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Bridge thriving at the JCCGV

There were 28 tables of four playing on June 7 at the annual bridge event honouring Marjorie Groberman. (photos by Cynthia Ramsay)

More than 100 people gathered to play bridge at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver on June 7 at a special annual event in honour of Marjorie Groberman, who passed away in 2011.

Leah Deslauriers is the former coordinator of JCC Seniors, which is now called Adults 55+ and headed by Lisa Quay.

“Marjorie Groberman was a driving force behind the JCC Seniors department for many years,” Deslauriers told the Independent. “She, along with some other ladies, started a duplicate bridge club at the JCC in 1995. When Marjorie passed away, [her daughter] Hildy Barnett and I created this event in her memory. We named the bridge club after Marjorie, as well.”

Barnett sponsors the meal and door prizes for the annual lunchtime event, and covers extras the club might need, said Deslauriers. For the lunch, “many players baked or brought dessert items for everyone.”

“There were 28 tables of four, so there were 112 people in attendance,” she said. “The club generally has up to 20 tables during regular play, so this was a very large event.”

The bridge club at the centre started in 1995 with four tables, explained Deslauriers. “Some of the original ladies, who still play today, subsidized the club so it would continue. The original club director was Connie Delisle, who taught many people how to play the game. Then Cathy Miller became director in 2006, when Connie had to retire. Cathy retired at the end of last year and the current director is Bryan Maksymetz, who is a Canadian bridge champion.”

Anyone who knows how to play duplicate bridge may attend. “It is very special,” said Deslauriers, “as many of its regular players are over 80, and many are over 90. I believe Ethel Bellows is the oldest player at the moment. Many of the players come 30 minutes before game time, to socialize over coffee and cookies, and it’s a very warm and friendly game, as far as bridge goes.”

The Marjorie Groberman Open Duplicate Bridge Club currently has more than 350 members, Quay told the Independent. Play takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “The JCC also offers an array of bridge lessons for beginners on up, as well as practise opportunities for skill-building,” she said.

For more information, contact Quay at 604-257-5111, ext. 208.

Dementia panel covers range

Left to right: Laura Feldman, Dr. Deborah Toiber, Joanne Haramia, Dr. Janet Kushner Kow and Dr. Gloria Gutman. (photo from CABGU)

Alzheimer’s, Dementia and You, an event presented by Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on June 5 at the Rothstein Theatre, featured a panel of experts whose presentations and discussion provided insights to both those seeking information and those seeking support.

Keynote speaker Dr. Deborah Toiber of Ben-Gurion University’s department of life sciences, described her approach to neurodegenerative aging as the key factor in understanding diseases like Alzheimer’s. (See jewishindependent.ca/bgu-finds-key-protein.)

Moderated by Simon Fraser University professor emerita Dr. Gloria Gutman, the panel represented a wealth of experience. Dr. Janet Kushner Kow, a geriatrician associated with Providence Health Care and the University of British Columbia, answered questions from the medical perspective. Laura Feldman, with 10 years of grassroots experience at the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia, spoke about the need to seek knowledge and support. Joanne Haramia recounted how families she has cared for through Jewish Family Services have found it easier to cope when they have support from the community. People stayed after the event to mingle and talk to the panelists and ask more questions.

Prior to the event, there was a reception, catered by Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine, for sponsors and partners. Sponsors were InstaFund and Annie Du and Aeron Evans of National Bank Financial, Wealth Management; co-sponsors were the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, Jewish Family Services, Louis Brier Home and Hospital, and Jewish Seniors Alliance, with community partners being the Alzheimer Society of B.C., SFU Gerontology Research Centre and the Jewish Independent as media partner.

– Courtesy of Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Ageism and advocacy

Wanda Morris of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons speaks at the Jewish Seniors Alliance Spring Forum May 13. (photo from JSA)

The annual Jewish Seniors Alliance Spring Forum was held on May 13 at the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture. Even though it was Mother’s Day, attendance was strong, with 70 to 80 enthusiastic attendees enjoying a lively afternoon presentation and discussion.

