Features
Champion of Winnipeg art scene receives prestigious University of Winnipeg alumni award
By MYRON LOVE Thirty-five years ago, Meeka Walsh and her life partner, Robert Enright, took charge of a struggling arts magazine. Under their leadership, the duo transformed the renamed “Border Crossings” into an award-winning and internationally known arts publication and Walsh, as editor, has become arguably our community’s leading advocate for and promoter of local artists in all fields of artistic endeavour.
In 2017, Walsh was inducted into the Order of Canada for her literary efforts. And two weeks ago – on Friday, October 15 – the award-winning writer, art critic and curator was the recipient of another prestigious honour when she was presented the University of Winnipeg Alumni Association’s highest honour – that being the Distinguished Alumni Award – during the university’s 121st Convocation.
“I am deeply honoured to have been chosen for this award,” says the Class of 1984 Art History graduate.
In his October 7th writeup accompanying the presentation, University of Winnipeg digital communications co-ordinator Brandon Logan noted that “in her nearly three decades as editor of the quarterly Border Crossings, Walsh has put Winnipeg art on the map in a way that no other individual has in the city’s rich cultural history.
“Her regular essays on language, art, ideas, books, places, and much more have long been a fixture of the magazine, as have in-depth interviews with national and international artists such as Yoko Ono, Michael Snow, and fellow UWinnipeg alum Guy Maddin.”
In an article that this writer published in the Canadian Jewish News five years ago – coinciding with Walsh’s Order of Canada induction, she noted that she grew up in an artistic environment. Her mother, the late Faye Settler, for years operated The Curiosity Shop and Upstairs Gallery, an antique store in downtown Winnipeg.
Walsh’s roots in Canada go back to among the earliest Jewish settlers in this region. Her great-grandfather on her mother’s side, Rabbi Jacob Wasserman, was the first rabbi on the Prairies west of Winnipeg. Her other great-grandfather was also a rabbi. Her other great-grandfather was Solomon Brownstone, who was a teacher and rabbi. He came to Canada in the 1870s and travelled to Palestine around 1903 to help settle the land as part of the Zionist Aliyah. He died in Tiberius in 1907.
Walsh further noted that she often touches on topics relating to Israel and Jewish identity in her editorials in “Border Crossings.”
Walsh’s and Enright’s vision for the non-profit quarterly magazine was that the publication should be one that crossed borders – both geographically and artistically – hence the new name, “Border Crossings”.
The magazine now offers features and commentary on painters, sculptors, authors, filmmakers, performance artists, music and dance from around the world.
The magazine includes ads from many art galleries across Canada. Some of the venues include the New York Public Library, libraries at Columbia and Yale universities, the Metropolitan Museum of Public Art, the Chicago Institute of Art and many major European cultural institutions, Walsh noted.
Although the magazine aims to be international in scope, Walsh noted that local artists and performers are not neglected. “Winnipeg has a very rich cultural art scene,” she said.
“In Border Crossings, we also try to recognize new Winnipeg-based artists and introduce them to the wider world. We help them reach larger audiences.
While “Border Crossings” does have an active website, Walsh says that the focus remains on engaging readers in print.
“We spend a lot of attention on the magazine’s appearance,” she observed. “The magazine itself is also a work of art.”“Border Crossings” has won dozens of national Canadian magazine awards and Walsh herself was previously awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2007.
Throughout her illustrious career as a writer, editor, art critic, and curator, Walsh has been a champion of Winnipeg’s local art scene. In 2003, the Western Magazine Awards honoured Walsh with a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Canadian Academy in 2007 for her contribution to the arts in Canada.
In addition to Walsh’s guidance of “Border Crossings,” she is a celebrated author whose short fiction has been published in anthologies such as “Oxford Book of Stories by Canadian Women in English.” Among her works are the short story collection “The Garden of Earthly Intimacies,” published in 1996, and, most recently the essay collection “Malleable Forms,” which was released last May
“Malleable Forms,”which was published by Winnipeg-based Arbeiter Ring Publishers. is a “collection of forty-seven stories encompassing topics including literature, painting, photography, music, family, dogs, spirituality and other whimsical subjects.
Walsh is proud to say that the introduction to “Malleable Forms” was written by international critic and art writer Barry Schwabsky.
Walsh adds that she was recently featured on the international art publication Momus’s podcast speaking with guest host Jarrett Earnest about her new book and her overall lifelong engagement with art.
“I am happiest when I am writing,” she told Earnest.
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
Features
ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
Features
Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.