Features
Jewish Athlete of the Year Yohnatan Elizarov continues to excel as a figure skater
By BERNIE BELLAN (with past columns from Scott Taylor and Myron Love) Four years ago we introduced readers to a budding new figure skater by the name of Yohnatan Elizarov. In a column written by Scott Taylor in January 2019, about Yohnatan, who was 14 at the time, Scott explained that Yohnatan had just recently risen to local prominence in the world of figure skating.
Since then Yohnatan has continued to make his mark in what is a very competitive sport, although in 2021 he added pairs skating to his repertoire when he joined up with a partner by the name of Ava Kemp in various competitions. Since pairing with Ava, the duo has skated in a number of different competitions with consistent success.
Last September, Yohnatan and Ava made their debut on the world scene in an International Skating Union competition held in Riga, Latvia, where they finished second. That competition is one of seven events held throughout the year.
Then, in late September the duo competed in another competition – this time in Gdansk, Poland. After taking some time off in November, Yohnatan and Ava resumed practicing in preparation for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, which were held in Calgary from February 27-March 5, Yohnatan and Ava finished sixth in the world in the pairs competition.
Considering that Elizarov is also the reigning Jewish Athlete of the Year and, with his continuing success, we thought it worthwhile to look back on his rise up the ladder of an extremely competitive sport. Not only did Scott Taylor first introduce us to Yohnatan Elizarov in 2019, Myron Love also profiled him in a column that appeared in this paper last April.
What follows is taken from both those columns:
Yohnatan Elizarov’s parents, German and Elena, were both born in what was the former Soviet Union – German in Azerbijan, and Elena in Russia.
German emigrated to Israel in 1991, while Elena moved there in 1996. As Scott Taylor wrote in his 2019 column, ‘ “I met my husband in 2000 and we got married in 2002,’ Elena explained.
“ ‘We met in a restaurant where I worked as a waitress. A short time after we met, I started studying at Haifa University and graduated three years later with a B.A. in Economics and Business Administration. I worked in various companies, but my last job in Israel was an office manager in a web design company. My husband worked as a plumbing contractor.
“ ‘We lived in Haifa from the day we both moved to Israel and until we moved to Canada. We enjoyed the people, the weather, the sea and our travels abroad while living in Israel.’
“But then came the summer of 2006 and the Second Lebanon War. One of the rockets fired on northern Israel hit very close to the Elizarovs’ apartment building and it resulted in a profound change for the Elizarovs and many other Israelis.”
The Elizarovs decided to try to move to Canada. As Elena noted at the time, “ ‘After the war ended, we decided it was time to move to another country and after some research, we decided to move to Canada. We chose Winnipeg because we had friends who had recently moved to Winnipeg and were very happy about it. So, three years later we landed in Winnipeg.’ “
The Elizarovs arrived in Winnipeg in 2009. Since then, Yohnatan, who was five at the time of the move, has been joined by younger brothers Sean and Jamie, who were both born here.
Elena explained how Yohnatan came to be involved in figure skating: “ ‘I had been a figure skater in Russia,’ Elena explained. ‘There were no rinks in Israel, but when we came to Canada, we were able to get Yoni into the CanSkate program when he was about six years old. After a year, he was asked if he was going to play hockey or go into figure skating and I said right away, “ ‘He is going be a figure skater.’
“ ‘Since then, he’s been the only boy for quite a few years, but still, he has really improved his skating. Most people don’t know this, but Yoni developed asthma just a year before our move to Canada. However all of his symptoms disappeared after we moved here. What a perfect climate it is here in Winnipeg.’ “
“To their credit, the Elizarovs’ decision to enroll Yoni in all sorts of Canadian activities helped him become the skater he is today. In fact, getting him involved in dance classes certainly didn’t hurt.
“ ‘Yoni started playing tennis when he was only 3 1/2 years old,’ Elena explained. “ ‘Again, it was because of me, as I also played tennis for many years. However, when we moved to Winnipeg, we felt it to be a little bit too expensive for new immigrants, so we registered him in swimming lessons, soccer, skating at CanSkate and dance with the RWB, instead.’ “
As already noted, Myron Love did a follow-up story about Yohnatan last year. In it Myron noted that, in 2018, Yohnatan entered a national skating competition for the first time – and qualified to enter into Nationals competitions – “the first Manitoban to have done so in quite some time.
