Features
Former Winnipegger Philip Berger: from a dynasty of docs
By GERRY POSNER
Recently the book “Healing Lives, a Century of Manitoba Jewish Physicians” was published and in it are the names of all Jewish physicians who practiced medicine in Manitoba for at least five years over the past 100 years. What is not included, however, are those doctors who graduated from the University of Manitoba medical school who went elsewhere to practice their profession. One of those doctors is none other than a descendant of a longtime Winnipeg family who has made his mark in the medical world: Philip Berger.
The Berger family is right up there with the other Jewish families in Manitoba who have turned out doctors, the way the Howes have turned out hockey players. The names of Dr. Maurice and Saul (Shimmy ) Berger are recognizable to anyone with a passing interest in the medical community. Maurice Berger was a respected pediatrician practicing in the north end of Winnipeg for over 40 years. His brother Shimmy was a very well known and established dermatologist who practiced out of the Boyd Building for over 38 years. Shimmy’s daughter Lisa is a public health physician in Toronto and his son Shmuel, who lives in Tel Aviv, worked for many years doing emergency medicine locums in Northern Ontario each summer. And then there is son Philip. He is more than just a physician, as he has carved out a niche and a name as a family doctor who is involved in what might be termed human rights medicine.
For over 40 years, Philip Berger has been a leader in advocating for improving health care in Canada; at times he has done this against a stiff tide. Just take a look at his career and it speaks volumes about his commitment to changing the way medicine is delivered.
For starters, Berger has been an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and was the Chief of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto from 1997-2013 (an interesting position for a Jewish guy at a Catholic institution).
Consider the people for whom he has fought and you will note that they are far from your ordinary patient base. The homeless, the poor, LGBTQ members are just a few of the groups for whom Berger has battled – and let’s not forget his tireless work AIDS patients.
Berger really went to bat for AIDS sufferers at a time when many doctors were afraid to deal with them. He was a founder of the Toronto HIV Primary Care Physicians Group and he later helped to create a mentoring program to educate doctors about HIV.
Probably the area where he became most visible in the public eye was his tireless effort to convince governments of the value of methadone and needle exchange programs.
As well, he was very active in promoting the AIDS clinic in Lesotho, Africa. He also helped to initiate the Amnesty International Canadian Medical Network and the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.
What separates Berger from most doctors is that he has been relentlessly unafraid to call out governments for cuts to refugee health programs. He has spoken out in his capacity as one of the co-founders of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care. In short, Berger is not afraid to take out his stethoscope and stick it right in the chests of elected officials.
What made the 1974 graduate of the medical faculty of the University of Manitoba become such an outspoken advocate for the disadvantaged and disabled? This is not an easy question to answer. I sense there are many aspects to the triggers that have made Philip Berger the passionate physician he is on behalf of those who have difficulty raising their voices.
It may well be that Philip understood well the lessons his father Shimmy had absorbed as a young man trying to secure a medical position in 1943. At that time, Shimmy couldn’t secure an internship anywhere in Canada. A quota imposed on Jewish physicians was in place. It was an intervention by the female head of the Estevan Sisters of St. Joseph, a Catholic institution, that paved the way for Shimmy to get his internship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. That kind of assistance meant a lot to Shimmy Berger and perhaps in some way even influenced his son, Philip to embark on a path to aid those who needed aid in whatever way Philip could.
In 2017 Philip Berger gave up his regular practice, which was located at St. Michael’s Hospital. (Maybe his connection to that hospital was not so surprising after all). Since then, Berger has been doing locums in various shelters/hostels under the banner of Inner City Health Associates ( ICHA), which is a group of 90 doctors who serve homeless people (and there is no lack of that group in Toronto). Philip even serves as the Board Chair for ICHA. Moreover, Philip is today a Vice-Chair of what is known as Unity Health (formerly St. Michael’s Hospital) Research Ethics Board. And, if there isn’t enough on his plate already, he is completing his term as a Council Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
When I reflected on all of Philip Berger’s contributions as a physician, I lamented the decision (which I understand had to be made, otherwise the history of Jewish physicians in Manitoba might never have been completed) not to include in that book anything about Jewish doctors of Manitoba who had not practiced in Manitoba for at least five years. That decision eliminated any reference to the career of Philip Berger. The book, as I noted earlier, is called “Healing Lives” and that is what Philip Berger has done all his life as a doctor in Toronto.