Ken Levitt, president of JSA, introduced the program, reminding everyone of JSA’s motto, “Seniors Stronger Together.” He explained that, among other things, JSA is involved in advocating for a national pharmacare initiative, as well as helping older adults become more self-reliant, thus enabling them to stay in their homes longer. He spoke about the Chai Tea, which was held on June 10, and honoured Serge Haber, who has been instrumental in the JSA, on the occasion of Haber’s 90th birthday. Levitt then introduced Wanda Morris, the forum’s guest speaker.

Morris is vice-president of advocacy for the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). Prior to that, she was chief executive officer of Dying with Dignity Canada, where she led a strategic campaign for legislative change, leading to the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in the groundbreaking case Carter v. Canada for the right to die with dignity. In the process, Morris established her reputation as a key influencer and go-to commentator in national discussions on issues of importance to all Canadians, particularly on issues pertaining to aging. She brings to CARP years of successful advocacy and policy development, plus a track record of fundraising results and business expertise gained from three decades as a chartered professional accountant. Morris is a regular contributor to the Vancouver Sun.

Morris began by talking about some problems experienced by many elder adults, such as having to spend more than 30% of their income on housing, especially when that income is fixed; the high cost of prescription drugs; the long wait times for medical procedures; the long wait times in emergency rooms; and the difficulty of finding a family physician. In this context, she introduced the audience to the term “GOMER” – “get out of my emergency room.”

There are numerous challenges facing older adults and there are many more of them all the time, she said. For example, there are more Canadians over 65 years old than under 15, 1,000 Canadians turn 65 daily, and centenarians are the fastest growing demographic.

Morris pointed out that ageism is one element that is making life more difficult: it is harder to find work as we age and doctors prefer not to take on older patients, as they tend to have more health issues. There are also many safety issues that involve getting around in the community; for example, the short time green lights allow for crossing the street, the lack of benches for resting and the few public washrooms. In addition, there are often long lines in such places as airport security or in supermarkets. Ageism starts with disrespect and can lead to neglect and abuse, said Morris.

So, what are the solutions? Engagement is the most important factor, she said. Anger is not helpful but active advocacy in the areas of media, politics and bureaucracies can have an effect. The approach must be respectful and concise, she said. Point out when people make ageist jokes but do it in a non-threatening manner, she suggested. And stories of individual experiences can be more effective than long tirades – Morris gave the example of a Sears employee who had worked there for many years and was left with little or no pension.

CARP has more members across Canada than all the political parties combined, and can thus have a strong effect on the political process in their advocacy for seniors. They can work together with other seniors groups for change in such areas as pharmaceutical policy. CARP’s largest groups are in Ontario, said Morris, but the organization is hoping to revitalize the B.C. chapters.

Morris’s presentation was followed by a spirited question-and-answer period. Most of the questions focused on health care and its costs. Morris said it was reorganization rather than more money that could be the solution. As an example of this, she noted the number of seniors taking up acute care beds at a very high cost because of the lack of home care and/or live-in facilities like long-term care. Other topics touched upon were the addressing of incontinence by having more staff for regular toileting; advance directives about death and dying; using the term “rewire” rather than “retire”; and shuttle buses to bring seniors to cultural events, thereby reducing social isolation.

After the discussion, Ezra Shanken, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, gave greetings to all and JSA’s Gyda Chud thanked Morris for elevating our voices with new and powerful information focused on current and future solutions. Chud pointed out that stories, as Morris had said, are important not just for children, but also for adult learning. Everyone then enjoyed snacks and desserts by Gala and shmoozed.

JSA is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all seniors, by providing peer support services, advocacy for seniors’ issues, education and outreach. For more information, visit jsalliance.org.

Shanie Levin, MSW, worked for many years in the field of child welfare. During that time, she was active in the union. As well, she participated in amateur dramatics. She has served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and is presently on the executive of Jewish Seniors Alliance and a member of the editorial committee.

Record-breaking Courage

The 2018 Courage to Come Back Award recipients, left to right: Suzanne Venuta (mental health), Josh Dahling (addiction), Ingrid Bates (medical), Jim Ryan (physical rehabilitation) and, in front, Alisa Gil Silvestre (youth). (photo by Norman Tam)

photo - The event was chaired by Lorne Segal, pictured here with his wife, Mélita — The event was chaired by Lorne Segal, pictured here with his wife, Mélita. *(photo by Alex Law)*

A record $3.1 million was raised at the 20th anniversary Courage to Come Back Awards on May 10 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The event was chaired by Lorne Segal, president of Kingswood Properties Ltd., and more than 1,800 people gathered to celebrate the extraordinary stories of triumph over adversity of the five awards recipients. Funds raised will go directly to Coast Mental Health to support those living with mental illness.

