Features
Young community leader calls for others to step up in countering antisemitism, Israel haters
By MYRON LOVE With incidents of Anti-Semitism growing worldwide, Candice Tenenbein is exhorting fellow Jewish Winnipeggers – and non-Jewish supporters – to step up their efforts to combat this unhinged scourge of Jew and Israel hatred.
“Antisemitism is the most virulent and oldest form of hate, and today often appears as anti-Zionism,” she says.
“Speak out. Share accurate information on social media. Have discussions with friends. Write letters to the editors. Phone or email your elected officials and ask to know where they stand. It just takes a few minutes but, if enough of us take action, we could have a significant impact.”
The other side of the coin, she notes, is to promote all the good that Israel does for people around the world from sending emergency response teams to help after natural disasters to providing world-leading technology to help people in developing countries to improve agricultural output, better care for their environments, have access to clean drinking water and improve healthcare.
“As a local Jewish community,” she adds, “we also need to explain how diverse our members are – we come from many countries (from Latin America, to Europe, to Israel, to Turkey, Iraq, Morocco and beyond) and we have members who are LGBTQ+ and BIPOC. Many of our community members are doing good in our own backyard. Newcomers, and Jews born and raised in Winnipeg, have contributed to the fabric of our society for a long time. We need to showcase these efforts for all Winnipegers to see that we are not the evil tropes that we are portrayed to be on social media.”
In her call for action, Tenenbein is leading by example. The 2017 recipient of the Harry Silverberg Young Leader of Distinction Award has played a prominent role within our Jewish community pretty much since she moved back here in 2003 after a short time living in Toronto.
Tenenbein credits her mother, the late Cheryl Arnold, for infusing her with a strong sense of Jewishness, community and Zionism. “Despite being a working single parent with three children, my mother was a member of Hadassah and National Council of Jewish Women, helped out at Ramah (where Tenenbein and her siblings went to elementary school) and was active at the Herzlia Synagogue.
Tenenbein herself was a member of BBYO in high school (Grant Park) and Hillel at university. “I used to study at the Hillel office and attended all of the Jewish programs that I could,” she recalls. While in university Tenenbein served as a student member of the University Senate. She then volunteered and worked for a Member of Parliament in both Winnipeg and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
After graduating from law school (at the University of Manitoba), she moved to Toronto to article at Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg LLP. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could hold my own with University of Toronto graduates,” she says. “Despite it having the nickname ‘Slavies’, I loved the law firm I was working at. But I also wanted to get involved in the Toronto Jewish community and found that the community was not very welcoming. And I missed my family. So I made the decision to move home.
“Winnipeg is a wonderful place and people are a lot friendlier.”
Upon her return, Tenenbein wanted to focus her volunteer efforts in a manner that combined her interests of advocacy, politics and Judaism. She reached out to David Kroft in 2004. Upon his suggestion, she immediately became involved with the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg as a member of the JFW’s Public Affairs and Advocacy Committee (PAAC) and hasn’t looked back.
Professionally, she notes that she practiced law here at Tapper Cuddy LLP for less than two years. “Again, I loved my firm but I really did not like the business side of practicing law. I had also met my husband, Marshall, and he was in medical school. Between his studies and my schedule as a lawyer, we found it hard to make the time to build a relationship.”
When the opportunity to work at the University of Manitoba arose, she happily accepted the position as its government relations associate. After her first child, Jacob, was born, she chose to leave the workforce to become a full-time mom. But Tenenbein continued with her volunteer efforts. In fact, in addition to PAAC, she served a term as a member of the Federation’s Board of Directors in December 2011 shortly after her second son, Ethan, was born. In December 2018, she became co-chair of PAAC and a Federation executive committee member.
“When I was first asked to chair the committee (PAAC), I had a number of family commitments that prevented me from taking on the position,” she says. A year later when asked again, she agreed to come on, but initially in a co-chair fashion. “Laurelle Harris agreed to remain as co-chair with me. She was amazing.”
