Local News
For Dr. Alan Slusky, building relationships is an essential part of psychology practice
By MYRON LOVE In his practice of psychology, Dr. Alan Slusky cites his late father, Irvin Slusky, as his role model.
“My father was a lawyer,” he notes. “He taught me the importance of building relationships with people. For me, that is an essential element of my work.”
The current president of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) adds that he was drawn to a career in psychology for the same reason that his father chose to pursue a legal career – a desire to help people find solutions to their problems.
Alan Slusky – the son of Irv and Lucille – was born and raised in the Garden City area. He and his wife, Andrea, although living south now, also raised their three children in Garden City. Slusky was bar-mitzvahed at the former Rosh Pina and, in his teen years, was active in Kadima and USY.
He received his training in psychology at the University of Manitoba followed by an internship and post-Doctoral Fellowship at Health Sciences Centre. He has been in practice since 1994.
“I am both a clinical and neuropsychologist,” he says. “As such,” he explains, “I assess and treat patients dealing with anxiety, depression, and trauma. However, I also work with patients who have suffered brain injuries from strokes, for example, or concussions. I help them with lifestyle adjustments and work with them to identify and build on the residual strengths that they still have.”
Also from the beginning of his career, Slusky has volunteered his time to strengthening the psychology profession through working with the Psychological Association of Manitoba (PAM), the provincial psychology regulatory body akin to the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons.
One of the major problems that we have in Manitoba from a psychology perspective, he points out, is that our province has the lowest number of psychologists per capita in the country. “We are vastly under-resourced and other provincial psychology organizations are continually lobbying our government to address this issue,” he says.
He joined the PAM board in 1996, served as president for a three year term and, in 2008, took on the role of registrar – retiring from that position just two years ago.
He notes that, as registrar, he ran for and was elected to the ASPPB Board of Directors. ASPPB, he reports, is composed of 65 jurisdictional psychology regulatory boards, including all Canadian provinces, American states, and five American territories.
As with his predecessor as PAM registrar, Slusky found himself being elected to the ASPPB Board of Directors in 2017 for a six-year term. He was a member at large for the first three years, after which he became president-elect. He is president for 2022 and finishes his term on the board as past president for his final year, in 2023.
“As president, I am one of two spokespersons for our organization,” he says. “Normally, we would have board meetings six times a year in various Canadian and American locations. So, prior to the pandemic restrictions. I was doing a lot of traveling. Of course, as with every other organization, over the past two years we have had to meet via Zoom”.
The benefit of meeting in person, he adds, is that at in-person gatherings, so much of the relationship-building takes place in the casual conversations outside of the formal proceedings. Meeting via Zoom has been a challenge but we are happily beginning to get back to normal”.
Among the ASPPB’s foci are supporting member boards in strengthening training requirements and codes of ethics throughout all member jurisdictions. “Additionally, over the past 18 months we launched PSYPACT, a US compact that facilitates cross-border practice – something that has taken on added significance during the pandemic,” Slusky reports. “We are making very good progress in the United States – close to 30 states have signed on. We don’t have these types of compacts in Canada, but ASPPB did assist the provinces in their efforts to ensure Canadians received psychological supports during the worst of the pandemic”.
“Eliminating boundaries facilitates telehealth sessions for psychologists over a wider area and has been particularly helpful for people trying to cope during the pandemic restrictions.”
Slusky notes that his own way of coping has been listening to music. “I have always been a music lover,” he says. “I particularly enjoy old LPS.” He also plays tennis and floor hockey and enjoys the occasional cigar.
As it happens, his son, Noah, a music teacher, shares his appreciation for music. Daughter Lauren is a computer scientist. Younger son Matthew will be following in his father’s footsteps in pursuing a career in psychology.
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.”
Local News
New Israeli restaurant opens in River Heights
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 6, 2025) It’s been a long time since our community has been able to welcome the opening of a restaurant that specializes in Israeli food.
That void is now filled with the opening of The Green Falafel, at 1833 Grant (corner of Centennial – next to the Subway), which opened its doors (to huge crowds) on Monday, July 7.
(owners Ariel & Elena Maudi second and third from left)
The restaurant is the fulfillment of a dream long held by the husband and wife team of Ariel and Eden Maudi, who have been living in Winnipeg the past 11 years.
Ariel, who was born in Israel and grew up in Beer Sheva, says that he worked in telecommunications in Ramat Gan for several years. He adds though that he had always dreamed of owning his own falafel stand in Israel, but life was difficult there and he decided to come to Canada as a tourist to see whether there were any opportunities here for him, Eden and their two young children.
Eden, who was born in Russia and moved to Israel with her family in 1996, stayed behind with the two kids, who were both pre-schoolers, while Ariel tested the waters in Canada first.
Ariel says he came to Canada as a tourist in 2013. His first stop was in Toronto, where he acquired his 1st class driver’s license. At the end of 2013 he moved to Winnipeg where he began working as a truck driver. Soon he found himself employed as a successful sales person at Vickar Nissan where, he says, he once achieved the status as the top car sales person in Canada. After working at Vickar Nissan for a number of years, Ariel began working as an installer for Bell MTS.
Meanwhile, Eden began working at a Walmart, later at the Costco on Regent.
But, when the opportunity to move into a space that had been previously occupied by another restaurant, but which had closed, became available, Ariel and Eden decided to open their own Israeli restaurant in an area that hadn’t seen Israeli food served since the controversial closure of Bermax Café in 2019.
The Maudis say that they will be serving a variety of Israeli dishes – all vegetarian, and that they will be fully kosher.
The “green” in Green Falafel, by the way, Ariel Maudi explains, comes from the cilantro and parsley that are added to the chickpeas. In addition, their pitas will be coming from Israel and will be baked fresh daily.
The Green Falafel is open from 10-8 Sunday – Thursday and 10-4 on Friday. (Closed Saturday).Delivery will be available through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Call 204-557-7837 for information.