Local News
While many more Israelis may be thinking of leaving the country, Manitoba has seen very few arrive here the past three years
By BERNIE BELLAN Elsewhere on this website you can read an article about how many Israelis are planning on leaving the country as a result of the radical shift in that country’s direction since the new government came into power (https://jewishpostandnews.ca/rss/alarmed-by-their-countrys-political-direction-more-israelis-are-seeking-to-move-abroad/). We wondered though whether that might lead to an upsurge in Israelis applying to come to Manitoba. If recent figures for the number of Israelis who have come here under the Provincial Nominee Program are any indication, then it seems that the number of Israelis who have been applying to come here has fallen drastically in the past three years.
In May 2022 we published an article about an increase in the number of applicants that Manitoba was going to be able to accept under the Provincial Nominee Program. The PNP is the program through which most immigrants coming to Manitoba arrive. At that time we predicted that the increase – from 6,275 to 6,367, would lead to an increase in the number of Israelis applying to move to Manitoba.
Recently the province announced that its allocation for 2023 under the PNP hds jumped almost 50% – to 9,500.
Yet, while the number of applicants who will be accepted under the PNP may be skyrocketing, it hasn’t translated into any marked increase in the number of Israelis who have applied to move here – either in 2022 or 2023.
We asked a spokesperson for Jon Reyes, Manitoba’s Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration, the following question: “How many applications under the PNP have you received from Israelis in the past year?”
The answer we received was: “In 2022, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) received 16 applications from Israeli citizens. In 2021, the MPNP received 7.”
The spokesperson for the minister also added this note: “I’m not sure if you were thinking those numbers would be larger, but it’s also possible that individuals/families arrive in a different province, and then move to Manitoba. In those instances, that wouldn’t be reflective in the province’s numbers.”
We also emailed the Jewish Federation, asking this question: “I’m wondering whether there has been an increase in inquiries from people living in Israel wanting to know about moving to Winnipeg. The reason I ask is obvious: There are so many Israelis wanting to leave the country now because of what the government is doing, but from what I’ve been reading the vast majority are applying to move to Europe. Is there anything you can tell me about how many have inquired in the past year about moving to Manitoba?”
Here is the answer we got back: “We have not gotten any indication of people leaving Israel and coming to Winnipeg due to the political situation there, at least as of now.”
Between 2017-2019 there had been a steady stream of Israelis who were allowed to move here under the PNP. When COVID hit in 2020, however, the number dropped – for obvious reasons, and it dropped even further in 2021. It increased slightly in 2022 – but nowhere near the levels it had been from 2017-2019.
Following the article we published last May about the Provincial Nominee Program, we received an email from an immigration consultant here who has a great deal of experience assisting Israelis with the process of emigrating to Manitoba. That person suggested that, as a result of the tightening of requirements under the PNP, fewer individuals from Israel were applying to come to Manitoba. We also wrote: “That individual also suggested that many immigrants who have come here have left Winnipeg as a result of not being able to find work in their chosen fields.”
In June 2022 we reported that the Jewish Federation was optimistic that immigration by Jewish families would bounce back in 2022. A spokesperson for the Federation wrote: “We have 75 people ready and willing to come to Winnipeg and continue with the immigration process, and with pandemic restrictions loosening, we anticipate numbers to bounce back from 2021. There are currently 300 individuals in various stages of producing required documents necessary to continue with the process.”
From time to time we have been reporting in this paper about new families having arrived in Winnipeg from other countries, including Turkey and Mexico (and in this issue, from Brazil) – and we will be continuing to report on new arrivals in coming issues, but again, we’re left wondering: Why aren’t more people coming here from Israel?
In our November 9 issue last year we reported on information gleaned from the 2021 census about the number of individuals in Winnipeg who reported that their ethnic origin was Israeli. The figure in the 2021 census was 1,435; in 2016 the figure was only 405. (We also explained that figures from the 2016 census were suspect because that census did not report Jewish or Israeli as one of the choices for ethnic origin. Respondents would have had to write in those answers. In 2021, by way of contrast, respondents were offered a check list of over 100 different choices for ethnic origin – this time including both “Jewish” and “Israeli” as possible answers.)
In either event, there was certainly a marked increase in the number of respondents in 2021 who gave “Israeli” as their ethnic origin.
