Opinion
What the sordid BB Camp affair says about our community
By BERNIE BELLAN I’ve been asked by quite a few people why I’ve stopped writing my “Short takes” column for the Jewish Post newspaper. (I still write opinion pieces for this website on occasion.)
Frankly, I was tired and needed a break from churning out what had become a regular opinion piece that I initially began to write over 15 years ago and what I thought would be only an occasional column when I first started doing it.
But what’s happened within the Winnipeg Jewish community these past two weeks has motivated me to offer an opinion piece, once again – on the subject of how we define “Jewish community.”
I also want to make it clear that in every instance where I have written an article for the paper that is now under new ownership I’ve tried to keep my own opinions separate from whatever subject it is that I’ve chosen to write about. (I wish that other writers for the paper could attempt to do the same. There is a clear distinction between reporting and editorializing.)
This latest controversy over what’s happened at BB Camp and the removal of Jacob Brodovsky as camp co-executive director has really galled me (and, by the way, someone with a title should not have that title capitalized unless it is a part of that title, so that, for instance, Mark Carney is the prime minister of Canada, but his title is Prime Minister Mark Carney. In the same way, the repeated references to Brodovsky as “co-Executive Director” are misplaced, unless he is doing something like signing a letter as “Jacob Brodovsky, co-Executive Director, BB Camp.”)
Just how do we define our “Jewish community” these days? As I noted in an article that you can read at https://jewishpostandnews.ca/wjn/new-report-from-pew-research-center-provides-interesting-information-about-high-number-of-jews-who-still-identify-as-jewish/“caring about Israel” only placed sixth highest among ten attributes that Jews in the United States said was an essential element of what defined them as Jewish in a poll that was released in 2020.
Of course, everything has changed since October 7, 2023. But, with a war continuing well past the date when any of us expected it to be over – and with a good many hostages still not released, are we to define unwavering allegiance to an Israel that itself is so bitterly divided as some sort of litmus test for who can call themselves a “good Jew?”
I tried to make it clear in my article about BB Camp elsewhere on this website (at https://jewishpostandnews.ca/faqs/rokmicronews-fp-1/bb-camp-finds-itself-embroiled-in-controversy-over-camp-director-jacob-brrodovsky/) that I don’t know Jacob Brodovsky personally and I was in no position to assess the accuracy of comments that were being made about him.
That being said, however, the degree to which Brodovsky is being judged over his apparent failure to give unswerving support to the State of Israel, especially at a time when Israel is so deeply mired in controversy over what has been happening in Gaza (also the West Bank to a lesser extent) is a perfect example of how someone’s political views have unfairly tarnished their reputation.
I had never thought of BB Camp as a “Zionist” camp; it was rather a fabulous camp where Jewish kids could meet (also a fair number of non-Jewish kids) and have a great outdoor experience within a Jewish milieu. That is not to say that it was the polar opposite of Camp Massad, which wanted kids to experience being in a Hebrew-speaking Jewish milieu, it simply didn’t place the same kind of emphasis that Massad did in playing up the Israel connection.
Winnipeg’s Jewish community, however, has changed over the years. As the number of immigrants to this community from other countries, in particular Israel, has grown, the identity of the community – if it can be said to have one, has changed appreciably. I have argued though, that the 2021 census figures don’t lend credence to the argument that there are many thousands of newcomers to Winnipeg who call themselves Jewish. According to the 2021 census there were only 1,435 individuals who gave “Israeli” as their ethnic origin, for instance. One might have expected that figure to be quite a bit higher, based on the message that we were constantly receiving from our Jewish Federation that our Jewish population had grown greatly.
Now, while it is true that there may be a great many other individuals who gave different ethnicities but who may have also lived in Israel, my point is that there has always been a tendency to exaggerate (especially on the part of our Jewish Federation and other Jewish organizations) the number of Israelis living in Winnipeg. In fact, as I showed in several different articles in 2022 and 2023 (which you can find on my website jewishpostandnews.ca simply by entering the words “Jewish population of Winnipeg” in the “search archives” category), the number of individuals in Winnipeg who identify as Jewish, either by religion or ethnicity has remained quite static over the years.
