Category: News

Adversity leads to innovation

Sara Raposo-Blouw, left, and Erin Goldberg taste the chocolate mocha and vanilla blueberry flavours of Thrive. (photo by Ian Blouw)

Erin Goldberg, 30, was only 5 years old when it was discovered that she had rhabdomyosarcoma in her abdomen, attached to one of her ovaries.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive and highly malignant form of cancer that develops from skeletal muscle cells that have failed to fully differentiate. It is generally considered to be a disease of childhood, as the vast majority of cases occur in those below the age of 18.

Growing up in Winnipeg, Goldberg spent almost 130 days at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) receiving treatments and recovering from procedures over a two-year span before she was cleared of RMS.

Goldberg’s struggle with the cancer and her unwavering will to make the world a better place have served as a driving force in her life ever since. And her memories from that time, as a child struggling to keep food down, have led to her helping develop a liquid food replacement that would have been priceless to her when she had RMS.

“Basically, everything I ate was making me nauseous, and that was due to chemotherapy,” Goldberg told the Independent. “It sort of alters your taste. And I would also throw up anything I would eat. It was important to have as many bland foods as possible. With liquid nutrition, it’s a lot easier to consume your calories than with anything solid. It’s denser and is a better option in the hospital.”

Goldberg said she went into nutrition because she was interested in disease prevention. After meeting Sara Raposo-Blouw and Lisa Reed, dieticians at the HSC, and them sharing their experiences with one another, they came up with the idea of a liquid nutritional drink. They knew, firsthand, the lack of options people had.

“The beverage options in hospitals were really lacking,” said Goldberg. “Patients find the taste of what there is too sweet. I recently spoke to my friend’s dad, who is a psychiatrist, and he actually prescribes Boost six times a day for one of his patients, because he has a motor disorder … he’s constantly moving, so his caloric requirement is elevated so much. He needs to have six of these beverages in addition to his regular food intake. When you have that much of something that is too sweet and has ingredients that are highly processed, or if you’re vegan or have allergies, you just can’t do it. You need an alternative. And there was really nothing out there.”

Goldberg and partners have developed a new option, called Thrive, that uses local ingredients, two of them being flax oil and pea protein. The formula is completely plant-based and free of major allergens, like dairy, soy, corn and wheat.

The trio solicited the help of a Burnaby beverage developer to help them produce the drink with the necessary specialized equipment.

While competitors have come out with flavoured drinks and drinks that cater to particular groups of users, Thrive differs in that it is a basic formula that everyone can use, adding their own ingredients as desired, depending on their needs.

“Currently, we have one adult formula, but we’re working on one for children,” said Goldberg. “The main difference between the one for adults and the one for children is the protein content. It’s very easy for us to adjust the formula accordingly. And, as far as different patient populations, we don’t have other types of formulas. Basically, if a higher caloric content is necessary, then more of the beverage would be prescribed. But, at this time, we only have one formula.

“The palatability really stands out for our product compared to these other competitors,” she said. “A lot of the ingredients they use are bitter. They are trying to mask that bitter taste with the sweetness, coming up with flavours like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.”

Because of its mild flavour, Thrive also can be used to make solid food, similarly to milk, but with a much higher nutritional punch. For those seeking a flavoured drink, they can choose to add whatever flavour they wish to the degree of sweetness they like.

A couple of months ago, Goldberg flew to Montreal to accept the Social Mitacs Entrepreneur Award and a $5,000 cheque, in recognition of what she and her partners are doing. Different levels of government have also stepped up with funding, as has North Forage.

“We’ve been receiving support from North Forage, a business incubator in Winnipeg,” said Goldberg. “They’ve helped us get off the ground and understand the business side of things, because we are coming at it from a science background. So, the three of us needed some input there.

“We are currently looking for investors,” she added. “We have a couple that are interested, but we need more to move on to our next phase and are looking at government funding. Once we are up and running, our first year, we are planning on having online sales direct to the consumer.”

Based in Winnipeg, their initial target is to partner with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, as well as other health authorities across Canada. Goldberg is confident that, once they taste the product and look at the nutritional information, the authorities will sign on.

The partners are also confident that their target timeline of production by next summer can be met, even with the need to do a scale-up and validation trial in Quebec because no facility in Manitoba is currently capable of doing this.