But, as we also noted in another article (in our November 23 issue) about results of the 2021 census, there were also some very surprising figures about the religious background of individuals who said their ethnic origin was Israeli: “Of the 1350 individuals who said their ethnic origin was ‘Israeli’, only 855 said their religion was Jewish. Of the remainder, 385 said they had no religion, while 105 said they were Christian.”
While there have also been a number of arrivals of Jewish families to Winnipeg from countries other than Israel, it’s been Israel that’s been by far the largest source of immigration to this city for Jewish families over the past 20 years.
And, while Winnipeg’s Jewish population showed an apparent increase from 2011 to 2021, when you combine figures for both ethnic origin and religion, the increase was fairly negligible. As I noted in my November 23rd article, a careful analysis of data from the 2021 census showed that, at a maximum, the number of individuals in Winnipeg who might be considered Jewish – either by ethnic origin or religion, was 14, 270 – and the figure was probably much lower than that.
So, what does this all signify? The rate of immigration from Israel to Manitoba has slowed over the past three years – even though the number of applicants who would be allowed to come here under the Provincial Nominee Program has jumped dramatically this year.
But last May, when we spoke with Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg Director for the Federation, she told us then that there was a large backlog of prospective immigrants who delayed coming here for exploratory visits as a result of Covid. In the past little while many individuals have now been coming here on those exploratory visits, Dalia said at the time.
Evidently though, very few of those prospective immigrants are from Israel – at least if figures released by the Manitoba government showing how few applicants under the PNP in the past two years have been from Israel.
In some respects, what is going on in Israel right now is reminiscent of what was being expressed when Donald Trump was elected President in 2016. Many Americans said then that they would leave the US as a result. While some did come to Canada, it turned out that our immigration requirements were far more onerous than many Americans had thought.
Last May, when we wrote about the PNP, we noted that Manitoba was seeking immigrants in specific areas.
At the time we asked the spokesperson for Minister Reyes: “Are there particular classes of immigrants that Manitoba is wanting to recruit? e.g., computer programmers, nurses, etc. (also good hockey players)?”
The spokesperson responded:
“The MPNP is an economic program that aims to address labour market needs by nominating skilled workers and business investors who satisfy program criteria – and who are employable in their areas of professional experience – across all industry sectors.
“Based on the Manitoba government’s Labour Market Outlook 2021-2025 and recent Manitoba occupations gap analyses for the 2022-2026 period, the need for the following occupations is expected to be acute until 2026, given new and expanding businesses and organizations and replacement of retiring workers:
· Retail salespersons
· Transport truck drivers
· Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
· Retail and wholesale trade managers
· Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
· Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occu- pations; and
· Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
Many of the immigrants from Israel under the PNP have indeed found work in those areas, especially truck drivers, but one wonders why there has been such a slowdown in applicants from Israel under the PNP?
The answer seems to lie in the tightened requirement that the province is not imposing under the Provincial Nominee Program. Anecdotally, we recall hearing stories from individuals who had come here in the past. In many of those instances, we were told, they came applying to be truck drivers. When asked whether they had experience driving a truck, invariably they would answer: “Yes.” But, we were told, that wasn’t true; no matter, they were accepted under the PNP – and did get jobs as truck drivers.
Apparently the ease with which many applicants were accepted under the PNP no longer applies. We hope to explore the issue of why there has been such a dramatic slowdown in applicants from Israel to Manitoba under the PNP in a future issue.
Local News
Fringe Festival star Melanie Gall to appear at Gwen Secter Centre July 16
By BERNIE BELLAN A veteran performer at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Melanie Gall, will be making a special guest appearance at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, July 16.
Melanie will be the featured speaker (and entertainer) for the Remis Speakers’ Series that day. The Remis Speakers’ Series is held every Thursday starting at noon and ending at 1:30. This year’s series began May 7 and will continue through the end of October. This year it has been attracting increasingly large audiences – ranging from 40-60 people, as it offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a delicious – and kosher lunch, while listening to a very diverse variety of speakers – all the way from Gail Asper talking about returning the Ten Commandments to Assiniboine Park to Rabbi Matthew Leibl performing Christmas songs that were written by Jewish songwriters. At the same time it provides those attending a chance to make new acquaintances – or perhaps bump into old friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Melanie Gall’s own story is sure to be riveting. I’ve written about Melanie in the past, but the past two summers had been especially nerve wracking for Melanie, as she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse over her support for the State of Israel.
