Local News
Gray Academy pivots once again to “Gray Away” during provincially mandated week of remote learning
By BERNIE BELLAN With the decision by the provincial government to require online learning in all classrooms for students from K-12 from January 10-14, Gray Academy was well positioned to implement what it began to refer to as “Gray Away” when it was first introduced in May 2020. As well, the school has also taken steps to provide all parents of students in JK-6 with test kits that the parents are being asked to administer every three days beginning January 16.
‘“Gray Away” was reintroduced this past week, from kindergarten to Grade 12,” Lori Binder, Head of School at Gray Academy, said during a phone interview.
“Our junior kindergarten students have been able to remain on site,” Lori added, “since JK falls under early learning child care.”
As well, similar to all other schools in the province, Lori noted that “we are supporting children of critical service workers or those students who need supports. We’ve had about 80 kids in the building even during Gray Away. Most of those kids have been K-6, along with junior kindergarten – and just a sprinkling in the high school.”
“All teachers have been on site, so remote learning was taught from the school…Even though we were made aware [remote learning] was a possibility, before vacation was over, staff got together in a Zoom meeting to be prepared for the transition.”
As well, Lori added, “prior to break we sent stuff home with kids because Omicron was spreading – so at least we were able to prepare most of our students to have their belongings they needed for learning.”
Something else that the school will be able to give students is rapid test kits for all students (including those in JK) up to Grade 6. Lori noted that the province had supplied the school with sufficient quantities (five tests per student) of rapid test kits for all students in K-6 to be tested every three days. With school set to resume in person on January 17, parents are to pick up the test kits on Sunday, January 16.
As well, Lori noted, “We were given a supply of tests from BB Camp” that had been left over following the summer session of that camp. Those tests were given to parents and have been used for students in Junior Kindergarten, so that they, could also be tested every three days. The test kits were also made available for Critical Care Workers whose children were in school the week of January 10-14 for in person learning.
Parents of all students in JK-6 are being asked to administer tests to their children prior to the resumption of in person learning as an additional layer to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID upon their return. With five rapid tests for each student to take every three days, this will help for the first two weeks back after the long break from in person learning.
As far as test kits for kids in 7-12 are concerned, Lori said the province did not provide schools with kits to send home as high school-aged students are eligible to be vaccinated. At Gray Academy, students aged 12 and up are all fully vaccinated. (Still, in light of the Omicron variant infecting fully vaccinated individuals, I wonder whether the province might now be giving consideration to giving students who may have received two vaccines test kits as welll? Anyone under 18 is not eligible for a booster shot in Canada, although they could be in the U.S.)
I asked Lori when was the last time Gray Academy had been forced to implement remote learning?
“It was May and June of 2021,” she answered.
When Gray Academy first introduced “Gray Away” in March 2020, however, it was for all students, including Junior Kindergarten. Since then, there’s been the clear realization that “learning remotely is not effective for three and four-year-olds,” Lori explained.
As it was when remote learning was first introduced almost two years ago, classes are structured similar to how they would be in person, with breaks structured into schedules. “In elementary it’s tweaked just a little bit so that there’s more time to move around between classes,” Lori added.
I wondered, when school began in the fall, whether Gray Academy was still maintaining the strict protocols that had been in force all last school year, i.e., social distancing, students remaining in cohorts, no movement of students between classrooms (with teachers moving instead from class to class)?
Lori said that Gray Academy had been adhering to stricter rules than were nominally dictated by the province. When school began in the fall, she explained, “schools were in ‘Yellow’; we were operating a little closer to ‘Orange. For example, our staff were in medical grade masks since September. Our students in elementary have been cohorted and had two metres between their desks.
“In high school this year, because all students were fully vaccinated (which, we noted back in September, made Gray Academy one of only two high schools which required that all students be vaccinated, the other being the University of Winnipeg Collegiate) – in late November it was the first time students began to move around the school again. That was an amazing, refreshing thing for our high school students – being able to move from class to class. For instance, they were actually able to take biology in the biology lab, rather than the biology teacher coming to them.”
It was around the same time that “the library reopened for the first time, singing started again – with masks on. That was before Omicron landed in Manitoba.”
I wondered whether there had been any cases of COVID in Gray Academy since the pandemic took hold here back in March 2020?
“From March 2020 to December 22, 2021, we had one case,” Lori answered.
“Then the school closed on December 22 for winter break; that’s when Omicron was sort of bubbling, and Friday, December 24 we started to receive reports of cases among individuals who had been at school. Even though we were on break we wanted to follow the protocols and communicate with our families. We reported to the (appropriate) grade and to the school that there was a positive case. Between December 22 and 10 days following, we reported on 15 cases after school closed which, in light of Omicron, is not surprising.”
“There was no indication of spread among those cases. They were sprinkled here and there, mostly in elementary, which again is not surprising, since our high school students and all staff are fully vaccinated.”
“Our goal was to keep our school community healthy by informing families of any potential exposure.”
I wanted to once again remind readers what the overall consequence was of requiring that all students aged 12 and up be vaccinated prior to the start of the school year in September, so I asked Lori whether there had been any further developments insofar as parents pulling their children from the school because they didn’t want to have them vaccinated.