“We require very specialized equipment when it comes to the aseptic packaging that we require, because we want our product to be shelf-stable, so it doesn’t have to be in the refrigerator,” said Goldberg. “That equipment is very expensive and very specialized. They have it in Quebec. Once we scale-up, we will go to Toronto and that will be our facility to actually produce the product on an ongoing basis.”

At the moment, the partners are working with their lawyers to set up the deal structure to bring in investors for the validation tests (costing $250,000).

For more information, visit vitalfoods.ca.

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

Eliminating chlorine’s effects

Elliot Kimelman’s C-Spray is available online at amazon.ca. (photo from Elliot Kimelman)

Going for a swim is something many people enjoy. But, many times, even if you shower right after, you can still smell the chlorine. If only there was a way to prevent that. Now, thanks to Winnipegger Elliot Kimelman, there is.

Kimelman attended Gray Academy of Jewish Education for elementary and high school. He took to swimming as a child and kept it up, eventually becoming a swimming instructor in Grade 10.

“I was really enjoying my job, but that’s how the idea for C-Spray started – because my skin started getting really irritated by the pool water,” he explained. “I have quite sensitive skin, so it bothered me a lot. I knew I had to be in the pool for work, but, at the same time, I could literally feel the damaging effects on my skin, which I didn’t like.”

He tried various products, but didn’t find them very effective. So, he researched the topic more deeply and found that certain combinations of minerals and vitamins have the potential of eliminating chlorine molecules. And, with help from some friends who were studying chemistry at the University of Manitoba, he developed a chlorine-eliminating body spray.

“Basically, I found that Vitamin C is one of the active ingredients in a solution I created that eliminates chlorine on skin, hair, swimsuits, or anything,” said Kimelman. “I felt that this was cool and very interesting.

“I started creating the solution, just for myself, and I used it and loved it … and didn’t think much of it. Then, I was discussing it with my coworkers and friends, and they all said, ‘Elliot, you have a really interesting product there. Why don’t you try bringing it to market?’ So, I thought to myself, ‘That sounds great. But, how do I do that?’”

He was in high school at the time.

In Grade 12, Kimelman enrolled in an entrepreneurial program for students, called Junior Achievement. When his group was looking for an idea for a product or a service to create in a four- to five-month period, Kimelman pitched the idea of C-Spray and the group liked it.

“They all thought it was quite unusual,” he said. “They didn’t really understand it. I don’t think I understood it at that point. But, they didn’t have any other interesting ideas, so we thought, ‘Why not?’ That’s when C-Spray was born.

“I was the president of that entrepreneurial group. And so, we met every week for five months. We created this product – the beta version, the testing, the prototype – and we brought it to market, in the sense that there were a few trade fairs that were organized for us that we sold the product at … which was all very exciting.”

Then, Kimelman found his first client – the owner of Swimming Matters, a swimwear accessory outlet in Winnipeg. They were interested in the product and agreed to carry it on a trial basis.

But, being part of a short-term program, C-Spray was shelved when Kimelman’s Junior Achievement stint ended. He went off to business school but soon decided to re-launch C-Spray, which he did this past summer.

“At that point, I’d studied business for almost two years,” he said, “so I had a better sense of what accounting was, what marketing was, how operations worked, etc. And, I felt I might as well try to start this business up again when I come home for the summer…. I arrived back in May and I put the pedal to the metal, and basically started C-Spray again. I started Winnipeg production, getting all the pieces moving. Then, of course, the most difficult part – getting the sales. I started talking to everyone I knew, every store I could think of – a store for luxury swimwear, cheap swimwear, anything related to aquatics whatsoever.”

Kimelman has been getting feedback from a wide range of customers, from high-end swimwear retailers who are worried about chlorine on their swimwear, to people who swim all the time and are worried about the chlorine’s effect on their skin and hair.

C-Spray has been on sale via amazon.ca, as well as at 10 other retail outlets in Winnipeg and Toronto. The product comes in two spray bottle sizes, 240 millilitres, which should be good for about 160 uses, and half that size.

