Winnipeg Street to Be Named ‘Chabad Lane’

After two years of delay, the city is poised to allow a non-profit group to put a sign in a back lane in River Heights. The Chabad Jewish Learning Centre has been asking that a new lane near its campus at 1845 Mathers Avenue be renamed Chabad Street.

But city bureaucrats worried about the precedent that might set for other lanes.

At the city centre committee Tuesday, they’ll propose a “private, street-name type sign,” next to — but not at — the lane, calling it Chabad Way or Chabad Lane instead of Chabad Street.

The learning centre wanted the lane renamed to get better visibility from Grant Avenue.

In a report submitted to the committee, city staff cited private street signage at the Jewish Community Campus, 123 Doncaster St., as what could be accommodated.

The Request:

From: Rabbi Shmuly Altein
Sent: June 10, 2010
To: MYO-Mayor
Subject: Chabad Naming Proposal

Dear honorable Mayor,
Greetings and blessings!

Chabad Lubavitch of Winnipeg, established over 35 years ago by Rabbi Avrohom Altein, is a community-based non-profit organization, dedicated to providing a Jewish experience for every man, woman or youngster who walks through its doors in a non-judgmental way, regardless of background, affiliation, or level of commitment.

Since its inception, Chabad has introduced a variety of innovative programs, both social and educational, including a successful preschool, summer and winter camps, classes and lecture series, monthly Woman’s circles, community Shabbat dinners and Holiday workshops, attracting a diverse student body. However, all of its programs have been concentrated at its Sinclair Street facility in the Garden City area, in the North-End of the city.

In response to the sudden shift of the Jewish community to the southern part of the city, Chabad has increased its south-end programming with the rental of a storefront in River Heights and shifted its focus to meet the demands of a new generation with the recent establishment of the Chabad Jewish Learning Institute, which aims at developing and coordinating adult education, as well as facilitating young couples’ social programming.

Now, in a bold and far-reaching effort, Chabad has launched a $3.9 million dollar building campaign for a new centre in South River-Heights to meet the ever growing demand for programs and services. The new “Jewish Learning Centre” is scheduled for completion by December, 2010.

This is a monumental step in ensuring the vitality and future of Winnipeg’s Jewish Community. The life and growth of a community are dependent on its understanding and appreciation of its identity. The new Jewish Learning Centre will provide a wide array of inter-generational educational programs touching and enriching the lives of young and old, professionals and lay people, the affiliated and the non-affiliated, immigrants and long-time citizens.

At the new Jewish Learning Centre we endeavor to deliver premier Jewish education, outstanding excellence and superior programming for the entire Jewish community. With the recent removal of the railroad tracks behind Centennial Street, we had the unprecedented opportunity of purchasing the property and launching our current building project. Overall, we anticipate that these new developments to the landscape will have a transformative and beautifying effect on the neighborhood and will ultimately contribute to a family friendly environment.

As such, we are proposing that the alleyway be named either Chabad Way, Chabad Street or Chabad Lane. I hope you will consider our request.

Warm regards,
Rabbi Shmuly Altein
Jewish Learning Institute (JLI)
Chabad-Lubavitch of Winnipeg