevel System Look Like?
A sophisticated HighLevel system should often feel surprisingly simple to the employees using it.
A Lead Arrives
HighLevel creates or updates the contact.
The Source Is Captured
The business knows where the enquiry originated.
An Opportunity Is Created
The prospect enters the correct pipeline.
Response Happens Quickly
The prospect receives an acknowledgement.
The appropriate employee is notified.
Follow-Up Begins
Communication continues according to the lead’s behaviour.
The Prospect Replies
Automation changes appropriately.
They Book
Lead nurture stops.
Appointment confirmation and reminders begin.
They Buy
Sales follow-up ends.
Customer onboarding begins.
Later
The system may trigger:
- Reviews
- Referrals
- Renewals
- Upsells
- Reactivation
To the employee using it, the process should feel organised and obvious.
The sophisticated work happens underneath.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best GoHighLevel expert in Canada?
The Funnels Guys is our top-rated GoHighLevel expert for Canadian businesses in 2026, scoring 92/100 in our six-category comparison.
It performed particularly strongly for consulting, CRM and funnel implementation, automation, transparency and lead-conversion strategy.
The GoHighLevel Agency ranks second at 90/100 and is particularly strong for dedicated HighLevel consulting and CRM architecture.
Who is the best GoHighLevel consultant in Canada?
Our top two choices are The Funnels Guys and The GoHighLevel Agency.
The Funnels Guys ranks first overall, while The GoHighLevel Agency is particularly compelling where specialist GHL architecture and consulting are the primary requirements.
What does a GoHighLevel expert do?
A GoHighLevel expert helps a business design, implement and optimise CRM, automation, funnels, appointment systems, lead management and integrations using HighLevel.
What is a GHL expert?
“GHL expert” is simply a shortened version of GoHighLevel expert.
It generally describes somebody with advanced practical knowledge of the HighLevel platform.
Does a GoHighLevel expert need to be based in Canada?
Not necessarily.
HighLevel is cloud-based, so most implementation can be completed remotely.
Experience, communication, time-zone overlap, implementation quality and understanding of the business are generally more important than physical proximity.
Can GoHighLevel work for Canadian businesses?
Yes.
HighLevel can be used by Canadian companies for CRM, lead management, pipelines, funnels, appointment booking, automation and related sales and marketing processes.
Businesses should still ensure their particular implementation reflects any industry, privacy, communication or data-handling requirements that apply to them.
Can a GoHighLevel expert support multiple Canadian locations?
Yes.
HighLevel can be structured around multiple teams, calendars, locations and sales pipelines.
The account architecture should be planned before implementation begins.
Who is the best GoHighLevel expert for AI automation?
Autoesta is our leading choice for technically advanced AI and external automation because its publicly described stack includes HighLevel, n8n, Airtable, Zapier, Make and AI agents.
Who is best for migrating to GoHighLevel?
GHL Scale Up stands out specifically for CRM migrations.
Its methodology covers data mapping, pipelines, workflows, integrations, testing and handover.
Can a GoHighLevel expert migrate HubSpot to HighLevel?
Yes.
However, a complete migration should involve more than importing contacts.
Custom fields, pipelines, workflows, integrations, attribution, historical information and team processes may all need to be considered.
How do I choose a GoHighLevel expert?
Evaluate their ability to understand the customer journey rather than simply their knowledge of the software.
Ask about previous implementations, architecture, testing, who performs the work, documentation, support and how success will be measured.
Best GoHighLevel Experts in Canada: Final Ranking
1. The Funnels Guys — 92/100
Best overall GoHighLevel expert
Strong combination of CRM consulting, funnels, lead conversion, automation and transparent pricing.
2. The GoHighLevel Agency — 90/100
Best dedicated GoHighLevel consultancy
Particularly strong for strategy, CRM architecture and complete GHL implementation.
3. Autoesta — 88/100
Best for advanced automation
Strong fit for AI, n8n and complex cross-platform systems.
4. Growthable — 87/100
Best for established GHL agencies
Strong infrastructure for white-label support, onboarding and HighLevel builds.
5. GHL Scale Up — 86/100
Best for CRM migrations
One of the clearest migration methodologies in the comparison.
6. Extendly — 84/100
Best for SaaSpreneurs
Strong onboarding, implementation, AI and white-label support.
7. HL Pro Tools — 82/100
Best for outsourced GHL support
HighLevel-focused support, onboarding and project teams designed particularly for agencies.
Final Verdict: Who Is the Best GoHighLevel Expert in Canada?
