Features
Adventurous Spencer Bubis impressive combination of scholarly achievement, athletic ability and social activism
By MYRON LOVE
Last summer, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to the Inuit community of Arctic Bay in the High Arctic to announce the creation of a new long term protected area in Canada’s High Arctic Basin, one of those on hand to greet him was none other tthan Spencer Bubis.
Now, you may well be wondering what a 17-year-old Winnipeg high school student was doing in Arctic Bay in the middle of the summer. And that is an interesting story in itself.
Last summer, Bubis took time out from his summer job as a counselor at BB Camp to take part in a two-week expedition to Greenland and the high Arctic, funded by a scholarship from the American Embassy in Ottawa. “Students on Ice” is a 20-year-old organization that is dedicated to taking groups of students on polar expeditions to learn about the region.
“I have always been the kind of person who is enthusiastic about trying new things,” he says.
Bubis was one of 130 students (up to the age of 24) – along with another 100 experts in matters pertaining to the Arctic – who were on board an ice breaker which travelled for over 4,000 km from Greenland up to Resolute Bay and back.
“We all met in Ottawa and boarded a chartered flight to Greenland,” he reports. “Fifty percent of the students were Indigenous – including Sami people from northern Scandinavia.
“It provided us with an interdisciplinary approach to learning about the Arctic and its peoples. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life to date. The icebergs are beautiful. The Arctic is a special place that more Canadians should learn about. I hope to go back again at some point in my life.”
Bubis learned about Students on Ice from someone he met on an earlier trek to Ecuador and the Amazon rainforest in 2017. That visit, during which he was a Canadian youth ambassador, was organized by EF Tours Canada.
Considering his passion for travel, it perhaps came as little surprise that in 2018 he won the provincial Canadian Geographic Challenge with an accompanying invitation to be among 20 competitors across Canada for the national championships. (He fell somewhat short of the national title.)
He was also one of four winners of an essay contest – co-sponsored by the University of Manitoba Department of History and the Seven Oaks School Division – the subject being the Winnipeg General Strike.
While the son of Daniel Bubis and Jennifer Blumenthal has seen more of Canada and the world than most young people his age, this story is much more than an account of his travels. You might say that Spencer is the complete package – combining a yen for adventure, scholastic excellence, athletic ability and social activism.
“From a young age, I have been drawn to opportunities that allow me to help people,” he says. “My parents raised us (Spencer and his younger brother) to have a sense of empathy.”
That side of Bubis is indicated, for example, by his teaching swimming – as a volunteer – to special needs kids at the Cindy Klassen Pool. “Special need kids often love the water,” he notes.
And, at St. John’s Ravencourt, where he is “assistant head boy” (which he equates with being vice-president of student council), he revitalized the Philanthropy Club and initiated a Koats for Kid campaign that has collected 1,600 coats over the past three years for underprivileged kids.
He has also been an athletic leader during his time at SJR. He has most recently started a cross-country ski team. He is also on the varsity boys’ cross country running team and the school’s relay team, both of which earned championship banners for the school.
Nationally, Bubis has served for three years on the executive of Experiences Canada’s Youth Advocacy Council and was the council president last year. The organization helps younger Canadians to get to know their country through exchange programs, forums and conferences.
“There are 18 if us on the council from across Canada,” he says. “Our role is to provide feedback from a youth perspective. We also create our own goals and projects under the auspices of Experiences Canada.”
His achievements in all facets of life have earned Bubis consideration for a $100,000 Loran Scholars Foundation scholarship. The scholarship would cover four years of university. He reports that over 5,000 students from across Canada applied. “I was one of 150 students who passed the first round,” he says. “We took part in a video conference in December followed by a series of interviews with committee members in Toronto.”
The Winnipegger was one of 88 national finalists, each of whom receives a $5,000 bursary.
For next year, Bubis says that has applied both to McGill University and Western in London, Ontario. “What I like about the Ivey School of Business at Western,” he says, “is that I can spend the first two years studying Arts or Social Science. So I could earn two degrees. I have a lot of interests, but I am not sure yet what I want to do.”
Features
The Allure of Cherry Scents in Modern Fragrance Trends
Cherry-scented perfumes have become the new darling of the fragrance world. Thanks to their fruity notes and unique ability to bring out sophistication and warmth, cherry perfumes are an emerging trend in the modern world of scents.
