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Ronna Goldberg: the driver behind annual All Seniors Care Seniors Games
Ronna GoldbergBy MYRON LOVE
The residents of the Shaftesbury Retirement Home recently participated – along with their compatriots across Canada – in the 11th annual All Seniors Care (ASC) Seniors Games. Games organizer Ronna Goldberg reports that – in total – over 4,000 seniors – living in ASC’s 31 assisted living facilities in five Canadian provinces took part in the games that are held in the first week of February.
“Every year, we choose a different theme,” says Goldberg who is the ASC national event planner and community engagement person. “This year, the theme was tradition.”
(She observes that every retirement residence has its own personality reflecting the make-up of its residents.)
Each residence, she continues, created its own song based on the music from “My Favourite Things” from “The Sound of Music”. Thus, at the Shaftesbury with its large Jewish population, she points out, there was a lot of emphasis on Chanukah and Purim.
The week of activities, she reports, began with a non-competitive “Walk and Roll” exercise – modeled on the Boston Marathon. Residents walk or roll in their wheelchairs through the halls of their facilities. Other activities throughout the week included bocce and the similar petanque atout, Wi bowling, ladder golf, shuffle board and billiards.
On Friday, the last day of the competition, the focus, Goldberg notes, is on cognitive skills with participants trying their hand at Jeopardy, bridge or cribbage.
Each seniors games begins with an opening ceremony and ends with a closing ceremony at which the theme song is sung and – for the closing – in addition to the awards given out, representatives of all three levels of government are invited – generally the local representatives in each of the areas in Canada where the residences are located. Each residence also receives letters from the Prime Minister’s Office and from the Governor-General.
“It is really great to see the faces of our seniors,” Goldberg says. “They are so excited to be able to show that they can still function competitively. There is a lot of laughter and a great sense of camaraderie. It leaves me kvelling.”
Goldberg has been organizing the games and other activities for ASC for the past 12 years. Some readers however may recognize her name though from her previous incarnation as the proprietor of “Mindscape” on Corydon. Goldberg opened “Mindscape” shortly after coming to Winnipeg in the 1980s. Originally from Chicago, she met her future (and former) husband – who was from Winnipeg – on a kibbutz – and came here to begin her married life.
Initially, she worked for a time for the Folk Arts Council and the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council (as the Federation was then known).
“When I first moved to Winnipeg, this was still a conservative city in terms of business,” she recalls. “There were no evening hours and businesses were closed on Sundays.”
Her first idea for a business venture was to open a clothing store. “My husband suggested that I take a year to study the market and find a niche,” she says. “Mindscape specialized in cards and paper products. When I opened, I started with beautiful cards and paper products. I soon learned that customers wanted clever, funny or goofy rather than beautiful.”
Goldberg closed “Mindscape” in 2008 after 25 years in business. While contemplating the next stage in her life, a former customer who was the executive director at the Shaftesbury asked her for help planning programs at the facility.
“I had had some experience planning corporate events while operating Mindscape,” she says. “So I went pt the Shaftesbury and was soon asked to be the event planner for the entire organization.”
While the Seniors Games may generate the most publicity, Goldberg also organizes a number of other regular activities for the ASC residents throughout the year – and several of them involve outreach. For example, just before Christmas, residents at all the ASC facilities are encouraged to make Christmas cards and put together packages to send to Canadian soldiers stationed abroad as well as homeless veterans being housed at Cockrell House, a place in Victoria that provides safe transitional housing and social services to help ex-military personnel integrate back into society in a healthy way.
The ASC residents also provide cookies for the homeless in their communities at Christmas and chocolates and cards for the homeless and the bedridden for Valentine’s Day. “It makes the recipients feel that somebody cares,” Goldberg notes. “We also provide enough cookies so that the homeless recipient can share with others for Christmas.”
Coming up will be Earth Day activities on April 22nd. “We will be having silent auctions and other activities with nature themes to raise money for planting trees in each province where he have residences,” she explains. “A few months ago, we had a ‘Toonies for Trees’ campaign and we will be adding those dollars to the money we raise on Earth Day.
“Our programs help our residents to feel that they are still able to make a difference in the world,” she observes. “When I was in business, my focus was in selling my products. Now, my goal is to create wonderful experiences for the residents. I am working harder now than ever to create activities that everyone will enjoy.”
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
Features
ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
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Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.