“How it works is, after you swim, whether in a chlorinated pool or hot tub, you get out, hop in the shower and rinse off whatever pool water you have on you,” said Kimelman. “Then, you spray an ample amount of C-Spray all over your body and hair – anywhere you’d like to eliminate chlorine…. It doesn’t actually turn soapy … there aren’t any additives in it whatsoever. You spread it around your body and hair, and then shower as usual. You can use whatever products you’d like. At the end of the process, you’ve completely eliminated chlorine, which soap alone doesn’t do.”

Kimelman said that, even in saltwater pools, high levels of chlorine are used, so you should follow the same process.

While other products on the market claim to eliminate chlorine, Kimelman has found that they mostly just mask the smell.

C-Spray differentiates itself in a few ways. First, it is made with a combination of vitamins, minerals and stabilizing salts. “There are no additives, parabens (preservatives), perfumes, colours or sulfates,” said Kimelman. “It’s a completely natural, raw formula, which a lot of customers like.”

Second, he said, “When you do chemical tests to other products specifically marketed as being chlorine-eliminating shampoo and body wash … in beakers, you see the concentration of chlorine via these DPD tablets…. C-Spray eliminates the chlorine instantly, but these other products either don’t or they only mask the smell of chlorine, but it still exists. So, C-Spray is more effective than most sprays on the market.”

The only reason you will not find C-Spray in retail stores in other places in Canada, including Vancouver, is because Kimelman has not yet had time to spread the word.

“I’m happy to work with any retailer, to give some samples or give an introduction remotely,” said Kimelman. “My plan is now to primarily focus on maintenance and building the company slowly and organically while I finish school.”

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

China’s increasing Israeli ties

Israel’s IVC Research Centre concludes that, with each passing year, some 16% more companies have at least one Chinese investor. (photo by Dave Gordon)

With headlines proclaiming the largest trade war in history, the United States and China began dueling tariffs July 6, and the ongoing row threatens hundreds of billions of dollars of product distribution. But, while China has locked horns with our neighbours to the south, it is partnering more and more with Israel.

According to Thomson Reuters data, Chinese investment in Israeli corporations tripled in the past few years to $16 billion, with about $600 million directed specifically to startups. Israel’s IVC Research Centre concludes that, with each passing year, some 16% more companies have at least one Chinese investor. The Jerusalem Post has stated that it will be no time before China surpasses the United States as Israel’s main foreign investor.

The Chinese “are leveraging Israeli tech to fuel their economy. Israel is held in high esteem as a hub of innovation,” said Hagai Tal, chief executive officer at Tel Aviv-based Taptica, an Israeli mobile advertisement company. “Many Israeli companies also see important opportunities in the East, and the meeting point of these two approaches is what produces such successful business partnerships.”

Israeli Shimi Azar, who runs mobile advertising Spotad’s Asia-Pacific operations, said he has seen “China becoming an innovation power in only a few years.”

China has 232 of the world’s 2,000 largest companies, up from 43 in 2003, according to Forbes magazine. Of the top 20 technology giants, China has nine, including Alibaba, Tencent, Ant Financial, Baidu and Didi. (The United States has 11.) C-Trip International is larger than Expedia, and China produces more online sales than anywhere else, says Market Watch.

“Big cities like Shanghai or Shenzhen already feel quite Western in almost every respect so, culturally, we are becoming closer every year,” said Azar. “The younger generation is eager to learn English and travel the world, so I’m convinced that any significant cultural differences to speak of will soon be a thing of the past.”

Ronen Mense is vice-president of Asia for AppFlyer, a mobile marketing analytics and attribution platform, which went to market with an Asia-first model. “In today’s digital and mobile-first world,” he said, “the Chinese mobile market is like no other. The numbers are staggering: about 800 million mobile users, nearly 500 million users making payments with their phones, nearly $2 billion quarterly revenue in the Chinese iOS App Store – more than any other country in the world.”

Lee Branstetter, professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, said Israel is “doing truly world-class research” in microchips, security and machinery. Adding to the reasons why China and Israel are collaborating more is the political clampdown sweeping through the United States; notably, concerns over security, trade, foreign debt and foreign corporate control.

The bilateral cooperation was echoed at the political level when Chinese President Xi Jinping and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu signed a memorandum in 2015, agreeing to partner in the technology sector.