One of the most famous perfumes of the generation is the Tom Ford Lost Cherry and the well-loved fragrance is simply unbeatable. They’re so developed, deep, and warm. For customers looking for a more affordable option, perfumes like Ambery Cherry have found a nice middle between luxury and attainability.
Why Cherry Scents Are Having a Moment
Cherry fragrances offer sophistication, freshness, and complexity. These perfumes strike a perfect balance between sweetness and adulthood, making them suitable for any occasion and mood. Cherries are a symbol of indulgence, delectability, and nostalgia. There are several fragrance users who want more than just a nice and simple scent; they’re looking for a story too.
For this reason, a lot of perfumers have gotten extra inventive with their cherry notes, including other notes that establish a unique story. Almond notes, tonka bean, smoky undertones – anything that can place wearers directly on a unique pedestal in an olfactory universe. With this newfound creativity, cherry-scented perfumes have become a genre of their own in the world of luxury perfumes.
Cherry Fragrances and the Senses
Just imagine the moment when someone with cherry fragrance sprays it on their skin. The first notes that blossom through are of tangy, sweet cherry juice. You are then transported to an orchard bathed in sunlight. That is the kind of sensory experience you get with a cherry fragrance.
They’re the right mix of elegant and playful and warm and bold. Again, the likes of Tom Ford Lost Cherry have raised the bar when it comes to making a perfect fragrance. This has, in turn, resulted in the likes of Ambery Cherry becoming easily available to the masses.
Cherry Scents as Personal Statements
Fragrances are not just some additional accessory but an extension to your personality. Cherry fragrances, with their warmth and alluring nature, allow the wearer to make some pretty unforgettable, striking statements everywhere they go. The kind of people who stop and give them a try are people who enjoy timeless elegance while remaining modern and fresh! There is something about cherry fragrances that intrigues you. You just can’t pinpoint what it is but they smell divine.
Finding the Perfect Cherry Fragrance
Given that cherry fragrances are so hot right now, you might find yourself doing a double take as you try to navigate your next move. The best way to decide is to choose one that aligns with your personal style. If your tastes run to the daring and complex, Tom Ford Lost Cherry might tickle your fancy.
If you are after a comparable experience at a more appropriate price tag, there are options like Ambery Cherry as alternatives. They make cherry perfumes accessible to everyone, no matter how deep their pockets are. This will only mean that more of us will experience and fall in love with this note.
Embrace the Cherry Trend
Cherry perfumes are for everyone but many already know this, especially now that there are affordable alternatives. For those who are regular shoppers at luxury perfume counters, don’t let this amazing scent escape your growing collection. Welcome to the beautiful world of cherry perfumes. Now that there are pocket-friendly yet luxurious editions, what is stopping you from considering them?
Features
Exploring the Technology Behind CrazyVegas’s Seamless Gameplay
With the fastest load speeds, the smoothest play, the most reliable form of security and so many more exciting extras, going with this CrazyVegas online casino really is like magic. But what’s behind all these, you ask? What are the crazy ins and outs of the system that continually delivers the fun and excitement to you, the player?
Advanced Servers for Lightning-Fast Performance
Nothing ruins an awesome gaming experience quite like lag — or bugs. Overheated servers, not enough server-pressure points, and even the choice of a hard drive over a solid-state drive because if the host is lagging, you’re lagging. And at CrazyVegas, we don’t do “lagging,” or its little brother, downtime.
Because as cool as all of the above is and more, we are focused on keeping the good times rolling with as little interruption on your desktop, tablet, or mobile and hassle-free infrastructure.
Cutting-edge Graphics Powered by HTML5
The design makes or breaks the online casino. Some even say it’s as important as games. With HTML5 used in CrazyVegas, there’s nothing to worry about. The game design and graphics look and act just about the part. All modes can be played on any size screen without a clumsy or confusing transition.
From playing that latest slot to getting into that poker final and anything in between. There’s a clear view of all the visuals and there are no visual bugs that make it painful on the eyes. All thanks to magical HTML5.
AI and Machine Learning for Personalized Experiences
Beneath the system, the AI and machine learning algorithms are creating a uniquely designed gaming world for each player. CrazyVegas uses AI to analyze players’ input and then provide real-time gameplay and promotional offers depending on this player’s preferences.