Post script: In a follow-up to an earlier article I wrote about Dr. Richard Stall, in which I mentioned that Dr. Isaac Bogoch (who’s also become a prominent media personality as a go-to source for information about COVID-19), also has a Winnipeg connection, I promised that I would have something about Dr. Bogoch in a future article. Well, as you can imagine, he’s currently besieged with requests from all sorts of media, so we haven’t been able to interview him – yet. But, in response to readers’ curiosity about Dr. Bogoch’s Winnipeg connection, here’s some information about his Winnipeg roots: His mother is a former Winnipegger who knows both my wife and me. In fact she has been in touch with us lately. She tells me he is overwhelmed with emails in addition to all the demands that have been placed on his time as a result of his new very public persona. In fact, Isaac is from Calgary, but his mother is the former Renee Israels, sister to Hester Kroft, and daughter of the well known lawyer, A. Montague ( Monty) Israels. And – he has a long connections to BB Camp.
Features
Why Fitness Routines Fall Apart — and How to Rebuild Yours
Every spring, gyms see a flood of hopeful faces. New shoes, fresh playlists, unwavering intentions, by mid-summer? Half of them vanish into the fog of abandoned routines. The story repeats year after year until it starts to feel almost scripted. Why does enthusiasm evaporate? The easy answer involves willpower but that explanation misses the point. Habits don’t fail because people are weak. Life stress, boredom, and monotony ruin routines. Timely lever pulls can change narratives. The hardest part is persevering when motivation wanes.
Mistaking Motivation for Momentum
Most chase that opening surge, the lightning strike of motivation, but then stop searching once enthusiasm fizzles. A scroll through sites like PUR Pharma (pur-pharma.is/) or a glimpse of an influencer’s progress triggers a burst of action: new workout gear ordered, plans scribbled in planners destined for dusty drawers. Yet momentum fades when small setbacks pop up (a late meeting here, rainy weather there). Real progress comes from building systems stronger than any fleeting pep talk. Those who frame fitness as something owed to motivation end up back at square one every time life interrupts, which it always does.
Overcomplicating Everything
It’s tempting to turn wellness into a science fair project with spreadsheets and specialized equipment lined up on day one. This is the allure of complexity disguised as seriousness, a new diet paired with seven types of supplements and four color-coded bottles. Simplicity gets lost in the noise almost instantly. Most successful routines rely on two principles: keep it simple and keep showing up even when everything else is chaos outside those gym walls. Anyone insisting that perfection is required before taking step one has already constructed an excuse not to begin at all.
Forgetting Fun Completely
Who decided exercise must hurt or look like punishment? Somewhere along the line, fun got swapped out for grind culture and “no pain, no gain.” That isn’t just unappealing, it’s unsustainable over months or years. If sessions feel like torture devices borrowed from medieval times, nobody should be surprised when commitment falters fast. Seek activities that actually spark some joy or curiosity, a dance class instead of yet another treadmill session, maybe, or play a pickup game rather than slogging through solo circuits again and again.
Ignoring Recovery (and Reality)
Sleep deprivation, disguised as discipline, fools anyone, except perhaps uncritical Instagram followers. Ignoring recovery turns ambition into tiredness faster than any missed session. Because bodies break without rest, routines must breathe with owners. Cycling, real leisure, and honest self-checks regarding weekly goals build endurance, not continual pushing.
Conclusion
Change rarely arrives by force alone but usually grows quietly from patterns repeated imperfectly over time, even if last month looked nothing like this week so far. Drop the hunt for nonstop inspiration. Instead of breaking behaviors at the first hint of stress or boredom, build habits that last. People who rebuild methodically after every stumble or detour make progress, not those who peak and then fall.
Features
How DIY Auto Repairs Can Help You Cut Costs—Safely
Regular maintenance and minor repairs are the greatest approach for many car drivers to save money without sacrificing dependability. DIY repairs can save you a lot of money over the life of your car since most of the expense is in the labour. DIY helps you learn how things work and notice tiny issues before they become costly ones. Every work requires planning, patience, and safety.
Test Your Talents with Safe Limits
DIY solutions succeed when one is honest about their talents. Wiper blades, air filters, and occupant filters are beginner-friendly. With the correct equipment, intermediate owners can replace brake pads, spark plugs, coolant, and brake fluid. Pressurized fuel, high-voltage hybrids, airbags, and timing components are risky. Only professionals should manage them. Limitations protect you and your car. Drivers trust sources like Parts Avenue to find, install, and schedule manufacturer-approved work.
