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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.
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
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The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
