Local News
Lifesaving Israeli training coming to Winnipeg
By REBECA KUROPATWA
In 2016, when Magen David Adom (MDA) introduced the Life Guardian Program, thousands of Israelis with no medical training jumped at the opportunity to participate.
The Life Guardian Program added another layer of responders to emergencies to potentially save more lives with faster response time, by certifying or recertifying everyday Israeli citizens. Many participants had learned CPR as part of their army service or teacher certification, and others took first-aid basics for the first time.
When an emergency call is taken at the MDA dispatch centre, the computer system locates and contacts the closest Life Guardians and asks them to help save the life of a person in their close proximity, while also dispatching the closest medic or paramedic.
With an eye on the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in North America, Canadian Magen David Adom (CMDA) has come out with a training program that aims to give everyday people the know-how to help if they are in proximity to the site of a mass casualty incident.
The training is designed for anyone, no matter how much or how little medical training they possess, to give people the most basic tools to help save lives. It is called “The First 7 Minutes” and will soon be making its debut in Winnipeg.
The first training session is scheduled to take place on Feb 5th at 7 pm in the Rady JCC’s MPR (multipurpose room) and is being presented by CMDA and the Rady JCC. The special guest speaker will be MDA paramedic Don Sharpe, from Calgary who will train attendees and award certificates of training completion.
Sharpe has been a paramedic in Calgary for nearly 40 years. Four years ago, he had the fortune of training with MDA in Israel along with a group of other Canadian doctors.
“I’ve seen first-hand how an ambulance service should be run, and I think there are a lot of lessons there for us here in Canada – not just the actual frontline ambulance portion, but also for integration with hospital service, air service, and the Life Guardian Program,” said Sharpe.
“I tried several times to get that off the ground here, unsuccessfully, because, I think the community and cultural cohesion that seems to exist in Israel – we don’t have here.”
Sharpe grew up in the Jewish community of south west Calgary, though he is a Mormon by faith.
“As I grew older and started to watch what was happening with the rise of anti-Semitism and the violence against Jewish people and the State of Israel, I came to believe that Jews were precious,” said Sharpe.
“I wanted to work with a group that supported, not just the Jewish people, but also the State of Israel. So, when the opportunity came up…when I saw a presentation of a couple of doctors who had gone to Israel and worked with MDA, and they said they’d learned how to treat people on a moving ambulance…I was like, ‘Well, I can do that!’ They learned how to help people out in the field…and, I said, ‘I can do that!’”
Sharpe was especially impressed with MDA’s dispatch centre, which not only takes calls, but also provides lifesaving guidance over the phone until help arrives.
“We have so many people here now that, when an emergency occurs, they don’t know what to do,” said Sharpe. “The time I spent in MDA’s dispatch was really eye opening.
“When I first started in Canada, people would call 911 and we’d basically just take the call, start the ambulance, and hang up the phone.
“But, MDA’s idea that we can help people before the ambulance arrives is just brilliant. It makes such a huge difference.
“And now, to be able to teach groups of people, through “the First 7 Minutes” training, is perfect…groups of lay people on how to help a large number of people, casualties…in situations where everyone’s panicking. With just a little bit of training and some right thinking…there is now the idea that you aren’t powerless, that you can do something, you can cope. That little bit of training makes so much difference.”
Through “the First 7 Minutes” training, the first thing you will learn about is how to wrap your head around the possibility that you might be in a situation where 10 or 15 people are suddenly hurt and in need of help. The training will begin with a brief talk in order to best focus as much time as possible on practicing simulated mass casualty events.
“We start with something like a wall collapse, something without a bad guy, something that’s an accident rather than patients or blood,” said Sharpe. “This patient has a broken arm, this person’s unconscious, this person is bleeding from an abdominal wound…we go through determining who is in charge, how we know that person is in charge, where that person should stand and what s/he should do…what everyone else should do…and we also want to be alert for those people who are so freaked out by this that they don’t want to help at all.
“For those people, who might say they don’t like blood, I say, ‘Listen, there’s an important job for you. We need you to keep the people who aren’t hurt calm and look after them.’ I go, ‘Can you do that?’ And they say, ‘Oh yeah, I can do that.’”
The second simulated scenario might include an assailant. The third simulation will depend on the attendees and Sharpe’s observations on what should be further practiced.
“By the end of the training, you will walk away with some very basic understanding of how to work together as a team,” said Sharpe. “No matter who’s there, everybody can help a little bit. And, you know, if a situation ever truly arises where we have a large number of people hurt, you will remember the basics.
“You may not be good at it. Nobody ever gets good at it unless you spend the time I do treating patients, but you’ll be comfortable enough to say, ‘We can handle this and help people. We can take care of ourselves.’”
At the end, participants will receive a certificate. “I love the idea that people have to pay $10 for the training, because sometimes, when people just wander in and out and it’s free, they aren’t really paying attention,” said Sharpe. “Now that they paid, they’ll want to get their money’s worth, so they’ll have a real commitment to being there and learning this.
“I think communities need to learn to work together and to depend on themselves. And, it’s not only a good way to save lives in an emergency. It’s also a way to simply teach people to work together, so that, when they look at each other, they know they can depend on each other in an emergency. They’re well trained.”