“To qualify for the Nationals skaters have to first excel at provincial sectional competition and then at a Skate Canada Challenge where they need to place in the top 18 in Novice/Junior/Senior level to qualify for the Nationals. Skate Canada Challenge locations usually change every year (although the competition hasn’t been held in Manitoba in recent years). Yohnatan competed in Skate Canada Challenge competitions in Montreal, Edmonton and, most recently, in Regina. In the most recent national competition, held earlier this year in Ottawa, Elizarov finished ninth out of a field of 18 in the Junior Men discipline.”
It was when Yohnatan decided to try pairs figure skating, however, that his career really began to take off.
As Myron wrote, “He says that he had been considering the idea for a while. Before connecting with Ava Kemp, Elizarov had tried partnering with another girl, but she had a different coach and trained in Virden, which made practices together rather difficult. In Ava Kemp, Elizarov has a partner who lives in the same part of the city and now shares the same coach.
“The challenge, Elena Elizarov adds, is to find the right partner in terms of relative size, location and skills level.
“ I was at first hesitant about working with another person in my space,” Yohnatan admits. “ I am more comfortable with that now.’ ”
“He notes that he and his partner balance each other emotionally as well. “ I alleviate the stress of competing by calming myself whereas Ava gets more excited,’ ” he explains. “ ‘We communicate very well.’ ”
“Yohnatan reports that he puts in about 20 hours a week in training – which includes about 15 hours of on-ice practice.
“ Upper body strength is very important in pairs for the male skater,” he says. ‘My upper body strength is now three to four times stronger than when I was skating solo.’ ”
Yohnatan graduated from Vincent Massey Collegiate in the spring of 2021 and has been taking university classes as time permits, he told me. “I’m just trying to fit classes in with my figure skating practices,” he said. He’s actually completed eight full classes so far toward what he hopes will eventually result in his getting a Bachelors degree in Computer Science at the University of Manitoba.
Right now Yohnatan is taking one class at the university, but in another few weeks he’ll be back on the ice with Ava as they resume practicing for the next season of competitions.
As for what his future in ice skating holds, Myron’s article noted that Yohnatan “would love to have the opportunity to skate with the Ice Capades or Disney On Ice – or emulate Garrett Gosselin, one of the choreographers he has worked with, and appear in a skating show on cruise ships.”
Given his success in pairs skating though, Yohnatan told Myron last year that he was “considering cutting back on his singles efforts and focusing more on pairs “ which is exactly what he has done.
At that time, he also noted that he wanted “to see where it (pairs skating) goes.” Yohnata
n added that ‘I am thinking maybe I will skate for a few more years, then transition into coaching.’ ”
As Myron also observed: “Or maybe he will get that call from Stars On Ice.”
But, as the current Jewish Athlete of the Year – and with his ongoing success in figure skating, it’s hard to count Yohnatan Elizarov out as a repeat Athlete of the Year – although no doubt there will be some formidable competition from other athletes. This year’s winner will be announced at the Ken Kronson Sports Dinner, to be held June 19.
Features
Exchange Rate Factors: What Global Events Mean for Savvy Investors
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it created ripples in all financial markets, including currency markets. The Euro weakened while the dollar surged and emerging market currencies wobbled. Global factors can quickly affect financial markets and shake established trends. Apart from such rare events, currencies tend to change their price because of interest rates, inflation, and overall investor confidence. For investors managing money abroad, understanding these movements is critical to avoid losses and mitigate risks.
Below, we will break down how global political, economic, and cultural events influence exchange rates, with insights for savvy investors.
Economic factors
There are several key exchange rate factors with a consistent history of shaking financial markets. These factors include inflation, interest rates, trade balances, employment rates, and so on. Since economic factors are shaping markets almost daily, we start with those.