Set Up a Reliable Workspace and Tools
Good tools pay for themselves quickly. Ratchets, torque wrenches, combination wrenches, heavy jack stands, and wheel chocks are essential. It is advisable to engage specialists for specific tasks. A clean, flat, well-lit, and open space is essential. Please take your time. While working, keep a charged phone nearby to read repair instructions or write torque patterns.
Find the Problem before Replacing the Parts
It may cost more to replace something without diagnosing it. Instead of ideas, start with symptoms. OBD-II readers detect leaks, sounds, and DTCs. Simple tests like voltage, smoke indicating vacuum leaks, pad thickness, and rotor runout might reveal failure. A good analysis saves components, protects surrounding parts, and fosters future trust.
Maintenance That Pays off is Most Crucial
Jobs compensate for time and tools differently. Prioritize returns and maintenance. Change the oil and filter, rotate the tires, evaluate the air pressure, replace low brake fluid, clean the coolant with the right chemicals, and replace belts and filters before they fail. These items extend automotive life, stabilize fuel efficiency, and reduce roadside towing issues that can take months to resolve.
Do as Instructed, Utilize Quality Parts, and Follow Torque Requirements
Understand the service. Set the jacking points, tighten the screws in the appropriate order, and use threadlocker or anti-seize as suggested by the maker. Rotor wear can cause leaks, distortions, or broken threads. Choose components that meet or exceed OEM requirements and fit your car’s VIN, engine code, and manufacturing date. Cheap parts that break easily cost extra.
Test, Record, and Discard Carefully
Safely test the system before patching. Check under the car for drops, bleed the brakes again, and check fluid levels after a short drive. Note torques, parts, miles, and repair date. Photo and document storage for car sales. Properly dispose of oil, filters, coolant, and brake fluid. Controlling hazards protects your community and workplace.
Know When to Seek Professional Help
Self-employed individuals recognize their constraints. If a task is challenging, requires special instruments, or involves safety, consult an expert. Collaboration makes cars safer, cheaper, and more efficient. Selecting, planning, and implementing processes properly improves performance, lowers costs, and ensures safety.
Features
What It Means for Ontario to Be the Most Open iGaming Market in Canada
Ontario is the most open commercial iGaming market in Canada, having been the first province to open up to commercial actors in the online casino and betting space since 2022.
Since gambling laws in Canada are managed on a provincial level, each province has its own legislation.
Before April 4th, 2022, Ontario was similar to any other Canadian province in the iGaming space. The only gaming site regulated in the province was run by government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, also known as OLG. However, when the market opened up, numerous high-quality gambling companies established themselves in the province, quickly generating substantial revenue. As the largest online gambling market in Canada, it’s now, three years later, also one of the biggest in North America.
The fully regulated commercial market is run under iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. These licensed casinos and online sportsbooks are thus fully legal and safe for players to play at, while at the same time, the open market allows companies to compete and offer different products and platforms as long as they all fit within the requirements set up by the state of Ontario.
This means that Ontarians have a wide choice of licensed sites, whether they’re interested in sports betting, live dealer games, or slots – all with strict consumer-protection rules that keep them safe while exploring the many options. (Source: https://esportsinsider.com/ca/gambling/online-casinos-canada)
There are many benefits to online gaming, especially in a country that’s as sparsely populated as Canada, leaving physical venues often few and far between for those living outside the biggest cities.
Even before Ontario launched its own gambling sites, online gambling had been common among Ontarians. Regulating the market and offering alternatives regulated by the province has often added safer and more controlled options.
Since 85% of Ontarians now play at regulated sites, the initiative of opening up the market seems a clear win in more than one way.
Despite the huge success of the Ontario market, most provinces in Canada haven’t changed much in the iGaming sector in the past few years. Some provinces keep Crown-run monopolies, while others limit activity to a single government-run platform. This often leads Canadians to seek offshore alternatives instead, since the options are so few in their own province.
But 2025 marks an important change. The provinces seem to have noticed that Ontario picked a winning strategy, and Alberta has clearly been taking notes.
While the province of Alberta has previously opted for controlled gambling through one government website, the province is now opening up the commercial online gambling market. The Alberta iGaming Corporation will be in charge of licensing and inspecting actors that operate in the province. This will mean many more options for players, coupled with consumer protection and a high level of safety.
Meanwhile, the Ontario iGaming market continues to prosper, grow, and develop. Now that a second province is following in its footsteps, it seems more likely that other provinces will also start following the trend.