Local News
Winnipeg Police Service members receive angry reception at Jewish Federation event meant to give advice on personal safety
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted Nov. 9) The Multipurpose Room in the Asper Campus was supposed to have been filled last night by members of the community wanting to hear from representatives of the Winnipeg Police Service in an event billed as “Responding to Hate: Safety and Security Presentation.”
But there were many empty chairs. Attendees had been required to register in advance – and registration was cut off at 200. Apparently many of those 200 who had registered decided not to come – which was a terrible shame, since many others who had wanted to attend had been told there was no room for them.
What ensued Wednesday evening beginning at 7:10 pm, Wednesday evening, November 8, in the Multipurpose Room of the Campus was a somewhat disorganized series of presentations by various members of the WPS, followed by what became at times a quite heated, often emotional question and answer session.
Here are the major takeaways from the event:
Jewish Federation President Gustavo Zentner introduced eight different members of the WPS to the audience. He said that “this is a community dedicated to the rule of law. We are extremely concerned when we see people burning Israeli flags and when we see police standing by them when they are chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Dave Dalal, Superintendent, Uniform Operations, WPS, told the audience that, on October 26, the WPS had asked representatives from both the pro-Palestine and pro-Israel communities not to hold counter protests when the other side was holding a rally. Since that date, both sides had respected the WPS’s request, Dalal said.
Dalal asked that anyone who has information or a complaint about what might be considered a hate crime should call the police non-emergency line: 204-986-6222, and press 8 on the dial pad.
In addition to information given by Dalal, there was also interesting information given by Gord Perrier, Director of Campus Security at the University of Manitoba.
Responses that Dalal and Perrier gave to questions from the audience provided greater insight into the thinking of senior police officers than one might have expected. Dalal especially was quite defensive when he was accused of allowing hate speech to occur at various pro-Palestinian rallies that have taken place in recent weeks. When Dalal (and other members of the WPS who were present) claimed that nothing that had been heard at any of those rallies would have constituted a “hate crime,” local pro-Israel organizer Ron East challenged members of the WPS, asking them whether they had anyone on the force who spoke Arabic?
East claimed that some of what had been said at some of those rallies – in Arabic – would have qualified as hate speech. In response, Dalal did say that the WPS does have members on the force who speak Arabic. He also said that there are Jewish members in the WPS.
Another audience member said he has audio evidence of hate speech in Arabic that was said at one of those rallies. Dalal asked that audience member to give that evidence to the WPS.
Another WPS representative, Bonnie Emerson (Community Engagement) gave a fairly lengthy presentation on how hate speech is defined in the criminal code.
In response to a question why pro-Palestinian protesters were allowed to block off Portage and Main, Emerson said, “It’s complex – and we’re dealing with a crowd environment. We have to be deliberate and careful when we take action.”
With reference to whether something is “hate speech,” Emerson said “It’s not clear what is hate speech. For the Jewish community it may be hate speech, but to other communities it may not be. The criminal code is not specific. Unless there is case law backing up that it’s hate speech, it’s not illegal.”
In response, Gustavo Zentner suggested that “part of the (angry) reaction from the back (where some people had been interrupting Emerson’s remarks) is people take it as an endorsement by inaction.”
Gord Perrier, Director of Campus Security (who was also a 25-year veteran of the WPS) was not at the front of the room when the eight members of the WPS gave various presentations to the audience. Dalal referred to his presence, however and, in response to a direct question from a member of the audience who said they were concerned about the safety of Jewish students at the University of Manitoba, Dalal asked Perrier whether he could answer the question.
Perrier spoke about a “vigil” that was held by pro-Palestinian students at the U of M on October 13. He said there had been consultation with organizers of the vigil prior to the event. The organizers were told there could be “no chanting” and “no flags on staffs.” (According to Perrier, flag staffs could be considered weapons.)
When chanting did begin, one of the organizers attempted to have the chanting stopped, Perrier said, but he was ignored to start with. Also, a flagstaff did appear.
Perrier also addressed the question of hate speech – and why no one has been charged with a hate crime yet in Manitoba since October 7. (To provide some context, many members of the audience were angry that pro-Palestinian demonstrators are continually allowed to chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”)
Perrier explained that a charge of hate speech has to be approved by the attorney general of the province in which the hate speech has allegedly occurred.
