Features
Howard Bogach: From Rupertsland to Richview
By GERRY POSNER From Rupertsland Avenue in Winnipeg in 1953 to Richview Avenue in Toronto in 2023, some 70 years later… that is the quick story of Howard Bogach. But in those 70 years, there is so much in between.
The only child of Frank and Anne (formerly Snyder), Howard grew up in a family that was for a long time in the sunflower seed business, in a company called Tasty Seeds. The business had been started by Howard’s grandfather and his three sons: Abe, Maurice and Frank.
Howard was a graduate of the Talmud Torah, Jefferson Junior High, Garden City Collegiate and later the University of Manitoba, where he finished with both a Bachelor of Arts in 1975 and a B.Comm (Hons).
In 1977, at the age of 24, Howard took the first step in his career when he moved to Calgary. He began at the Bay in various positions from 1977- 1980, then moved on to Touche Ross, also in Calgary, for five years, where he was a senior consultant and a supervisor regarding insolvency.
In 1985, he moved into the credit union world and that was a move that proved especially significant. Howard became the Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation in Alberta. He remained with that organization for seven years before joining Capital City Savings in Edmonton. Capital City was at that time Alberta’s largest credit union.
Howard helped Capital grow even bigger before he left in June of 1994 to take on an even larger job with Metro Credit Union in Toronto. It was here that Howard really emerged as a major force in the credit union world and indeed beyond. He became the President and CEO of Metro which, at that time, was the largest credit union in the GTA (Greater Toronto area), with over 44, 000 members, 250 employees and assets of over $600 million which, back then, was a large chunk of change (even now I could handle it). Howard steered Metro for over 10 years, growing and initiating new programmes and introducing services like Internet banking. Not bad for a West Kildonan product – not bad at all. (Ed. note: Just because you’re from the south end, Gerry, doesn’t mean WK was another Chelm.)
In June 2004, and for almost the next four years, Howard became the President and CEO of Credit Union Central of Ontario (CUCO). That institution had no less than 125 employees and was a $2.2 billion wholesale financial services provider. It also acted as the industry trade association, supporting over 160 member organizations. In 2008, it merged with the BC version. All of this occurred during Howard’s tenure.
In March of 2008, Bogach took a decisive step, deciding to leave the credit union movement and become the President and CEO of Tarion Warranty Corporation. This was and is a private company established to protect the rights of new home owners, as well as regulate builders. The company administers the Ontario New Home Warranty Plan Act, which provides protection to the thousands of new home purchasers in Ontario.
Among the many achievements that occurred during Howard’s presidency was the introduction of a New Home Buyer Ombudsman to address issues of perception of fairness. Bogach continued in his role at Tarion until the end of 2019 when he left to form his own company, called the Howard Bogach Consulting/Richview Group. Thus, If you look at the long Howard Bogach career, you can tell that the tasty seed that his grandfather and father bega ultimately germinated into a full grown plant with lots of leaves along the way.
At the age of 70, Bogach, who is married to the former Shelley Dichter, also from Winnipeg, is the proud father of three children, all accomplished in their fields, including a son and a daughter who are both lawyers and a daughter who is a surgical oncologist in Hamilton. Howard and Shelley now have five grandchildren. Even though Howard has now been in Toronto for close to 30 years and gone from Winnipeg since 1977, he still has very strong feelings for his home town. As the oft-used cliché goes, “You can take the boy out of the north end, but you can’t take the north end out of the boy.” In fact, he is still a staunch supporter of the Blue Bombers and Jets.
Howard also serves on the Board of Home Ownership Alternatives, a non-profit organization focused on affordable housing (We could use more of that.), as well as on the Board of Stashower Slipia Congregation. Howard was also for many years a basketball coach for many years at the Bathurst JCC.
What intrigued me at first about Bogach was how random our meeting was in the first place. I chanced upon him in Toronto one Sunday morning recently on the Pickleball courts. One conversation led to another and before we knew it, we had much in common. Now, if his ability to play Pickleball takes off as much as did his career in business, Bogach has a bright future ahead of him on the court. Unfortunately, I told Howard that even though he indeed had a very successful work experience in so many ways, his Pickleball game has not quite achieved that same trajectory. But his game is only in the embryonic stage. Knowing Bogach as I now do, he will improve. Do not bet against him.
Features
Famous Gambling Scandals and Controversies: Allyspin Casino Opinion
The gambling industry is full of scandals and controversies. There are various cases of fraud and manipulation schemes. That is why it is very important to pay attention to reliable gambling sites like Allyspin online casino, which follows the rules of responsible and safe gambling for its fans. Research shows that more than one trillion dollars are bet worldwide every year. That is why it is very important to be able to distinguish safe and reliable sites from fraudulent ones.
