Struggles and dreams to be found at VIFF

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…

Many faces of the political landscape

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…

Embracing cultural diversity with Vancouver’s international students

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…

Local fare goes global

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…

New Canadians and integration: 21st century’s challenges and successes

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…

Exploring new sounds at Vancouver’s summer music festivals

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…

Birdie, Set, Swat: a game of badminton

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…

Being Iranian means being together

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…

Surrey’s sister cities

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…

Podcasts deliver diverse programming to community radio listeners

In the last decade, podcasting has redefined broadcasting for radio stations, producers, hosts and listeners alike. For community radio stations, which offer exceptionally diverse and niche programming, podcasts have become an essential part of making their content accessible for their equally diverse listeners. Commenting on listener demand trends are affiliates from local community stations: UBC’s…

A Place to Call Home: where you were born or where your heart is?

Adventure and revolutions are catalysts for new beginnings. With the upcoming 17th annual Metropolis conference on immigration and settlement, a few Canadians born in different countries – from such diverse regions as the Philippines to Iran and central Europe – share stories of overcoming barriers and finding belonging and acceptance. While the events for coming…

Francophone arts, culture and education expand to new audiences

The francophone community in British Columbia is growing, with roughly 70,000 people whose first language is French, almost 30,000 of whom live in Vancouver, according to the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique. With the Journée Internationale de la Francophonie (International Francophonie Day) coming up on the 20th, March is an important month to celebrate…

Who is a feminist today?

Over a hundred years ago, Clara Zetkin pushed for an annual international event where women could demand rights and freedoms from their governments. The 1970s saw feminism rise in full force with the Women’s Movement and the new millennium has brought a general sense of gender equality in society. Clearly, greater equality has been achieved,…