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“Canada is like a beautiful painting made up of different colours,” says Farid Rohani, a life member of the Laurier Institution in Vancouver. Tolerance, inclusiveness and openness are just a few examples of the values that always distinguished Canadian society in the world. But with immigration policy changes under the last government, giving more importance…
As for any culture, creating a new reality from a more traditional, and sometimes stereotyped, community brings challenges and opportunities. Three Muslim Canadians, Khalil Jessa, Taslim Jaffer and Özlem Sensoy, are finding creative ways to express the complexity of their identites. Khalil Jessa, founder of Salaam Swipe, wants people to meet. A native of South…
For the past 27 years, the British Columbia Writers Festival has been bringing people together through the love of reading. This year, more than 100 authors, poets, spoken word performers and graphic novelists will gather to share their stories at this 28th annual event, which takes place Oct. 20–25 on Granville Island. Two authors share…
Vancouver is home to people from all over the world, but international workers and students often stay only temporarily and are not eligible to participate in political decision-making. SFU Masters student Alexander Beyer and temporary work permit holders Eduard Barcélon, Yulia Hadi and Kirstin Kreuder open up about their approaches to politics in Canada and…
In some parts of the world, 10-year-old girls are being married off. In other parts, during times of political instability, musical, cultural and historical elements are brought together as a way of storytelling. I am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced and The Dream of Shahrazad are two films screening at this year’s Vancouver International Film…
According to Elections Canada statistics, while visible minorities remain underrepresented among electoral candidates, minorities have expanded their presence among the ranks of candidates and MPs in recent elections. In the 2011 federal election, 28 visible minority MPs were elected (9.1 per cent of all MPs) up from 2008, when 21 visible minority MPs were elected…
Vancouver’s post-secondary institutions draw students and faculty members from all over the world. SFU Masters’ student Daniel Mundeva, UBC Masters’ student Yimei Li, and UBC PhD candidate Felix Boeck relate their experiences of studying and working in Vancouver. Daniel Mundeva, who completed his undergraduate degree in Geography at UBC, is currently working towards an MA…
Be it Italian Day, the Buskerfest or night markets, food plays a significant role in the lives of Vancouverites. While sushi is certainly one of the most popular dishes in town, the city’s culinary scene offers much variety. Michelle Ng, food lover and founder of Vancouver Foodie Tours, says the culinary cuisine has changed a…
As Canada prepares to celebrate its national holiday, the country finds itself no longer one of the top five countries in terms of policies that promote immigrant integration, according to the latest report by European think-tank Migration Policy Group. Yet policy is only one part of the story, says Alden Habacon, director of UBC’s Intercultural…
This summer, Vancouver’s music festivals present a unique opportunity for audiences to expand their musical palate, featuring performances by both local and international artists that span a multitude of multicultural genres and styles. Major musical events include the 38th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach Park from July 17 to 19, the TD…
Badminton, according to two local coaches, is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer. Vancouver offers many clubs and sports facilities for people of all ages and skills to play badminton, whether recreationally or competitively. Yet, in Vancouver, the majority of badminton players are of Chinese descent. Ram Nayyar, born in Edmonton…
In May, Canada’s official Asian Heritage Month, the explorASIAN festival will celebrate art and culture from all parts of Asia with many different events. Vancouver’s Iranian community will mark the occasion with events featuring Persian art, poetry and more. Yet, for Iranian Vancouverites, maintaining their cultural identity is a year-round effort. There are, however, also…
This upcoming July 8 will commemorate the 28th year of Surrey’s sisterhood with Zhuhai, China. Since the relationship’s inception, Surrey and Zhuhai have shared a fruitful, symbiotic partnership that has only grown throughout the years. Zhuhai, named one of China’s cities with the Highest Sense of Happiness, also tops the list of China’s Most Sustainable…