CMDA and Sharpe are bringing the training to schools, synagogues, churches, and more.
While the topic is serious, you can expect Sharpe to include some humour along the way. “It can be a good time,” he said. “We have fun. People will walk away thinking, ‘I thought this was going to be pretty hard, but it was kind of fun.’”
Local News
Manitoba Métis Federation decisively votes down anti-Israel resolution
By MYRON LOVE On May 2, 2023, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the Vickar Automotive Group and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev signed a Donor Pledge Agreement to establish a partnership for research, education and culture exchange. The partnership aims to promote cooperation and mutual understanding between the Red River Métis community and the academic community in Israel. The collaboration will focus on research in areas such as health, environment, and social issues, as well as educational and cultural programs. The partnership will also involve the sharing of resources and expertise.
On Saturday, October 19, at its Annual General Assembly, which was held at Assiniboine Downs, the 4,000 MMF delegates resoundingly beat back an anti-Israel resolution that called upon the MMF Assembly to vote to tear up the agreement with Ben Gurion University – referencing the Pope’s recent criticism of Israel and the usual laundry list of false charges against Israel – war crimes, violation of international law, genocide, apartheid, etc.
The two petitioners also charged that BGU builds the bombs that the Israeli air force is dropping on Gaza and practices “water apartheid.” They further threw in a demand that longtime MMF President David Chartrand write a letter to the Government of Israel and the Government of Canada demanding a ceasefire.
To his great credit, Chartrand answered back forcefully, even angrily at times. He spoke about his visit to BGU last year. He commented on how what once was desert is now green. He noted that the agreement with BGU stands to provide the Red River Métis with many benefits – with exchange programs, underwritten by the Vickar Group – will expose young Red River Métis to a different society and bring here BGU personnel and technical expertise of benefit to local Métis communities.
As to the resolution, the MMF president began by emphasizing that Ben Gurion University “has nothing to do with this war.”
Chartrand then pointed out that the words in the resolution that were attributed to the Pope were not accurate. He noted that this is both a land war and a religious war. While expressing sympathy for the suffering on both sides, he condemned the Palestinian terrorist groups who use women and children as human shields.
Chartrand angrily denounced the two petitioners – with their standard Palestinian clothing accessories – for not presenting the General Assembly members with all the facts. He further excoriated those “pro-Palestinian” activists who burned a Canadian flag at an anti-Israel protest in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago.
“I understand and respect where you are coming from,” Chartrand told the petitioners. ”We are prepared to help rebuild Gaza when this war is over. We are a democracy and you are free to submit this resolution. But, right now, there is nothing the Manitoba Métis Federation can do about the situation.
And, Chartrand added, “I am not going to write any letter to the Government of Canada or the Government of Israel.”
Larry Vickar and Gustavo Zentner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs representative in Winnipeg, attended the MMF General Assembly as observers.
“I applaud David Chartrand’s leadership at the Assembly,” Zentner observed. “The resolution was one-sided and ill-founded. President Chartrand has shown a keen understanding of the concept of the Jewish People’s indigeneity to the land of Israel. In his response, he delivered a clear message to the anti-Israel activists at the General Assembly.”
Zentner reported that he and Larry Vickar attended the launch of the MMF’s AGA and participated in government presentations and networking. “The MC recognized us amongst the government, elected officials, and MMF partners,” he noted. “This was a result of Larry’s tremendous record of working with MMF and President Chartrand.”
He added that “we were briefed on the motion and were able to provide insights and a narrative to support the MMF and President Chartrand. We already have tangible actions and steps in motion which Chartrand and two of his MMF cabinet ministers are aware of.”
Zentner noted that CIJA’s outreach to the Red River Métis is part of the national Jewish organization’s ongoing efforts to build bridges with different levels of government as well as other communities.
“The Jewish people, the people of Israel and the Red River Métis have much in common,” Zentner observed. “We are both indigenous people living on our native land – with shared values. We have much we can learn from each other.”
He further spoke of planned educational and cultural exchanges between the Red River Metis and Israel’s southernmost university. “Israel is a world leader in technology in many areas,” he noted, “technology that Israel is always ready to share with partners worldwide.”
Local News
Sean Berman working to make Winnipeg buses safer for drivers and passengers
By MYRON LOVE I have to admit that it has been years – even decades – sine I last took a bus. In my younger days, it was a different story. I would bus home from school (St. John’s) on cold winter days, go downtown frequently, or to our grocery store in St. Boniface and to the University of Manitoba.
Back in those halcyon days half a century ago, I could read in peace on the bus and nap on longer trips. At rush hour, buses from downtown were standing room only. And I don’t recall ever witnessing any violence.
But, times have changed. From what I have read in the papers, for several years now, abusive behavior and even violence on the buses happen far too often.
Sean Berman is working to change that reality. The still relatively young Winnipegger is one of two supervisors who are part of a City of Winnipeg initiative to make the buses safer for both passengers and drivers.
Early this year, the City introduced a Community Safety Team to patrol streets downtown and buses to help people experiencing homelessness, addictions, and mental health issues.