I often tell people that a few years back though that I was part of a conversation with a group of Israelis – most of whom had emigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe, and the discussion turned to what they were looking for from the Jewish community. There were about 15 people in that conversation and the answer I was given was that they weren’t looking to join a synagogue or even send their kids either to Gray Academy or to Brock Corydon’s Hebrew bilingual program because their kids were already speaking Hebrew.
What they did want, I was told, was to have their kids go to a Jewish camp, so that they would meet other Jewish kids and ultimately, it was their hope, marry other Jewish kids. We didn’t get around to discussing the merits of Massad or BB, but I was struck by how much of a consensus there was among all those newcomers that sending their kids to a Jewish camp was high on their priority list.
Now, I suppose it’s fair to say that the majority of Israelis who have arrived here – whatever the number is, remain deeply attached to Israel in a way that those of us who were either born in Winnipeg or somewhere else in North America do not feel to the same extent. But, in so many ways, unswerving support for what Israel – and by Israel, I mean the Israel of Netanyahu, has become a defining characteristic of what many Jews now say constitutes Jewish “identity.”
But, where does that leave a great many of us who are sickened by what has been going on in Gaza, yet still consider ourselves prideful Jews? I have read many comments about Jacob Brodovsky on another website- (some of which I note could be considered defamatory), but there are a great many other young Jews (and not-so-young Jews as well) who are also highly critical of what Israel has been doing in Gaza. Are we, too, to be marginalized and castigated for daring to criticize Israel’s behaviour and express sympathy for Palestinians?
When I was still publisher of The Jewish Post & News I lamented the inability of individuals who held views similar to those I have just expressed to find a way of meeting with one another to vent their frustration with mainstream Jewish organizations that would not countenance any overt criticism of Israeli government policy. Instead we meet each other socially and complain about how our Jewish Federation and organizations like CIJA and B’nai Brith are only interested in talking about antisemitism without talking about what is going on in Gaza.
And so, someone like Jacob Brodovsky becomes a symbol for all that the supposedly “pro-Israel” Jews say is a betrayal of support for the State of Israel.
To them, I say, no, Jacob Brodovsky is not a traitor; he is quite typical of a great many other Jews, both young and old, who have disengaged themselves from offering unqualified support for Israel and who have expressed sympathy for Palestinians. Whether Brodovsky was competent in his position is a wholly separate matter that is not at issue. What is at issue is the rapidity with which the BB Camp Board succumbed to outside pressure to remove their co-executive director – and how much that angers so many of us who will probably remain on the margins of a community that has no room for a diversity of views.
Opinion
The Moneymaker Poker Tour 2025 Is Coming To Canada
This year, the highly acclaimed Moneymaker Tour is finally coming to Canada for the first time. Previously hosted just across the US, the Moneymaker Tour’s Canadian leg marks only its second time abroad. The first time was last year’s Moneymaker Tour Aruba, which was held in October. During this leg, the Caribbean island country also hosted a USD$200,000 (CAD$285,527) guaranteed Main Event.
Following this successful overseas experience, the team behind the Moneymaker Tour, led by its namesake, Chris Moneymaker himself, will host 23 events in Kahnawake, just some minutes from downtown Montreal.
Chris Moneymaker and his poker legacy
A certified living poker legend, Chris Moneymaker is credited with kickstarting the early 2000s poker boom. A former accountant who qualified via (what was then relatively new) online satellite means, Moneymaker went on to win the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event with a USD$2.5 million (CAD$3.5 million) prize. His win marked a turning point in the industry, as it convinced thousands that poker was now more accessible and promising than ever. Since then, Moneymaker has won multiple bracelets and has been included in the Poker Hall of Fame.
Over the years, Moneymaker has expanded his presence on the felt as a poker pro for ACR Poker, which is the US’ leading online poker site. Since 2001, it’s been known for its huge tourneys, secure gaming and banking methods, and an impressive roster of poker personalities. Moneymaker was officially brought on in this capacity in 2021. In recognition of Chris’ influence, the site has even begun hosting special weekly promotions called The Sunday Moneymaker, which offer supersized guarantees of up to USD$300,000 (CAD$428,397). This is, of course, aside from the Moneymaker Tour itself, which is also hosted in partnership with the operator across several US cities, nearby territories, and now in international locations, like Canada.
