Features
Vickar Family members reconnect with their roots in Melfort, Saskatchewan
By MYRON LOVE
It started out with two cousins – Drs. Eric and David Vickar, who hadn’t seen each other in a while deciding to meet halfway between their homes in Winnipeg and Edmonton respectively – in Melfort, Saskatchewan – about 170km northeast of Saskatoon. The end result however was a family reunion which attracted 20 extended family members – in person or via Zoom – in a pilgrimage where it all began in the early 1900s when five siblings first arrived in Canada from their native Lithuania via South Africa. (Ed. note: The original Vickars first settled in the Jewish farm colony of Edenbridge, which is about 46 kilometres from Melfort. In time, their descendants moved to Melfort and later to other cities.).
David has been a radiologist working in Edmonton since 1984. Eric is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Winnipeg. The two first cousins are the grandsons of Edenbridge pioneers Sam and Gertude Vickar. Eric’s parents are Eve and the late Harry Vickar while David is the son of the late Anne and Morris Vickar.
“I spent my first years in Melfort,” David Vickar says. “We moved to Winnipeg when I was 11. The last time that I was back there was for the inauguration of the Norman Vickar building (named after his uncle).”
Eric Vickar reports that he hasn’t been back to Melfort since the inauguration of the Harry and Eve Vickar SPCA shelter in September, 2019. His family came to Winnipeg in 1974.
David Vickar notes that there is only one Vickar cousin remaining in Melfort – Gary Duchovnick – whose mother, Dena, was a sister to Sam Vickar.
The Vickar party arrived in Melfort late on Tuesday, June 24. On Wednesday morning, they went first to the Edenbridge cemetery where kaddish was recited and psalms were read. After lunch, they dropped into the Melfort and District Museum where they looked over records pertaining to their family.
“We learned that a local high school group in 1955 did a class project on the history of Edenbridge,” David Vickar says.
After the museum, the visitors continued on to the new Eve and Harry Vickar SPCA building and finished the day with a catered supper at the Kerry Vickar Centre (Kerry is Eric’s older brother) where David did a power point presentation detailing the Vickar Family history.
“Larry Vickar (son of the late Norman and Florence) did a lot of the leg work,” David reports. “He connected us with the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada and researcher Lynn Roseman. The original family name was Ibedas. The home town was a place called Moletai (near Vilnius). Somewhere between Lithuania and South Africa, the name was changed – but we don’t know why we became Vickar.”
He adds that Lynn Roseman’s research indicated that there were several Ibedas family members who were murdered during the Holocaust. She found birth and death records for family members.
David Vickar further reports that he has been in tocuh with a distant cousin by the name of Debbie Lewis, who put him in contact with another cousin, one Sam Greenberg, who has compiled a family tree which goes back to the 1760s.
“It was very exciting to be able to push our family history back another 100 years,” he comments.
He also points out that Larry Vickar arranged to bring with him Alex Lipschitz. a videographer, to film the visit. “We are putting together a documentary to share with everyone who joined us on this journey,” David Vickar says. “We will share this video with family members far and wide.
“There is already interest in having another gathering in Edenbridge with cousins who were unable to attend this one due to the short notice.”
Eric Vickar summarized the experience of returning with his extended family to their ancestral lands as “touching and spectacular”.
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.
Features
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.
Features
At one time one entire block of McAdam Ave. was almost totally Jewish
This story originally appeared in a November 2014 issue of The Jewish Post & News:
1994 McAdam Ave. reunion (names inside story)By GERRY POSNER (This story first appeared in November 2014.)
Once upon a time when life was simpler and gentler, there was a street in the north end of Winnipeg which was like all other streets in the city except in one significant way. Everyone, but for one family, living on McAdam east of Main Street was Jewish.