For the past four years, the China-Israel Innovation Summit has taken place with the support of their respective countries’ governments. In the past two years, two Israeli companies entered the Chinese stock exchange for the first time: Alma Lasers (bought out by XIO Group in 2013) and Sisram Medical, in part owned by China’s Fosun Pharmaceutical. Major acquisitions are now legion.

In 2016, a Chinese consortium, led by Giant Network Group, paid $4.4 billion to acquire Playtika, an Israeli video game company. A year prior, China’s XIO Group ponied up $510 million for medical device firm Lumenis.

Last year, Kuang-Chi Group – whose stated aim is to “invest in and collaborate with innovative technology projects worldwide” – announced it was looking to base its headquarters in Tel Aviv. Its chairman, Dr. Ruopeng Liu, told Forbes that it all had to do with Israel’s “global reputation for innovation,” coupled with China’s strength in the global market.

Forbes also has reported that Ogawa, a healthcare leader in China, is earmarking $10 million for wellness technology investments in Israel.

Peggy Mizrahi, a Chinese citizen who now lives in Israel, sees two nations who have a similar view of the world. Mizrahi is vice-president of Indigo Global, an Israeli boutique investment advisory firm, with activities and operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She said the “Chinese are [known for] long-term planning, conservative and hierarchical, unlike the commonly recognized Israeli mindset as fast, innovative, impatient, flexible and [with a] lack of respect for authority. However, paradoxically, both countries share something deeper than that: the refugee mindset – a people suffered for decades in wars, exiles, and Holocaust, massacres; struggled for independence and peace; respect of culture, history and the power of knowledge; and, most importantly, both Israelis and Chinese believe that economic progress and technological advancement will ultimately bring peace and prosperity to the world.”

David Maman, chief executive officer and co-founder of Binah.ai, recently sold one of his companies, HexaTier, to Chinese conglomerate Huawei. According to Maman, it’s not unusual for scores of delegations each month to visit Israel from the biggest corporations in China – including Fosun, Huawei, Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu – to explore investments and other ventures with Israeli startups.

Just as sure as tech can be used for the good, one expert had concerns about increasing collaboration.

Branstetter, who served as the senior economist for international trade and investment for the U.S. President’s Council of Economic Advisers, added there must be care ensuring technology isn’t misused.

“If an American pilot were ever shot down by a Chinese missile powered by Israeli technology, it would be a real problem for the Israeli government.”

Dave Gordon is a Toronto-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in more than 100 publications around the world.

קבוצות רבות בפייסבוק

מספר גדול של קבוצות של ישראלים בקנדה פעילות בפייסבוק. הקבוצה העיקרית היא של “ישראלים בקנדה”.

הישראלים בקנדה שמספרם הולך וגדל בשנים האחרונות מפעילים קבוצות רבות באתר של פייסבוק. הקבוצה העיקרית היא של “ישראלים בקנדה” ובנוסף יש קבוצות לישראלים בתחומים שונים וכן בערים השונות.

כשבעת אלפים ושבע מאות חברים בקבוצה הסגורה “ישראלים בקנדה”, שנוסדה לפני כחמש שנים על ידי ליעד בן דוד. את הקבוצה מנהל דן והוא מציין כי היא נוסדה כדי לעזור לחברים במידע הקשור בקנדה, הגירה, מציאת עבודה, איתור חברים ועוד. דן מבקש מחברי הקבוצה “ללא יוצא דופן, לגלות סובלנות בשיחות. אף אחד לא מוכרח לענות על פוסט שנראה לו מטופש, אך לאף אחד אין זכות לדבר בצורה לא מכבדת לחבר קהילה אחר. מי שיגיב בפוסט כל שהוא בצורה לא מנומסת יסולק מהקהילה באופן מיידי. מי שיתקל בתגובות לא הולמות בכל שרשור שהוא, מתבקש לדווח לאחד המנהלים ואנו נטפל בזה וכמובן לא נזכיר את שמכם”.

בנוסף פועלת קבוצה פתוחה של “ישראלים בקנדה” שמתמקדת בעיקר בנושאי הגירה, והיא מיועדת גם לכאלה שעדיין גרים בישראל. בקבוצה זו שנוסדה לפני כשלוש שנים חברים כאלפיים ושבע מאות איש.