Inflation and interest rates
Inflation and interest rates are closely connected as one can easily affect the other. When inflation rises, central banks step in and raise interest rates to reduce inflation, and when inflation is lower, central banks can lower interest rates to make borrowing money cheaper. As a result, investors closely monitor these two metrics to anticipate changes in interest rates. Higher inflation makes currencies weaker, and whenever banks change the rates, the changes are immediately reflected in global currency rates. In the United States, the Federal Reserve is the central bank that sets interest rates in the country.
Trade balances and economic growth
A country that exports more than it imports has a stronger demand for its currency. More demand equals a stronger currency. However, the Japanese yen was always weaker against the dollar because the BOJ of Japan tends to have super low rates near 0 to support its exporters. Economic growth also increases demand for local currency as more investors try to invest in the country’s economy. Long-term investors often track this data to detect early signs of any changes in currency strength.
Political and geopolitical factors
Elections, sanctions, and overall political stability are also crucial factors. If the country gets under sanctions, its economy crumbles and its currency becomes inflationary, losing its value quickly. Elections are also crucial for a currency’s strength. Geopolitical events can have a serious impact on the currency as well. The most obvious example is the 2016 Brexit events that made GBP lose its value rapidly and violently. Global conflicts, such as wars, can seriously impact global financial assets, especially currency markets. When tensions are high, safe-haven currencies like USD and CHF (Swiss Franc) become very popular among investors as they seek a safe place to protect their capital.
Cultural and social factors
People like tourists, workers, and diaspora communities can shape currencies as well. Tourism usually drives seasonal demand, and countries that are popular destinations during certain seasons experience their currency appreciation as demand spikes. The perception matters as countries seen as safe and opportunity-rich tend to attract more investors, solidifying their currency strength.
Technology and innovation
Technology is seriously affecting everything, especially the financial sector. Digital payment systems, blockchain technology, and fintech startups have made it easy and swift to move money around. Cryptos and stablecoins enable investors to protect their capital using stablecoins during volatile times. The latest trend among banks is to work on CBDCs, which signals a new era where national currencies are blended with technology and blockchain. Despite this, currencies, even in their crypto form, will continue to be influenced by all major factors mentioned above, and knowing how these factors impact your currency is key to keeping your capital safe from risks.
Practical lessons for savvy investors
So, what do all these factors teach us about global currency rates and investing strategies? The key lies in proper preparations and anticipation. Monitoring macro trends, policy announcements, and major geopolitical and political developments is critical.
Diversify
The number one method which is used by professional investors is diversification. This simply means to spread your risks across a basket of assets. By not investing all your capital in one instrument, you can mitigate risks. If one asset experiences a loss, other ones will counter it with returns. Building a diversified portfolio is key to properly diversifying. For example: divide your capital to buy stocks, commodities, currencies, and cryptos so that if one fails to perform, others will counter it. This ensures a stable income without unnecessary losses in the long run.
Hedge
Forex options and ETFs are great hedging assets. Forex options let investors lock in an exchange rate for a future date, which is very useful if you expect volatility but want stability. Currency ETFs, on the other hand, track specific currencies or a basket of currencies and allow easy trading or protection without trading forex directly, but they are still risky.
Monitor the economic calendar
Economic calendar is a free online tool that aggregates important macroeconomic news data such as interest rate decisions, CPI, inflation, employment rates, central bank announcements and speeches, and other crucial information. By monitoring them, investors can always know when important news data will be released, and they can postpone their investment decisions to avoid volatile times and only invest after the main trend is determined.
Features
The Canadian Dollar is on a slow decline. Should you save in euros or US dollars instead?
The Canadian dollar has been losing its value against the dollar this year. For Canadians, this raises a simple question: if your CAD is losing ground, is it better to move savings into euros or U.S. dollars, especially bonds, stocks, or a carry-trade strategy? Carry-trade strategy in this context means to borrow in CAD and invest it in the USA or the EU zone. This is a complex matter, and to understand where the CAD is, how attractive other currencies might be, we need to analyze these currencies more deeply. Below, we will walk you through the data, practical costs, and risks so you can reach a usable conclusion after reading this guide.