You can read my story about what Melanie went through during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – both in 2024 and again last year, at Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic abuse.
Melanie, who will be entering her 13th year of performing at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, will be peforming in only one show this year – a departure from her past practice of performing in multiple shows (as many as three different shows) during the Fringe Festival.
Elsewhere on this website we’ll be offering a preview of Melanie’s show (which is called “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn” and which is based on an incredible, but true story), along with previews of several other shows.
In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of the Remis Speakers’ Series group, but would ike to attend this coming Thursday, simply email us at jewishp@mymts.net and we’ll reserve a spot for you. The cost for the lunch is only $20.
The Gwen Secter Centre is located at 1588 Main Street (corner of Smithfield). There is parking available on a lot behind the centre or on the street.
Local News
Folk Festival Report
(Posted July 10) During this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival we’re going to be running an ongoing blog report – with photos and blurbs from the festival, sent to us by our Folk Fest correspondent Heather Silbert.
Here’s Heather’s first entry (sent Friday at 3:33 pm): “It’s a hot hot day at the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival! Lots of people; lots of good vibes; and an abundance of awesome music!!”
“We just moved to spruce hollow. Nice and shady. listening to Jacob Brodovsky.”
4:21 pm: “Jacob just announced that he lost his job and received a lot of vitriol from the Jewish Community because he’s a Jewish person who believes that Palestinian and Jewish lives are intertwined, and he is against genocide. He is very deeply feeling, and expresses all these big feelings through his songs. I want to give him a hug, but it’s so hot outside!”
5:33 pm: The inscription in the plaque below begins with some lines from a Bruce Cockburn song called “Joy Will Find a Way (A Song About Dying)”: and continues with: “Memory Lane honours those who are no longer with us but whose presence lives on in the music, memories and moments we share here…”
7:06 pm “Gorgeous hand made polymer clay jewelry! Amanda Greisman makes gorgeous pieces that can be worn across many occasions! And she’s so so nice!” (See her booth called “Blue Sky Jewelry.”)
(Posted July 11, 4:20 pm) “Would you drive your bike to BHP for FF in this weather? I would drive here, but not sure if I’d have enough steam to bike home!”
“There’s aren’t any flower/leaf art installations this year(that I’ve found!) but loving the fairy village!!”
“It’s another sweltering day. Bright blue sky and a light Breeze. Cat Clyde is rocking it out at Bur Oakbank!! Loving it!!”
8:04 pm: “Snacktime! Excellent energy, good time! We’re sitting 2 tarp rows in front of the frog to the left of the Canadian flag. (Total FF directions! LOL!)”
Local News
New GrowWinnipeg “Grow Together” highlights diverse origins of our growing Jewish community
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, June 11, about 120 younger Jewish Winnipeggers from diverse backgrounds came together at the Asper Campus for an evening of food and music, games and prizes and, most important, the opportunity to socialize with their peers from a growing community that reflects the long term success of our community’s 26-year-old GrowWinnipeg initiative.
“We are gathered here to celebrate your and your parents’ decisions to come to Winnipeg, build families and raise families here,” noted Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg’s director, in addressing the young adults in attendance.
To summarize, the GrowWinnipeg Initiative arose when our past community’s leadership recognized that our Jewish population was an aging and shrinking community with aging infrastructure.
The first stage was the planning and construction of the Asper Campus, which brought our major institutions and organizations under one roof in an attractive new building.
The next challenge was to attract more people to our community. GrowWinnipeg was created to take on the challenge. The initiative, which was officially launched in 2000, is unique in its efforts to reach out to young Jewish families throughout the Western world.
The first outreach efforts were directed at Argentina’s sizeable Jewish community at a time when the South American country’s economy was going through a very difficult period. Several of our community leaders visited the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and a website was established. Arrangements were made for local families to host Jewish Argentinians here on exploratory visits and the community helped the prospective immigrants navigate the then new Provincial Nominee Program, find jobs and establish themselves here.
Since then, many young families – from Argentina, as well as a great number of other countries – have chosen to make Winnipeg their new home. The young people at the recent GrowWinnipeg evening were reflective of the diversity of our growing community. During the course of the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with not only Israeli-born participants, also young people from Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and Uruguay – and a young lady who grew up in Ottawa.
