Local News
Journalism student Gavin Axelrod welcoming opportunity to gain journalistic experience with home town Free Press
By MYRON LOVE Readers of the Winnipeg Free Press sports section may recently have noticed a new name appearing in print in the sports pages. That would be Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University journalism student Gavin Axelrod who is really excited for the opportunity to serve a summer internship in his home town with his hometown newspaper.
“I grew up reading the Free Press,” says the 21-year-old son of Robert and Allison Axelrod. “It is really cool being back in Winnipeg and having this opportunity to put into practice at the Free Press some of what I have learned in school.
“I have always loved writing and sports,” recalls the Grant Park High School graduate. (He was a Gray Academy student in the early grades, switching to Grant Park for grade 7.)
He notes that when he was 12, he started his own blog devoted to the Toronto Raptors and, in high school, contributed to several basketball blogs.
Knowing that he wanted to pursue a career in journalism, he enrolled at Ryerson (the name was only recently changed) right after graduation from Grant Park in 2019.
He reports that, in addition to his course work, he has served as sports editor of The Eyeopener, the university student newspaper. “We have 70 volunteers writing for the paper,” he reports. “Twenty of them write for the sports section. We cover all the university sports – basketball, volleyball, hockey and soccer.”
Internships, he points out, are an integral part of his university program. He first applied for an internship at the Free Press for the spring and summer of 2020, he says. The pandemic resulted in that position being cancelled for that year.
He didn’t apply last year, but tried again for this spring.
He started at the Free Press om May 9.
He reports that his first assignment was covering the Goldeyes. One lesson he learned quickly was about the challenges of meeting tight deadlines.
“It was my first game,” he recounts, The game was almost over and, with the Goldeyes safely ahead (or so he thought), I wrote my story – only to have to have to quickly change my lead when the other team took the lead in the late innings.
“The Goldeyes did come back to win.”
Week two found him at the Bombers training camp in place of the regular Bomber writer who was away on vacation. “It was super cool watching Derek Taylor (the new voice of the Bombers this year) and the effort he puts into gathering as much information as he can about each player – including making sure he pronounces their names correctly,’ Axelrod comments.
More recent duties have been covering the Valour, our city’s soccer team, as well as some junior baseball. “I pride myself on being able to write about any sport and doing it well,” he says.
As to future assignments over the summer, he is looking forward to tackling whatever comes his way.
“Everyone here in the newsroom has been really welcoming and I am picking up a lot of good advice,” he reports.
Axelord says that he is looking forward to returning to university in the fall for his last year. And, after graduation, his future in journalism is still a blank slate waiting to be written.
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Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
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.”