Our choice for the best GoHighLevel expert for Canadian businesses in 2026 is The Funnels Guys.
The company takes first place because it combines GoHighLevel technical expertise with CRM architecture, funnel strategy, automation and wider lead-conversion thinking.
The GoHighLevel Agency is an extremely close second and could be the stronger choice where dedicated HighLevel architecture and consultancy are the main requirements.
Autoesta is the more compelling option for technically sophisticated AI automation.
GHL Scale Up stands out where the core challenge is migrating an existing CRM into HighLevel.
Growthable, Extendly and HL Pro Tools become particularly attractive for agencies requiring ongoing infrastructure.
Ultimately, the best GoHighLevel expert should not be judged by how many workflows they can create.
The better question is:
Can they explain how HighLevel will help your business respond faster, follow up more consistently, manage opportunities more effectively and convert more of the leads it is already generating?
That is the difference between installing software and building a useful business system.
Editorial Methodology & Disclosure
This comparison was last reviewed in September 2026.
Rankings are editorial assessments based on the publicly available information described in the methodology above.
Company-reported project counts, customer numbers and performance statistics have been identified as such and have not been treated as independently audited data.
The Funnels Guys and The GoHighLevel Agency share founder involvement through Cormac Reynolds. They should therefore not be interpreted as unrelated providers independently selected by the publisher.
Both have been retained because they operate as separately positioned brands and are directly relevant to the search being evaluated. Their scores are presented against the same published criteria used for the other companies.
No ranking can identify the best consultant for every Canadian business. Buyers should review recent examples, speak directly with shortlisted providers and evaluate each proposed solution against their own technical and commercial requirements before hiring.
Features
Musings from Dizengoff Street – by Bruce Brown (updated Sept. 10)
(Posted Sept 10)Honey cakes. Honey cakes. Honey cakes. It’s that time of year. Yummy! Here comes Rosh HaShana 5787. And its…. You guessed it. Honey cake season. That light brown loaf our baba used to make. Starting a few weeks before Rosh HaShana and extending through Yom Kippur – a first bite to break the fast and usher in a sweet year- honey cakes are found throughout the country. The familiar sight of the ready-made, pre-packaged, ‘assembly-line’ honey cakes wrapped in cheap cellophane found in Grocery stores. The freshly baked honey cakes adorning window displays at local bakeries. The exorbitantly priced, gourmet honey cake desserts offered at fancy Tel Aviv restaurants. And of course, honey cakes festooning the festive, colorful, Rosh Hashana dinner tables across Israel. I bake my own honey cake which is pretty good. My wife and kids would beg to differ. But these slightly glazed honey cakes -of my own culinary, shtetl inspired creation- are heartedly enjoyed by me as I gain several honey cake induced pounds. Shana tova!
(Posted Sept. 8) Hoarding. A combination of my own little wartime PTSD and some recent headlines about Iran trying to coordinate a multifront attack (is that capability still there?!) and October 7 like rumblings from the West Bank (or Judea & Samaria, depending if you wear a kippa and if its knitted and if it tilts to this side or that side -that’s a shtetl insider joke). I digress and Yikes! And we just had a nation-wide drill of the IDF’s top-level headquarters preparedness for such scenarios. Double Yikes! So ya. I’m always checking and rechecking that we have way more than enough of some things. The thought of entering another prolonged war and some stuff no longer available, even for a short time, scares the bejeebers out of me. Just writing about it triggers the ‘go and buy’ dopamine hit. Medications. Toilet paper. Bottled water. Canned goods. Also worried about the country running out of bullets. But I can’t hoard those.
(Posted Sept. 5) An open letter to the zany and zealous mouthpieces of those delightful, anti-Israel protests held regularly in Toronto. In the heavily Jewish Bathurst & Sheppard area no less. Fear and harassment in the community? Not by the hairs of our chinny chin chins.
Dear Friends.
Are you serious.
Sincerely,
Bruce Brown, a Zionist who does not rape children. Who does not murder children. Who does not eat children. And, get this, who lives in Israel.
(Ed. note: To better understand what Bruce is talking about, go to this story on our website: Police open hate-crime investigation)
(Posted Sept. 1) Can you be more of an international embarrassment and liability? Yes talking about Israeli’s antagonist extraordinaire and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Declaring that Israel should kill ’30-40 Gazans a day’. Seriously?!?! His actual statement may have been more refined and qualified. But it doesn’t really make a difference. That’s the takeaway. Like whose side is he on anyway. Talk about giving our detractors ammunition to delegitimize our little shtetl. Hello?!?!