This year’s recipients were Josh Dahling (addiction), Ingrid Bates (medical), Suzanne Venuta (mental health), Jim Ryan (physical rehabilitation) and Alisa Gil Silvestre (youth). Venuta captured the essence of the evening: “If there’s only one thing you remember from my speech tonight, may it be this: that connections save lives. It did mine. Connections are what hold hope together and hope allows us to dream.” For more inspirational stories, visit couragetocomeback.ca/2018-recipients.

Each year, Coast Mental Health (coastmentalhealth.com) provides services to more than 4,000 people living with mental illness so they can find a meaningful place in their communities – a place to live, a place to connect and a place to work.

Recognition withdrawn

B.C. Premier John Horgan has withdrawn a certificate of recognition sent to a controversial Vancouver imam, following a month-long advocacy campaign by B’nai Brith Canada. In an email sent to B’nai Brith supporters, the premier’s office confirmed it had rescinded the certificate bestowed upon Tarek Ramadan, while adding, “We strongly condemn any racist, antisemitic, homophobic or discriminatory language.” The email further asserted that the premier’s office was unaware of Ramadan’s “concerning statements” before issuing the certificate and reiterated that Ramadan had also “received certificates from previous governments in past years.”

B’nai Brith first publicly called on the premier to rescind the certificate on May 16, noting that Ramadan was exploiting the governmental plaudits to vindicate his chants against “malevolent Jews” and insistence that “all of Palestine should only be in the custody of the Muslims.”

B’nai Brith exposed further antisemitism and homophobia on Ramadan’s part and called on its followers to contact the premier’s office. Ramadan had publicly posted, then later deleted, a video on Facebook that accuses the Jewish Rothschild family of controling the world’s banks and media, while justifying the Holocaust on the basis that “the Jews sold Germany down the river.”

Another post by Ramadan, still visible on Facebook, describes Israeli soldiers as “fags,” a homophobic slur.

“We are relieved that the premier’s office has finally done the right thing,” said Michael Mostyn, chief executive officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “No one who has been exposed as a hatemonger should receive recognition from a high government official in any province.

“We look forward to working with all parties in B.C. and across the country to prevent similar situations from arising in the future.”

The Muslim Association of Canada, which runs the mosque where Ramadan preached, described his conduct as “inappropriate” in a November 2017 statement.

JSA celebrates Serge Haber

On June 10, Jewish Seniors Alliance fêtes one of its founders, Serge Haber, as well as his 90th birthday. (photo from JSA)

One of the community’s most dedicated and inspiring longtime leaders, Serge Haber, will be honoured on June 10, coinciding with a significant occasion in his life, his 90th birthday.

Haber has always cared passionately about community seniors and the Jewish people in general. Their well-being is on his mind constantly and, yes, anytime day or night, he’ll earnestly voice his concerns.

The tribute to this prominent community personality will take place at the Jewish Seniors Alliance (JSA) Chai Tea. The afternoon (2:30-5 p.m.) at the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture will see the serving of party sandwiches, fruit and dessert, live entertainment by Dave Ivaz Music, caricatures by artist Katie Green, door prizes and more.

Event co-chairs – community leaders Marie Doduck and Helene Rosen – extend “a most sincere and heartfelt welcome to all to attend this special occasion, which will celebrate all of our community’s wonderful seniors, along with the honouring of our dear Serge.”

It is most fitting that this tribute be mounted by JSA, as Haber was at the forefront of its formation and currently serves as its president emeritus. His dedication to the Judaic directive of tikkun olam (repairing the world) has continued in word and action throughout the years, as he has not only initiated JSA and helped the association, but many other Jewish causes, as well.

Current JSA president Ken Levitt stressed that one reason the organization has evolved to offer so many programs and services is because of Haber’s efforts. Among other things, Haber has championed vocally and positively for the quality of life of community seniors.

Haber’s experiences profoundly shaped his character. Born in Romania in 1928 to Leon and Liza Haber, he lived among the horrors of pogroms and the Holocaust, to which he lost family members – and which he barely survived himself, due to fortunate circumstances.

