Features
Adam Buchwald has a need for speed
By SCOTT TAYLOR
For those speed skaters who have to compete against Adam Buchwald, it’s probably worth warning them that the 14-year-old Winnipegger has come by his speed and skill quite naturally.
After all, his sisters, Rachael and Serena, were both skaters. Serena is now on a Diving Scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh while Rachael, a science student at the University of Manitoba travelled the world with competitive dance. Meanwhile, his mom, Tracy Leipsic, was a national speed skating champion who medaled in the Canada Winter Games.
So, while most Manitobans don’t know of the next one, Adam, in the long line of Buchwald athletes, it won’t be long before they do.
That’s because, this Grade 9 student at St. Paul’s High School, just produced a tremendous performance at the 2020 Canadian Youth Long Track Championships in Red Deer, Alta.
Buchwald was second overall in the 13-year-old boys’ category, finished second in the seven-lap mass start, was third in the 500-metre Olympic style race, was second in the 1,500-metre pack-style race and won his age group class in the Dave Thompson Memorial 12 lap mass start.
The CYLTC, formerly known as Canadian Age Class Championships, was held Feb. 9-10 in Alberta. Skaters aged 11-15 had the opportunity to compete against the top athletes in their age category from across Canada. Athletes competed in six events, which included a variety of different competition styles. There were pack skating events, mass start events, Olympic style events, and team pursuit events. Team Manitoba had 13 athletes in total at the competition and accumulated 13 medals, two championship titles, and won three of the Dave Thompson Memorial races. Buchwald was one of those winners.
Pretty good for a kid who was also a good young hockey player but followed in his family’s blades and committed full-time to speed skating.
“I started skating when I was 4 because Serena and my other sister Rachel were skating, but mostly because of my mom,” said Adam. “My mom skated a lot when she was younger and I just wanted to do what my sisters were doing.
“Like Serena, I did a little bit of diving, but it wasn’t for me. I’m not a huge fan of swimming.”
His mom, is a minor legend in Manitoba speed skating circles. Tracy Leipsic, is a coach at the Winnipeg Central Speed Skating Club, a competition meet starter and the VP of Finance for the Manitoba Speed Skating Association. In the 1980s, she was as good as any female skater in Canada. She’s a national and North American champion who medaled at the Canada Games. In 2018, she was named to the board of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.
“Many of my friends are speed skaters from back in the day and now Adam is skating with their kids,” Leipsic said with a laugh. “It’s awesome to watch him be so passionate about it. He’s having success now and it’s great to watch. He’s gained a lot of experience and is now gaining a lot of confidence to go with it.”
It’s not always easy to be a long track speed skater in Manitoba. Training in January at the Susan Auch Oval can be cold. Really, really cold. But it doesn’t even concern Buchwald. He loves what he does and it shows. He’s successful, but he’s also becoming a star in two separate disciplines. Not only is he No. 2 in his age group in Canada in long track, he’s also a successful short-track skater. In fact, he’ll tell you he likes short track better than long track.
“I started with short track and moved on to long track and that’s probably why I still lean toward short track,” he said. “Most competitive skaters in Manitoba do both.
“Why I love speed skating so much is actually kind of interesting,” Adam continued. “There is a team aspect to it, but it’s more of an individual sport within the team. You still feel you are part of a team even though you’re racing by yourself. I also like the competition, the strategy and the speed. That’s a big part of it.”
To be fair to both Buchwald and the skaters he competes against, the ability to go fast on both 17 -inch short track blades or 18-inch long track blades isn’t something he was born with. The fact he comes from a skating family certainly guided him toward the oval and the rink, but the reason for his success is a lot more than genetic.
He loves the sport so much that he dug deep for a favourite skater. In fact, his all-time fave is not a multiple world-champion Dutch skater or even a Canadian. It’s Vladislav Bykanov, the 30-year-old Israeli short tracker who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea and won the gold medal in the 3,000-metres at the 2015 and 2018 European Championships. Tracy and his dad Richard Buchwald even purchased Bykanov’s Olympic skin suit as a gift for Adam’s bar mitzvah.
Still, despite his passion for the sport and his knowledge of the greats, he credits his coaches, above all else, for his success.
“I’ve become successful mostly because of my coaches and the support I get from my parents, family and teammates,” he said. “But mostly the coaches. They’ve been training us super hard for all of these different competitions this year. Will Dutton and Tyler Derraugh are very good coaches.
“And the reason we’ve been successful as a team this year is the super hard training that Will and Tyler have put us through. It’s paid off. I had a number of personal bests in this last meet in February and that’s really what I strive for first whenever I skate in competition.”
Not surprisingly, in his biography page in the 2019 Canada Winter Games Handbook, he says that “Tyler Williamson Derraugh is my role model.”
“You hope, for all the work your child puts in, he’ll be successful, but he is very fortunate to have the coaching he gets in Winnipeg,” said his mom. “I mean, to have two coaches like Will Dutton and Tyler Derraugh here in a small province is really amazing. They’re among the best coaches in the country and because of their work and the hard work of the team members, Manitoba’s High Performance Program is among the most successful in the country.”