He admitted though, that despite the campus police at the U of M having “increased physical security on campus… a lot of the staff don’t have historical knowledge” of what’s led up to the heated atmosphere between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students. “There’s a lot of training going on,” Perrier noted.
“We reach out to every organizer of a rally telling them it has to be respectful and safe,” he suggested.
Another audience member referred to what is apparently a very tense situation at St. Johns Ravenscourt school, saying “I have kids at SJR and we’re seeing a lot of conflict between Arab and Jewish kids.”
That person said his kid had been told “We’re going to finish you.”
At one point Gustavo Zentner referred to something that is being planned for “November 13,” but he didn’t immediately explain what he was talking about. It was only after a while that he said there is some sort of walkout being planned for high schools in Winnipeg that day. (We contacted Ruth Ashrafi, Regional Director, B’nai Brith Canada, to ask whether she knew what Gustavo was talking about. Ruth sent us a picture of a poster that’s circulating on social media by a group known as “Queers for Palestine,” which in itself is a ridiculous name as queers are persecuted in Palestinian areas – often killed – thrown off rooftops by Hamas, for instance, and often flee to Israel where they’re safe, but let’s leave aside one of the many contradictions associated with pro-Palestinian groups.)
An audience member asked Superintendent Dalal, “What would you do if it was your family being threatened?”
Dalal responded: “We are bound by the rule of law. We have Jewish officers. We also have officers who wish and hope that their neighbours don’t know they’re police officers.”
Someone else asked: “How do we make our kids feel safe when they’re in a school where they know other kids hate them?”
Part of the answer that was given was “There are many people in the MIddle Eastern community here who are opposed to antisemitism.”
To Israelis in the audience – Gustavo Zentner had this to say: “Everyone of us who was either born in Israel or moved there – we are mindful of your concerns.”
And, in addressing the often heated criticism levelled at the WPS during what turned into a very emotional evening for some members of the audience, Jewish Federation President Jeff Lieberman said, “We’ve been in constant touch with the WPS since October 7 and we appreciate that the moment we asked you (WPS) whether you would come out and meet with us tonight – you agreed.”
Local News
Jewish Foundation’s asset base surpasses $200 million for first time
By BERNIE BELLAN The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba continues to show stellar growth – having achieved total assets over $200 million in the 2025 fiscal year (a 7.4% increase from the 2024 fiscal year), also having distributed $8.2 million in grants during the year.
Those were among the highlights reported at the JFM’s Annual General Meeting, held Wednesday evening July 18, in the multipurpose room of the Asper Campus.
JFM CEO John Diamond noted that one of the most successful aspects of the year just past was the launch of what is known as “Fund Match II” which, he explained, is “building on the success of the original FundMatch project introduced in 2012.”
Under the terms of the new Fund Match program 18 initial organizations that created endowments with a combined value of $689,388 at the JFM benefitted from matching funds of $178,000 that were added to those endowments, with an additional four other organizations having joined in the program during the course of the year.
Other highlights (which can all be perused in the JFM’s annual report, available simply by going to the JFM website) include the JFM having “awarded 72 scholarships and academic awards totalling $230,759.”
JFM Board treasurer Bruce Caplan also spoke of some other notable achievements of the JFM in 2025, including a 12.64% return on investments and $4.27 million in new contributions.
The AGM also saw a number of changes to the composition of the board. Most notable among them is the retirement of Dan Blankstein as Board Chair – after having served two two-year terms, to be succeeded by Dafna Shore.
Also, the current longest-serving member of the board, Bonnie Cham, is retiring from the board after having served on it for 13 years, including three terms as Chair.
One other significant retirement announced at the AGM was that of Chief Financial Officer Ian Barnes – who will be retiring in December after 26 years as CFO During his remarks to the audience Barnes noted that “When I arrived at the Foundation, the assets were $29 million.” As noted, that figure has now grown to $200 million.
He also noted that “Since the Foundation was established in 1964, total grants and
distributions are $113.6 million.”
Barnes paid tribute to the three Chief Executive Officers with whom he worked: David Cohen, Marsha Cowan, and John Diamond. With regard to Marsha Cowan, Barnes said that “Marsha taught me about business – and how to dress!” (Barnes will be succeeded as CFO by Lynda Joyal.)