יש קבוצה פתוחה נוספת של “ישראלים בקנדה” שנוסדה לפני כאחת עשרה שנים על יד כרמל מנדל, וחברים בה רק כתשעים איש.

כאמור יש גם קבוצות בפייסבוק שמיועדות לישראלים בערים השונות. ובהן: “ישראלים בוונקובר והסביבה”. מדובר בקבוצה חברתית סגורה שכוללת כאלף שבע מאות וחברים, והיא נוסדה לפני כחמש שנים על ידי שי רוקח-פן.

בנוסף יש את הקבוצה “ישראלים בוונקובר”. מדובר גם כן בקבוצה סגורה שכוללת כאלפיים חברים והיא נוסדה לפני כשבע שנים. הקבוצה מתמקדת בעיקר בחלוקת מידע, שאלות, טיפים, המלצות וכל מה שרלוונטי לישראלים בוונקבר ובמחוז בריטיש קולומביה.

קיימת קבוצה שלישית של “ישראלים בוונקובר” הפתוחה לכולם. לדברי הנהלת הקבוצה היא פתוחה לכל, מותר לפרסם בה כל דבר ולא מוחקים את הפוסטים שבה. בקבוצה חברים כאלף איש והיא נוסדה לפני כשנתיים.

בטורונטו יש מספר לא מבוטל של קבוצות עבור הישראלים בפייסבוק. הקבוצה הראשונה ומהגדולות ביותר “ישראלים בטורונטו” נוסדה לפני שמונה שנים על ידי אמיר שובל, וחברים בה כחמישה עשר אלף איש. מדובר בקבוצה סגורה שמתמקדת בפרסום של עסקים שונים, שרותים ומודעות דרושים, וכן גם אירועים מיוחדים לקהילה הישראלית בטורונטו והסביבה.

קבוצה נוספת נקראת “ישראלים בטורונטו והסביבה”. מדובר בקבוצה סגורה שנוסדה לפני כשנה על ידי אייל מלמד וחברים בה כאלף איש. הקבוצה מיועדת לעזור לישראלים הגרים בטורונטו, או בכלל לישראלים ויהודים שמתכוננים לעבור לקנדה או או לטייל בה.

קבוצה שלישית נקראת גם כן “ישראלים בטורנטו” והיא פתוחה לכל. הקבוצה מתמקדת בתחומים העיסקיים עבור ישראלים באזור טורונטו, חברים בה כשלושת אלפים ומאתיים איש והיא נוסדה לפני כשנתיים על ידי אנט גייצ’ן. קבוצה רביעית נקראת “הישראלים בדאונטאון טורונטו – החיבור הישראלי”. הקבוצה משמשת מקור מידע לפעילות של הישראלים הגרים במרכז העיר טורונטו ולקשר ביניהם. הקבוצה נוסדה לפני כארבע שנים על ידי לירז רוט-רולניצקי וחברים בה כשמונה מאות איש.

קבוצות נוספות לישראלים בטורונטו: “קצת אחרת-טורונטו”, “אירועים בעברית-טורונטו”, “משפחה מאמצת-טורונטו קנדה”, “מעגל נשים טורונטו”, “משפחות מתחברות-טורונטו והסביבה”, “מוסרות בכיף טורונטו והסביבה”, דוברי עברית בטורונטו”, “ישראלים צעירים בטורונטו”, “טורונטו”, “ישראלים פוגשים ישראלים בטורונטו”, “מסיבות ישראלים בטורונטו”, “אמהות מבשלות טורונטו והסביבה”, “טורונטו למטיילים”, “נוער חובב תנ”ך טורונטו”, נדל”ן טורונטו”, “טיפים למטיילים בטורונטו” והכולבוניקים טורונטו”.

טענות של הונאה

(צילום: jbsa.mil)

מגפת האופיואיד הורגת אלפי קנדים: יצרניות משככי הכאבים נתבעות על הונאה ואחריות לתופעה

תקדים חשוב: יצרניות ומשווקת כדורי משככי הכאבים המבוססים על אופיואידים נתבעות לראשונה בקנדה, על ידי גורם ממשלתי. זאת לאור מגפת האופיואיד הקשה שהביאה למותם של למעלה משמונת אלפים קנדים משימוש במינון יתר בשנתיים האחרונות – מאז החל המשבר הגדול בתחום בשנת 2016. מרבית הנפטרים גרו במחוזות הגדולים של המדינה: במקום הראשון והלא סימפטי נמצא מחוז בריטיש קולומביה, במקום שני נמצא מחוז אונטריו, במקום השליש נמצא מחוז אלבטרה ובמקום הרביעי נמצא מחוז קוויבק.

