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As the year winds down, people look for signs of divine intervention to give them inner strength. Simbang Gabi, a nine-day (novena) series of Masses in honour of Mother Mary, is a cornerstone of the Filipino community’s celebration of Christmas. “[Simbang Gabi] encompasses everything the traditional Filipino [culture] is: religious, fun, community,” says Mike Guia,…
World Arabic Language Day returns on Dec. 18, commemorating the 1973 decision to make Arabic one of the official languages of the United Nations. For Nesrine Basheer, assistant professor of teaching at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the language is an incredibly diverse one, particularly within its dialects. “The dialect is the language people…
The impressions of a community frozen in time is what inspired Guy Taylor to research the historical Finnish Settlement in Richmond known as Finn Slough. Winner of Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s 2023/2024 Robert Lemon Heritage Studies Prize, Taylor’s report showcases how the community’s development is intertwined with major aspects of B.C.’s history – immigration, labour rights,…
No chimneys here, but plenty of glögg, lussekatter, smorgasbord – and Disney. The Scandinavian Community Centre Society (SCCS) will host a diverse line-up of holiday events this month, including the long-standing Swedish tradition of Lucia (Dec. 14): which brings light, hope, and warmth to dark winter months. “It’s supposed to be a totally positive thing…
Recently appointed honorary consul for Kazakhstan in B.C., Darren Klinck, says that in addition to assisting Kazakh citizens and strengthening economic ties between Kazakhstan and B.C., part of his role is highlighting the rich culture of Kazakhstan and promoting cultural ties between the nations. Only the third of its kind in Canada, Kazakhstan opened the…
Vancouver Public Library’s (VPL) relatively new (2022) Indigenous Considerations for Newcomers to Canada (ICNC) program is designed to educate newcomers about Canada’s Indigenous history and culture. Taking the innovative program one step further and hoping to reach out to Vancouver’s broader Chinese community, VPL will be hosting the program in Cantonese for the first time…
How can AI experts come together to dispel the panic around artificial intelligence (AI); and promote an ethical, human approach to it instead? Simon Fraser University (SFU) hosts a panel discussion Nov. 26, “Shaping the Future with AI: Innovation in Visual and Interactive Computing.” The panel will feature experts on AI sharing their thoughts on…
“It takes a village to raise up a child. In case of newcomer children – it may take more than one village, and also extra resources and support,” says Valerie Lai, manager of Pacific Immigrant Resources Society’s (PIRS) Outreach, Family and Children programs. To help newcomer families adapt to their new home and their children’s…
As Vancouver’s multicultural landscape continues to evolve, the Lebanese community has woven itself into the city’s fabric, leaving a remarkable legacy. With the return of Lebanese Heritage Month in November, Dr. Nick Kahwaji, the honorary consul at the Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Vancouver, believes language is the key to preserving cultural heritage. “Language is…
“Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026 saw a significant decrease in immigration levels over the next three years, but that does not excuse Canada from fulfilling our humanitarian obligations,” says Katie Crocker, CEO of the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA). By overseeing more than 90 member agencies and hundreds of community…
“The future I see is very bright,” says Ish Kumar, manager of employment programs at the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society, referring to immigrant women’s participation in the trades. Through their Immigrant Women Trades Apprenticeship (IWTA) program, PICS provides opportunities for immigrant women to gain employment in five Red Seal trades. “120 women [are]…
Connecting people to nature through citizen science is an important first step in empowering local members to protect the region’s ecology. During Canada History Week this November, WildResearch, a volunteer-run organization in British Columbia, wants the public to engage with the nature around them. “Getting people involved in science, research, and conservation – particularly people…
National Grief and Bereavement Day returns on Nov. 19., encouraging discussion around access to grief and bereavement support. For Jason M. Brown, Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) first ecological chaplain, grief is a normal part of the lived experience. “Grief is a companion,” he says. “It is not something you have to pathologize…. but [something] to…