What to expect from the Moneymaker Tour in Canada
Set to be held from May 7-20, the Canadian leg of the Moneymaker Tour will be hosted in cooperation with local casino and cardroom Playground. As mentioned above, there will be 23 events, during which there will be a USD$980,343 (CAD$1.4 million) guaranteed prize pool across the board. From May 16 onwards, the events will be dedicated to the Main Event, where there is a USD$350,122 (CAD$500,000) guarantee.
Designed to provide an opportunity for poker players of all skill levels and backgrounds to experience their own extraordinary poker wins inspired by Moneymaker, the tour’s events notably feature considerably lower buy-ins. In the Canadian leg, for instance, the Main Event’s buy-in is only USD$805 (CAD$1,150). With this in mind, reports state that players from across Canada, the US, and other neighboring countries are expected to join in.
Per executives behind the Moneymaker Tour, this foray into the Canadian poker scene will ideally set the scene for future activations. That said, whether the tour will extend to other provinces is yet to be determined, considering that there are varying stances on gambling. For instance, in Alberta, there are still some delays in regulatory gambling launches. This has pushed back the legal release of potential gaming opportunities, especially in iGaming. However, since most citizens and legislators see the value in exploring this issue positively, it bodes well for any future poker events, including Moneymakers’.
Opinion
Esports in Canada: Competitive Games Bring Major Events to Toronto in 2025
Esports is a rapidly growing industry stemming from the popularity of video games and gaming as a lucrative pastime and activity. Findings from Grand View Research indicate that the Canadian esports market generated $54.7 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $294.4 million by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 27.2%. As of 2023, Canada accounts for 2.4% of the global esports market revenue and is the fastest-growing regional market in North America. Similar to sports events like the Pan American Maccabi Games, esports games nowadays are streamed and readily accessible on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Today, some of the biggest esports names in the world stem from Canada. The growing list includes Call of Duty League team Toronto Ultra and the now-defunct Overwatch team Toronto Defiant. Former Counter-Strike professional and one of the biggest gaming Twitch streamers, shroud, also hails from Toronto, along with former Valorant teammate and two-time champion TenZ, who was born in Nanaimo, Canada.
It seems no coincidence, then, that many of the biggest global esports events have taken place in Toronto. This year, the industry’s biggest esports titles are bringing major events — including a championship finale — to The Megacity. Below, we’ll look at some of the major esports events taking place in Toronto in 2025:
Call of Duty League Championship
One of the biggest esports events to take place in Toronto this year is the Call of Duty League (CDL) Championship. The fast-paced first-person shooter from Blizzard has maintained a thriving esports scene modeled after traditional sports leagues, where teams are named after and based in North American cities, such as Atlanta FaZe or reigning champions OpTic Texas. Last year, the CDL Championship bracket culminated in OpTic Texas dominating the New York Subliners and claiming victory on homeground. The tournament was held in Allen, Texas in July, and OpTic Texas brought home $800,000 for taking first place. Notably, Toronto Ultra bagged $320,000 for coming in third following a grueling lower-bracket run.
Hosting the CDL Championship event in Toronto will be a great morale boost for the team, allowing them to game with a home crowd advantage. Toronto-based CoD fans who want to bet on Call of Duty will benefit from a better vantage point by attending live games, and they’ll be able to witness how everything unfolds in real-time. Esports betting platform Thunderpick features various odds like Futures and Under/Over, and being able to see teams’ and players’ mood and morale throughout the tournament can help fans make more informed betting decisions for long-term bets like Futures.
Valorant Champions Tour: Masters Toronto
Another major esports event happening in Toronto in June is part of Riot Games’ Valorant esports circuit. The game’s esports department recently introduced new changes to the esports league for 2025, including an expanded calendar to shorten the offseason and provide teams with more rest and preparation time between competitions. While the recently concluded Kickoff tournament concluded to determine the top two teams from each region heading to Bangkok, Thailand, for Masters Bangkok, Stage 1 will see teams compete to qualify for Masters Toronto.
The Valorant Champions Tour’s (VCT) Masters events are high-stakes inter-regional tournaments pitting the best of the best teams from around the world. Many Masters-winning teams in the past have remained formidable and iconic rosters and players through the years. The coveted list includes the only team to hold two Masters trophies, Sentinels, and players like FNATIC’s Chronicle, who was the first player to bag two Masters trophies (under two different orgs). Doing well at this year’s Masters Toronto will help set the tone for teams looking to make deep runs at VCT Champions Paris and even lift the final trophy.
