Frank Steele likes to joke that he married up when he wed Sybil Machlis in 1960. After all, she was a girl from the north end, and he was a boy from downtown. She, on the other hand, jokes that she assumed that Frank was from a well-to-do family. After all, her father was a house painter, but Frank's father owned a grocery/confectionary store.

Joking aside, Frank and Sybil Steele have been happily married for more than 40 years, spending much of that time raising three daughters, working side by side as community activists, and, more recently traveling together to exotic locales.

Frank was born in Winnipeg in 1934 and grew up on Carlton Street with his younger brother, Matthew, now a Toronto social worker. His Russian immigrant parents, Malick and Rose (Dubnov) Steele, owned and operated Central Park Grocery and Confectionary, while his maternal grandparents, Samuel and Molly Dubnov, operated the neighbouring Central Provisions. Most of his parents' friends were fellow store owners, and Frank recalls his parents frequently hosting members of the Associated Retail Grocers.

Frank attended Isbister, Hugh John McDonald and Daniel McIntyre School, where he was member of the provincial champion high school basketball team. Usually he was the only Jewish student in these schools. Although Frank graduated from the first Shaarey Zedek Sunday School class (after the synagogue moved to Academy Road) and later was active in Habonim, his father insisted he join the YMHA on Albert Street so that he would meet Jewish kids. Frank did — among them Sybil.

After high school Frank received a B.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1955, entered law school, and joined the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. He graduated in 1959, and then began a 33-year career as a lawyer with the City of Winnipeg, the last 13 of them as City Solicitor. In 1989 he was appointed a Queens Counsel.

Sybil was born in Winnipeg in 1937 and grew up on Cathedral Avenue with her two older sisters, Lillian Greenfeld and Sylvia White. Their father, Jacob, the son of Zailig and Rochel (Klieman) Machlis, was an opera loving, Polish immigrant with a great zest for life. Their Russian born mother Rebecca, the daughter of Hershel and Geneshe (Walkin) Sonkin, was a skilled seamstress and very intelligent and hospitable. Geneshe lived with the family when the girls were growing up.

Sybil attended Champlain, Machray and St. John's Tech, where she was a track and field participant. Her parents celebrated all the Jewish holidays and the family attended various shuls for Yom Tov. Sybil was active in Habonim and the Y, and was a camper and counselor at Habonim and B'nai B'rith camps respectively.

A teacher by profession and a partner in Mosaic Fashions, Sybil has volunteered with NCJW, CNIB, Marymound and as an ESL teacher, most recently with Argentinean immigrants. Her and Frank's primary community involvement, however, has been with Shalom Residences, where their youngest daughter, Barbra, resides.

In 1979 Frank and Sybil were among the founders of this residential care facility for mentally handicapped adults. Since the organization purchased its first residence on Cathedral Avenue, it has expanded to include five homes and three apartment suites that currently provide support services and care to 25 individuals. In addition to serving as President of Shalom Residences and sitting today as a governor of the organization, Frank is a governor of Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and a former vice-president of the City of Winnipeg Retirees Association.

Since retirement Frank also has been a volunteer advisor with CESO, the Canadian Executive Service Organization. Through this agency he has worked in Russia, Bolivia and Guyana. Sybil accompanied him to Guyana, where she volunteered in a local school.

As they await their next CESO assignment, Frank and Sybil visit often with their two Toronto based daughters. Marcia is married to Dr. Danny Rappaport and they have two children, Zachary and Abbie. Karen, a triathlete who completed the Boston Marathon in 2004 & 2005, is married to Derreck Roemer. Back in Winnipeg, Frank and Sybil appreciate the affordability, quietness and culture of the city, and are proud to be part of the Jewish community here. Both of them have been pleased to give of their time to the community, and hope that others will follow in their footsteps.