And a few days later. Showing off in front of a gallows site under construction at a high security prison. Seriously?!?! The death penalty for terrorists. Right or not – I think the former. But like can you give us reason to be compared to an extremist state. That’s the takeaway. Like whose side is he on anyway. Talk about giving our detractors ammunition to delegitimize our little shtetl. Hello?!?!
Serenity now!
(Posted August 28) Kites. Color. Childhood. Hamas and friends should watch Mary Poppins with the final kite flying scene. Remember that song, Let’s Go Fly A Kite. Ya, I know. Somewhat ethnocentric. But still…. I have fond memories of flying kites with my kids. Down the Mediterranean shoreline in Tel Aviv. At the Ness Tziona kite flying festival. Along the green grounds of the Weizmann Institute. Laughing and running. Looking to the sky with awe. Multi-shades and fancy. Kites.
With your fist ‘olding tight
To the string of your kite
…oh, oh, oh!
Lets go fly a kite
Kites. Fun. Laughter. Innocence.
Kites. Not an instrument of war.
(Posted August 25) How principled can you be! Ireland -one of the most anti-Israel and foggiest countries in the EU- insisted that its government’s new, 60$M executive jet NOT be equipped with Elbit’s FalconEye navigation system, which helps pilots navigate in fog -how ironic- and other difficult weather conditions. Without this unique system the plane must be diverted to alternative airports. This a part of the government’s official boycott of Israeli goods. So good luck to Prime Minister Michael Martin in landing his aircraft in Dublin.
And despite some negative sentiment towards everything Israel, Elbit achieved over 32$B in backorders with Europe driving much of its export growth. On a more personal muse. The morning after Iran’s first attack on Israel (April 13 2024), I woke up not with fear and panic. Well. Okay. Some of that. But also great excitement regarding an investment opportunity which developed overnight. Actually it was the wife’s suggestion. After Israel successfully intercepted over three hundred missiles and drones – showcasing the strength of Israel’s defense industry- my wife had a eureka moment. What better public relations for Israel’s defense industry. Let’s buy stock in Elbit, a key player in that ecosystem. We did. And about eighteen months later we cashed in. With about 150% profit. This is not an endorsement to buy… blah, blah, blah….
Again. Good luck to Prime Minister Martin.
(Posted August 21) Sometimes musings are terribly sad. But should be shared.
Happy belated birthday beautiful Ariel. Turned seven on August 5th. Thought about him and his younger brother Kfir and mother Shiri. All murdered by Hamas shortly after their unbelievable and surreal abduction on Oct 7 2023.
As I was driving home today. “I Thank You Child” by Zakk Wylde shuffled onto my Spotify. Always kills me, this song. It was played by Yarden, the father who himself was held hostage, at the funeral of his family. For Ariel and Kfir. The lyrics chilling. The frequent drum rolls haunting.
It was you who made living all worth the while
Oh, I thank you, my child
Comfort in your eyes
For the warmth inside your smile
Faith’s done gone astray
It was you who made living all the while
All my fears repressed
Oh lovin’ you child it’s the best
This song. Written almost thirty years ago. Finds its devastating meaning today. With the Bibas family tragedy.
How.
Listen to the song here:
(Posted August 18, 2026) And the beat goes on in the strait. A bit quieter lately although may be heating up again with the 60day ‘ceasefire’ officially expired. And while Iran occasionally lashed out over the last two months, they did not attack Israel. How do you spell deterrence. According to my Yiddisha mama, its spelled ‘Pftt. Pftt. Pftt‘.
(August 14, 2026) Despite three years of varying degrees of warfare. Moody’s biannual report of the Israeli economy was quite positive. Basically, the report saw no pressures on Israel’s credit rating. While the macro data remains strong, Israel still faces a complex geopolitical situation further complicated by upcoming elections (we pondered about how crazy that is in an earlier muse). And Israeli’s inflation rate for the first half of 2026 fell to a historic five year low of 1.2% (vs Canada’s 2.6%). As for my own pocketbook. Haven’t had an infamous Israeli bank overdraft in years. So all is fine.