There is very little doubt that Adam is committed to the sport. According to his mom, now that he’s 14, he becomes a junior next season. Junior means he’ll skate against the best young athletes in Canada between the ages of 14-19. Adam’s goal is to be the only 14-year-old to qualify for national trials.
In the meantime, he’ll skate next at the Western Canadian Short Track Championships in Selkirk in the middle of March.
“He’s been successful and it’s nice to see,” said his mom. “Last year, he went to the Canada Games and had to be approved by Speed Skating Canada because he was too young. He has the speed and he’s also very coachable.
“Now, it’s just nice to see him have so much success considering all the hard work he’s put in.”
Features
Football: Which team from Israel could we see in the European Cup next year?
With Europe’s club competitions heading into another summer of drama, Israeli football is on the table. The domestic season is done, trophies picked up and now a new batch of clubs can now try their luck against continental competition.
What are the prospects of these teams in Europe next year and who are they? It all starts with Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s title, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup win and the competition of the best Israel football teams against each other, as fans look to Champions League on Wincomparator to see what teams are in contention.
How Israel’s clubs qualify for Europe: The 2026-2027 spots
Qualification to join the European elite hinges on the 2025-26 Israeli Premier League table and the Israel State Cup. Israel will have one Champions League spot, one Europa League spot, and two Europa Conference League spots in 2026-27.
That means the league winner gets into the Champions League, the State Cup winner goes on to Europa League qualifying. The next eligible league’s finishers take the Conference League slots. It’s a good model as it provides a tangible reward for consistency at home, while at the same time demonstrating the importance of each playoff game. A top three finish can help a club’s summer, bring in better players and provide fans with a European tour before the next season’s start.
The Champion’s quest: Israel’s hope for the Champions League
Meet the 2025-26 Premier League winner: Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Be’er Sheva have qualified for Israel’s Champions League after their Israeli Premier League title win with 79 points scored in 36 games. Ran Kozuch’s side closed the gap on the three-point lead but also showed significant strength in the attacking phase to secure a win in a crucial championship round with Beitar Jerusalem.
Their challenge also comes as their reward. Hapoel Be’er Sheva are only expected to begin in the second round of the Champions League, not the league round. To get to the main competition they need to pass through the first round of the other national champions in two-legged ties, and their seeding, fitness and sharpness in early-season competition could be a game breaker.
While the club has experience in Europe and a rabid Turner Stadium following, the path is tough. It takes one bad outing to wipe out a year’s worth of work. However, as long as the bedrock remains the same and they are able to put some depth into the team, the champions have the balance to fight.
Battling in the Conference League: Israel’s other European contenders
The State Cup winner and league runners-up
Maccabi Tel Aviv go to Europe after the Israel State Cup final 2-1 win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. That win denied Be’er Sheva a home double, and also meant that Maccabi got into the Europa League qualifying, where they were put in the second qualifying round thanks to access-list rebalancing.
The Conference League qualifiers are Beitar Jerusalem who finished second in the league with 76 points, and Hapoel Tel Aviv who finished fourth with 60 points. The importance of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup victory lies in the fact that it unlocked the rest of the way in the league. Beitar’s season was particularly impressive as they scored 78 goals and lost just four matches. On the other hand, Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to remain above Maccabi Haifa in the final table standing, earning them a well-deserved European berth.
The Europa Conference League is no consolation prize for these clubs. It’s a realistic platform. Although there are still a few hurdles to navigate, Israeli sides consider this competition to be the most realistic one for European football in the autumn.
A look at past successes and future hopes
This group has reason for belief, based on recent history. Israeli teams can make significant nights in Europe, and Maccabi Haifa did just that, when they made it into the Champions League group stage in 2022-23, and then impressively took out Juventus 2-0 in Haifa.
There is significant monetary and sporting worth in qualification. A UEFA cup can make a difference to a club, as can better attendance, TV coverage and recruitment opportunities. The early storylines will be the draw for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League, as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa league and the two Conference League routes — Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv. They all have tricky paths to follow, but all four provide Israeli football with a realistic European presence next summer.
Features
At one time one entire block of McAdam Ave. was almost totally Jewish
This story originally appeared in a November 2014 issue of The Jewish Post & News:
1994 McAdam Ave. reunion (names inside story)By GERRY POSNER (This story first appeared in November 2014.)
Once upon a time when life was simpler and gentler, there was a street in the north end of Winnipeg which was like all other streets in the city except in one significant way. Everyone, but for one family, living on McAdam east of Main Street was Jewish.
Features
Cheap Weed In Canada: A Smart Shopper’s Guide
Since legalisation, cannabis has settled into Canadian life as an ordinary, regulated purchase. And like groceries or gas, the price can vary a surprising amount from one shop to the next once you start comparing.
