Local News
Rady JCC 50th anniversary Ken Kronson Sports Dinner to honour long-time supporters Lana and Gregg Maidment
By MYRON LOVE On Tuesday, May 28, the Rady JCC is hosting its annual Ken Kronson Sports Dinner – celebrating its 50th anniversary. This year’s honourees are a special couple – Lana and Gregg Maidment, who, for more than 25 years, have been an integral part of the dinner’s success.
“We are really excited,” says Lana Maidment. “The Rady JCC – and its predecessor, the YMHA Jewish Community Centre – have held a very special place in my family’s life ever since we came to Canada almost 50 years ago.
“We feel particularly humbled that Gregg and I are being honoured in conjunction with the dinner’s 50th anniversary.”
“This is a milestone year for us,” says Al Greenberg, Sports Dinner Committee Chair in a Rady JCC press release. “Lana and Gregg are the perfect fit for this celebration and we are so happy they are humbly allowing us to do them this honour. “
Lana, who is the President and CEO of Komana Financial Inc. (a business originally founded by her father, the late Mike Kogan), has been heavily involved in the Rady JCC Sports Dinner for years as a committee member, leading the way to securing countless sponsorships, prizes, and donations.
As long as 35 years ago, Lana was already involved with what was then the YMHA as a fitness instructor at the old Y on Hargrave.
Her parents, Mike and Adel, were members of the Rady JCC from day one and could be seen at the same table every day at Shmoozer’s.
Gregg is originally from southern Ontario. He came to our community in 1987 to serve as managing partner at the Canadian Auction Group’s Winnipeg location. After ADESA Canada bought out the Canadian auto auction group, Gregg was appointed ADESA’ s General Manager and Vice-president of Operations for Western Canada. In 2005, he was promoted to Senior Vice-president, Canadian Operations.
About a year ago, ADESA merged with TradeRev and now operates as Openlane Canada – KAR on the New York Stock Exchange.
“It was Larry Vickar who first invited me to help with the Sports Dinner auction,” Gregg recalls. “That was over 25 years ago and we have sponsored the live auction ever since.
“If you’ve ever been to our dinner, then you know Gregg’s voice and know firsthand what he does for us,” says Greenberg. “The way he and his team have elevated our live auction over the years has been life changing for so many.”
It is not only the Sports Dinner where Lana, Gregg and their auction team have volunteered their services. More than 50 charities have benefitted from their efforts – raising upwards of $200 million dollars over the years for various charities and non-profits including:All the hospital foundation, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Pan Am Clinic Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Variety Children’s Charity, Bruce Oake Foundation, Fort Whyte Centre, True North Foundation, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Manitoba Harvest, Teen Adult Challenge, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, Dream Factory, Winnipeg Humane Society, Royal Canadian Aviation Museum, Mainstreet Project, all private high schools (including Gray Academy, St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s, Balmoral Hall, Saint John’s Ravenscourt) and all major educational institutions.
“Together, Lana and Gregg have built an incredible legacy for their family, structured on the principles of love, hard work, and philanthropy,” Greenberg adds.. “Adel and Mike would be so proud of Lana. I am sure that they would have been the first people to raise a glass, raise a paddle and be so proud of what their daughter Lana and son-in-law Gregg have accomplished in life and community.”
Every dollar from the Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sports Dinner directly supports the Rady JCC’s variety of recreational, cultural, and fitness programs for all age groups to meet the diverse needs of the community-at-large. Through its programs and camps, the Rady reaches thousands of children a year – of all abilities – helping them to stay active and develop leadership skills.
“People from throughout North Americas are coming for this special 50th anniversary dinner,” Lana reports. “Upwards of 2,000 business leaders and community members are expected to attend, including representatives of the charities that we and the community support.”
“These dinners are always magical,” adds Greenberg. “And through sharing Lana and Gregg’s story and honouring their entire family this year, we are in for something even bigger than we’ve ever seen before.”
For tickets, readers can contact Zach Minuk at 204 480-6562 or email zminuk@radyjcc.com
Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
Local News
Winnipeg Beach Synagogue about to celebrate 75th anniversary
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 13) In 1950 a group of cottage owners at Winnipeg Beach took it upon themselves to relocate a one-room schoolhouse that was in the Beausejour area to Winnipeg Beach where it became the beach synagogue at the corner of Hazel and Grove.
There it stayed until 1998 when it was moved to its current location at Camp Massad.
On August 2nd members of the synagogue will be holding a 75th anniversary celebration.
As part of the celebration anyone who is a descendant or relative of any of the original members of the first executive committee (as seen in the photo here) is invited to attend the synagogue that morning.
If you are a relative please contact Abe Borzykowski at wpgbeachshule@shaw.ca or aborzykowski@shaw.ca to let Abe know you might be attending or for more information about the 75th anniversary celebration.
We will soon be publishing a story about the history of the beach synagogue, which is something I’ve been writing about for over 25 years.
Local News
Vickar Family cuts ribbon on new Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre
By MYRON LOVE In the words of Larry Vickar, the Shaarey Zedek’s successful Dor V’ Dor Campaign “is not only a renewal of the synagogue but truly a renewal movement of Jewish life in our community.”An integral part of that renewal movement was the creation of a daycare centre within the expanded synagogue. On Monday, June 23, Larry and Tova Vickar cut the ribbon, thereby officially opening the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre in the presence of 100 of their family members, friends and other supporters of the project.
The short program preceding the morning ribbon-cutting began with a continental breakfast followed by a welcome by both Fanny Levy, Shaarey Zedek’s Board President, and Executive Director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze. In Elbaze’s remarks, she noted that Larry and Tova wanted their family (including son Stephen and family, who flew in from Florida) and friends at the event to celebrate the opening of the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre, “not because of the accolades, but because, as Larry put it, he hopes that their investment in the congregation will inspire others to do the same.”
“When Larry and I spoke about what this gift meant to him and the message he wanted people to take away,” she continued, “I couldn’t help but connect it to the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book – Age-ing to Sage-ing – changes the whole way we look at the concept of ageing and basing it on our ancestral teachings.”
She explained that his concept of “Sage-ing” is based on three key ideas – Discover your meaning and purpose; accept our mortality and think about the legacy you want to leave.
“Larry spoke about these exact concepts when we met,” she said.
Elbaze also noted the presence of Shaarey Zedek’s newly-arrived senior Rabbi Carnie Rose, former Rabbi Alan Green, and area MLAs Mike Moroz and Carla Compton.
Larry Vickar expressed his great appreciation for all those in attendance. “Tova and I are deeply moved to stand here with you today for this important milestone in our community”, he said. “We are grateful to be surrounded by all of you, the people we care about, our family and friends… you who have touched our lives and played some part in our journey.”