At the end of the Second World War, Haber took two years of university in pharmacy in Bucharest. An extensive “real-life education” followed, when he left Romania in 1947, traveling to and living in Austria, then Italy, France, Cuba, Montreal (in 1950) and Dallas (1967), followed by stays in Toronto, Montreal and, finally – and fortunately for our community – moving to Vancouver in 1978.

Haber attributes the impetus for his extensive community service to his beloved wife Elinor, z’l, who he met and married in 1955 while in Montreal, and to their three children.

“All of my community efforts are due to Elinor’s encouragement and participation – I couldn’t have done it without her,” said Haber. And, as to his children, he emphasized that he wanted to establish a connection to encourage “their recognition of the importance of their being a part of the community, contributing to it … and remaining strongly Jewish.”

Haber’s leadership has seen him serve for decades in key executive positions for a variety of major Jewish organizations, including the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (highlighted by a two-year term as vice-president), Congregation Beth Israel (with 18 years of executive, chairmanship and men’s club leadership), Vancouver Holocaust Education Society (passionately urging racial tolerance at its annual symposium and ongoing school programs) and Hillel BC at the University of British Columbia (helping bring about a much-needed new facility). Haber served 19 years on the Louis Brier Home and Hospital board and was a director of the Jewish National Fund for 18 years.

Additionally, deeply religious, Haber started a new Conservative congregation, Shaara Shalom, in Laval, Que., in 1958; continuously helped lead religious services at Vancouver’s Beth Israel; and has taken a key role in daily and Shabbat service leadership at the Louis Brier – for 25 years straight.

In recognition of these accomplishments, Haber has been honoured throughout the years by numerous organizations, including the Louis Brier, as one of its Eight Over 80 recipients; by Beth Israel, with its President’s Award for community involvement; and by Simon Fraser University, which named him Man of the Year, the first Jewish person to be so recognized.

And, he served the community even in his work – owning and operating Kaplan’s Delicatessen for 23 years.

Today, Haber’s children are “always there for him”: Wanda, a social worker, in Toronto; Geoffrey, a Conservative rabbi, in Toronto; and Stephen, in the computer field, in Marysville, Wash. As well, there is his sister, Sidonia, in Tel Aviv, and his dear companion here, Sheila Gordon.

Ever on his mind are seniors and, especially, the Jewish Seniors Alliance.

“I am trying so hard,” he has said, “to do crucial work on behalf of community seniors, whose numbers will double in the next 10 years … and I see JSA becoming the most important Jewish organization in the city because of its training services and resultant volunteers who substantially help community seniors in need.”

Haber has expressed hope that seniors here will soon have their own building, providing a variety of needed services.

“I have an unending love for the Jewish people generally and, in particular, for those in our community,” he emphasized.

Abundant numbers of people throughout the community would affirm that the feeling is mutual.

To celebrate with Haber and wish him mazal tov on his 90th, join the JSA Chai Tea on June 10. Tickets ($36) may be purchased from the JSA office at 604-732-1555 (press 1 for Rita Propp) or at the door.

Bob Markin served on the editorial staff of the Jewish Western Bulletin for 16 years, and has written numerous freelance stories and articles throughout the years. He is a member of the editorial committee of the Jewish Senior Alliance’s Senior Line magazine.

Prayer, protest at JCC

Gabor Maté reads the names of Palestinians killed by the Israel Defence Forces during the Great March of Return protests in Gaza. (photo by Matthew Gindin)

“Each one of them was a full human being, with a full life,” said Rabbi David Mivasair, addressing a dozen or so people, most of whom were Jews, outside of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver on May 21, the second day of Shavuot, for Yizkor, the traditional memorial service for the dead.

Organized by Independent Jewish Voices, the group gathered to commemorate the Palestinian protesters who had been killed by the Israel Defence Forces during the Great March of Return protests in Gaza, which began on March 31 and ended May 15 (which Palestinians observe as Nakba Day). They gathered, according to the event’s Facebook page, for another reason, as well: “We will also publicly denounce the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs for its continual dishonest manipulation of Canadian political leaders and media sources to silence and minimize Israel’s brutality toward Palestinians and, in this case, shift the blame for the killings to the very people who were killed.”