One of the annual customs of the JFM AGM is to thank the JFM staff – and to announce how many years each staff member has served at the JFM. While there are a number of individuals who have been with the JFM for a fairly long time, no one comes close to Patti Boorman, Director of Administration, who has been with the JFM for 37 years.
Among the largest new grants given by the JFM in 2025 were: a grant of $122,000 to the Asper Jewish Community Campus, Gray Academy of Jewish Education and Rady JCC to support the construction of a “new accessible outdoor play structure, ensuring safe, inclusive play for children and families; a grant of $150,000 to the Simkin Centre for the hiring a Volunteer Engagement Specialist – a three-year project to modernize volunteer programs and enhance resident, family, and intergenerational involvement.
Among the leading recipients of distributions from donor-recommend endowment funds – all of which had received grants in the past were:
The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada $149,618
Rady JCC 154,746
Gray Academy 168,535
Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University 163,488
Jewish Child & Family Service 447,471
Simkin Centre 858,654
Asper Campus 431,099
Combined Jewish Appeal 907,688
Jewish Federation of Winnipeg 531,076
Note: A number of the above organizations also received community impact grants – which are one-time grants given for special purposes.
Local News
Gavin Katz: “The next great Jewish football player”
By BERNIE BELLAN Back about 15 years ago I had the idea to hire renowned sports writer Scott Taylor to write occasional columns for The Jewish Post & News. Although the great Harvey Rosen – who passed away in 2022, was still our regular sports columnist, I thought that having Scott contribute his own takes on sports might add some additional flavour to the paper.
And it did – for several years – until Covid hit and I had to pare back expenses, including for freelance writers.
Scott has kept in touch from time to time since he last wrote for us though, so it was with great delight that I received an email from him the second week in June that had in the subject line: “Next Great Jewish Athlete.”
Here’s what Scott wrote in that email: “I was talking with Fort Garry Lions head coach John Makie last night.
“Thought you might like to know about the next great Jewish football player … if you don’t know already.”
Attached to the email was a poster that was a montage of different images – all highlighting someone by the name of Gavin Katz. Part of the poster is attached here – and in it you can see all sorts of accolades for young Gavin, including his having been designated “lineman of the year” by Coach Makie last year, as well as his having captained his Pee Wee team (which is limited to players under 14 years of age).
I followed up Scott’s suggestion and contacted John Makie to try and get some comments from him about Gavin Katz, as well as contact information for Gavin’s parents.
Here’s what Coach Makie wrote to me about Gavin who, last year, was in his second (and final) year playing for the pee-wee level Fort Garry Lions:
“I’ve known Gavin Katz for a season of football. In this season, I’ve come to learn his grit, toughness and his sheer willingness to get to the ball. A lot of our players on the team would run to the ball, but Gavin sprinted. If he was challenged, he rose to the occasion. We made him our Most Outstanding Lineman not only because of his talents on the field but his leadership. He was committed to the process, he began to lead others to this through guidance and exemplary attendance.
“I am quite proud of Gavin and what he did for us this year.”
“Unfortunately, we came up just short last season, but Gavin taught us how to become a champion and the Lions will be hungry for success next season.”
“I really hope he continues to play football!”
That was high praise for Gavin Katz, indeed. During my conversation with Makie he told me that Gavin’s father was Regan Katz and that Regan was the vice-president and Chief Operating Officer of the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team.
I contacted Regan and asked him whether I could get in touch with Gavin. Regan gave me Gavin’s phone number, but when I tried calling him all that I got was his voice messaging. I did leave a voice message, but didn’t hear back from Gavin right away – which should come as no surprise for anyone who’s tried contacting a teenager by phone: They simply don’t use their phones for phone calling – only for texting.
So, on a Saturday morning – when I figured Gavin would probably be at home, I emailed Regan again, asking him whether he could have Gavin call me. It was 10:40 in the morning. Regan responded that Gavin was still asleep.
I wrote back: “What? I thought he’d be up jogging or doing some heavy exercise at 7 AM. What kind of pro football player is he anyway?” (Um, if you’re reading this and not familiar with my writing style, I do veer into sarcasm quite readily.)