For a lot of buyers, that has turned the focus to value. Affordable options like cheap weed prove a lower price and a tested, quality product can go together. This guide explains how to shop smart in Canada without cutting corners.
Why Has Affordable Cannabis Become So Popular?
Because the novelty has worn off, and buyers now shop like they do for anything else. In the early days, people paid whatever the new legal stores asked. That has changed.
A few things drove that shift:
- A maturing market, with more retailers competing on price.
- Online sellers, whose lower overhead keeps costs down.
- Savvier buyers, who now compare rather than grab the first option.
- A wider range of formats and budget-friendly bulk sizes.
The result is a real focus on getting value for money. Crowdsourced figures put the early average near $6.85 a gram, and cannabis price data from Statistics Canada shows how legal and illegal prices have differed since 2018.
That gap is exactly why shopping around pays off. A careful buyer can pay noticeably less than a careless one for a comparable product. The sticker price is only where the comparison starts.
How Do Canadians Shop for Cheaper Weed?
With the same care they bring to any regular expense. A handful of habits make the biggest difference. These are the ones worth adopting:
- Compare the per-gram price. It is the only fair way to weigh two options.
- Buy larger formats. Bigger quantities almost always lower the unit cost.
- Skip premium markups. Plain flower beats pricey pre-rolls for value.
- Watch for sales. Online retailers run them often, especially on holidays.
- Match potency to the plan. A stronger product means you use less each time.
None of these involve settling for a worse product. They simply put your money to better use, the same way you would stretch your money on any other purchase. The cheapest sticker is rarely the best value, and the priciest is seldom worth it.
The same logic applies whether you shop in person or online in Canada. Read the label, weigh the cost per gram, and let the numbers guide you rather than the branding.
Is There a Catch With Low-Priced Cannabis?
Not in the legal market, which is the part newcomers miss. In Canada, every legal product is tested and labelled to the same standard, whatever it costs.
That means a budget option from a licensed seller has cleared the same checks as a premium one. It is screened for contaminants, and its potency is verified. Price reflects branding, packaging, and store margins far more than basic safety.
The genuine differences are in the finer points. Premium flower might offer a better aroma or a richer flavour, and some formats simply cost more to make. For everyday use, though, a well-priced choice usually performs just fine.
The real catch is buying outside the legal system. Health Canada’s overview of the Cannabis Act is a sensible read on what legal really means. Buying legal protects you, not buying expensive.
What Makes a Cheap Purchase a Smart One?
A couple of quick checks, mostly. A real bargain holds up to a second look, while a false one does not. The table below shows what to weigh.
| Check | Why It Matters |
| Is the seller licensed? | Only legal retailers guarantee tested product |
| What is the per-gram cost? | The headline price can hide a weak deal |
| Is potency on the label? | Higher strength can stretch your money |
| Are there bulk or sale deals? | These usually beat single-unit pricing |
| What does delivery cost? | Shipping can erase an online saving |
Any shaky answer there is a reason to pause. A licensed seller with clear pricing and labelling is the safe choice, while a suspiciously cheap unlicensed source is not. The legal age applies regardless, at 18 or 19 depending on the province.
Treat cannabis like any other considered purchase. Compare, check the details, and let value rather than habit lead the decision. That is how modest savings add up across a whole year.
Before You Buy
- Cannabis prices vary widely by retailer, format, and store overhead.
- Comparing the per-gram cost is the fairest way to judge value.
- All legal Canadian cannabis is tested, so cheaper is not unsafe.
- Bulk buys, sales, and plain formats keep spending down.
- Always buy from a licensed source, and factor in delivery fees.
Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels
Alt text: A shopper comparing prices online at home
Smart Savings, No Compromise
Buying affordable cannabis in Canada is not about chasing the lowest number you can find. It is about understanding what shapes the price and shopping with a little intention. Stick to licensed, tested products, compare the real cost per gram, and lean on bulk deals and online pricing. Do that, and an affordable choice stays a smart one, purchase after purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheap Weed Safe to Buy In Canada?
Yes, provided it comes from a licensed retailer. All legal cannabis in Canada is tested for contaminants and labelled for potency, regardless of price. A lower cost usually reflects branding and overhead rather than weaker safety, so a budget option from a legal seller is still a safe one.
How Do I Find the Best Cannabis Deals?
Compare the per-gram price, buy larger formats, and watch for sales from online retailers. Checking potency against price helps too, since a stronger product can mean you use less. The key is shopping deliberately instead of defaulting to the same brand or store each time.
Why Is Cannabis Cheaper Online?
Online sellers usually carry lower overhead than physical stores, and they run sales and bulk deals more often. That lets them price competitively while still selling tested, legal product. Just remember to factor in shipping, which can offset the saving on a small order.
Does Paying More Mean Better Cannabis?
Not necessarily. Price reflects branding, format, and store margins as much as quality, and all legal product meets the same testing standards. Premium options may offer a better aroma or appearance, but a well-priced choice often works just as well day to day.
