Local News
Manitoba film czar Rachel Rusen looking forward to busy time post-COVID
By MYRON LOVE
“I am excited that our provincial government has identified film production as one of the industries that will be allowed to re-open as part of phase 2 of lifting Covid-19 restrictions in Manitoba,” says Rachel Rusen, Manitoba Film Commissioner and CEO of the Manitoba Film & Sound Recording Development Corporation.
“We are working with the government and the Chief Public Health officer to prepare guidelines and protocols.”
Rusen confirms that Manitoba Film & Music remains busier than ever with production inquiries stimulated by the province’s competitive tax credit. “In its earliest days,” she notes, “film production was more of a seasonal cottage industry, but it has evolved to become a robust economic driver that has a good balance between foreign and domestic production. Whether local or international, fundamental to Manitoba’s success has been the Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit that was first introduced in 1997. The tax credit has resulted in over $260 million in total production volume last year alone. Having A-list talent in Winnipeg is not only exciting but also elevates our city’s profile when those who have filmed here discuss what a jewel of a province we are.”
Among recent productions that have been filmed here, she reports, are: “The Ice Road”, starring Liam Neeson and Lawrence Fishburne; “Flag Day”, with Sean Penn; and “Nobody”, a Universal production featuring Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd and Bob Odenkirk. Local producers, Rusen adds, create their own content, such as “Dr. Keri-Vet”, “Polar Bear Town” and “Taken” and collaborate as producers on scripted series such as “Burden of Truth” for CBC and “Edgar” for Radio Canada – and as service providers for many Lifetime and Hallmark productions shot around the city.
“We punch above our weight. We actually need more people to fill the job demands.”
Rusen is approaching the first anniversary of her appointment as CEO for the Manitoba Film & Sound Recording Development Corporation but has been involved in the industry for more than a decade as an entertainment lawyer. Prior to joining the corporation, the former MLT Aikins LLP partner practiced commercial, corporate and business law before shifting her focus to entertainment law.
“I recognized in the entertainment industry in Manitoba a vibrant growth industry,” she explains.
In her role as an entertainment lawyer, Rusen has acted for clients across Canada in all areas of the entertainment industry including film, television, music, new media and book publishing. As a result, she is also able to contribute her expertise as a board member, Manitoba Film & Sound Recording Development Corporation, Manitoba Music, On Screen Manitoba, the Comweb Group and Food Banks Canada, among others.
“In my new role, I continue to work with the same stakeholders but in a different capacity with the benefit of understanding producer challenges,” she points out. Growing up in River Heights, the entertainment industry was not unfamiliar to the daughter of Joan and Jack Rusen. She recalls frequent visits from her uncle, the inimitable Monty Hall.
A former Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate student, Rusen graduated from the University of Winnipeg Collegiate program before pursuing a law degree that culminated in er being called to the Bar in 1997.
Much of her work, she explains, involves promoting the province internationally to attract foreign service production, meeting with international producers looking to film in Canada and representing Manitoba before the Association of Provincial and Territorial Funding Agencies, the National Tax Credit Committee and the International Business Development Group. She is also a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International.
Rusen adds that her responsibilities also include working with local musicians and their associations. “We have supported many touring musicians,” she says. “Now though, during these Covid times, we are helping musicians with online programming.
“Film and music really do go hand in hand. This year, one third of the movies being filmed in the province for television use Manitoba composers. Ultimately, success in the business relies not only on talent but also on relationships.”
Family and Judaism are very important to her, she says. “I grew up in a traditional Jewish family and am proud to say that my three children have all been enrolled at Gray Academy. (Her oldest, Nicole, is currently in third year Science, middle child Mitchell is graduating from Gray this spring and Harry, the youngest, is in Grade 7 at the school.)
“I couldn’t be prouder of my children. They are the joys of my life and they support the work I do on behalf of the province. Certainly, it is a balancing act, but it helps having my parents as active and involved grandparents.”