“Our team members have backgrounds in security, social work and education,” Berman reports. “We have been trained to de-escalate potentially violent situations and direct people in distress to the appropriate social service agencies.
“Especially since the Covid lockdowns, we have been seeing a lot more cases of people suffering from addictions, trauma or mental illness. Our community safety officers are getting a lot of positive feedback for our efforts. We are seeing a significant difference after just nine months.”
The son of Michael and Val Berman and grandson of the late Hy Berman has taken a non-traditional path – for a member of our Jewish community – to his present situation. The Garden City Collegiate graduate recalls that he has always enjoyed physical labour – with a particular interest in the building trades. After working for Sturgeon Tire for a couple of years post-high school, he enrolled at Red River College Institute.
“I took an apprenticeship course in masonry,” he says. “I have always liked stone building and working with stone.”
While he did enjoy being a mason, after a few years he realized that the frequent lay-offs that go with the trade were not conducive to a stable financial future.
In 2008, he got on with the City of Winnipeg. Initially, he worked in construction for the city. After a year though, he became a bus driver and, within a short time, he was promoted to a supervisor position in Winnipeg Transport.
“We had 1100—1200 bus drivers,” he reports. “Each transit supervisor oversaw approximately 200 drivers. In my role as a supervisor, I interacted with the police, the WCB (Workers Compensation Board) and MPI (Mantoba Public Insurance).
Berman started in his new role in mid-January when training began for the 21 members of the newly-established Community Safety Team. He credits Bob Christmas, Community Safety Team Lead, for developing the new program.
“Bob spent 34 years as a police officer,” Berman points out. “He has worked with a lot of troubled people and has a good sense of what is needed. He laid out a plan and the city is following his lead.”
Chrismas holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Manitoba, 2017), and Masters Degree in Public Administration. He is the author of numerous publications on justice related issues and wrote the textbook on police leadership across Canada and abroad.
“Our mandate,” Berman notes, is to try to defuse potential problems peacefully and direct troubled individuals to the proper resources.”
The group, he reports, starts each morning with a sharing circle and a briefing – followed by a debriefing at the end of their eight-hour shifts. The community safety officers are deployed in pairs.
One drawback to the system, he points out, is that a pair of safety officers may end up spending an entire day dealing with helping just one troubled individual.
“We can use double the number of officers,” Berman says.
Nonetheless, he is confident that the Community Safety Team is making a difference – in the views of drivers and passengers. “There have been no major issues. We have received quite a bit of positive feedback,” he reports.
He adds that this is the first such program in Canada. “We have already had inquiries from interested parties in Toronto and Calgary asking for more information about our program.”
Local News
Former Chai dance studio transformed into new B’nai Brith thrift store
By MYRON LOVE After a year’s effort, the former Dickie Dee building turned Chai Folk Ensemble rehearsal space at 531 Notre Dame Avenue has been transformed into Kavod, B’nai Brith Canada’s new thrift store.
“We opened our doors for a soft opening on September 8th,” reports Aviva Tabac, Manitoba Community Engagement Manager for B’nai Brith. “We are stocking new and gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, footwear, accessories and select houseware items.”
Readers may remember B’nai Brith’s big blue boxes at different locations for people to drop off clothing they no longer needed. The main issue with the bins, Tabac points out, is that “People were vandalizing them by tipping them over and trying to retrieve the items inside.”
All donations can be dropped off at Kavod during business hours.
In bringing Kavod to fruition, it truly took a village. Tabac gives much credit to Michael Mostyn, B’nai Brith’s CEO; Judy Foldes, Chief Operating Officer; and staff across Canada, in assisting with various tasks and projects. As well, gratitude and credit goes to Winnipeg philanthropists.
“Earl and Cheryl Barish were instrumental in supporting us with the location, permits, renovations, and in getting us up and running,” she says. “We are grateful to our donors for their support and commitment to our mission.”
The new Kavod thrift store measures about 2,000 square feet and includes a large retail space for product, sorting and pricing; a meeting and staff room for volunteers; and an area for storage and preparing food hampers.
Tabac reports that B’nai Brith provides between 10 and 20 kosher-food hampers to those in need weekly – each containing a donated assortment of fruit and vegetables, and a variety of nonperishable goods. The hampers will be packed at Kavod.
Tabac explains that Kavod will be rolling out several community programs over the next year. Every month, select agencies will refer a pre-determined number of clients to Kavod to shop in the store free of charge, with a certain amount of store credit per household. Clients can shop with dignity and choose items that they need instead of being handed what we think they need.
Kavod aims to be an enjoyable shopping experience for individuals and families while taking some of the financial burden off them during challenging times.
Currently, Kavod has 15 volunteers. Tabac says B’nai Brith has partnered with Volunteer Manitoba and Opportunities for Employment to add manpower.
A Customer Grand Opening is scheduled for Nov. 10. The store will be open five days a week – Sunday through Thursday.
Readers can drop off donations for Kavod at the front entrance during business hours, from 10am-5pm.
For more information, please contact Aviva Tabac at avivat@bnaibrith.ca.
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