After a year, Harris stepped down, leaving Tenenbein in charge.
So what is PAAC’s mandate? “We reach out to media and elected officials at all levels of Canadian government regarding domestic and foreign-policy issues affecting Israel and the local Jewish community,” Tenenbein responds. “We are active Israeli advocates and fight antisemitism. We work to encourage people to become lay advocates in speaking for Israel and against antisemitism.
“We also provide community relations and outreach, working to build bridges with other ethnic minority and religious communities,” she adds, citing, for example, the Christian Zionist Bridges for Peace and the Indigenous communities.
In addition to her work with the PAAC, Tenenbein also served for three years as chair of PJ Library Winnipeg and recently ended a seven-year term as a member of the Women’s Endowment Committee at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. She is currently a member of the Board of the Jewish National Fund of Canada, Manitoba and Saskatchewan division and is the Chair of the Winnipeg Chavurah Chapter of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee.
And she and Marshall are determined to inculcate in their sons the same strong sense of connection to the Jewish people that they feel. Jacob and Ethan are going into Grades 7 and 5 respectively at Gray Academy in September. This summer the boys are attending Rady Camp at the Rady JCC and Jacob is currently at BB Camp in Kenora.
“It is important to us that our sons are proud to be Jewish and feel connected to our community. We love that Gray Academy provides our children with a religious education while also teaching them to become strong advocates through its Israel education and debating programs. Unfortunately in today’s world, these skills will be important and necessary assets when our boys reach university where antisemitic culture is prevalent.” Tenenbein says.
As to visiting Israel, although she was one of the participants on the first Birthright trip to Israel in 2000, she regretfully has not yet been able to return.
“Going on Birthright was life-changing,” she says. “I would not have gotten on my return flight had it not been for my family here.”
She says that she is hoping one day to organize and go on a community-run Federation or JNF family mission. “We could go on our own,” she comments, “but we believe that a JNF or Federation tour would be more meaningful.
“Once it’s built, I would really like to see the Beit KKL-JNF Canada House (which is being partially funded by monies raised at the most recent JNF Gala honouring Dr. Ted Lyons).
“Canada House,” she explains, “will serve as an after-school education, empowerment, and enrichment centre for high school students from Sderot and its surroundings. The students will be provided with the necessary tools and skills for scholastic and personal success in an engaging learning hub and an inviting, yet fortified, “second home” atmosphere. It is a phenomenal project that might work in Winnipeg for at-risk youth, too.”
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.
Features
Cheap Weed In Canada: A Smart Shopper’s Guide
Since legalisation, cannabis has settled into Canadian life as an ordinary, regulated purchase. And like groceries or gas, the price can vary a surprising amount from one shop to the next once you start comparing.
For a lot of buyers, that has turned the focus to value. Affordable options like cheap weed prove a lower price and a tested, quality product can go together. This guide explains how to shop smart in Canada without cutting corners.
Why Has Affordable Cannabis Become So Popular?
Because the novelty has worn off, and buyers now shop like they do for anything else. In the early days, people paid whatever the new legal stores asked. That has changed.
A few things drove that shift:
- A maturing market, with more retailers competing on price.
- Online sellers, whose lower overhead keeps costs down.
- Savvier buyers, who now compare rather than grab the first option.
- A wider range of formats and budget-friendly bulk sizes.
The result is a real focus on getting value for money. Crowdsourced figures put the early average near $6.85 a gram, and cannabis price data from Statistics Canada shows how legal and illegal prices have differed since 2018.
That gap is exactly why shopping around pays off. A careful buyer can pay noticeably less than a careless one for a comparable product. The sticker price is only where the comparison starts.
How Do Canadians Shop for Cheaper Weed?
With the same care they bring to any regular expense. A handful of habits make the biggest difference. These are the ones worth adopting:
- Compare the per-gram price. It is the only fair way to weigh two options.
