Local News
It’s been 12 years since we left Winnipeg…how has it worked out for us?
By GERRY POSNER ecently my wife Sherna and I marked the anniversary of an event which we experienced some 12 years ago – almost to the day. Now, I am aware that there are some significant moments when history has indeed seemed to repeat itself, some of which had serious negative consequences, such as the invasion of Russia first by Napoleon, then by Hitler; the Depression and Great Recession – to name just a couple.
Our repetition of history happily had no such disastrous implications. It was just the coincidental timing of a repeated experience. Still, that repetition did bring to mind the emotions we felt the first time and now the second time and how the years in between have shaped us.
On August 6, 2012 Sherna and I left Winnipeg permanently to move to Toronto. We drove with a packed car that first day to Minneapolis. As it turned out, that day was a Canadian holiday, being the long weekend in August of that year. The next day we continued to Chicago to visit family in Highland Park, Illinois where we stayed for two nights. On August 9, 2012 we drove right through to Toronto, arrived in the city around 7 PM, and made our way to our new apartment. It was a huge change for us, with an anticipated new life ahead of us.
This year Sherna and I decided to return to Chicago to visit the same relative (sadly, her husband died not that long ago) and to stay at the very same home as we did some 12 years ago. In fact, we slept in the very same room and bed as we did then. We stayed from August 6 to August 8 – when we drove back right through to Toronto – just as we had done some 12 years earlier. This time we entered a different apartment, one that we rented some two years ago. That was not the only difference.
Twelve years ago we came as newcomers, eager to start up in a larger and noisier city. We had no preconceived notions of what we could expect, except that life would be far more complicated and that our time would not be entirely our own, as we now had grandchildren living close by. These grandchildren were an integral reason for the move to Toronto. As we reflect upon the ensuing 12 years, we now have the ability to compare and contrast. What were these 12 years all about? For many readers, I suspect you will identify with some of our thoughts.
First, we realize that when we came here in 2012, we had eight young grandchildren. The eldest was not yet eight and the youngest under two. Their parents welcomed us and the grandkids were thrilled to be with us, no matter what or when. Sleepovers were common and the total interaction was full.
Well, today, as the grandchildren have become older and bigger (two of them are well over six feet tall), we have recognized that they no longer need us. They or their parents reach out if the kids need a ride. Sleepovers are rare. Friends dominate the conversation. I get it, as this was also my world once when I was a teenager. Of course, although I was on the telephone a lot – as my father frequently made clear to me, that time pales in comparison to the time my grandkids spend on their iPhones. Twelve years ago, I had no real competition. Today I fight an uphill battle against their phones. Even when I have the kids one on one, I am not really a factor as the phone takes precedence. I suppose I would be the same if I were in their place. But that part of the move here has been a minus for us. I suppose I am not the only one waging this battle.
Second, we have had to come to grips with living in a very large city. We knew of this issue when we came here, but we really had no idea of the implications of having to drive in Toronto – and that does not even address the problem of parking the car. In this regard, the move was an unhappy one as the relative ease in driving in Winnipeg has disappeared. Moreover, there are the added noises caused by living in a large metropolitan city likeToronto. Twelve years ago, we had peace and quiet. That has long gone.
Third, in 2012, we were naive enough to think we might well integrate into the city with a new network of friends. We do know many people here, but that vision of new relationships has blurred. Establishing new close friends was and is still not an easy thing to do at an older age. So, we accept that reality. Most notably, the ability to walk through United Bakers after a meal and not really recognize anyone is one of the most difficult aspects of living here, as that just could not happen in Winnipeg. We never anticipated that kind of a feeling, that is, of being anonymous, when we moved here in 2012.
Still, with all of that said, we also know well that we made the correct decision for us. We have a very busy and rich lifestyle that we likely never would have had in Winnipeg. We are lucky to have both of my siblings here and that alone was worth the move as we interact with them regularly. I would not have forecast that possibility when we came here 12 years ago. As well, our children have been a huge help to us in ways that we did not contemplate 12 years ago – not the least of which is tech support.
We are older and perhaps wiser now. We see the negatives of moving to Toronto 12 years ago, but we are enriched by the positives from the move. Perhaps the proof of our total acceptance of our now residing in Toronto is that we now own plots here. Now, for us that was making a statement. Twelve years ago, that idea had not ever been contemplated, as we were fixed on a Winnipeg burial. Never say never.
Yes, in our case, history was repeated and happily, we are able to appreciate the changes that have occurred in the past 12 years.
Local News
First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
Local News
Team Schvesters teammates Benji Harvey, Kim Gray once again among top ten fundraisers in this year’s CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life event
By MYRON LOVE This year’s annual CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life walk at Assiniboine Park is scheduled for Sunday, June 13 – and, once again, in terms of fundraising, Team Schvesters is sitting in second place overall – having raised just over $30,500 as of May 26 – which is $5,000 more than the team members had raised by the same time last year.
As well, team members Benji Harvey and Kim Gray are once again in the top ten among individual fundraisers. Harvey this year sits in fifth place, having raised a little over $16,000 as of May 17 – while Gray has raised just above $8,000 – putting her in seventh place.
Harvey reports that, -over the past 18, years participating in CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life, she has personally raised $180,000 for cancer research, while her team as a whole has brought in $367,000. In discussing her success as a fundraiser, Harvey says that she has made a lot of friends over the years and believes in giving back to the community.
The “Schvesters” are the Greenfeld sisters: Harvey and sisters Lesly Katz and Debra Lewis – the daughters of Lil and the late Ike Greenfeld. Two of the sisters are cancer survivors.
There is one other team member – in addition to Kim Gray. Judge Rocky Pollack first joined Team Schvesters in 2023. After a year away in 2024, he returned last year. Pollack lost his wife, Sharon, to cancer in 2014 after a multi-year struggle.
Nancy’s Nightingales has been a top 10 community fundraising team for Cancercare Manitoba and the Challenge for Life since its inception in 2008. As a team, they have walked together since 2006 when they walked 60 km in two days in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
Last year, the team – including Louise Raber, Joanne Katz, Rhonda Youell, Connie Botelho and Harriet Lyons – finished fifth in fundraising. So far this year, the team is again sitting in fifth place –having raised just under $12,500 (as of May 26) – a couple of thousand dollars more than last year, and just about $300 behind the fourth place team.
The Nightingales are named after a nurse who is a cancer survivor- and a friend of Louise Raber, Nancy’s Nightingales team leader.
“Our goal, as always, is to raise at least one dollar more than last year,” says Raber.
Team Jason’s Journey team leader Jason Gisser has experienced a more intimate and longer-lasting relationship with cancer than many of the other Challenge for Life participants. He was first diagnosed with cancer when he was 18. “I am a proud cancer fighter, having lived and battled a chronic cancer diagnosis for the last 23 years,” he said in an earlier interview. “I participate in the Challenge for Life not only to give back for the care and treatment which I have and continue to receive through CancerCare Manitoba, but to ensure that others do not have to endure the journey which I have endured.”
This is the ninth year that Gisser has taken up the Challenge for Life. His teammates are returnee Nora Fien, as well as friends Danial Sprintz, Wendy Martin White and Jason Roberts, also his mother, Judge Freda Steele. He has personally raised about $5,500 this year, while the team as a whole has raised just over $7,000.
“The Challenge for Life is great opportunity to raise valuable dollars for cancer research and treatment,” Gisser notes.
Readers can make donations to their preferred team by going online to CancerCarefdn.mb.ca and click on Challengeforlife.ca.