In any event, around 11 am Gavin did call me back and we had a most pleasant conversation. After talking to him I could well understand why Coach Makie was so effusive in his praise for him.
I began by asking Gavin where he goes to school?
He said he’s currently in the French immersion program at Ecole River Heights and before that he was also in the French immersion program at Sir William Osler School. Next September Gavin will be going to Kelvin, he said.
We then began to discuss his football career. I asked Gavin when he first started to play organized football?
He said that he started playing flag football five years ago – and that he still plays flag football (which has only five players on a side, as opposed to the 12 players on a side in tackle football). Gavin added that, in addition to playing flag football – which he really loves, he noted, he also coaches and referees flag football.
Gavin’s interest in playing tackle football though, was piqued by his attending a Winnipeg Blue Bombers camp for putative young players four years ago.
“That’s when I first put on pads,” he explains.
Gavin added that he’s been going to Blue Bomber games ever since he was quite young and that, at various times he’s had the privilege of meeting such Blue Bomber greats as Adam Bighill, Nick Demski, Brady Oliveira, and Zach Collaros.
Two years ago Gavin joined the Fort Garry Lions Pee Wee level team (when he was 12).
“My first year I was on the offensive line,” he notes. “My second year (last year) I started as a linebacker, but then I was moved to the defensive line.”
Here’s a link to a clip of Gavin showing his prowess as a defensive lineman in a game last fall: Gavin in action (He’s number 50 in the video.)
Now, while Gavin was not overly tall for his age last year… he was 5’4″ and weighed 135 pounds, he was certainly big enough to play on the defensive line at the Pee Wee level.
But – talk about a growth spurt! Gavin says he grew four inches since the Lions season ended in October; he’s now 5’8″, but even more impressive – he says he’s put on another 35 pounds – and in Gavin’s case, it’s all muscle.
I asked him where he works out and he answered that the family has a home gym, which he uses assiduously, in the evenings.
Gavin says he’s ready to move up to the next level of football, which would be at the Bantam level or Junior Varsity, and that he will try out for the Kelvin Clippers when he enters Kelvin this fall. He says though that he would probably “end up on the practice roster” for the Clippers varsity team where he will be fighting for a playing role, because if he does make the team he’d be among the youngest players on the team (usually Grades 11 & 12 only).
Our conversation then turned to my asking Gavin about his family. I already knew his father’s name, I told him (and that his father was former mayor Sam Katz’s nephew), so I asked him what his mother’s name was? He said it was Mandy or Amanda and that her maiden name was Falk. Gavin also has a younger sister, Brynlee, who is eight, he said.
Gavin notes that he was bar mitzvahed last year. He’s also maintained very high marks in school, he says, getting a 91 in math and an 87 in science.
So, since Scott Taylor had billed Gavin as the “next great Jewish athlete” in his email to me about Gavin, I asked Gavin how far he wants to pursue football?
His answer was that “I’ll go as far as I can.”
Considering that he grew four inches and gained 35 pounds in less than a year, Gavin could very well be big enough soon to play on the defensive line for a team of under 16 year olds but, he says, “I like playing linebacker,” which requires a great deal more mobility than playing on the defensive line.
Still, linebackers have to combine a great many skills, including mobility, strength – and most of all, toughness, as they not only have to stop running backs, they often have to take on offensive linemen as well.
I asked Gavin what he likes most about playing linebacker? His answer: “I like hitting.” (Now, don’t take that the wrong way. It’s simply the enjoyment that many football players derive from the contact that comes with playing tackle football. And these days many young women have begun taking up tackle football for the same reason.)
But, what about injuries? I wondered. Has Gavin suffered any? I asked him.
“I’ve had a few injuries,” he answered. “I dislocated the growth plate in my elbow,” he noted and, “when I was ten I injured my achilles tendon,” he added. However, in neither case did Gavin require surgery – lucky for him.
How far into the future did Gavin see his football career headed? I asked him. He was ready with the answer: “I’d like to play for the Arizona Sun Devils” (the name of the Arizona State football team).
I told Gavin that, in past years (when I was more active as a writer) I’d profiled many young Jewish athletes for The Jewish Post & News. One of the athletes with the most potential was a young hockey player who could skate like the wind, I told Gavin, but unfortunately, he stopped growing and, as his coach at the time told me, he could teach skills, but he couldn’t teach “height.”
