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Martin Gurvey: a very flexible guy
By GERRY POSNER One clear objective of a chiropractor is to improve flexibility. Well, Martin Gurvey has taken that concept well beyond his career and applied it to his own life. He had to be flexible to make the kind of major life change that he and his wife Brenda undertook in 2011, when he left his practice, friends, activities and history to move from Winnipeg to Toronto.
The good news is that Martin is the epitome of flexibility. He has adapted.
Born in Winnipeg in 1957, Martin grew up in the south end of Winnipeg as the oldest of three children to Evelyn and Harry Gurvey. Montrose, Herzlia Academy and Grant Park were the schools he attended. To say he was competitive would be somewhat of an understatement – a characteristic was evident as far back as elementary school. When you talk Martin Gurvey, you talk of the gold medal winner for 14 year olds in the 400 meters at Grant Park High School. Track and field was one of of many sports in which Martin competed. Others included football, baseball and hockey – both as a teenager and later as an adult. Gurvey not only played sports, he coached them as well. He can boast that his team, the Crescentwood Grizzlies, which also included his son, won a city football championship. Even to this day, living in Toronto for the last 10 years, Gurvey remains a steadfast and ardent supporter of the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers.
Aside from his work, Martin Gurvey says that music is his passion, starting with the Grant Park High School orchestra, in which he played violin for six years, later focusing on voice. He starred as Conrad Birdie in “Bye Bye Birdie” and was a member of the barbershop quartet in the Rady Centre’s production of “The Music Man”. Gurvey can be described as a Barbershop fan… or is it a fanatic?
He got hooked in high school and joined the Golden Chordsmen quartet, with whom he sang from 1982- 2011. In fact, Gurvey lays claim to being the recipient of the Barbershopper of the Year, also the Dorothy Castleman Lifetime Achievement awards in 2010.
Upon his move to Toronto, Gurvey sang with the Megacity Chorus and later the Harbourtown Sound, a group that is the second ranked barbershop chorus in Canada. Gurvey also completed in two international competitions in Oregon and Florida.
And, not to be forgotten, Gurvey sings with both the Toronto Jewish Chorus and Resa’s Pieces (with whom I also sing, and where he is a booming bass while I am a trembling tenor). Finally, in a way that combines his vocation with his avocation, Gurvey sings with the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Choir.
Gurvey has had a full career as a Chiropractor since graduating in 1982. Some readers might recall he had an office at the corner of Main Street and Cathedral Avenue for 29 years, and later a second office in Morris, Manitoba. Gurvey also led the professional regulatory body serving as the Registrar for the Manitoba Chiropractors’ Association for eight years. He was also a board member of the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation for 27 years – an organization is a leader of research in the area of (get ready for this one) neuromusculoskelatal health.
Moreover, Gurvey has contributed to the curriculum and taught at Robertson College, where he was honoured to deliver the keynote address to the graduates one year. He has been the recipient of the Canadian Chiropractic Association Award of Merit for outstanding service to the profession. Since his move to Toronto, Gurvey has taught at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, which takes up to about 75 percent of his time, he says. He also acts as a resource clinician, mentoring interns at the college clinics. As well, Gurvey is still in active practice with a small home-based office house call service. He also does locums for colleagues taking time away from their practice. In short, Gurvey is in the groove.
It is clear that Gurvey has made a success of his moving to Toronto. In addition to being close to the three children and their spouses, Martin and his wife Brenda are proud grandparents to three grandkids with a fourth on the way in June. He has adapted seamlessly to his new roles of father-in-law and his personal favourite, Zaida. Yes, Gurvey has adjusted well to Toronto. I recall vividly when Martin and I used to walk around the track at the Rady Centre in 2010 and we would discuss the possible move to Toronto for each of us. Martin made the first move and he has successfully shown to be as flexible in the making of this transition as is the flexibility which he promotes for his patients. I call him “Mr. Flexibility”.
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Features
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.
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Football: Which team from Israel could we see in the European Cup next year?
With Europe’s club competitions heading into another summer of drama, Israeli football is on the table. The domestic season is done, trophies picked up and now a new batch of clubs can now try their luck against continental competition.
What are the prospects of these teams in Europe next year and who are they? It all starts with Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s title, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup win and the competition of the best Israel football teams against each other, as fans look to Champions League on Wincomparator to see what teams are in contention.
How Israel’s clubs qualify for Europe: The 2026-2027 spots
Qualification to join the European elite hinges on the 2025-26 Israeli Premier League table and the Israel State Cup. Israel will have one Champions League spot, one Europa League spot, and two Europa Conference League spots in 2026-27.
That means the league winner gets into the Champions League, the State Cup winner goes on to Europa League qualifying. The next eligible league’s finishers take the Conference League slots. It’s a good model as it provides a tangible reward for consistency at home, while at the same time demonstrating the importance of each playoff game. A top three finish can help a club’s summer, bring in better players and provide fans with a European tour before the next season’s start.
The Champion’s quest: Israel’s hope for the Champions League
Meet the 2025-26 Premier League winner: Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Be’er Sheva have qualified for Israel’s Champions League after their Israeli Premier League title win with 79 points scored in 36 games. Ran Kozuch’s side closed the gap on the three-point lead but also showed significant strength in the attacking phase to secure a win in a crucial championship round with Beitar Jerusalem.
Their challenge also comes as their reward. Hapoel Be’er Sheva are only expected to begin in the second round of the Champions League, not the league round. To get to the main competition they need to pass through the first round of the other national champions in two-legged ties, and their seeding, fitness and sharpness in early-season competition could be a game breaker.
While the club has experience in Europe and a rabid Turner Stadium following, the path is tough. It takes one bad outing to wipe out a year’s worth of work. However, as long as the bedrock remains the same and they are able to put some depth into the team, the champions have the balance to fight.
Battling in the Conference League: Israel’s other European contenders
The State Cup winner and league runners-up
Maccabi Tel Aviv go to Europe after the Israel State Cup final 2-1 win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. That win denied Be’er Sheva a home double, and also meant that Maccabi got into the Europa League qualifying, where they were put in the second qualifying round thanks to access-list rebalancing.
The Conference League qualifiers are Beitar Jerusalem who finished second in the league with 76 points, and Hapoel Tel Aviv who finished fourth with 60 points. The importance of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup victory lies in the fact that it unlocked the rest of the way in the league. Beitar’s season was particularly impressive as they scored 78 goals and lost just four matches. On the other hand, Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to remain above Maccabi Haifa in the final table standing, earning them a well-deserved European berth.
The Europa Conference League is no consolation prize for these clubs. It’s a realistic platform. Although there are still a few hurdles to navigate, Israeli sides consider this competition to be the most realistic one for European football in the autumn.
A look at past successes and future hopes
This group has reason for belief, based on recent history. Israeli teams can make significant nights in Europe, and Maccabi Haifa did just that, when they made it into the Champions League group stage in 2022-23, and then impressively took out Juventus 2-0 in Haifa.
There is significant monetary and sporting worth in qualification. A UEFA cup can make a difference to a club, as can better attendance, TV coverage and recruitment opportunities. The early storylines will be the draw for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League, as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa league and the two Conference League routes — Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv. They all have tricky paths to follow, but all four provide Israeli football with a realistic European presence next summer.