- Buy larger formats. Bigger quantities almost always lower the unit cost.
- Skip premium markups. Plain flower beats pricey pre-rolls for value.
- Watch for sales. Online retailers run them often, especially on holidays.
- Match potency to the plan. A stronger product means you use less each time.
None of these involve settling for a worse product. They simply put your money to better use, the same way you would stretch your money on any other purchase. The cheapest sticker is rarely the best value, and the priciest is seldom worth it.
The same logic applies whether you shop in person or online in Canada. Read the label, weigh the cost per gram, and let the numbers guide you rather than the branding.
Is There a Catch With Low-Priced Cannabis?
Not in the legal market, which is the part newcomers miss. In Canada, every legal product is tested and labelled to the same standard, whatever it costs.
That means a budget option from a licensed seller has cleared the same checks as a premium one. It is screened for contaminants, and its potency is verified. Price reflects branding, packaging, and store margins far more than basic safety.
The genuine differences are in the finer points. Premium flower might offer a better aroma or a richer flavour, and some formats simply cost more to make. For everyday use, though, a well-priced choice usually performs just fine.
The real catch is buying outside the legal system. Health Canada’s overview of the Cannabis Act is a sensible read on what legal really means. Buying legal protects you, not buying expensive.
What Makes a Cheap Purchase a Smart One?
A couple of quick checks, mostly. A real bargain holds up to a second look, while a false one does not. The table below shows what to weigh.
| Check | Why It Matters |
| Is the seller licensed? | Only legal retailers guarantee tested product |
| What is the per-gram cost? | The headline price can hide a weak deal |
| Is potency on the label? | Higher strength can stretch your money |
| Are there bulk or sale deals? | These usually beat single-unit pricing |
| What does delivery cost? | Shipping can erase an online saving |
Any shaky answer there is a reason to pause. A licensed seller with clear pricing and labelling is the safe choice, while a suspiciously cheap unlicensed source is not. The legal age applies regardless, at 18 or 19 depending on the province.
Treat cannabis like any other considered purchase. Compare, check the details, and let value rather than habit lead the decision. That is how modest savings add up across a whole year.
Before You Buy
- Cannabis prices vary widely by retailer, format, and store overhead.
- Comparing the per-gram cost is the fairest way to judge value.
- All legal Canadian cannabis is tested, so cheaper is not unsafe.
- Bulk buys, sales, and plain formats keep spending down.
- Always buy from a licensed source, and factor in delivery fees.
Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels
Alt text: A shopper comparing prices online at home
Smart Savings, No Compromise
Buying affordable cannabis in Canada is not about chasing the lowest number you can find. It is about understanding what shapes the price and shopping with a little intention. Stick to licensed, tested products, compare the real cost per gram, and lean on bulk deals and online pricing. Do that, and an affordable choice stays a smart one, purchase after purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheap Weed Safe to Buy In Canada?
Yes, provided it comes from a licensed retailer. All legal cannabis in Canada is tested for contaminants and labelled for potency, regardless of price. A lower cost usually reflects branding and overhead rather than weaker safety, so a budget option from a legal seller is still a safe one.
How Do I Find the Best Cannabis Deals?
Compare the per-gram price, buy larger formats, and watch for sales from online retailers. Checking potency against price helps too, since a stronger product can mean you use less. The key is shopping deliberately instead of defaulting to the same brand or store each time.
Why Is Cannabis Cheaper Online?
Online sellers usually carry lower overhead than physical stores, and they run sales and bulk deals more often. That lets them price competitively while still selling tested, legal product. Just remember to factor in shipping, which can offset the saving on a small order.
Does Paying More Mean Better Cannabis?
Not necessarily. Price reflects branding, format, and store margins as much as quality, and all legal product meets the same testing standards. Premium options may offer a better aroma or appearance, but a well-priced choice often works just as well day to day.