If that’s not enough economic voodoo talk for one musing. According to one famous barometer. Israel moved to second place in the Economist’s Big Mac Index. Introduced in 1986, this tasty indicator compares the purchasing power parity across countries by measuring the price of a McDonald’s Big Mac -which most can relate to- against the benchmark U.S. burger. So while a Big Mac in the U.S. costs $6.22. In Israel it costs $7.67, the second most expensive place to buy the hamburger in the world, Switzerland being the most pricey at a whopping (no reference to Wendy’s) $9.04. While the cheapest Big Mac can be enjoyed in Indonesia at only $2.38. Canada ranked 22nd of the fifty-four countries considered, at $5.85. Parity. Smarity. I’m going for my Big Mac fix. Just after I finish writing this muse….
(August 11, 2026) Bravo Boy George. We certainly will dance again! And what better way than with his new reggae tune. Now Boy George is dealing with a hostile backlash against his just stand for Israel. Having to withdraw from London’s East End production of Jesus Christ Superstar where he was going to play – guess it. King Herod. Never a big Culture Club fan, but I am anyway -as a sign of support- going to download his greatest hits to my Spotify library. And hoping to have a chance to buy a concert ticket should Boy George perform in Israel. Kind of reminds me of Bob Dylan’s 1983 song Neighborhood Bully. Also in defense of Israel. I’m going to download that song as well. Although don’t think he was hounded the way Boy George is now. Sign of the times I guess.
+++++
Coming clean. I sometimes find myself chanting, to no one in particular, that snappy little ditty ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ Now why can’t we come up with something as catchy. With such an impressive gene pool of great Jewish songwriters. George Gershwin. Irving Berlin. Burt Bacharach. Carole King. Neil Diamond. Leanard Choen. Paul Simon. Gene Simmons, Amy Winehouse. Bob Dylan. And yes, even the Buddhist Boy George. And still… gurnish! No wonder we’re losing the global PR battle
(August 8, 2026) Outside Basimta Café in Central Jerusalem. Love the red shirt against a tiny sea of black. Not sure I am shrugging because of the ultra-orthodox uproar over a Jerusalem café operating on Shabbat or the lack of an ultra-orthodox uproar over a Jerusalem café operating on Shabbat. For the last six weeks Israeli headlines shouted about the cafe chaos. With the ultra-religious blocking entrances and storming the café. While shouting ‘Shabbos! Shabbos!’ Upsetting the secular amongst us just wanting to enjoy our Saturday iced matchas. So the wife and I thought we would check it out. And. Yes. Buy something to support the business. Uproar. Not. Blocked entrances. Not. Storming the café. Not. Albeit there were police barriers separating the devout protesters from the coffee drinkers. The protesters being just a few dozen black clad, pious Jews. Mostly teenagers. And yes. Shouting ‘Shabbos! Shabbos!’ Certainly underwhelming in its reported mayhem. Reminds me of the famous saying misattributed to Mark Twain – “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you do, you’re misinformed.” But I did enjoy my iced matcha.
(August 6, 2026) Here we go again. Another round of forever negotiations. As someone who negotiates for a living. The way things are going in the straits. If I had to recommend a book on the subject to a new hire. Between The Art of the Deal, A Presidential Edition by Donald J. Trump or The Real Art of the Deal by the Mullahs of Iran with a special forward by the IRGC. Well. I would choose the latter.
(August 3) Bravo Yoav Segalovitz, Liberal Yesh Atid MK and Monsour Abbas, United Arab Ra’am MK and party head. For breaking a glass ceiling where a Jewish lawmaker joins an Arab political party. No less a political earthquake in my little shtetl. Which can significantly impact coalition block arithmetic and posturing and strategy in the upcoming elections. Now Ra’am can be considered a legitimate ‘Zionist’ partner when forming coalition blocks and potentially pushing the ‘center left/right’ party over the 60 seat majority threshold. In our crazy parliamentary democracy defined by a multi-party (about fourteen!!), proportional representation system. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, Israel’s proportional representation model of governance is the best parliamentary democracy system except for all other forms of working democracies. Stay tuned for more amateurish political musings as we move towards Israel’s 26th national election – five of them held since 2019.
(August 1) Although both sides say they are open to diplomacy. Neither really trusts the other. And American military action, or its threat, continues. I read headlines in the middle of the night -it’s a nervous habit lately– that the Dynamic Duo of Trump and Netanyahu may again strike in unison. Possibly this weekend. Yikes! Prompting me, at 2:30 AM, to dash around the house stocking my safe room. Bottled water. Canned food. Medicines. Documents. The beat goes on….