מדי יום ברחבי קנדה מתים למעלה מאחד עשר איש משימוש יתר בקרב המכורים למשככי כאבים. מרבית הנפגעים משימוש היתר הם מטבע הדברים גברים. מומחים בענף הבריאות מדגישים כי הנתונים המדאיגים של משבר האופיואידים מצביעים בברור על כשלון גדול של מערכת הבריאות הקנדית.

ממשלת מחוז בריטיש קולומביה היא זו שלכן עתרה לראשונה לבית המשפט, נגד למעלה מארבעים יצרניות ומשווקות מתעשיית האופיואידים. התביעה מבוססת על הטענות של הונאה ומסירת מידע שגוי לגבי משככי הכאבים, מאז החל בהפצתם בעשרים השנים האחרונות. יצויין כי קנדה היא המדינה השנייה בעולם בצריכת אופיואידים לנפש אחרי ארצות הברית. ונתון זה לא מחמיא למדינה שנחשבת לכה מפותחת ומתקדמת.

מטרת התביעה היא בעצם כפולה: 1). להצביע מי הם האשמים בהפצת משככי הכאבים החזקים שגרמו לכך שרבים מהמשתמשים בהם התמכרו לכדורים, מבלי שידעו כלל על הסיכון הגבוה הכרוך בשימוש בהם מראש, וחלקם כאמור מתו משימוש יתר. 2). וכן לנסות ולכסות ולו חלק מהוצאות הגבוהות של כספי הציבור הכרוכות במשבר הרפואי הקשה, כולל טיפול בנפגעים, הובלתם לבתי חולים והליך שיקומם הארוך.

הפרקליט הראשי של מחוז בריטיש קולומביה, עו”ד דוויד אבי אומר: “התביעה המשפטית הזו היא צעד חשוב לטיפול בשחיתות התאגידית וברשלנות של הגורמים האחראים ביצור משככי הכאבים והפצתם ברבים”. עו”ד אבי מקווה שממשלות של פרובינציות נוספות בקנדה שיצטרפו לתביעה המדוברת והוא אמור לפנות אליהן. הוא אף מצפה שכן הממשלה הפדרלית תצרף למהלך המשפטי הכל כך חשוב הזה.

מחברת פורדו פארמה אחת מיצרניות הגדולות ביותר של משככי הכאבים בעולם, שהיא אחת הנתבעות, נמסר בתגובה לאמצעי התקשורת: “אנו מאוד מודאגים ממשבר האופיואיד בבריטיש קולומביה ובקנדה בכלל. אנו מספקים את התרופות בקנדה בהתאם לכל חוקים המקומיים ועומדים בכל התקנים הנדרשים בחוק”.

ד”ר אבן ווד מומחה בנושא אומר בתגובה לתביעה של בריטיש קולומביה: “שיטות השיווק של יצרניות משככי הכאבים מילאו תפקיד עצום מאוד בצמיחת מרשמי האופיואידים. עברנו מתקופה שבה רופאים לא העלו על דעתם לרשום מרשמים לכדורים שמיועדים לחולי סרטן, למצב שבו כיום ניתנות דוגמיות בחינם לכל אחד שיש לו אפילו דלקת פרקים קלה”. לדברי ד”ר ווד הטיפול במשבר צריך להיות מורכב משני שלבים נפרדים: הראשון – יש להגן על אלה שמעולם לא השתמשו באופיואידים כדי שגם הם לא יקבלו מרשמים לא בטוחים. השני – אלה שלצערנו כבר מכורים לכדורים צריכים לקבל בדחיפות טיפול תומך וגמילה.

בישראל מערכת הבריאות שהיא ציבורית עם רגולציה חזקה וריכוזית מאוד, כוללת ארבע קופות חולים ומערכת מיחשוב מרכזית. מערכת זו לכן מקשה מאוד לקבל בקלות משככי כאבים קשים כפי שקורה בארצות הברית, בקנדה ובאירופה. בישראל מוצעים בדרך כלל משככי כאבים קלים שאפשר להשיגם גם ללא מרשם רופא. בהם: איבופרופן, פרצמול או דיפרון. ולכן לא מפתיע שעד היום המגיפה פסחה על ישראל.