Those present included Gabor Maté, a physician, author and member of the Jewish community. He and others took turns reading the names of Palestinians who had been killed. Afterwards, he told a story from an article that Uri Avnery, an Israeli peace activist, had written days before. In the article, Avnery described how he, as a teenage member of the Irgun, had done similar things to those of the Palestinian protesters when demonstrating against the then-occupying British forces for Israel’s independence, but the British shot over their heads, not at them. Maté also criticized the JCC for not being inclusive enough of all Jewish voices, saying that, in practice, it was more like “the Zionist community centre.”

“The confusion between Zionism and Judaism is a tragedy,” said Maté. “I’m just glad to be here to bear witness along with the rest of you.”

Shawkat Hasan, a member of the Palestinian community and the B.C. Muslim Association, whose family lost their home in the war of 1948, also spoke, emphasizing that the conflict was not between Jews and Muslims but between Zionism and its “victims,” and calling for widespread resistance to violence against Palestinians.

The group carried out their service peacefully. The idea for it came about only days before, and the organizing of it was rushed to coincide with Shavuot. One sign read, “Murdering innocents is not a Jewish value.” Some passersby stopped to join or listen, as members of the group chanted the names and recited Kaddish, and some to express their opposition.

Mivasair told those assembled that the location had been chosen to protest CIJA, who have their offices inside the JCC. CIJA had launched a campaign calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologize for remarks Trudeau had made that the “reported use of excessive force and live ammunition is inexcusable” and his call for “an immediate independent investigation” after a Canadian doctor was shot by the IDF while treating protesters.

“Hamas has left Israel no choice but to use force to protect the tens of thousands of Israelis who live close to Gaza,” said Shimon Koffler Fogel, CIJA’s chief executive officer, in a statement May 16. “We are outraged and saddened that Hamas is again using civilian human shields. For Israelis and the Jewish community, Palestinian casualties are painful tragedies. For Hamas, Palestinian casualties are sickening public relations achievements.”

“Everything that CIJA says is contestable,” Mivasair told the Jewish Independent following the service. “The situation in Gaza is desperate enough, due to the policies of the Israeli government, to explain the actions of the Palestinian protesters without imagining that they were primarily orchestrated by Hamas, which they were not. Why are organizations that purport to speak for the Jewish community suppressing discussion in Canada about what is really going on?”

The Yizkor service at the JCC followed weeks of protests by Palestinian solidarity groups outside of federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould’s Vancouver constituency office.

In the conflict at Israel’s border with Gaza, the IDF faced some 50,000 protesters. More than 100 Palestinians were killed and between 8,700 and 13,000 wounded, depending on the source of the data. The IDF’s actions, in particular the use of live ammunition, has been condemned by organizations including B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. According to Israel, most of those killed were members of the terrorist group Hamas, which, the Israeli government says, organized the protests.

Matthew Gindin is a freelance journalist, writer and lecturer. He is Pacific correspondent for the CJN, writes regularly for the Forward, Tricycle and the Wisdom Daily, and has been published in Sojourners, Religion Dispatches and elsewhere. He can be found on Medium and Twitter.

Looking to the future

Rabbi Shlomo Gabay is the new spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Hamidrash. (photo from Shlomo Gabay)

“The Sephardic world has its own customs, its own personality – communicating that to the next generation is a priority for Beth Hamidrash,” Rabbi Shlomo Gabay told the Independent. “They needed someone who could guide the next generation in the Sephardic way.”

Gabay was explaining why he, a rabbi who most recently worked as a high school teacher in the Sephardi community of Gibraltar, was invited to take over the role of spiritual leader at Congregation Beth Hamidrash following the departure of Rabbi Ilan Acoca in August of last year.

Gabay was born in London, England, and attended yeshivah in Gateshead, a hub of Orthodox Jewish life in Britain. He married “the rabbi’s daughter,” Rachel, who works in graphic and web design, and the couple now has three daughters. Coincidentally, Rachel Gabay is the niece of another former Beth Hamidrash rabbi, David Bassous.

After the Gabays married, they spent some time in Israel, where Shlomo Gabay pursued training in kiruv, or Jewish outreach. He then landed his first job, in Gibraltar, where he worked as a teacher of Gemara and halachah at the Jewish boys high school. He also taught other classes and founded and directed the Shovavim Project, an annual six-week learning program, in Gilbraltar.