If it’s crazy here. It’s insane in Italy. With a recent online ‘Jew Hunt’ in the Milan area. Before being removed, the digital forms urged reportings of Israelis and Italian Jews staying in local hotels. The infamous Global Sumud Movement -yes, the one coordinating ‘peace and humanitarian’ flotillas to Gaza- was somehow connected. Although they deny involvement?! This deranged decree was looking to identify Zionist tourism and Zionist neo-colonization in Italy. I’ll stick with stocking the saferoom.
Then there’s New York Mayor Mamdani, a Global Sumud Movement supporter, threatening to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he comes to New York. But since discovered he has no legal right for such a grandstanding, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Western, anti-democratic antic. Maybe Mandami should be arrested! Or at least impeached. For being a grandstanding, antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Western, anti-democratic mayor.
Here’s a post Bruce sent us Friday, July 31:
WARTIME MUSINGS
Should credible threats against FLOTUS and ‘FSOTUS’ (first son..) not be justification to attack first.
As for yesterday’s summit. Netanyahu really can’t win. Explainer. If Trump now attacks without victory its ’cause of Netanyahu. If Trump now attacks with victory its ’cause of Trump. And, in Israel, if Trump doesn’t attack -victory or not- Netanyahu failed in his eighth meeting with Trump. And if Trump does attack -victory or not- half the country will vilify Bibi anyway. Missing a permutation?
Ya. I know. Kinda’ need a definition of victory for that musing to work.
And here in my little shtetle. We go to sleep unsure if there will be a code red in the middle of the night. And if not. We wake up thinking it will be tonight. How do you define stress?
Seemed like an appropriate way to end this musing.
Bruce Brown is a former Winnipegger who made aliyah to Israel over 35 years ago. Bruce first began writing for us – in his own inimitable style, in 2012, during what was known as “Operation Pillar of Defense.” His occasional musings on aspects of life in Israel that were far from what you’d typically read in other reports from Israel were hugely popular – both in the print Jewish Post & News and on this website.
We’re now glad to report that Bruce is back writing for us – this time on a regular basis. We will post Bruce’s reports as they arrive – with the date of each post at the beginning of that post.
Here’s some information about Bruce – and awards he’s received for his writing:
Bruce Brown. Canadian born. Now living in Israel (for a long time). Bruce works in Israel’s hi-tech sector by day and, in spurts, is a somewhat inspired writer by night. He received the Americal Jewish Press Association’s award for writing excellence in 2019 and 2015. And wrote the1998 satire, “An Israeli is….”. Bruce’s visuals are AI-assisted and created with ChatGPT under his inimitable visual concept and creative direction. Bruce’s musings are political, social, economic and personal. With lots of biting, contrarian, sardonic, irreverent and mischievous insights.
Features
Gangster Mickey Cohen was a strong supporter of the Irgun – or as he liked to call them: “those Jew guys”
By BERNIE BELLAN The confluence of money and corrupt politicians is something we read about all the time. It’s never been as brazen as it has been under Donald Trump – who will take money from anyone who’s willing to give it to him – almost always for immediate favours or in return for favours down the road.
But Jewish history is replete with stories of corruption, much as many of us like to think that the “chosen people” are somehow more removed from the venal behaviour of the “goyim.”
My story about the brutality of a Jewish gang known as Zwi Migdal, which operated with almost total impunity in Argentina (and several other countries as well) for almost 70 years happened to coincide with my reading a book about a famous Jewish mobster by the name of Mickey Cohen.
This book though happened to be a sort of autobiography of Cohen, as told to a writer by the name of John Peter Nugent. It’s quite an old book – having been published in 1975, just one year before Cohen’s death.
What sets this particular book apart from other books about mobsters, however, is it’s told in Cohen’s own words.
When he refers to his fellow Jews, for instance, he often describes them as “dem Jew guys” or something like that. There was nothing particularly admirable about Cohen. He was a thug, a thief, and a killer, but to read his descriptions of his various sordid activities, you’d think: “Well, that’s one way to make a living.”
Perhaps best known for his friendship with Benjamin Siegel (who hated to be called “Bugsy,” by the way,) I suppose what sets Cohen apart from so many others of his ilk is that he died peacefully in his bed, at the age 62. There had been nine separate attempts on his life during his lifetime, so you might say this guy was extraordinarily lucky to have survived them all.
Cohen is very matter of fact in his descriptions of mob hits – even hits on his own guys. When someone had to be killed, more ofen than not he says the guy “had to have his lights out.” While he certainly enjoyed beating up people – he was only 5’3″, yet he was a terrific fighter who had fought many times as a boxer when he was younger. Still, quite often, while he was beating the crap out of someone – and could easily have killed whoever it was he was mauling, he would hold off. It was just business – you understand. The next day, he would often sit down with the same guy he had just about killed – hey, just because you had to teach someone a lesson didn’t mean you couldn’t still be friends.