Lori responded that the figures she reported to me back in September had remained the same: A total of only 11 families with 20 children who had been enrolled in Gray Academy last school year had withdrawn their children from the school as a result of the vaccination requirement.
Further, Lori reported that there had been complete compliance among staff with regard to getting vaccinated.
Given the uncertainty about students returning to in school education, I suggested to Lori that the most she and her staff can do is plan five days at a time.
“That’s right,” she said. “Five days at a time.”
Local News
Fringe Festival star Melanie Gall to appear at Gwen Secter Centre July 16
By BERNIE BELLAN A veteran performer at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Melanie Gall, will be making a special guest appearance at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, July 16.
Melanie will be the featured speaker (and entertainer) for the Remis Speakers’ Series that day. The Remis Speakers’ Series is held every Thursday starting at noon and ending at 1:30. This year’s series began May 7 and will continue through the end of October. This year it has been attracting increasingly large audiences – ranging from 40-60 people, as it offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a delicious – and kosher lunch, while listening to a very diverse variety of speakers – all the way from Gail Asper talking about returning the Ten Commandments to Assiniboine Park to Rabbi Matthew Leibl performing Christmas songs that were written by Jewish songwriters. At the same time it provides those attending a chance to make new acquaintances – or perhaps bump into old friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Melanie Gall’s own story is sure to be riveting. I’ve written about Melanie in the past, but the past two summers had been especially nerve wracking for Melanie, as she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse over her support for the State of Israel.
You can read my story about what Melanie went through during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – both in 2024 and again last year, at Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic abuse.
Melanie, who will be entering her 13th year of performing at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, will be peforming in only one show this year – a departure from her past practice of performing in multiple shows (as many as three different shows) during the Fringe Festival.
Elsewhere on this website we’ll be offering a preview of Melanie’s show (which is called “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn” and which is based on an incredible, but true story), along with previews of several other shows.
In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of the Remis Speakers’ Series group, but would ike to attend this coming Thursday, simply email us at jewishp@mymts.net and we’ll reserve a spot for you. The cost for the lunch is only $20.
The Gwen Secter Centre is located at 1588 Main Street (corner of Smithfield). There is parking available on a lot behind the centre or on the street.
Local News
Folk Festival Report
(Posted July 10) During this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival we’re going to be running an ongoing blog report – with photos and blurbs from the festival, sent to us by our Folk Fest correspondent Heather Silbert.
Here’s Heather’s first entry (sent Friday at 3:33 pm): “It’s a hot hot day at the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival! Lots of people; lots of good vibes; and an abundance of awesome music!!”
“We just moved to spruce hollow. Nice and shady. listening to Jacob Brodovsky.”
4:21 pm: “Jacob just announced that he lost his job and received a lot of vitriol from the Jewish Community because he’s a Jewish person who believes that Palestinian and Jewish lives are intertwined, and he is against genocide. He is very deeply feeling, and expresses all these big feelings through his songs. I want to give him a hug, but it’s so hot outside!”
5:33 pm: The inscription in the plaque below begins with some lines from a Bruce Cockburn song called “Joy Will Find a Way (A Song About Dying)”: and continues with: “Memory Lane honours those who are no longer with us but whose presence lives on in the music, memories and moments we share here…”
7:06 pm “Gorgeous hand made polymer clay jewelry! Amanda Greisman makes gorgeous pieces that can be worn across many occasions! And she’s so so nice!” (See her booth called “Blue Sky Jewelry.”)
(Posted July 11, 4:20 pm) “Would you drive your bike to BHP for FF in this weather? I would drive here, but not sure if I’d have enough steam to bike home!”
“There’s aren’t any flower/leaf art installations this year(that I’ve found!) but loving the fairy village!!”
“It’s another sweltering day. Bright blue sky and a light Breeze. Cat Clyde is rocking it out at Bur Oakbank!! Loving it!!”
8:04 pm: “Snacktime! Excellent energy, good time! We’re sitting 2 tarp rows in front of the frog to the left of the Canadian flag. (Total FF directions! LOL!)”
Local News
New GrowWinnipeg “Grow Together” highlights diverse origins of our growing Jewish community
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, June 11, about 120 younger Jewish Winnipeggers from diverse backgrounds came together at the Asper Campus for an evening of food and music, games and prizes and, most important, the opportunity to socialize with their peers from a growing community that reflects the long term success of our community’s 26-year-old GrowWinnipeg initiative.
“We are gathered here to celebrate your and your parents’ decisions to come to Winnipeg, build families and raise families here,” noted Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg’s director, in addressing the young adults in attendance.
To summarize, the GrowWinnipeg Initiative arose when our past community’s leadership recognized that our Jewish population was an aging and shrinking community with aging infrastructure.
The first stage was the planning and construction of the Asper Campus, which brought our major institutions and organizations under one roof in an attractive new building.
The next challenge was to attract more people to our community. GrowWinnipeg was created to take on the challenge. The initiative, which was officially launched in 2000, is unique in its efforts to reach out to young Jewish families throughout the Western world.