Quick snapshot – What the markets say right now
Recently, the Canadian dollar has hit multi-month lows due to weaker oil prices and a post-Fed (U.S. Federal Reserve) market reaction (which raised the rates, making the CAD weaker against the dollar). Canada’s central bank has cut its policy rate to 2.25%, while the Fed’s fund rate remains notably higher at about 3.75-4%. The ECB (European Central Bank) main interest rates are lower than the Fed’s and near the low-to-mid 2% range. While the Euro currency to USD rates remain mostly predictable, due to higher US bond yield rates, the EUR remains stronger, still. The U.S. 10-year Treasuries are around 4.1%, Canada’s 10-year near 3.2%, and Germany’s 10-year around 2.7%, meaning that today the USD-denominated bonds have the highest nominal yield among the three. As a result, the dollar seems much more attractive when it comes to bond yields and stocks.
Bonds – Which currency is the best for fixed income?
The short answer is: USD bonds. When it comes to nominal yield alone, US bonds beat almost all other competitors. U.S. government bond yields (10-year) are noticeably higher than Canadian and German/Eurozone bond yields right now. As a result, US bond buyers have more income potential than Canada and the EU. Euro-area core yields are lower, meaning they are paying less than the USA.
However, nominal yield does not mean it is guaranteed real return, and metrics like inflation, currency rates, and hedging costs can impact potential returns directly. If you buy USD bonds but the dollar falls against the CAD, currency losses will most likely wipe out the higher yield rate. If the Fed lowers its rates, it will make the dollar weaker against the CAD and EUR.
Another challenge is that, if you live and spend in Canada, you are using CAD, and when exchanging it for dollars, you get exposed to foreign currency rate risks, which must not be underestimated.
Stocks – Euro or dollar?
Both the EUR and USD have their advantages. USD has strong liquidity and strong long-term performance, while EUR equities offer valuation opportunities and recent relative strength.
Why USD?
The U.S. market remains the most liquid stock market with strong earnings for many tech and large companies. This makes USD stocks very attractive for long-term-oriented investors. S&P has been rising historically, and even after crashes, it often recovers its value relatively quickly.
Why EUR?
European indexes have performed well this year and in many cases cost less than their U.S. counterparts. While cheaper does not always mean better, these indexes still have some growth potential. Some major banks in the EU zone, together with industries, have recovered strongly with a recent focus on military manufacturing, making many EU stocks very attractive, together with local indexes.
However, here is a caveat: if you are using CAD daily and it loses its value against the euro, the returns from euro holdings might shrink, exposing you to greater currency risks.
Carry-trade analysis – Is it viable to borrow CAD and invest it in USD or EUR?
The basic promise of carry-trade is simple yet powerful: you borrow cheaper currency and invest it in currencies with higher yields. In our case, is it lucrative to borrow in CAD and invest in either EUR or USD? To answer this question, we need to look at numbers. BoC policy rate is 2.25%, Fed funds from 3.75%, U.S 10-yr is 4.1%, Canada 10-yr is 3.2%. If we deduct Canadian rates from the U.S. rates, we get around 1.8% positive before costs. So, in theory, it could be lucrative to invest CAD in USD assets using a carry trade. Since the ECB has around 2%, it is not profitable to use a carry-trade strategy for the euro.
The bottom line
While the CAD has been weakening lately, it is still not cheap enough to naively invest in USD or EUR. However, if you want a pure yield and can tolerate foreign exchange rate risks, USD bonds are more attractive today. When it comes to stocks, USD equities provide stable and liquid markets. If you want valuation potential and diversification, then euro equities have become more attractive this year. When it comes to carry-trade strategies, the USD remains more lucrative than the euro, but on paper, traders and investors should evaluate all the risks and costs before investing in any currency.
In the end, Canadians who have CAD for their daily costs should be careful when trying to get exposure to other markets. US bonds, US stocks, US carry-trade, and EU stocks remain attractive choices for experienced investors.
Features
Why Reading Online Reviews Matters Before Making a Purchase
People usually pause before purchasing to read reviews from other customers. It’s become part of everyday online life, a quick way to see how something really performs before making a decision. According to the Pew Research Center, most internet users read reviews to get a better idea of what they’re buying. The feedback from actual users becomes more reliable than marketing statements because it comes from everyday consumers instead of sales-oriented corporate messages.