Campaign’s new chair

Dr. Jonathon Leipsic (photo from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)

When Jonathon Leipsic decided to take on the role of campaign chair for the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver this year, it was not because he had too much free time on his hands.

Leipsic is a physician and practising radiologist, with a focus on heart and lung imaging. He holds a number of positions, including being a professor of radiology and cardiology at the University of British Columbia, vice-chair of research for the UBC department of radiology, chair of the department of radiology for Providence Health Care and regional department head of medical imaging of Vancouver Coastal Health. He has published extensively and is the editor of two textbooks; he also speaks internationally on cardiopulmonary imaging.

“I decided to take on this role as campaign chair for a number of reasons,” Leipsic told the Independent. “I am deeply grateful and proud to be part of this incredible Jewish community and am driven to contribute to making it and all of Klal Israel stronger. I have served as board chair at Vancouver Talmud Torah, and currently serve on the board there and at Schara Tzedeck and King David High School.

“The Federation annual campaign leadership, for me, is a tremendous honour and privilege, enabling me to work with such a great team and a group of volunteers with the goal of supporting, nurturing and strengthening our community.”

For Leipsic, Jewish peoplehood and the continuity of the community and Jewish traditions are paramount. He hopes that his passion and commitment will be clear to community members, and that they will share in his vision of further building the community and ensuring that Jewish life is accessible to all who desire it.

“I want to express my gratitude to the entire community for their support and commitment,” said Leipsic. “I feel blessed to be part of a community filled with so many exceptional people and institutions, and I will work tirelessly throughout this campaign to help make it even stronger.

“The community and Am Israel are incredibly important to me, and both Karly and I will continue to volunteer and donate to the greatest extent possible to ensure that our children and, God-willing, our grandchildren, will share in the same blessings we have – to live in a strong Jewish community filled with love and strong institutions, and with a strong and prospering state of Israel.”

Leipsic praised the annual campaign volunteers. “There are nearly 300 volunteer canvassers who take time out of their busy lives to make calls and meet with donors about their gifts,” he said. “They are busy making those calls right now and I want to thank them.

“I also want to thank all of our donors for answering those calls, for meeting with their canvassers and for fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah.

“Thank you for supporting the community through the annual campaign. You are helping families struggling with the high cost of living to fully participate in Jewish community life. And, you’re bringing Jewish programs to members of our community who live beyond Vancouver’s city limits – from the Fraser Valley to the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Todah rabah.”

For information about and to donate to the Federation annual campaign, visit jewishvancouver.com.

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

Menkis awarded, Sundberg hired

Prof. Richard Menkis (courtesy)

The University of British Columbia’s Prof. Richard Menkis has received two honours recently: the 2018 Louis Rosenberg Canadian Jewish Studies Distinguished Service Award and the 2018 Switzer-Cooperstock Prize for the best essay in Western Canadian Jewish history.

The Association for Canadian Jewish Studies established the Rosenberg Award in 2001 to recognize the significant contribution by an individual, institution or group to Canadian Jewish studies. In announcing Menkis as this year’s honouree, the association noted his “long and very distinguished career as a strong advocate for and practitioner of the scholarship and teaching of Canadian Jewish studies.”

Menkis won this year’s Switzer-Cooperstock Prize for the essay “Two Travelers and Two Canadian Jewish Wests,” which emphasizes the multiple expressions of interwar Jewish life in the Canadian west, and studies how two rabbis – Chief Rabbi J.H. Hertz and Rabbi Y. Horowitz – traveled through the region to promote their different visions. Hertz offered a modern acculturated Anglo-orthodoxy, while Horowitz promoted a traditionalist orientation shaped by Chassidism.

The Switzer-Cooperstock Prize, donated by members of the Switzer family to honour their parents and grandparents, is awarded biennially by the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada. Past winners of the prize are Theodore Friedgut (Hebrew University), Lynne Marks (University of Victoria), Chana Thau (Winnipeg independent scholar), David Koffman (York University) and Esyllt Jones (University of Manitoba).