The first outreach efforts were directed at Argentina’s sizeable Jewish community at a time when the South American country’s economy was going through a very difficult period. Several of our community leaders visited the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and a website was established. Arrangements were made for local families to host Jewish Argentinians here on exploratory visits and the community helped the prospective immigrants navigate the then new Provincial Nominee Program, find jobs and establish themselves here.
Since then, many young families – from Argentina, as well as a great number of other countries – have chosen to make Winnipeg their new home. The young people at the recent GrowWinnipeg evening were reflective of the diversity of our growing community. During the course of the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with not only Israeli-born participants, also young people from Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and Uruguay – and a young lady who grew up in Ottawa.
Naomi Kirshenblatt Palansky originally came here from Ottawa to go to university. She met and married local entrepreneur Noah Palansky in 2023. (We wrote about Noah in the December 19, 2025 issue). That same year, the former competitive swimmer who competed in the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2013 served as manager of the Canadian Junior swimming team participating in the games. She is currently the director of operations and strategy for a company called CoinFlip.
Although born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yael Borovich grew up in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Dalia Szpiro and Eduardo Borovich (and younger sister of Vanessa) all of whom moved here in 2002. She is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and works as a senior client relationship manager for Scotia Bank’s commercial branch.
Siblings Igal and Edem Avimelek arrived here from Turkey six years ago with their parents, Etel and Moris. Edem is in her second year at the University of Manitoba while Igal is studying engineering at UBC.
They report that their father, Moris, has established the Upperwear Textile Agency – marketing textile products online – while their mother Etel, is senior IT Director, software development and data analytics and enterprise architecture at Standard Aero.
“Our parents were looking to move to a new country and came across the GrowWinnipeg webpage,” Edem says. “GrowWinnipeg has been really supportive of us in helping us move here and become established.”
More recent arrivals Alex Tsmokaliuk and Jane Hin are from Ukraine and Russia respectively and have been together since 2022. “We were looking for a peaceful place to start a family,”: Alex says. “We heard about GrowWinnpeg and here we are.”
Alex is a fitness trainer while Jane is working for WRE Development as a property manager.
Dora Bronstein, who is originally from Beersheva, is also a recent arrival to our community. “I came to Winnipeg because I wanted to get away from war – and I heard about GrowWinnipeg,” she says.
She is currently working for L.C. Taylor Licensed Insolvency Trustee as an estate manager.
Erele Tzidon and Daniel Mejnov
Last October, GrowWinnipeg introduced its new Youth Ambassadors program.
“Since October, we have been working to create an organized system and opportunities to help young newcomers find their people within our community,” wrote Youth Ambassador Erele Tzidon on Facebook.
“Our mission is to help young immigrants find a sense of home in Winnipeg and support a smooth and welcoming transition.
We are excited to help bring our young Jewish community together.
As reported in the Jewish Post about 18 months ago, Tzidon is originally from Moshav Ginaton in central Israel. She came to Winnipeg in 2018 with her parents Ofer – formerly regional manager for a car rental agency in Israel and now an RBC branch manager – and Sharon – an emotional therapist in Israel who is currently working as an educational assistant at Gray Academy – and three younger brothers.
The 20-year Gray Academy graduate has recently completed her third year in Science at the University of Manitoba. For the past three years, she has also been a member of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research team at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), researching the link between pregnancy complications and the risk for heart disease.
In November, 2024, Tzidon was presented with the Dr. James S. McGoey Student Award – based on the quality of her cardiovascular research at the ICS, which operates out of the St. Boniface Hospital campus’s Albrechchtsen Research Centre.
Tzidon’s fellow Youth Ambassador is Daniel Mejnov. He was born in Beersheva but moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Dennis and Victoria (and younger brother Alon) 14 years ago. He is currently enrolled in an IT program at the University of Winnipeg.
Mejnov welcomed all those in attendance at the celebration and thanked the volunteers who helped him and Tzidon organize the event.
“It has been great being able to bring so many people together,” he said. “This is a good way to unite our community.
Two other individuals of particular note that I spoke with at the event were Orit Agabayev and Alina Plis, partners in three year old A and O Event Décor, who provided the balloon arches and walls, table settings and centre pieces for the evening.
Agabayev is originally from Netanya and Plis is from Yeruham (in southern Israel). The latter has been here for 18 years and operates a daycare. The former came 16 years. Her principal career is working in the field of animal nutrition.
In an Instagram PosI from four years ago, Plis noted that “I have always been passionate about planning parties and events. I started out with planning big surprise birthday parties for my kids. Eventually I began planning and decorating events for family and friends. Now I am taking the next step with my friend, Orit, who shares the same level enthusiasm as me. What drives me to go above and beyond is simply the excitement my creations bring to those who see my work.
On Facebook, Agabayev added that “Alina and I are so excited to start A&O event decor. We both love decorating and planning different events. We hope that you can put your trust in us to create or decorate an event for you. We do Birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, proposals, weddings and more..
“Message us with your ideas to get a free quote and you’re one step closer to having an unforgettable event.”