Reading reviews also helps spot patterns. If the same comment, good or bad, appears again and again, it usually means there’s truth to it. People now use this collective feedback as their main method to evaluate online products and services for quality and reliability.
When There Are Too Many Options, Reviews Narrow the Field
Shopping online can be overwhelming and a bit of an adventure. There are always more options than anyone needs, hundreds of gadgets, countless household tools, endless entertainment subscriptions. All listings present themselves as excellent value propositions with operational excellence, yet it remains a bit of a challenge when it comes to verifying which ones deliver actual results.
Reviews become useful at this point. Real users provide information about product details, which marketing content fails to show, by sharing their experiences about delivery speed and setup ease and product durability after several months of use. The product details show its operational behavior when used in regular business activities.
Users tend to begin with reviews. For instance, a tech product might have amazing packaging but fall short on battery life or integration. Maybe a new game or casino platform might sound promising, and reviews on trusted choices can confirm whether it includes flexible payment options, a wide content library, and responsive support. When feedback keeps mentioning strong points like clear instructions or helpful customer service, it shows consistency. The product or service delivers its expected results because customers have personally seen its performance.
Reviews Build Faith Through Shared Experience
Reviews gain their strength from the emotional bonds which readers find with each other. Reading about someone else’s experience feels familiar, even if you don’t know them. It’s basic word-of-mouth marketing, like receiving recommendations from a neighbor who has already purchased the item you are considering.
This shared experience has built an informal community of online voices. People rely less on what a brand claims and more on what other users notice. When different reviewers mention similar strengths or small frustrations, it adds authenticity. The story becomes more believable.
Reviews show what other users have experienced, but they do not offer any guidance about what to do. This type of his collective info turns into an important part of how people build trust online. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference in how confident we feel about the choices we make.
Balanced Feedback Feels More Honest
A perfect score does not prove that something lacks any imperfections. A combination of positive and less-than-perfect feedback creates a more authentic impression. Small complaints about packaging or delivery delays make glowing reviews sound real. A recent study showed that participants answered honestly instead of trying to make their responses attractive to others.
Most readers know that nothing works flawlessly all the time. People look for reviews which provide both positive and negative aspects because they want to find balanced opinions. Customers can establish realistic purchase expectations through combined information which they can apply before buying. Review systems maintain their value because reviewers maintain honesty in their assessments.
Why Recency and Volume Matter
The best reviews and product ratings are the ones written recently. They reflect how a product or service performs right now, not how it worked a year ago. Things change, materials, delivery services, and even the way companies handle support.
A steady flow of new reviews suggests consistency. When lots of people share their experiences over time, patterns appear. Those patterns tell readers what’s typical, not just what’s possible. It’s the difference between one person’s lucky experience and a reliable average that others can count on.
Quantity matters too. Ten balanced reviews from this month will usually tell more than a single five-star comment from last summer. Together, recency and volume create a clear picture of reliability and quality without relying on assumptions.
Recognising Genuine Reviews
Not every review online is authentic, real, and written by a consumer. Some are written by automated accounts or people hired to post positive comments. Real feedback tends to sound natural and personal. It might mention something specific like the texture of a fabric, how easy the setup was, or whether support staff replied quickly.
Authentic reviews vary in tone and detail. Some are short, others long, some are full of small observations. That mix of styles feels human. On the other hand, copied or fake reviews usually repeat the same phrases or sound overly polished.
Many websites now try to identify and label suspicious posts, but readers can also help by paying attention to repetition, timing, and tone. A quick scan across different platforms usually reveals what’s genuine and what’s not.
Reading Smarter in the Online Marketplace
Reviews have become a solid foundation for how people make decisions online. They give an honest view of how something performs beyond what’s written on the label. Every comment, short or long, adds another piece to the puzzle.
More than that, reviews show how businesses handle problems, how quickly they respond, and whether they follow through on promises. They offer accountability in a world where shoppers and sellers rarely meet face to face.
Reading a handful of reviews won’t guarantee a perfect experience, but it provides helpful context. It shows what’s typical and helps people make choices with more confidence. In an online world full of noise, reviews remain one of the easiest and most reliable ways to learn from others.