League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
Finally, another Riot Games esports title, League of Legends, is also taking the best teams from around the world to Toronto for the Mid-Season Invitation. Commonly referred to as MSI, it’s the first cross-regional competition of the annual LoL esports schedule. In May 2024, MSI was held in Chengdu, China. South Korean team Gen.G won the event and scored a direct pass to the eventual Worlds event in South Korea.
The new rule is also in effect for the 2025 LoL esports season, so avid League of Legends will have to tune into MSI 2025 in Toronto to get a better idea of which teams will be making it to the 2025 Worlds event, set to take place in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Of course, MSI results are only a part of the puzzle. For example, legendary LoL player Faker and his team T1 only bagged third place at MSI 2024 but went on to win Worlds for the second consecutive year after winning 2023 as well.
Local News
Is It Alberta’s Turn to Regulate Online Gambling? Looking at the Possibilities
Online gambling and betting in Canada is booming, with each province allowed to regulate its own space. Ontario, Canada’s most populated province, turned two this year after leading the way in April 2022. In what should motivate Alberta and other provinces, Ontario is already reaping the rewards, generating $100 million annually in gambling revenue. Will the local administration in Alberta do what is needed?
Talks have been rife that Alberta is considering going the Ontario way by having an open-licensing system. In July 2023, the minister for Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Dale Nally, issued a mandate to make this province a hub of online sports betting and gambling.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently asked Nally to cooperate with indigenous partners and other stakeholders to develop an online gaming strategy. The main focus will be on revenue generation and responsible gambling. In light of this, Nally said Alberta’s primary focus is becoming a “leading hub for iGaming” with streamlined regulations and low corporate taxes. Such conditions should position Alberta to become a leading iGaming destination.
A few weeks ago, the minister attended the ICE international gaming conference held in London. Together with Ontario’s Attorney General, Doug Downey, and other stakeholders, Nally participated in a roundtable discussion regarding the status of iGaming in Canada. CDC Gaming Reports also revealed that the discussion highlighted the success of iGaming in Ontario and how Alberta can emulate this success story.
Looking into the Alberta Budget 2024, it’s evident that state monopoly could soon give way to Canadian casinos to thrive in the province. Alberta took the first baby steps towards a more liberal gambling sector after setting aside $1 million for gambling. This budget will support the looming review of the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act and supporting Regulation. The idea is to review the entire regulatory framework to find more funding ways for Alberta charities and community projects.
Major operators like BetMGM, PointsBet, and PokerStars have since hired lobbyists to ensure commercial operators become a reality in Alberta. Speaking to investors and industry analysts in March this year, PointsBet CEO Sam Swanell tipped Alberta and British Columbia to legalize online betting soon. He noted that this could provide the much-needed expansion of that TAM.
Alberta is yet to take full advantage of online gambling despite being the country’s fourth-largest province, with around 4.3 million people. Smaller markets in North America, such as West Virginia and Connecticut, are already benefiting from commercialized online gambling. The good news is that noises about legal online gambling are getting louder in Alberta. It’s just a matter of when the government will make the announcement.
What Next for Online Gambling and Betting in Alberta?
Including a $1 million gambling review budget is definitely a step in the right direction. However, there’s still much to do to end Alberta’s long-standing gambling status quo. But at least the budget opens the door for further discussions and reforms regarding iGaming in Alberta. That discussion has been underway, although the momentum has increased in the last year or so.
As it stands, PlayAlberta.ca is the only regulated online gaming platform in Alberta. It’s a government-run website operated by the AGLC (Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis). Besides casino games, this website provides sports betting and lottery-style gaming experiences. The legal sign-up age on PlayAlberta.ca is 18 years.
For Albertans who prefer more gambling freedom, the government doesn’t restrict anyone from joining offshore operators. Most gaming sites operating in Alberta are licensed in Curacao, the UK, and Malta. Compared to PlayAlberta.ca, these websites provide a more extensive variety of games, rewards, and general experience.
In conclusion, it’s just a matter of when Alberta will introduce an open-licensing market. This approach has proved to be a success elsewhere, especially in Ontario. A recent Ipsos report in Ontario revealed that only 13.6% of the residents prefer to gamble on offshore websites. Alberta could soon follow this path, although there’s much work to do to realize this dream.
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