Gibraltar is a British territory on a peninsula jutting out of southern Spain, across the water from Morocco. The community is almost totally Sephardi and led by Chief Rabbi Ron Hassid.

“Gibraltar is very relaxed, it’s very beautiful,” said Gabay, who earlier this year posted on Beth Hamidrash’s Facebook page a video of himself and some monkey friends on the Rock of Gibraltar. “It’s a holiday place where everybody goes. The population is almost 30,000, but 11 million [tourists] … come a year. The streets are full all the time, you get to meet people from all over the world.”

Gabay sees some similarities between Gibraltar and Vancouver – the natural beauty, the many tourists and a more laid-back culture than London for example – although, obviously, there’s a considerable difference of scale.

Gabay and his family are settling in well and enjoying the West Coast, even the previous winter weather. “London and Vancouver,” he said, “have something in common as well – rain.”

During the interviewing process, the Gabays were invited to come for a trial Shabbaton and Beth Hamidrash decided they had a winner.

“One of the strong reasons we were chosen,” said Gabay, “was because Beth Hamidrash felt they needed to focus on the next generation. Sephardic culture is quite different from Ashkenazic culture – the food, the personality – they didn’t want it to be pulled away in a different angle from what the founders intended.”

Beth Hamidrash has been without a rabbi for a year and a half. Gabay said he is looking forward to reinvigorating what the community is known for – having a warm, family atmosphere, being a community social hub, as well as a place of culture and Torah learning. “We want everyone to be happy here,” he said.

Gabay offers Talmud classes on Tuesdays and has started a Sunday class after breakfast, which covers a different topic of discussion every week. Rachel Gabay is a trained teacher of Judaics, as well as having training in marriage counseling and preparation for marriage.

Matthew Gindin is a freelance journalist, writer and lecturer. He is Pacific correspondent for the CJN, writes regularly for the Forward, Tricycle and the Wisdom Daily, and has been published in Sojourners, Religion Dispatches and elsewhere. He can be found on Medium and Twitter.

Collaborative housing options

Travis Hanks of Haeccity Studio Architecture. He and his colleague Shirley Shen made a presentation at the launch of CoHo on May 12. (photo by Noam Dolgin)

A diverse group of people a couple of dozen strong, all looking for solutions to Vancouver’s housing crisis, met on May 12 to brainstorm and learn. The meeting was organized by CoHo BC, an organization founded by Jewish community member Noam Dolgin, which describes itself as “an initiative to support, encourage and simplify collaborative ownership of property in B.C.”

The gathering took place at the home of Celia Brauer, another Jewish Vancouverite who herself is looking at co-housing options. “I have been loving this house and surrounding green space for 18 years now,” she said in the press release about the meeting. “I would very much enjoy sharing this corner of paradise with someone, especially since it would allow me to remain here.”

After getting to know one another a bit, smaller groups were formed to share ideas of their ideal dwellings and produce a collaborative vision for a home that included them all.

It was clear that everyone present had already given the idea some thought. One team envisioned a shared home with a combination of private areas and shared spaces – such as a library, places where people could work and places kids could play, plus a carport for a shared vehicle – as well as a backyard. (All three mini-groups dropped the idea of a front yard as an unneeded encumbrance.) The other two teams came up with different visions: one imagined private houses sharing courtyards and outdoor spaces on the same lot; another saw a shared structure with self-contained living spaces within it.

Following this exercise, architects Travis Hanks and Shirley Shen of Haeccity Studio Architecture made a presentation on the firm’s Micro-op concept, which won the Urbanarium Missing Middle Competition. (Urbanarium is a registered nonprofit founded by a group of architects, planners and others committed to re-imagining the city.)

Haeccity’s “missing middle” project is about providing alternatives to houses on the one end, and high-rises and condos on the other. Hanks and Shen are exploring ways to increase density on lots that are in the “buffer zones” of major arterials, between single-family neighbourhoods and commercial areas.

Hanks and Shen described the concept: a three-storey building of six or seven housing units that would fit onto a single-family lot of about 33 feet by 122 feet without impinging on the space or esthetic values of adjacent single-family homes. It could be in two buildings, separated by a common courtyard, with the flexibility of a combination of one-, two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 525 square feet to 1,350 square feet.