In Gavin Katz’s case though, since he’s only 14 and is already growing rapidly, it seem certain that his height and weight are not going to hold him back from continuing to excel at football when he moves up the ladder of stiffening competition as he grows older.
It will be interesting to check in with Gavin on a regular basis in the coming years to see how he’s progressing. Winnipeg’s Jewish community hasn’t produced too many star football players over the years, although I did mention to Gavin that I had done a story about a young man who had played for the Grant Park Pirates several years ago – and that my writing now about Gavin was going to lead me to try to look in our archives for that story to remind me who it was that I had written about – and perhaps whether I could find out anything about where he had gone with his football career.
It turned out that the young man’s name was Nahaniel Lisak and that he had been nominated for the Jewish Athlete of the Year award back in 2022 when he was 17 years old, but was already 6’2″ and weighed an impressive 295 pounds. Here’s what the Rady JCC had written about Lisak prior to that year’s sports dinner: “He was named to the CFC (Canada Football Chat) All-Canadian First Team and was the recipient of the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL) Kas Vidruk Lineman of the Year. At the school level he was named the Grant Park Football Most Valuable Player and was awarded the school’s Football Captain Award. He was runner up for the 2021 WHSFL Defensive MVP & 2021 Harry Hood Citizenship Award. In grade 10 he became a known player in Manitoba and was named a Nationally ranked top 100 player in Canada, being a top 5 Manitoban and top three defensive tackle in the 2022 graduating class.”
I Googled Nathaniel Lisak to see if I could find out anything about him now and saw that he’s realized his dream of attending McMaster University (where he’s in his fourth year of Commerce) and is also a star player for the McMaster Marauders.
So Gavin, if you’re reading this – there’s a stellar example of someone whose career you could emulate. But the Arizona Sun Devils? Couldn’t you settle for the University of Manitoba Bisons? Why do our best and brightest almost always want to leave Winnipeg?
Local News
Rabbi Shmuly Altein passes at age 43
By BERNIE BELLAN Rabbi Shmuly Altein, the dynamic and charismatic oldest child of Rabbi Avrohom and Bracha Altein, has passed away on June 18 at age 43 after a long illness.
Rabbi Altein, who was born in Winnipeg and who returned here in 2008 following his rabbinical training – along with his wife Adina, had, for many years, been instrumental in building up Chabad’s impact upon hundreds of Winnipeggers through his leading what started as the Jewish Learning Project and which, in time, transformed into the Jewish Learning Institute.
Rabbi Shmuly’s wife Adina was also the guiding force behind what became the Chabad Preschool and Childcare centre. Together, the Alteins brought their energy into introducing so many members of Winnipeg’s Jewish community to Chabad.
Following is information sent by Rabbi Altein’s sister-in-law, Dvora Altein: “Rabbi Shmuly carried a smile that could light up souls and heal hearts. When he and his wife Adina arrived in Winnipeg in 2008, he poured himself — and his family — into building and strengthening the Jewish community here. His creative vision sparked initiative after initiative, many of which continue to inspire Jewish organizations across the city to this day.”
“His greatest passion, connecting souls, and that light he brought to Winnipeg still shines, and will shine forever.
“Rabbi Shmuly, with his great heart and his counsel that healed souls, was a true example of love for his fellow Jew.
“Even through his courageous battle with illness — with strength and with faith — Shmuly continued to serve as Rabbi, teaching, inspiring, and uplifting others, and he and Adina remained a source of inspiration for their entire community in Wesley Hills.
“Rabbi Shmuly was surrounded by his family in his final moments. Rabbi Avrohom Altein, Rebbetzin Bracha, and Rabbi Menachem from Winnipeg were with him in New York, together with the rest of his siblings.
“The funeral took place this morning in New York.
“Adina and the children — Musi, JJ, Sroly, Goldie, and Yossi — our hearts are with you.
“We will continue in his special way — to be a light in every place he touched.”
A 2013 photo of Adina and Rabbi Shmuly Altein at a Purim celebration – which exemplified the humour the Alteins brought to their roles as leaders of the Chabad movement in Winnipeg
