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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…
With the third annual return of Hindu Heritage Month in November, Neeraj Kumar, founder and president of the India Cultural Association of Vancouver (ICA) is looking forward to sharing the cultural values of Hinduism to those within the community and beyond. Part of this work involves developing the first South Asian cultural museum or centre…
The United Nations International Day of Support and Care returns on Oct. 29 recognizing the ongoing need for both paid and unpaid care work. For Vic Gailiunas, coordinator of North Shore Community Resources (NSCR)’s caregiver support program, family caregivers face many challenges when seeking support – a key one being the difficulty in recognizing their…
Learn about the history of Indigenous veterans and participate in local Indigenous community events, encourages Randi Gage, a Vietnam-era veteran and the founder of Indigenous Veterans Day. This Nov. 8 marks the 30th anniversary since the day’s first commemoration. “Don’t be shy. Go there and find out what it’s all about,” she says. “It’s like…
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will commemorate Global Media and Information Literacy Week from Oct. 24 to 31. This event has been celebrated annually since 2011, highlighting the need to increase digital media and information literacy. This year’s event explores the theme of how new technologies, including generative artificial intelligence (AI),…
Canada has made significant strides in advancing gender equality over the years, and one of the key milestones we commemorate is Persons Day, celebrated on Oct. 18. It recognizes the 1929 decision from Canada’s highest court of appeal to include women in the legal definition of “persons,” laying the foundation for women’s greater political participation.…
