Letters and comments, June 30

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/06/2017 (3020 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cemetery has significance

Re: Connecting with reach (June 24)

I read with interest Sharon Chisvin’s article about recent Jewish immigrants to Canada, largely Israeli citizens who had lived formerly in Russia, Ukraine and other former republics of the Soviet Union, residing now in Transcona, St. Vital and other parts of Winnipeg.

Chisvin made reference to the Children of Israel Cemetery, today located behind the Kildonan Shopping Centre (there is no public access to the cemetery; arrangements have to be made through the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue) suggesting its establishment and location were a result of an existing Jewish presence in Transcona. Although in future decades after 1883 when the cemetery was established, a small number of Jews, primarily engaged in commercial activities, lived there and a not insignificant number worked at the repair and machine shops of the National Transcontinental and Canadian Northern railways (and later Canadian National Railways) and others lived in the relatively nearby Pine Ridge farming community, none lived there in 1883 (Transcona was incorporated as a town in 1912).

The cemetery (also known as the Hebrew Cemetery of Winnipeg) was established as a direct result of the arrival in Winnipeg in 1882 of about 350 Russian refugee Jews fleeing pogroms. They were housed in the Dominion Immigration Shed and surrounding shanties on the Hudson’s Bay Company “Flats,” not far from where The Forks is today. During the bitterly cold winter of 1882-83, five infants died of disease and exposure; earlier a young Jewish immigrant boy had drowned and another infant had died when her immigrant mother rolled over in her sleep and accidentally smothered the infant.

The existing cemetery, on land donated by a Winnipeg Jewish businessman, was deemed by the Russian Jewish immigrants, who were Orthodox in religion, to be unacceptable as it bordered Winnipeg’s then-existing “red-light district.” As a result, the very small number of “established” Winnipeg Anglo-German Jews took up a collection of $300 to purchase the land for the cemetery. The speculative land boom of 1882 in Winnipeg meant that land in outlying areas of Winnipeg and its immediate environs closer to where the Jewish community lived was unavailable.

In the winter of 1883, in several large horse-drawn sleighs borrowed for the occasion a large number of the Russian and other Jews, travelled to the designated cemetery land, mapped and measured the plots, religiously consecrated and dedicated the land, and warmed up by drinking a “l’chaim” (a “to life” toast) with the 18 bottles of hard liquor they had brought with them for that purpose. The earlier burials were re-interred in the new cemetery in June 1883.

The Children of Israel Cemetery served the Winnipeg Jewish community well for 50 years. More than 100 of its residents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are buried there.

 

Henry Trachtenberg

Winnipeg

 

Province must act on Churchill

Regarding the interruption of rail service to Churchill, I find the provincial government’s inaction in the face of Omnitrax’s latest move very questionable. To me, the basic facts are:

1. This government was elected by (partially) promising not to diminish basic services.

2. Omnitrax is in a compromised position; it wants to sell the rail line. In addition, its photos have been challenged by a motorcyclist who has recently been on the rail line.

3. An indigenous group with experience running a northern rail line has offered to repair the line to Churchill much sooner that Omnitrax will.

At a minimum, it seems to me that the government should ask Omnitrax where and when their photos were taken, check these locations independently and make this evidence publicly available.

 

Ken Mount

Winnipeg

 

Celebrate Canada’s freedoms

Being able to practise my faith openly was something that my home country deprived me of. Ahmadi Muslims, like myself, have very few rights in countries such as Pakistan and face persecution based on faith.

So, I can confidently say that migrating to Canada was the best decision that my family has ever made. I’m grateful for all the liberties and freedoms Canada has to offer. It is in appreciation of such liberties that the Ahmadiyya Muslim community hosts major Canada Day celebrations across the country.

As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of this great nation, it is very gratifying to know that Canada has set an example for the whole world that pluralism and multicultural diversity is truly a strength of a nation. I’m proud to call Canada my home. Long live the true north, strong and free!

 

Fasih Malik

Calgary

 

Facility in English essential

Re: English class cuts hurt newcomers (June 28)

As a certified reading clinician and learning specialist, I know that our federal government is really “kicking itself in the foot” with its cuts to Stage 2 English as an Additional Language classes.

Facility in the English language is required to find reasonable employment and satisfying work. It also has a huge impact on mental and physical health. Imagine the feelings of grief and frustration when you come to a new country and you are not recognized as a professional. It absolutely impacts the person, the community and the economy.

Language is essential to literacy and literacy is like fresh water. It is so unappreciated unless it is not there. It is preposterous that Red River College is now the only federally funded Stage 2 EAL program here in Manitoba. There are huge waiting lists.

It is very clear that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is not meeting the needs of our newcomers.

 

Norma Jones

Winnipeg

I love it loud

Re: Go easy on the fireworks (Letters, June 28)

Let me understand: Natalie Putic is suggesting we cancel our traditional way of celebrating our love, happiness and appreciation about living in the greatest country in the world because of nervous pets, birds flying kamikaze-like into buildings and disorientated deaf bears wandering aimlessly around forests?

Great idea! And, perhaps, someone could have a talk with the Creator about scaling back on the number of extremely frightening loud booms of thunder and the startling flashes of lightning that absolutely terrify our goldfish.

 

Tom Sherbrook

Gimli

 

Troubled times for grocery store

Re: Celebrated grocer Neechi Commons faces closure (June 28)

Too bad this is happening. Its a great store for the area. I did wonder about a year ago about all the construction. They fixed the building up really nicely and I was wondering how much was spent on that. Obviously, too much. It’s unfortunate that they went so far on the renos and it crippled them for operational cashflow.

— user-6951299

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@user-6951299: It sounds like given the age and condition of the building, they had no choice, it had to be brought up to code and safety standards, but, yeah, it is too bad that it cost so much. This is starting to look like a Winnipeg thing — police headquarters in the old Canada Post building, etc — so many unforeseen costs once the walls are down.

— wfp-234290

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I love Neechi Commons. I go there to buy bannock. I only discovered it last year as I am not from the area but the bannock drew me in. It’s a wonderful store. I tell everyone to try it.

— momwpg