Menkis received his PhD from Brandeis University in 1988 and for many years held a position in the department of classical, Near Eastern and religious studies with a cross appointment to the department of history at UBC. He is currently associate professor of medieval and modern Jewish history in the history department at UBC. In addition to the surveys of medieval and modern Jewish history, he has taught advanced undergraduate courses on the Holocaust; Canadian Jewish history; fascism and antifascism; the historiography of genocide; and Jewish identity and the graphic novel. He continues to supervise both MA and PhD student theses at UBC and has served on PhD committees at other institutions.

Menkis has published widely on the cultural and religious history of Canadian Jewry. His articles have appeared in American Jewish History, American Jewish Archives, Canadian Ethnic Studies, Canadian Jewish Studies and in a number of edited volumes. Menkis was co-author, with Harold Troper, of More Than Just Games: Canada and the 1936 Olympics (University of Toronto Press, 2015), a seminal work in the field that presents an investigation of the responses and reactions of both Jewish and non-Jewish Canadian athletes and their communities to participation in the games. He is continuing the research for a publication, begun with Gerald Tulchinsky (z”l), on an aspect of the Canadian Jewish garment industry.

Appointments

Tikva Housing has hired Alice Sundberg as director of operations and housing development. Sundberg has more than 30 years of nonprofit housing experience, including housing development, organizational and project management, and sector leadership. Most recently, she was involved with the development of the Co:Here Housing Community and the creation of Home Front, a collaborative initiative to make homelessness in Metro Vancouver rare, brief and one-time. Her knowledge of and contacts with both provincial and federal levels of government will assist Tikva Housing greatly as the organization moves forward with current and new project developments.

Sundberg is excited to be joining Tikva Housing and is already busy with the upcoming opening of the Ben and Esther Dayson Residences in Vancouver’s Fraser district. For information about Tikva’s upcoming projects, you can reach her at [email protected], or housing administrator Anat Gogo, at [email protected].

Barbecue for JSA volunteers

Jewish Seniors Alliance board member Pam Ottem, who is chair of JSA’s peer support program, with Baruch Azeroual at the JSA volunteer barbecue. (photo from JSA)

On Aug. 22, Jewish Seniors Alliance held its now-annual barbecue for peer support services volunteers, in appreciation of their work with seniors. This year’s celebration, attended by about 50 people, was a joyous affair, with food and musical entertainment, and speeches from volunteers.

Most of the attendees at the barbecue were volunteers or staff of the peer support services program, and a number of JSA board members also joined in the festivities. The food for the meal was contributed by the volunteers.

Charles Leibovitch, JSA peer support coordinator, and Grace Hann, JSA peer support volunteer trainer and supervisor, spoke and welcomed everyone before introducing JSA president Ken Levitt, who thanked everyone for their hard work and mentioned some of the issues for which JSA is advocating, such as a universal pharmacare program.

After Levitt spoke, Leibovitch called on Serge Haber, president emeritus and founder of JSA, to say a few words. Haber spoke about the needs of seniors and how JSA is trying to advocate for and fill some of those needs.

Hann explained about a crowdshare in which some of the volunteers had participated – a listening program that takes place every second Monday, 5-6 p.m., on Bute Street at Davie. Hann also thanked everyone who helped set up the event, including JSA coordinator Liz Azeroual and Azeroual’s husband, Baruch, who did the barbecuing.

The musical trio of Dave and Julie Ivaz and their son, Harrison, provided a wide-ranging performance. They played guitar and sang many songs familiar to the audience.

For more information on JSA, its peer support services, the listening and other programs, 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 JSA and a member of the editorial committee.

New rhino born

photo - baby rhino
(photo from Ashernet)

Tanda, 25, with her as-yet-unnamed calf at Ramat Gan Safari Park. (photo from Ashernet)

Tanda’s new offspring – her fifth – weighed 50 kilograms at birth. The baby rhino’s horn will begin to grow in the coming weeks, but, in its first year, the horn will remain small and round. Due to poaching in other areas of the world – for the rhinos’ horns – several species of rhino have become endangered. In one case, the northern white rhino has been almost completely wiped out, with only five animals left in captivity. The safari park tries to encourage breeding programs, particularly of endangered species, and has seen some success.