[Editor's note: This is the speech delivered by  Winnipeg lawyer John McGoey of Pitblado Law at the  B'nai Brith  Award of Merit Gala on Nov 21, 2011 at the Fairmont Hotel in honour of  Sandy and Robert Shindleman. For more information on McGoey, click here: http://www.pitblado.com/Profile/John-McGoey]

HONOURED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

AS YOU HAVE GATHERED FROM MY CO-CHAIRS HERE TONIGHT, ROBERT AND SANDY GREW UP IN A CLOSE FAMILY, CENTERED ON FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP.

IT WAS AN ENVIRONMENT RICH IN THE LESSONS OF LIFE - AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THOSE LESSONS WAS, AND REMAINS, RESPECT FOR OTHERS. THEIR PARENTS, EDDIE AND CLAIRE WERE WHAT PARENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE -- TEACHERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION. MOTHER CLAIRE'S INFLUENCE REMAINS TODAY A STRONG GUIDING LIGHT. THEIR DAD BOUGHT RAW FURS FROM TRAPPERS, BOUGHT AND SOLD CATTLE, BUILT A MEAT-PACKING PLANT, HOTEL, GROCERY AND OTHER BUSINESSES. EDDIE LEAD BY EXAMPLE. HE LEAD HIS FAMILY NOT ONLY TO SUCCESS IN BUSINESS, BUT ALSO TO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY THEY LIVED, WORKED AND ENJOYED LIFE SHOULD ALWAYS BE BENEFICIARIES OF THEIR HARD WORK.

ROBERT AND SANDY'S ENTREPRENUERIAL SPIRIT STARTED EARLY. SANDY OWNED AN ARCADE AND POOL HALL AND PROPERTIES WHILE A TEENAGER. ROBERT WAS RUNNING BUSINESSES AS A TEENAGER. TOGETHER, THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE VISION, DEDICATION, HARD WORK AND CAPABILITIES TO PRODUCE THE MAGICAL INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESS AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HELPING OTHERS.

THE LONG HOURS AT WORK IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS IN PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE WERE NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT AS A RESULT EACH OF THEM EARNED WHAT I HAVE LONG CALLED A TRUE "WESTERN" MBA - THAT IS THEY LEARNED ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS IN THEIR FAMILY’S STORE IN A SMALL PRAIRIE TOWN.

AFTER WORKING WITH PARTNERS AT 5000 COMMERCIAL REALTY GROUP WHOSE SLOGAN SANDY SAID WAS "IF THE SALS IS OPEN SO ARE WE", SANDY AND ROBERT STARTED SHINDICO REALTY. THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY. SHINDICO IS KNOWN IN REAL ESTATE CIRCLES THROUGHOUT CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. IT COUNTS LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS AND TENANTS AMONG ITS CLIENTELE. PRIOR TO SHINDICO’S INVOLVEMENT, MANY RETAILERS HAD EXPRESSLY SAID THERE WAS NO INTEREST IN COMING TO WINNIPEG. BUT ROBERT AND SANDY ARE GREAT AMBASSADORS, WHO CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO RAISE WINNIPEG’S AND MANITOBA’S PROFILE EVERYWHERE THEY GO. WHETHER IN NEW YORK, MOSCOW OR BEIJING, IF THE SHINDLEMAN BROTHERS ARE THERE, WINNIPEG AND MANITOBA WILL BE WELL-REPRESENTED.

THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ROBERT AND SANDY WERE RAISED, STRESSING FAMILY AND TEAM WORK WITH EVERYBODY HAVING A ROLE TO PLAY IS WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT. THEY LEARNED NOT JUST BUSINESS BUT SUCCESS, AND NOT JUST SUCCESS BUT RESPECT FOR OTHERS. TOGETHER, THEY CREATED ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY RESPECTED BUSINESSES WHOSE MOTTO IS APPROPRIATELY "SUCCEEDING BY HELPING OTHERS SUCCEED", SOMETHING THEY EXEMPLIFY IN BOTH THEIR BUSINESS AND PERSONAL LIVES.

ROBERT AND SANDY HAVE BEEN GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS TO MANY CAUSES INCLUDING, RECENTLY, THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE SHINDLEMAN AQUATIC CENTRE IN PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE. THE FAMILY HAS A LARGE HEART, AND SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP A FRIEND. FOR THAT I SAY THANK YOU.

MAY I NOW CALL UPON DR. FRANK DIMANT TO COME FORWARD TO PRESENT THE AWARD TO ROBERT AND SANDY.