Board

Board of Directors

The Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Chair of the Board can be reached at info@simkincentre.ca

Chair – Avrum Senensky

Vice Chair – Al Benarroch

Past Chair – Gerry Kaplan, MSW

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Howard Collerman

Yael Gelfman, RN, BN, IBCLC, MN

Jane Kraut

Jonathan Kroft

Elissa Neville

Karen Leggat

Dr. Ted Lyons, O.C.

Heather Pullan

Dr. Jennifer Schacter, MSc MBBS CCFP

Milton Sussman

Penny Yellen, MSW RSW

 

Bios:

Al Benarroch:  I have my BA (Hons.) and MA in Clinical Psychology.  I worked in private practise for 10 years delivering counselling, assessment, and consultative services to remote Indigenous schools and communities in Manitoba.  I have been working at Jewish Child and Family Service since 1999 as Clinical Director for 15 years and as the Executive Director since 2014.  My current association to Simkin Centre is that my mother is a resident.  I also have one aunt who was a resident and another that is currently a resident.  I served on the Ritual Committee for many years when the Centre was still the Sharon Home on Magnus.  Through my work at JCFS, we have been very closely involved in working together to ensure a good continuum of care for Jewish seniors in our community as they age.  I was invited to be on the Simkin Board given my years of working in the Jewish community since 1999, and within the Jewish social service sector.  I joined as the child of a resident and wanting to ensure that the Centre remains a strong Jewish institution for meeting the physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual care of our community’s aging members.  I have a deep passion for our community and for making it the best possible Jewish community with the strongest organizations for all community members.

 

Yael Gelfman:  I am a Board Member at the Simkin Centre since 2022.  I bring to the Board over 10 years of experience in health care and human resources areas.  I am a Registered Nurse currently working on my Masters of Nursing at the University of Manitoba.  I join the Simkin Centre Board with the goal of sharing my expertise and improving resident care.  It is important for me that residents feel welcome, safe, and happy in their home, the Simkin Centre!  Keeping Jewish values and traditions as a top priority has always been important to me, therefore, I am committed to working together to support the Jewish aspects of the Centre.  I have been previously volunteering at the Simkin Centre as a Shabbat concert assistant, and I absolutely love this place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerry Kaplan:  Like many people, I became aware of the Simkin Centre after my mother became a resident in 2013.  She lived there for 10 years.  I was very impressed, first by the positive and dynamic environment of the Atrium, and then by the professionalism, friendliness, care and diligence of its staff and managers.  I joined the Board in 2018 because I supported the vision and mission of the Centre; to make contributions to the Centre; and to be more involved with the Jewish community.  I was Board Chair from 2020 to 2022, during the peak of the COVID-19 years.  In my other life, I am a social worker and independent consultant providing research and evaluation services, which I’ve been doing since 1988.  I’m married to Nancy Hughes, former Executive Director of Shalom Residences.  We have three grown children, Jeff, Lauren and Michael.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Kraut:  I have a Masters in Nursing (MN) and am a Registered Nurse (RN).  I’m currently an instructor at the University of Manitoba.  Areas of specialty are palliative care and community and population health.  I’ve also worked in human resources and finance prior to becoming a nurse.  I wanted to be a Board member because I have a unique skill set/background and thought that I could be useful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Edward Lyons, O.C.:  I was on the Simkin Board in 2010 and Chairman of the Board 2012-2014.  I am again on the Board as of 2022.  I am also on the Boards of the Jewish Federation Board of Governors, Jewish Heritage Centre and Congregation Shaarey Zedek.  I have been President of Shaarey Zedek, Jewish Federation of Manitoba and Canadian Society of Radiologists and the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound.  I am a Professor of Radiology, Anatomy and Obstetrics and Gynecology.  I have received numerous honors, including Officer of the Order of Canada, Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medalist, Sol Kanee Distinguished Jewish Community Service Medal, Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Distinguished Service Award and University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milton Sussman:  I have been a senior executive in government and the volunteer sector.  My positions have included; Clerk of Executive Council of Manitoba, Deputy Minister of Health both in Manitoba and in Alberta, President and CEO of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Deputy Minister of Family Services and Housing.  I believe that the Simkin Centre is a leader in providing high-quality care and services to its residents.  It is my hope that my knowledge and experience can contribute to the Centre continuing as an exemplar for our community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penny Yellen:  I have a Masters in Social Work and have worked with older adults both here and in Connecticut.  I also have a Certificate in Aging.  When I returned to Winnipeg, I was interested in joining a Board in the Jewish community and using my experience as a professional and as someone who has been active on several Boards over the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Governors

The Board of Governors is an esteemed group of former Board members, major donors and trusted advisors who have been instrumental in the growth of the Centre and the well-being of it’s Residents.

  • Leonard Asper
  • David Devere, C.A.
  • Martin Erlichman
  • Raymond Kives
  • Leonard Podheiser
  • Gordon Pullan, Q.C.
  • Charles Shore

Past Chairs

  • Gerry Kaplan (2020-2022)
  • Selma Gilfix (2018-2020)
  • Saul Greenberg (2016-2018)
  • Jonathan B. Kroft (2014-2016)
  • Dr. E. A. (Ted) Lyons O.C. (2012-2014)
  • Bill Brownstone (2011-2012)
  • Phyllis Spigelman z”l and Jack Litvack z”l (Co-Chairs) (2008-2011)
  • Robert Kopstein z”l (2005-2008)
  • Evelyn Katz z”l (1998-2005)
  • Sid Halpern (1995-1998)
  • Justice Nathan Nurgitz z”l (1992-1995)
  • William Goldberg z”l (1991-1992)
  • Gordon Pullan (1977-1992)
  • Abe Kanee z”l (1956-1977)
  • David Thompson z”l (1954-1955)
  • N. Chmelnitsky z”l (1951-1953)
  • Sam Kanee z”l (1950-1951)
  • J.H. Hecht z”l (1949)
  • O. Hochman z”l (1946-1948)
  • Mandel Lyons z”l (1944-1945)
  • J. Shuckett z”l (1943)
  • Joseph Gershfield z”l (1938-1942)
  • Esaac Greenberg z”l (1928-1937)
  • Abraham Slobinsky z”l (1924-1927)
  • Jacob A. Chmelnitsky z”l (1919-1923)
  • Shnayer Z. Kossoy z”l (1917-1918)
  • Joseph Genzer z”l (1915-1917)