Naomi Kirshenblatt Palansky originally came here from Ottawa to go to university. She met and married local entrepreneur Noah Palansky in 2023. (We wrote about Noah in the December 19, 2025 issue). That same year, the former competitive swimmer who competed in the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2013 served as manager of the Canadian Junior swimming team participating in the games. She is currently the director of operations and strategy for a company called CoinFlip.
Although born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yael Borovich grew up in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Dalia Szpiro and Eduardo Borovich (and younger sister of Vanessa) all of whom moved here in 2002. She is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and works as a senior client relationship manager for Scotia Bank’s commercial branch.
Siblings Igal and Edem Avimelek arrived here from Turkey six years ago with their parents, Etel and Moris. Edem is in her second year at the University of Manitoba while Igal is studying engineering at UBC.
They report that their father, Moris, has established the Upperwear Textile Agency – marketing textile products online – while their mother Etel, is senior IT Director, software development and data analytics and enterprise architecture at Standard Aero.
“Our parents were looking to move to a new country and came across the GrowWinnipeg webpage,” Edem says. “GrowWinnipeg has been really supportive of us in helping us move here and become established.”
More recent arrivals Alex Tsmokaliuk and Jane Hin are from Ukraine and Russia respectively and have been together since 2022. “We were looking for a peaceful place to start a family,”: Alex says. “We heard about GrowWinnpeg and here we are.”
Alex is a fitness trainer while Jane is working for WRE Development as a property manager.
Dora Bronstein, who is originally from Beersheva, is also a recent arrival to our community. “I came to Winnipeg because I wanted to get away from war – and I heard about GrowWinnipeg,” she says.
She is currently working for L.C. Taylor Licensed Insolvency Trustee as an estate manager.
Erele Tzidon and Daniel Mejnov
Last October, GrowWinnipeg introduced its new Youth Ambassadors program.
“Since October, we have been working to create an organized system and opportunities to help young newcomers find their people within our community,” wrote Youth Ambassador Erele Tzidon on Facebook.
“Our mission is to help young immigrants find a sense of home in Winnipeg and support a smooth and welcoming transition.
We are excited to help bring our young Jewish community together.
As reported in the Jewish Post about 18 months ago, Tzidon is originally from Moshav Ginaton in central Israel. She came to Winnipeg in 2018 with her parents Ofer – formerly regional manager for a car rental agency in Israel and now an RBC branch manager – and Sharon – an emotional therapist in Israel who is currently working as an educational assistant at Gray Academy – and three younger brothers.
The 20-year Gray Academy graduate has recently completed her third year in Science at the University of Manitoba. For the past three years, she has also been a member of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research team at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), researching the link between pregnancy complications and the risk for heart disease.
In November, 2024, Tzidon was presented with the Dr. James S. McGoey Student Award – based on the quality of her cardiovascular research at the ICS, which operates out of the St. Boniface Hospital campus’s Albrechchtsen Research Centre.
Tzidon’s fellow Youth Ambassador is Daniel Mejnov. He was born in Beersheva but moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Dennis and Victoria (and younger brother Alon) 14 years ago. He is currently enrolled in an IT program at the University of Winnipeg.
Mejnov welcomed all those in attendance at the celebration and thanked the volunteers who helped him and Tzidon organize the event.
“It has been great being able to bring so many people together,” he said. “This is a good way to unite our community.
Two other individuals of particular note that I spoke with at the event were Orit Agabayev and Alina Plis, partners in three year old A and O Event Décor, who provided the balloon arches and walls, table settings and centre pieces for the evening.
Agabayev is originally from Netanya and Plis is from Yeruham (in southern Israel). The latter has been here for 18 years and operates a daycare. The former came 16 years. Her principal career is working in the field of animal nutrition.
In an Instagram PosI from four years ago, Plis noted that “I have always been passionate about planning parties and events. I started out with planning big surprise birthday parties for my kids. Eventually I began planning and decorating events for family and friends. Now I am taking the next step with my friend, Orit, who shares the same level enthusiasm as me. What drives me to go above and beyond is simply the excitement my creations bring to those who see my work.
On Facebook, Agabayev added that “Alina and I are so excited to start A&O event decor. We both love decorating and planning different events. We hope that you can put your trust in us to create or decorate an event for you. We do Birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, proposals, weddings and more..
“Message us with your ideas to get a free quote and you’re one step closer to having an unforgettable event.”