If the AI detects this player has a preference for games that require more strategy (e.g. BlackJack) then this could result in higher table games or even more game tips to help you play and win. This has made the system create an experience built for the people who play it. But decentralized at the same time.
Secure Transactions with Blockchain Integration
Security is paramount in any online casino, and CrazyVegas doesn’t disappoint. By utilizing blockchain technology, this online casino can provide an unprecedented level of security (and transparency) online — beyond anything else in the industry. With blockchain, user funds are safe and games are fairer.
Any transaction (e.g., deposit, withdrawal) is encrypted and transmitted securely, channeled onto a decentralized contract ledger that ensures your money plus data are safe from any kind of hack.
Mobile Optimization
With the days we live in now, online gaming is a form of relaxation and this casino is just as good as its competition. It is mobile-friendly, meaning a customer can play whenever, wherever!
Thanks to the design and discomfort of cookies, this online casino is for any player. It doesn’t matter if you are at home or just about anywhere, you can definitely play your favorite games on your mobile.
Fair Play with RNG Technology
One of the most important aspects of online gaming is fairness. CrazyVegas has this well covered and uses Random Number Generator (RNG) technology throughout its games to ensure that all game outcomes are entirely random.
Third-party independent testing ensures this remains the case, and our users can be certain they are all in with a fair and equal chance. And with us, the gameplay really is a play that can be trusted!
The Future of Gaming at CrazyVegas
As technologies evolve, we evolve too. CrazyVegas always follows the edge of the possible and even more, providing all the incredible tech pieces to give you more depth and more awesomeness in your gambling. Imagine walking into your VR casino, chatting with other players and a dealer in real time, or using AR to make your gambling appear right on your dinner table! All the tech pieces are endless, and we will take it all to provide the best new experiences to our players.
Features
Remembrance of Things Present
By BILL MARANTZ When I woke up, on Monday, November 11, I forgot it was Remembrance Day. Or, as the “Chosen People” call it, Groundhog Day. Aka: “today.” True, as usual, I had pinned on a fake poppy (that, as usual, had fallen off) but that is the extent of my involvement in this memorial holiday. You don’t have to be reminded of something you can’t forget.
Take the Holocaust.
Please. As far as Velvel Marantz is concerned, Yom Hashoah is redundant. An annual guilt trip I’ve been on since the age of ten, shortly after Donald Trump’s previous incarnation made an ash of himself, and his “Final Solution” was revealed. To atone for the sin of being born in Canada, and being too young to be forced to risk my life on a European battlefield, I would lie awake, in bed, and torture myself with fantasies of being tossed into a roaring fire, kicking and screaming, as the iron door shut behind me. In my innocence, I didn’t realize it was not my European brothers and sisters that were fuel for Adolph Hitler’s “ovens,” but their lifeless remains.
When I learned the true details of their martyrdom, I had a slightly less harrowing nightmare to conjure up. One that involved “shower rooms” that dispensed Cyclone B, rather than H2O. This may seem like a rather morbid turn of mind but I am not an exception, but the rule. That’s what Judaism is all about. Remembrance of things present. Every morning, the first thing we do, is count our blessings. Recite fourteen prayers of thanks that can be summed up in a single prayer: “Thank you, ha’Shem for letting me wake up.” And every Saturday, and Jewish holiday, we recite a passage from the same book we’ve been reading for several thousand years. Lest we forget where we came from, and where we don’t want to go.
Again.
It’s like a joke my late friend Ron Brooker, who worked for Fox films, used to tell. The Jolson Story and Jolson Sing Again were such big hits that they were thinking of making another sequel: Jolson Sings Again and Again.
Jews dominate the movie industry but we don’t all go to the synagogue. Or “Temple,” as my New York cousins say. Not all Jews are created equal. There are secular Jews, self-hating Jews and assimilated Jews, who don’t “identify” as Jews (to use the current jargon). But there’s no escape. It’s like the Mafia. “Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in!” Judaism is not a choice; it’s “bashert.” A blessing and a curse. Like winning a Gold Medal in the women’s 100 meter butterfly and still having to pee, standing up. To paraphrase my favorite author, Isaac Bashevis Singer: “If you ever forget you’re a Jew, don’t worry, there will always be a Gentile around to remind you.”
Which is why I don’t bother to celebrate Remembrance Day.
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