Empowering women and girls in science

Priscilla Shumba had an unfulfilled dream when she left her home in Zimbabwe for college life in Canada. “I wished I could be a biologist. I was really interested and did well in that,” says Shumba, now a business graduate from Columbia College. She is applying for further study, but the major will most likely…

World Radio Day promotes democracy and diversity

Five years ago, in 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed February 13 World Radio Day. The UN hoped to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; and to enhance networking and international cooperation among…

Youth for a sustainable future

Youth empowerment and sustainability are two goals that Vancouver’s civic institutions often aim to improve. But how do the two interrelate? The Source talked to four motivated activists, each striving in different ways for the inclusion of Canadian indigenous and non-indigenous youth in policy making, to see how they envision youth engagement in 2018. Building…

A year in review – Tales of Canadians making a difference

As Canada celebrated its 150th birthday The Source Newspaper reported on Canadians making a constructive change to the country they call home. Movements and protests supporting vulnerable citizens and exhibits and performances giving voice to marginalized histories were covered, as well as progressive projects and inventions designed to improve our environment and social well-being. “The…

Building community connections through words and deeds

The 2016 census data released this year reveals that roughly one in five Canadians are immigrants and that more than 21% of Canadians identify a non-official language as their mother tongue. How can Canadians overcome linguistic and cultural differences to find common ground and a sense of community? “It is more important than ever for…

Solutions-based media for our communities – Media Democracy Day

Media Democracy Day 2017 will take a more solutions-based view on journalism. As part of the Media Democracy Project in partnership with SFU’s School of Communication, the free event will be held Nov. 18 at Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch. Media Democracy Day (MDD) is an annual conference, bringing together several smaller media outlets that…

Social challenges of language diversity

When Andy Yan was born in Vancouver, his parents made the decision to teach him Cantonese, their heritage language, as well as English. Bilingualism, which wasn’t common at the time, turned out to be an asset for Yan. Now a senior city planner, Yan fills the gaps between Chinese and English-speaking communities. Few have the…

Vancouver Writers Fest – 30 years of including contested identities

Hundreds of international authors and book lovers will be celebrating the 30th birthday of the Vancouver Writers Fest, this year again hosted on Granville Island from October 16–22. Jónína Kirton, David Chariandy and Ayelet Tsabari are three Canadian writers who will present their literary works throughout Granville Island’s many venues. A common thread through most…

Documentarists hit home(s) at VIFF

This year’s Vancouver International Film Festival features several documentaries that touch on subjects such as family relations, self-expression and preserving culture. Here are three directors The Source spoke with about their films. Shut Up and Say Something As an admirer of spoken word artist Shane Koyczan’s work, director Melanie Wood was happy to work on…

Libraries welcome newcomers with open arms

Language barriers and social isolation are among several factors newcomers may experience as they settle in their new environment. Local libraries have developed programs tailored to those needs, such as language clubs and referral services. Libraries in Surrey, Burnaby and Coquitlam offer outreach programs such as interactive ESL and volunteer programs to help them navigate…

Adapting foreign degrees to local requirements

Benjamin Franklin once said that ‘an investment in knowledge pays the best interest,’ and many studies show that higher education levels generally lead to higher incomes. But how much must be spent, in both time and money, before skills and training pay dividends? For new Canadians, the investment could be costly. Investing in knowledge “Recertification…

A Scandinavian love of food

The Scandinavian Community Centre’s annual feast is approaching and Carina Spencer, the Centre’s president, shares a few memories of childhood fare. Spencer, who first came to Canada as a visitor from Sweden in 1996, moved to Vancouver after marrying her Canadian husband. Although her family is what she misses the most from home, Swedish food…

Summer festivals promise fun and entertainment

From jazz to cosplay, young artists and students add their own sense of creativity to the Lower Mainland’s summer festivals. Reinforcing the region’s cultural diversity, artists such as Jory Kinjo and Kaya Kurz will play at the Surrey Fusion Festival and the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival respectively, while a team of UBC Masters of…