Haeccity’s proposal imagines new urban policies that would provide both more affordable housing and more community-rich neighbourhoods. The housing would be purchased like in a co-op model, where tenants would buy shares in the community. Although this would make buying in more affordable, as well as potentially foster community, intergenerational connection and other benefits that come from long-term residents, many of those at the May 12 meeting were concerned about the lower return on investment such a community would entail, should residents decide to leave. Hanks and Shen were clear that there was a trade-off involved.

“If we’re going to get serious about affordability,” said Hanks, “we have to get serious about separating from the market.”

In his presentation on the CoHo project, Dolgin explained, “CoHo aims to be a portal for information. It is also a ‘matchmaking service’ for homeowners, buyers and sellers to find others with complementary housing needs.”

Dolgin said he plans to collect information that will make it easier to understand people’s needs and to connect like-minded people together. Citing a 2016 Ipsos Reid poll – which found that 11% of respondents would consider buying real estate with a friend or business partner and three percent would consider buying with a stranger – he said openness to co-housing is steadily growing in Vancouver, especially among millennials. What is missing, he said, is an infrastructure to help make it happen.

Brauer then briefly outlined the housing offer she would like to make and led interested guests on a tour. She is offering to sell 60% of her property to someone willing to share it so that she can stay within her community, in the neighbourhood she’s known for almost two decades. She would like to build her own small house in the back of the lot. The only access to her envisioned laneway house would be from the front street. In a kind of microcosm of the needs of the larger co-housing community in Vancouver, Brauer’s plan will be dependent both on finding the right shidduch (match) and on the city being willing to accommodate the project.

“The next step for CoHo BC involves building the community through a series of events, social media and networking,” said Dolgin. “We need to work together to spread the word about this organization and this housing type. People in B.C. are constantly searching for community and affordability, so I truly believe collaboration and some form of communal living or co-ownership is a viable option that would appeal to more than 10% of the population. Our job is to create the community and infrastructure to facilitate and encourage this type of housing.”

For more information, visit cohobc.com.

Matthew Gindin is a freelance journalist, writer and lecturer. He is Pacific correspondent for the CJN, writes regularly for the Forward, Tricycle and the Wisdom Daily, and has been published in Sojourners, Religion Dispatches and elsewhere. He can be found on Medium and Twitter.

Music helps body and mind

Perla Barabak gave a music workshop on April 17 as part of Jewish Seniors Alliance’s Snider Foundation Empowerment Series. (photo from JSA)

The fourth session of this season’s Jewish Seniors Alliance Snider Foundation Empowerment Series was held with the co-sponsorship of Congregation Beth Israel on April 17. The theme of “Laughter and Music: Feeding the Soul” continued with a program entitled Perla’s Music Workshop.

About 65 seniors were present to enjoy the afternoon event, which began with the regular Tuesday seniors lunch provided by Jewish Family Services. Queenie Hamovich of JFS welcomed everyone and introduced Ken Levitt, president of JSA.

Levitt reviewed some of the JSA programs, including the peer support services. He asked audience members to consider joining JSA and encouraged them to think of volunteering for some of the peer support initiaves. He then introduced the speaker for the afternoon, Perla Barabak.

Barabak believes that music helps the body and mind to relax. It also touches the heart and soul, she said, making it easier for feelings to surface. Thus, music can provide multiple benefits.

Barabak began with some exercises, asking the audience to sound out their names musically. She began with her own name and many people joined in. She talked about active and passive listening; for example, listening at a concert as opposed to hearing background music in an elevator.

Throughout history, she noted, music has been used in communication, movement and at social events (weddings, b’nai mitzvah, banquets).

Songs represent a culture, she said. In this way, music is the song the heart sings. Songs remain with us into our senior years, when other memories may fade. Songs and singing can create pleasure and empowerment.

Barabak then did a guided meditation, getting everyone to close their eyes, listen to the music and imagine a colour. Barabak – who has used music in her work as a psychologist – pointed out how relaxing this is and how music balances our thoughts and feelings. She said she feels that, where there is life, there is music.

As the event ended, many in the audience got up and danced to the music being played.

The next Empowerment Series event – Music for Our Hearts and Songs We Love – will take place on June 25 at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. Caviar and Lace, with Michelle Carlisle and Saul Berson, will perform a mix of classic, jazz and folk songs.