Local News
The hits keep on coming for one of the University of Manitoba’s longest-serving profs
By MYRON LOVE Over the course of a 55-year career teaching at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Michael Eskin has accumulated an armful of accolades for his ground-breaking research in the development of canola, as well as other edible oils. Over the years, the professor in the U of M’s Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences and Fellow of American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), Institute of Food Technologists, Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Institute of Food Science and Technology(UK), has published over 250 research articles, book chapters, monographs, abstracts and several patents. He has published 18 books, including two on canola. He has also done extensive research on enzymes and gums as well as having developed a number of colorimetric methods, including one for phytate that is still used worldwide.
And, his work has not gone unrecognized by his colleague,s both at his university and in his field internationally.
Last year, the University of Manitoba conferred on him the title of Distinguished Professor, an honour that is only awarded to a maximum of three professors a year – and is limited to no more than 25 profs at any one time.
Over the years, Eskin – a native of Birmingham, England – has been inducted into the Order of Manitoba and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Last year, he also received the Institute of Food Technologists Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the first Canadian recipient of this award – putting him in the company of a very distinguished group of scientists from around the world who have been recipients of the award.
Three years ago, he was honoured with the American Oil Chemists Society’s (AOCS) Supelco Award for his research in fats, oils, lipid chemistry and biochemistry. The Supelco award is considered the world prize in lipid research.
The AOCS has recognized Eskin many times over the past 15 years with different awards and this time, he will receive the 2023 A.R Baldwin Distinguished Service Award for distinguished service to AOCS. This Award recognizes long-term, distinguished service to AOCS in a variety of positions of significant responsibility, and is the Society’s highest service award. It will be presented at the Annual Meeting in Denver later this year.
Eskin was also awarded the 2023 Canola Excellence Award by the Manitoba Canola Growers Association to be presented at their Annual Conference being held at the Victoria Inn in a couple of weeks’ time.
Now in his 81st year, Michael Eskin is still not quite ready to be put out to pasture. He is still teaching one course at the university three times a week, as well as doing some guest lectures. He is continuing with research. Most recently, in mid-January, he gave a presentation at an international trainees symposium in Agri-Food, Nutrition and Health at the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine at St. Boniface Hospital on: “How to succeed in gradute studies without even crying.” From all reports, its humor and wisdom made it one of the highlights of the meeting.
Michael has also just finished his latest “protein rap” recording and is just waiting for his musical son, Josh, to finalize it so that it can be turned into a video.
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.