Casino Fraud and Money Laundering
Honest and secure gambling websites like Allyspin casino are careful not to fall victim to scammers. However, many sites are often targets for money laundering and fraud. Due to the large volume of transactions and cash flow, it is difficult to track all the directions of the flow of funds.
Among the largest scandals, the Crown Resorts in Australia stands out. An investigation showed that the casino was used to launder millions. Macau casino networks have also been involved in high-profile scandals. Thus, the region has faced close attention due to allegations of organized crime and laundering billions of dollars through betting. In addition, there are many money laundering cases in Las Vegas casinos.
There are many different methods of money laundering in online casinos. For example, fraudsters use chip dumping, cashing out winnings. Also, structuring is used by entering small amounts that are difficult to track over time.
Gambling Industry Reforms after Scandals
Sites like Allyspin casino do everything possible to prevent such scandals. Thus, the latest security measures and solutions are actively implemented:
Advanced fraud detection based on artificial intelligence. With the help of modern algorithms, monitoring of suspicious behavior when placing bets is simplified.
Strict identity verification protocols. Users need to confirm their identity before being able to withdraw funds.
Secure data using blockchain. Modern online casinos use cryptocurrency payments and blockchain in order to reduce the risks of unauthorized access to transactions.
Responsible gaming programs are also actively implemented. Online casinos offer the option of self-exclusion, as well as provide full support to players. All this allows you to minimize possible risks in the process of gambling and ensure the transparency of payment transactions.
The Future of Casino Security and Fraud Prevention
Large sites like Allyspin casino continue to expand, introducing enhanced security and fraud prevention tools. In the near future, such unique features will be available:
Fraud detection systems based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Automation of processes helps to detect any fraudulent facts much faster compared to traditional methods.
Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency payments help not only simplify payments for users, but also reduce the risks of unauthorized transactions.
Biometric and multi-factor authentication. Thus, users undergo unambiguous identification, which reduces the risk of account use by fraudsters.
Cybersecurity plays an important role in online casino gambling. Modern sites implement the latest mechanisms to combat fraud, ensure fair gaming process and fully protect honest players.
Features
Canada Is Failing Its Students on Holocaust Education — Here’s What Must Change
By EMILY (surname withheld by request) We received the following article from a third-year Health Sciences student at Western University, who wrote that as “a Jewish student, I have seen firsthand how Holocaust education in Canada is falling short and how that failure is contributing to fear, misinformation, and rising antisemitism on campuses like mine.”
Despite curriculum requirements, Holocaust education in Canada is alarmingly inadequate. A recent survey found that nearly one in five young Canadians believe the Holocaust has been exaggerated. This highlights a dangerous gap in historical understanding, leaving students vulnerable to misinformation, denial, and rising antisemitism. If Canada is serious about combating hate, it must take Holocaust education far more seriously.
When asked whether Holocaust education in Canada is lacking, Professor Hernan Tessler-Mabe, historian and coordinator of Jewish Studies at Huron University, did not hesitate: “You are 100 percent correct.”
While most provinces claim to include Holocaust education in their curricula, the programming and implementation of curriculum tends to be inconsistent and inadequate. A student’s understanding of one of history’s greatest atrocities depends heavily on where they go to school, which teacher they have, and whether their school offers substantive instruction. The result is misinformation, denial, and rising antisemitism.
Avoiding Holocaust education allows dangerous myths and conspiracy theories to spread unchecked. Without an understanding of the Holocaust and the centuries of antisemitism that preceded it, students are ill-equipped to identify modern antisemitism in the world around them. This antisemitism manifests into everyday conversation, online spaces, and political discourse.
To address this crisis, Canada must act with urgency in three key areas. These include consulting experts, confronting difficult material, and properly training educators.
First, schools and provincial governments must consult those who specialize in Holocaust history and education. “It is the most important thing,” Dr. Tesler-Mabé, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Jewish Studies at Huron University says. He points out, “You cannot just throw it into a general history class and assume it will be taught well. You need people who understand both the history and how to teach it.”
Second, we must accept that the subject is deeply disturbing and cannot be made comfortable. Dr. Tesler-Mabé iterates, “We have to accept that parts of this will be traumatic or triggering.” “Obviously it depends on grade level, but if students do not feel disturbed by it, they will not understand it. That discomfort is part of the learning.”
Third, teachers must be prepared. Many educators may feel unequipped to teach this material and either gloss over it or skip it altogether. Training programs and partnerships are essential. In Ottawa, the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) works to connect schools with survivor testimonies and support resources, but broader reach and investment are needed.
Dr. Tesler-Mabé explains, “We have to teach the teachers, especially now that we are losing survivors. That raises a whole new concern. How do you teach something this heavy, this complex, without first hand testimony? Educators need the tools, the background, and the sensitivity to do it well.”
