My philosophy is that if you've been fortunate, you must give back. It was a philosophy that was nurtured in Winnipeg, and I am so very proud of my roots.

I was born in 1937 in Winnipeg to Percy and Esther Genser (née Moscovitch). They were remarkable parents — loving and accomplished, committed to success and community life. My mother was the daughter of Meyer and Rose (née Cohen) who were both born in Romania. Meyer originally landed in Trois-Riviéres before moving to Winnipeg and opening a store called "La Maison Blanche" in St. Boniface. He brought over all of his remaining family from Romania and employed them all at Western Salvage on McDermott. Rose's family was in the fur business and she worked, sorting furs. She was a member of Winnipeg Hadassah. Meyer and Rose married in 1910.

My father's parents were Maurice and Bella Genser (née Druxerman). Maurice settled first in Montreal where he worked at the Simon Cigar Factory before coming to Winnipeg. He was a violinist who played with his sons — including my father — at the Walker and Pantages Theatres. They also appeared on Noah Wittman's radio program as "The Four Gensers," and sometimes as "The Genser Trio." Maurice (Moe) was a President of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and as a family we all belonged and actively participated in synagogue services and activities. My Grandmother, Bella was born in Winnipeg and she and my Grandfather married in 1905 at 291 Portage Avenue .That space ultimately became the site of the first Genser's Furniture Store. Grandma Bella, too was a member of Winnipeg Hadassah.

I was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and was very close to all of my grandparents. I actually lived with both sets of grandparents at very different times and was privileged to travel with them on several occasions.

My mother was a remarkable woman. At 17 she graduated from the University of Manitoba, winning the Gold Medal in Science! She had planned to go on to study medicine but as there was a quota on Jewish students, her male friends succeeded in convincing her not to apply. Instead, she spent a year working for her Father. She married Percy Genser in 1936 at the Royal Alexandra Hotel and I was born a year later. My brother David was born in 1940 and my sister Roberta in 1945. Mother was a founding member of SHARE, a founder of ORT Canada, a member of NCJW and Hadassah. She was probably the first woman in Canada to serve on the Board of a Trust Company; she was a Vice-President of the Board of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the first Manitoban to sit on the National Arts Centre Board and worked tirelessly with my Father and Maitland Steinkopf to bring all the Manitoba Centennial projects to fruition.

My father was similarly remarkable. He was an accomplished athlete who represented Canada in speed-skating at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid. I remember dancing with him on the ice when I was a little girl! In later years, he became the Vice-President of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was also an active member of the Kiwanis, Demolay and Mason service clubs.

My parents initially lived with the Moscovitches and then moved to Sherburn Street, then Borebank Street where I played for countless hours with my Genser cousins, Irene Corne and Naomi Cohen — we grew up like sisters. My parents complemented each other beautifully as my father was gregarious and my mother more a quiet intellectual. They travelled extensively, spent their winters in Palm Springs, moved to live in Calgary and visited us yearly in Israel.

I attended Queenston School, Grosvenor School, Robert H Smith, and Kelvin, where I was the Vice-President and I performed in the Mikado and in the choir. My plan was to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Manitoba, but I met a young man named Ron Slater and my mother encouraged me to accept his offer of marriage in 1955.

Ron and I were married at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in Winnipeg in 1955. We travelled immediately to Oxford for Ron to complete his Law degree. Our first son Charles was born in London in 1956. When we returned to Winnipeg from Oxford in 1957, three more children were born: Erin in 1959, Adam in 1963 and David in 1964.

My community service began, first with the Junior Service Branch of National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. My Council career included becoming Chair of my Branch, Chair of Winnipeg Section and ultimately Chair of the National Organization. I served on the Women's Committees of the Art Gallery and Winnipeg Symphony. As well, I chaired the Golden Age Club, I was on the Board of the Age and Opportunity Bureau, I was appointed to the first National Committee on Aging.

In 1970, we moved to Israel, settling first in Herzliah Pituach and after 7 years, to Moshav Kfar Netter. Our 4 children each graduated from High School and served in the Israel Defence Forces before going abroad for University (Charles to Harvard, Erin —Concordia, Adam-McGill and David-York).

My work in Israel was as Chair for many years of the Israel Family Counselling Association, working for the Israel Export Institute for Fashion Week and the Ministry of Defence (with bereaved families) following the Yom Kippur War. I partnered in founding Art Tours Israel that brought people to Israel to enjoy the art, music and dance of the country. My great thrill was being asked by Maestro Zubin Mehta to bring tourists to the country in celebration of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's 50th Anniversary.

Ron and I returned to Canada in 1989 and settled in Vancouver. There I was the office Manager of his Law Practice. I was appointed to the National Expert Advisory Committee for Children's Well Being, a position I held for 8 years, travelling to Ottawa for meetings. Perhaps my greatest accomplishment had its beginning at that time when I co-founded HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters). This empowerment program for parents (developed in Israel) prepares their children for first grade and is now working with thousands of at-risk Canadian families in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. We have created the Carol and Ron Slater Scholarship awarded each year to the outstanding HIPPY Mother.

Today Ron and I are retired and divide our time between Montreal and Israel. We are the proud grandparents of Zach, Robert, Ben and Liam Battat Thom, Ilai, Emanuelle and Max Slater.

It has been a beautiful and very exciting life — and it all started in Winnipeg.

2015