So what kind of programming does Manitoba’s film guru enjoy watching? “I enjoy watching documentaries and real life stories,” she responds. “I also like streaming original series on Netflix and similar services. I am particularly excited to see the number of Manitobans listed in the credits.”
“I am a proud Manitoban,” she concludes. “I love this opportunity to help put Manitoba on the world stage. It is incredibly rewarding when I can welcome people from abroad to our great province and see them hire local crew, cast local actors, work with local producers and enjoy the legendary hospitality of friendly Manitoba.”
“The demand for content is growing exponentially with global streaming services, broadcasters and film and sound studios producing billions of dollars of content each year. I believe that Manitoba is well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity by showcasing Manitoba talent and working with stakeholders to focus on expanding our infrastructure and labour force.”
Local News
First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
Local News
Team Schvesters teammates Benji Harvey, Kim Gray once again among top ten fundraisers in this year’s CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life event
By MYRON LOVE This year’s annual CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life walk at Assiniboine Park is scheduled for Sunday, June 13 – and, once again, in terms of fundraising, Team Schvesters is sitting in second place overall – having raised just over $30,500 as of May 26 – which is $5,000 more than the team members had raised by the same time last year.
As well, team members Benji Harvey and Kim Gray are once again in the top ten among individual fundraisers. Harvey this year sits in fifth place, having raised a little over $16,000 as of May 17 – while Gray has raised just above $8,000 – putting her in seventh place.
Harvey reports that, -over the past 18, years participating in CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life, she has personally raised $180,000 for cancer research, while her team as a whole has brought in $367,000. In discussing her success as a fundraiser, Harvey says that she has made a lot of friends over the years and believes in giving back to the community.
The “Schvesters” are the Greenfeld sisters: Harvey and sisters Lesly Katz and Debra Lewis – the daughters of Lil and the late Ike Greenfeld. Two of the sisters are cancer survivors.
There is one other team member – in addition to Kim Gray. Judge Rocky Pollack first joined Team Schvesters in 2023. After a year away in 2024, he returned last year. Pollack lost his wife, Sharon, to cancer in 2014 after a multi-year struggle.
Nancy’s Nightingales has been a top 10 community fundraising team for Cancercare Manitoba and the Challenge for Life since its inception in 2008. As a team, they have walked together since 2006 when they walked 60 km in two days in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
Last year, the team – including Louise Raber, Joanne Katz, Rhonda Youell, Connie Botelho and Harriet Lyons – finished fifth in fundraising. So far this year, the team is again sitting in fifth place –having raised just under $12,500 (as of May 26) – a couple of thousand dollars more than last year, and just about $300 behind the fourth place team.
The Nightingales are named after a nurse who is a cancer survivor- and a friend of Louise Raber, Nancy’s Nightingales team leader.
“Our goal, as always, is to raise at least one dollar more than last year,” says Raber.
Team Jason’s Journey team leader Jason Gisser has experienced a more intimate and longer-lasting relationship with cancer than many of the other Challenge for Life participants. He was first diagnosed with cancer when he was 18. “I am a proud cancer fighter, having lived and battled a chronic cancer diagnosis for the last 23 years,” he said in an earlier interview. “I participate in the Challenge for Life not only to give back for the care and treatment which I have and continue to receive through CancerCare Manitoba, but to ensure that others do not have to endure the journey which I have endured.”
This is the ninth year that Gisser has taken up the Challenge for Life. His teammates are returnee Nora Fien, as well as friends Danial Sprintz, Wendy Martin White and Jason Roberts, also his mother, Judge Freda Steele. He has personally raised about $5,500 this year, while the team as a whole has raised just over $7,000.
“The Challenge for Life is great opportunity to raise valuable dollars for cancer research and treatment,” Gisser notes.
Readers can make donations to their preferred team by going online to CancerCarefdn.mb.ca and click on Challengeforlife.ca.