Some may argue that Canada already does enough in this area. After all, Holocaust education is present in some curricula, and many students visit Holocaust museums or hear from survivors. But occasional exposure is not enough. The widespread prevalence of Holocaust denial and the proliferation of antisemitic conspiracy theories underscore significant shortcomings in current systems designed to combat such misinformation. A 2022 report by UNESCO and the United Nations, in collaboration with the World Jewish Congress, found that 16.2% of Holocaust-related content on major social media platforms either denied or distorted fundamental facts about the Holocaust. A standardized, rigorous, and mandatory approach is the only way forward.
Holocaust education is not just about history, it is about safeguarding the future and combating antisemitism in modern manifestations. When students understand how propaganda, scapegoating, and dehumanization led to one of history’s darkest chapters, they are better equipped to recognize and reject hatred in all its forms. Without a solid foundation in Holocaust education, antisemitism continues to fester, not just in online spaces, but within universities, workplaces, and public discourse. We are already seeing the consequences of unchecked Holocaust denial and rising antisemitism, from bias in professional spaces to hostility on university campuses. As a Jewish student at Western University, I have seen fear take hold among my peers. Friends who once wore Stars of David or spoke openly about their heritage now hesitate to do so. I have also begun to question whether it is safe to express my identity. With the last generation of Holocaust survivors passing, the responsibility to preserve their stories and the lessons they teach rests with all of us. If we do not confront this crisis at its root, we risk allowing history to repeat itself in new and dangerous ways.
Canada is failing its students. In doing so, it is failing the promise of Never Again. The question is not whether we should strengthen Holocaust education, but why we have not already.
Features
Anna Kaplan one of Winnipeg’s youngest personal trainers
By MYRON LOVE It is always uplifting to read (or, from my perspective, to write) about people who have been able to reinvent themselves – and even more so when such an individual can use her own transformation to inspire others. Such is the case with Anna Kaplan, a young (21) personal trainer whose passion for physical fitness grew out of personal troubles as a teenager.
“I had a feeling of being excluded,” says the daughter of Kevin and Roxanne Kaplan. “I was afraid that I was missing out. I was losing friends. I had developed some bad habits and was at a real low point in my life – at rock bottom.”
At 18, Kaplan determined to change her life. She began working with a personal trainer and going to the gym. She also changed her dietary habits.
“Before long, I was feeling better mentally and physically,” she recalls.
Two years ago, wanting to help others struggling to improve their lives, Kaplan opened A Plus Fitness. On her Facebook page, she notes that “When you sign up for online training with A Plus Fitness, you’re not just getting a workout plan — you’re getting full access to our all-in-one training app designed to support your transformation every step of the way.”
Kaplan started A Plus Fitness strictly as an online business for which she developed her own app. “I started building my client base initially by contacting friends and acquaintances via a social media platform to see what interest there might be out there,” she says.
With demand for her services growing, about a year ago she began working with clients in person out of a gym on Portage Avenue. In just two years, she reports, business has grown to the point where she has had to hire a second trainer.
“I work with people ranging from 18 to 65 plus,” she says. “The number of clients has tripled in the last year and I have been able to help over 100 clients to get into shape and change their lives.”
The reviews have been outstanding with many giving the young fitness trainer a 5 out of 5 rating. Says one client: ”I’ve been training with Anna for a while now, and it’s been an amazing experience! She really takes the time to understand my goals and pushes me in the best way possible. Since working with her, I feel stronger, more motivated, and more confident in my workouts.”
Adds another: “Over the past year, A Plus Fitness has completely transformed my approach to working out, helping me tone my body and build strength in ways I never thought possible. Anna’s guidance and personalized training plans have made a huge difference in my progress, pushing me to achieve results faster than I expected.”
Kaplan feels good that among those she has been able to help have been her own mother, Roxanne Kaplan, who says that ”I’ve always had some sort of fitness routine in my life. I followed along with the fitness videos with the weights that were recommended – I’d go through phases but never stuck to it. With Anna’s coaching and sticking to her program, I see muscle definition that I’ve never had before. I feel better, more confident, and well rested.”
Kaplan further points out that, in additions to helping people through her business, she is also community minded. “I have helped with several fundraising events in the Jewish community,” she reports.
Most recently, she helped raise money for the Reid Bricker Mental Wellness Fund in memory of a relatively young member of our community who struggled with mental health for several years before committing suicide 10 years ago. The fund aims “to increase the availability of mental health supports and education across the province while ensuring that individuals and families facing mental health challenges receive the support they need when they need it the most.”
Next for Anna Kaplan and A Plus Fitness is to open her own location at some point in the next few years.
Readers can contact Anna at 204 391-5832 or mail her at admin@aplusfit.ca.