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An izakaya, which translates to “stay” and “sake shop,” is a lively and informal bar that serves Japanese fusion cuisine in tapas style. Izakaya restaurants have been opening at a rapid pace all over the city, claiming a spot in Vancouver’s diverse culinary scene. Traditional izakayas are vibrant places where customers are welcomed into the…
Elinor Barr, a researcher on Scandinavian immigration to Canada, launched last month a comprehensive new historical book at Vancouver’s Scandinavian Community Centre. Swedes in Canada: Invisible Immigrants is the first comprehensive overview of Swedish-Canadian history. Born in Ignace, Ontario to Swedish parents, Barr, 82, lived in Port Arthur and Fort William, where she worked as…
December 10 marks International Human Rights Day. In light of this upcoming event, Audrey Siegl, a Musqueam First Nations member, reflects on local human rights challenges in Vancouver and her role in shining a spotlight on these issues. A menu of words easily describes who Siegl is: Anti-poverty activist. Feminist. Artist. Role model. These words…
Hunger is a growing issue in Canada. Data from Food Banks Canada indicate that hunger is increasing, affecting low-income people, but also new immigrants who struggle more than others to find employment. The Richmond Food Security Society (RFSS) has begun a research project that aims to understand the issues facing ethnic and cultural populations and…
In an interview for The Source, Teresa Wat, Minister for International Trade and the Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism, talks about multiculturalism in Canada based on her personal experience. Wat believes that communication between groups is essential in promoting multiculturalism. “We should take advantage of the leverage of diverse communities as…
On Oct. 29, 2015, Turkish Republic Day, Vancouver celebrated the opening of the first Turkish Consulate to exist on the West Coast of Canada. During the ceremony, the newly appointed Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Vancouver, Anil Bora Inan, also commemorated the 92nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic. The Turkish…
Beyond the clichés of Ikea, Santa Claus, Vikings or blonde girls, Nordic communities have for several generations played a little known role in shaping Canadian life. Through upcoming events, such as the Norway Craft Fair and a Wood Carving workshop on Nov. 1, the Scandinavian Community Centre in B.C. strives to keep Scandinavian culture alive.…
On Oct. 31, the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre will screen the film Right to Remain, a documentary part of the Revitalizing Japantown? exhibit, which explores how present-day human rights issues of the Downtown Eastside are connected to the area’s legacy as a Japanese-Canadian locus. The Right to Remain exhibit is intended to be…
I Belong, a program that assists Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) immigrants and refugees with integrating into Canadian society, celebrates its one year anniversary this month. Launched in 2014 as a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) pilot, the program was inspired by a transgender client and a settlement worker who were both struggling…
The Youth Action Gathering, put on by MOSAIC (who is a member of the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Services Agencies of BC – AMSSA), the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) and the Vancouver Foundation brings young refugees and immigrants. “This year the CCR has asked for a partnership between MOSAIC and Vancouver Foundation’s Fresh…
For refugees dealing with a new land and memories of past ordeals, learning English is notoriously difficult. Thankfully, there are those who want to help and none are more strong willed than the English teachers who help refugees communicate the past and discover their future. Kue Bway was born in a UN-run refugee camp on…
Ever since the second half of the 20th century, Brazilians have immigrated to Canada. According to the Consul General Ernesto Rubarth, the Brazilian community in Vancouver comprises primarily highly educated professionals and students who integrate into Canadian society while keeping their traditions alive. “The number of Brazilian students who come to Vancouver to study has…
Remaining faithful to traditional ways while maintaining a new lifestyle through forced assimilation in a new land is a common struggle for new immigrants. Recounting a long and complex past, the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre presents a walking tour of Kitsilano’s pre-war Japanese Canadian community on Sept. 12. “It’s a completely virtual tour,”…
