Local News
St. John’s High School class of ’73 holds 5oth anniversary reunion
By MYRON LOVE St. John’s High School has a rich and storied history in the annals of our Jewish community. The North End institution is one of Winnipeg’s oldest schools and, when I was a student there in the mid-1960s, it was the city’s largest high school. For three generations of Jewish youth, the school was their gateway to success in the wider world.
In my student days there, the school’s student population was approximately 40% Jewish (although the real percentage may have been a little lower) – and while the school’s reputation as the “Jewish” high school was somewhat changed by the mid-60s, when that pride of place was becoming increasingly challenged by the still relatively new Garden City Collegiate and Grant Park High School in River Heights.
As the Jewish population continued to move either farther north into Garden City or south to River Heights, the numbers of Jewish students enrolled in the school continued to decline. Nonetheless, the 1973 graduating class still boasted about 20 Jewish students, most of whom were among the 70 former students who participated in the 50th anniversary reunion of that graduating class over the June 23-25 weekend.
The idea for the reunion originated with Ed Zwingerman. “I got the ball rolling in February of last year,” recalls the north Winnipeg physiotherapist. “I was at a retreat and, during a period of meditation, I got to thinking about all the changes in my life and all the friends from high school who I had lost touch with over the years. It occurred to me that a class reunion might be a nice way to reconnect with people.”
Zwingerman recruited fellow Class of ’73 graduate Donna Kormylo to co-chair a reunion committee.
“The response exceeded all of our expectations,” he reports. “We had good turnouts for all of our events.”
The weekend began on Friday afternoon with a meet-and-greet in the school library. The event included a slide show, refreshments and tours of the school led by current students. There was also time for the former students to share memories and pore over school memorabilia.
In the evening, the graduates gathered at the Four Crowns Restaurant in the former Lincoln Hotel on McPhillips Street to socialize informally.
Saturday afternoon featured a barbecue at Kildonan Park (with kosher hot dogs, Zwingerman points out). Then there was the grand finale – supper (including Jeanne’s Cake) at the legion hall on Henderson Highway and a band comprised of ’73 graduates(including musician Karen Dana and vocals by Richard Yaffe) featuring music from the ‘60s
“To that end, we were able to get a grant of $350 from the local city councillor,” Zwingerman says.
Among the Jewish former ’73 graduates who came to the reunion, according to Zwingerman. were the aforementioned Karen Dana and Richard Yaffe, Sam Steinfeld, Susan Israel and, from out of town, Sandra Kraitberg and Vicki Mowchun.
Susan Israel recalls that she didn’t remember a lot of people from high school outside of her own class. “I was always one of the band students,” she says. “We tended to stick together.”
One of the highlights for her at the reunion was reacquainting herself with Brian Burdy, her former Biology teacher. “I am not a science person,” she says. “Mr. Burdy made biology interesting for me.”
She also enjoyed the concert. She notes that she was unable to be part of the band because she was away at a family simchah and unable to practice with the other band members.
For Karen Dana, as well as seeing so many familiar faces, a highlight was being able to perform with Richard Yaffe and getting to know him again. “We grew up a block apart near the Talmud Torah and we used to walk to school together,” she recounts.
“And Susan and I go back a long way. Her aunt was my piano teacher.”
Both Dana and Zwingerman also commented on the number of former teachers who put in an appearance at the reunion. A number of the teachers at the school in ’60s and ‘70s were also Jewish.
Zwingerman was particularly happy to see former teacher Marty Billinkoff, who flew in from Vancouver. “Mr. Billinkoff was gregarious and personable and a lot of fun. It was great to see him again.”
The reunion co-organizer also expresses appreciation for the support from the St. John’s Alumni Committee and the school’s principal, Doug Taylor.
“Doug is a great leader,” Zwingerman notes. “A lot of the current students continue on to post-secondary institutions.”
He adds that the reunion committee has contributed leftover funds to the school to be divided between the band and football programs.
Local News
Winnipeg Fringe performer Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic attack – for second year in a row
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 20, 2025)
Melanie Gall is a talented performer who is a veteran of the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – having appeared here many times.
Last year Melanie found herself being subjected to antisemitic attacks that were initiated by a site supervisor for the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, someone by the name of Eric Rae.
As I wrote on my story about Melanie’s experience, “…on the third day (of the Fringe Festival), she said, ‘the site supervisor (Rae) came and was wearing a pro-Palestinian symbol’ and told Melanie that he was wearing that deliberately because he was coming to Melanie’s venue.
“He told her, ‘that stance you’re taking (on social media) is a political symbol.
Rae also posted on social media: “We have a Zionist in our midst harassing pro-Palestinians.”
There was a concerted effort on social media last summer to boycott Melanie’s shows (She had three different shows altogether.)
As Melanie said during a phone conversation we had last summer about what happened to her, “This is so ridiculous. I’m being harassed and bullied because I’m Jewish…it’s not about Israel.”
Eric Rae was relieved from his duties after Melanie complained to the Fringe office staff, Melanie noted during our conversation.
She adds that other Fringe employees also complained about Eric Rae’s behaviour: “I wasn’t the only one who complained last year,” she wrote in an email sent today. “Several staff members complained, as Eric was not adhering to the Fringe policy that did not allow political symbols to be worn by staff. From what I heard, he refused to stop wearing it, and he did publicly target me. The Winnipeg Fringe upheld their safe spaces policy, and they were wonderful in the way they handled it.”
Further, Melanie was the target of an organized campaign on pro-Palestine social media calling for her shows to be boycotted.
(You can read the full story about what happened to Melanie, also to her mother during last year’s Edmonton Fringe Festival, at Melanie Gall.)
Just today we received another email from Melanie informing us that the same individual who targeted her last summer is targeting her again during this year’s Fringe Festival.
Melanie wrote: “Hi! Thanks so much for the mention in the preview article! I just wanted to let you know that Eric Rae is at it again.”
Attached to that email was a picture taken from Rae’s Instagram account.
As of the writing of this post, Melanie said that she is out of town for three days and is not aware whether any of her posters have been defaced – the way they were last summer.
She did add, however, that “I assume by ‘make her feel unwelcome’ (which is what is written on one of the pictures on Rae’s Instagram account) he is planning something. Ugh.”
Melanie also said that “The one post is too close to a threat to ignore.”
In a subsequent email Melanie also sent a screenshot of an exchange that took place on Rae’s Instagram account between him and someone who goes by the handle “Kat Cat.”
If we hear more about what’s been happening to Melanie we’ll update this article.
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.