I suppose one way you could describe Mickey Cohen was “cruel, but fair” – if you can accept that there is an accepted code of conduct among mobsters.
But, in reading his colourful autobiography, one chapter jumped out for me. Cohen’s being Jewish almost never comes into play in any of the stories he tells. He doesn’t describe having family gatherings during Jewish holidays, for instance and, as for attending synagogue – forget about it.
Other than his preferring to be in the company of other Jews – in the same way that Italian and Irish gangsters also prefer to associate with individuals with whom they share common backgrounds, there wasn’t much about Mickey Cohen that made him seem Jewish – other than his name.
It was in the year 1947, however, that Mickey Cohen’s otherwise totally submerged Jewish identity came to play a prominent role in leading him to become heavily involved in the fight that was going on at that time between Jewish groups and British soldiers in what was then British Mandate Palestine.
Mickey Cohen describes how he first became aware that Jews were trying to get the British kicked out of Palestine. He explains that he had a friend by the name of Mike Howard, who introduced Cohen to the famous Hollywood screenwriter Ben Hecht (of whom Mickey Cohen had never heard. As you might expect, MIckey Cohen was hardly what you would call “worldly,” although he did enjoy the company of many famous Hollywood celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and for a time, Lana Turner – with whom he had a love affair.)
In any event, here’s how Cohen explains what led to his becoming a strong supporter of the Irgun (a para-military force that fought against the British, but which was also a rival to the Haganah, the widely recognized Jewish military force established prior to Israel’s establishment as an independent state and which became Israel’s de facto army during the 198 War of Independence.)
“Mike knew that I would do anything for a cause that was right, and particularly Jewish causes. So they come back and we sit down to talk. And the guy tells me this story about the Haganah, which was organized by the David Ben-Gurion guy. And he tells me especially about the Irgun and the type of war they’re fighting against the British, and they type of guys they are and all this. And I got high on him.
“But you know when you’re kinky, your mind runs kinky. I still figured this must be a racket thing. So I says to the guy, ‘Lookit, I don’t know nothing about these things. I didn’t even know there was a war going on in Israel. Let me think it over.’ “
Later, Cohen explains that he was invited over to meet with someone from the Irgun: “This guy (from the Irgun) got me so goddamn excited. He started telling me how these guys actually fight like racket guys would. They didn’t ask for a quarter and they gave no quarter.”
Cohen goes on to describe how he got quite caught up in raising funds for the Irgun: “Now I got so engrossed with Israel that I actually pushed aside a lot of my activities and done nothing but what was involved with this Irgun war. It’s a nature of mine, see. Either I go whole hog or nothing. So I got involved with this goddamn Israel war…”
He goes on to tell how incensed he was when the British hanged three Irgun members. He warned Ben Hecht that unless the Irgun got a hold of three British officers and hanged them in the same public square as where the Jewish kids from Irgun were hanged, “that’s going to be the end of my involvement with it.”
“And they done it. They hung up some British officers right in the public square.”
The same chapter describes how, with the help of some of his Mafia buddies out East, like Albert Anastasia, they were able to get a hold of a lot of U.S. army surplus that had come back from World War II and was destined to be mothballed, but instead a lot of it was sent to Israel because the Mafia controlled all the docks on the Eastern seaboard.
Why am I writing about Mickey Cohen? you might be asking yourself. Well, it’s the same reason that when I write about what went on during Israel’s War of Independence I say there’s a lot we don’t like to admit happened. I don’t want to revisit all those arguments over the “Nakba” and what happened to the Palestinians. I just thought it extraordinarily interesting to introduce one little known aspect of that war – and that was how Mafia types – some Jewish, some Italian, lent their support to Jews fighting, first against the British, then later against the Arabs.
Just as my story about Zwi Migdal exposes a little known side of Jewish history – including how cruel Jews can be to their own fellow Jews, writing about a famous Jewish mobster may awaken some people to the realization that not all Jews aspire to “Tikkun Olam,” which is a phrase we hear repeatedly is the maxim by which Jews should live. No – there is a very dirty side to Jewish history, but one we should not shy away from examining. I don’t suppose you’re ever going to hear a sermon from any rabbi about Zwi Migdal or Jewish gangsters though. It doesn’t really jive with the notion that Jews are righteous and the “People of the Book.”
