I met Perry in typical Winnipeg fashion, at a Jets game. The year was 1984.

Fast-forward to 2024, we’ve been together for 40 years.

I arrived in Winnipeg in 1979 after graduating from Optometry at the University of Waterloo.

A little bit about me and my family.

My mother Rose ‘s maiden name was Chinsky, and she was one of nine children, born to Avraham Chinsky and Lillian ( nee Leib-Phagot). She was born in Toronto and lived in Cabbage Town on Taylor Street. She met my dad, Harry, when they were in their teens. My dad was one of two children born to Joseph Reiss and Gert( nee Bregman).

My grandparents all came from Poland /Galicia in the early 1900s to start a new life in Toronto. They made a living labouring in the garment industry.

My mother, Rose left school at the age of 16 to help support her family.

According to legend, my mom was known to be a great baseball player in the hood. However, she had to sneak out to play on Saturdays because her dad forbade her from playing on Shabbos.

Maybe that's where I developed my love for sports.

My dad also played baseball and football at the (in)famous Christie Pitts.

My dad studied to be a wireless operator at the Radio College of Canada.

During World War II, he was stationed at an airfield in the Yukon near Whitehorse.

My parents came from warm, loving families.

My parents married in 1944.

They ran a dry cleaning business on College Street in Toronto, and my grandfather also did tailoring at that location. Demographics were changing, and the business struggled. In 1964, our family moved to North Bay, which is about three hours north of Toronto. My dad joined his brother in operating two clothing stores. One in North Bay and the other in Sturgeon Falls.

That's when my Jewish education started at the Sons of Jacob synagogue. My sister Sharon, brother David and I started Hebrew school the summer I turned 10.

The Jewish community was small, with about 50 families, but tightly knit. I went to Cheder twice a week and participated in Saturday services. The synagogue was very egalitarian. If you wanted a minyan, you had to include the young ladies.

Girls were allowed on the Bimah, and I was one of the first in North Bay to have a Bat Mitzvah.

My mother was a stay-at-home mom until we were in high school, and then she worked diligently at the Shoppers Drug Mart as head cashier for many years. Mom was an avid Hadassah member and Mahjong player extraordinaire.

My dad was a B’nai Brith member and served as president for many years.

His game of choice was poker. (I did not inherit his gift!)

My parents always emphasized the importance of a good education, and my dad always wanted me to be my own boss.

When I was accepted into the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, my parents bought me a bottle of champagne to be opened upon graduation.

Sadly, my dad passed away before I graduated, and then my mom decided to return to Toronto, where most of her siblings were.

I decided to try my luck in Winnipeg and opened a practice with a classmate on Henderson Highway.

I was excited to see how life would be here and gave myself a five-year plan.

In year 5, I met my husband, Perry Rose.

We bought a house together in 1989 and married in 1995 at the Shaarey Zedek synagogue.

We drank the champagne then!

My passions are theatre, sports, travelling, reading, and riding.

My volunteer work has been eclectic.

I cochaired the Eye Health Council of Canada for ~10 years.

I chaired the Public Relations Committee for the Manitoba Association of Optometry for ~ 15 years.

I’ve sat on committees at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and volunteered with student tours at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

For the last two summers, I’ve been involved with the Gimli Film Festival.

Recently, I joined the associates at the WAG.

My sister Sharon is married to Arie Itzkovsky, and they have two beautiful children, Noam and Haylee.

My brother David is married to Bronwyn, and their two beautiful children are Harlie and Janna.

Perry and I are devoted aunt and uncle to them, and we try to see them as much as possible.

There are nieces and nephews on Perry’s side that we adore as well! Christopher, Brandon, Katie, Robert, Shayla and Jakob.

Perry and I have been very fortunate in our careers and in our lives generally.

We feel very close to our Jewish roots and wanted to give back.

It’s important to us that the Winnipeg Jewish community thrive; that is why we’ve made this commitment to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.

‍