Opinion
Who knew? Former Blue Bomber great Willard Reaves’ father was Jewish – and is buried in Israel
Usually when I write my column in The Jewish Post & News titled “Short takes,” I focus on one or two themes. This time, I’m departing from that style. Instead, I’m going to offer a series of true “short takes.”
To begin with, I have to admit my surprise at a story that Sid Halpern related to me – about former Winnipeg Blue Bomber great Willard Reaves. Reaves, who is running once again for the Liberals in the upcoming provincial election in the riding of Whyte Ridge, against another former Blue Bomber great, Obby Khan, was speaking at the Simkin Centre at a current events program that Sid runs (and which I occasionally host as well).
At that recent program, Reaves told the Simkin Centre residents who were gathered to hear him that his late father was Jewish and that he was buried in Israel.
When Sid related that story to me my reaction was – and I’m sure it would be the same for anyone else who knows who Willard Reaves is: “You’re kidding. What’s the story behind that?”
So, I contacted Willard and asked him to fill me in. He told me that his father, whose name was Johnny Reaves, had been a brilliant engineer who worked for General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. Willard said that his parents separated when he was young and that he grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona, although he and a brother of his did spend half a year living with their father in Fort Worth.
According to Willard, his father was interested in finding out about different denominations, including Judaism. Eventually, Johnny Reaves converted to Judaism and, in 2016, he moved to Israel, saying “good bye to me,” Willard said, adding that his father also said “I will die in Israel.”
It was in Israel that Johnny Reaves took the Hebrew name “Tzadok Avraham,” Willard added. He also became fluent in Hebrew, Willard said (in addition to four other languages he spoke). In 2021 Johnny Reaves – or Tzadok Avraham, as he was then known, died. Willard said that he had wanted to fly to Israel for the funeral, but was told that his father was going to be buried the next day – which wouldn’t have given Willard enough time to make it there for the funeral.
Quite the story, but to give equal time to Obby Khan, about whom I’ve written in the past, when he sponsored a floor hockey tournament at the Rady JCC in memory of Obby’s late mentor, Richard Tapper, Obby will also be appearing at the Simkin Centre in September – and when he does, we’ll try and grab an interview with him as well.
The movie “Golda” has received fairly awful reviews from critics – and deservedly so. It’s hard to understand why this movie was even made. Aside from having an A-list star, Helen Mirren, in the title role, honestly, how many people out there who aren’t Jewish and of a certain age would be interested in seeing a movie about Golda Meir?
It’s the kind of movie that you might expect to have been made for a streaming service rather than be given a theatrical release. It’s quite dark – and despite the action revolving around the Yom Kippur War, there’s no dramatization of any battle scenes nor, for that matter, is there much in the way of actual footage from the war – which could have easily be integrated into the film.
Like a lot of others who have already commented on “Golda,” I’m trying to figure out what the motivation was of whoever was behind it?
By this time of year one would have expected to see the report of the Jewish Federation’s Budget and Allocations Committee. That particular committee is tasked with divvying up funds for the 13 beneficiary agencies of the Jewish Federation and, although I’m told each agency has been informed by now what the allocation they will be receiving will be, the Federation’s fiscal year begins September 1, and in the past we’ve been able to report on the allocations either in June or July at the latest.
There have been a series of changes at the top level of the Jewish Federation this past year, including the most recent one – which, of course, we’ve given major attention, that being the hiring of Jeff Lieberman as the Federation’s new CEO.
But the awful slowness in receiving the report of the Budget and Allocations Committee points to how much the Federation has been missing the absolutely key contribution that Faye Rosenberg Cohen made in her capacity as the Federation’s Chief Planning and Allocations Officer. Faye, who had been an employee of the Federation since 1994 – up until her retirement this past December, was largely responsible for drawing up the report of the Budget and Allocations Committee.
And, although the committee always has a number of experienced volunteers serving on it, nothing can replace the type of experience that a seasoned staff member such as Faye was able to bring to the job. Sharon Graham has been hired as Faye’s replacement and, although we’re sure that Sharon will prove fully capable of filling Faye’s shoes, replacing someone with 29 years experience in a job can’t happen overnight.
In addition to Faye’s retirement, there have been two other notable departures from the Federation in recent months. In June we announced that Rebecca Brask was leaving the position of Chief Development Officer for the Federation. Rebecca’s replacement is Graciela Najenson, who has been with the Federation since 2017. The fact that Graciela had been serving as Development Director makes her transition to the role previously held by Rebecca somewhat easier.
And, just recently Carlos Benesdra moved on from being Chief Financial Officer of the Federation to CFO of Gray Academy, while Shannon Slater has moved over from the Asper Jewish Community Campus to take over as Federation CFO.
Those are four major moves within a three-month period. Based on my recent experience of not being able to get information about the all-important allocations that our Jewish agencies are going to be receiving, I can only surmise that the Federation is in a state of flux.
The success of the Israel pavilion continues to reverberate. As I note in my look back at the early days of the Israel pavilion on page 1, back in 1970 it would have been impossible to anticipate how important both Foklorama – and the Israel pavilion, would become. As David Greaves writes in his paean to the Israel pavilion on page 16 of this issue, the role that the Israel pavilion now plays in boosting Israel’s image is immeasurable.
The sale of the Etz Chayim is not yet complete. Although there is an offer on the table, nothing has been finalized, according to congregation president Avrom Charach.
Here is an email exchange I had with Avrom on August 23:
“Hi Avrom,
“I’ve heard that the building has been sold – again. Can you confirm?
“-Bernie”
Avrom responded (less than an hour after I emailed him. That could be a lesson for some other Jewish organizations in this city, where respondents often don’t respond or take an interminable amount of time to respond):
“We accepted an offer within two weeks of the previous deal not closing.
Their due diligence period has not yet finished but we are getting close to the day when it does.
“As such I can confirm we are conditionally sold but nothing more than that.”
otage from the war –
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.