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How did Indigenous communities historically view immigration to Canada? As immigration is predicted to rise in the following decades, it is important for fresh voices to join in on matters of global importance. Marking its 50th anniversary, the Immigrant Society Services of BC (ISSofBC) will offer, in a joint effort with the Ismail Centre Vancouver,…
They were relatively civilized middle-class Europeans who looked more like the family living next door than the refugees western nations had become so accustomed to seeing trickle across their borders. At least, that’s how Western news media and politicians depicted the Ukrainian citizens forced to flee their homes following the start of Russia’s invasion of…
Canada is responding as quickly as possible to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan by helping bring Afghan citizens and their families safely to their new home. We remain firm in our commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghan nationals, and our partnerships with provinces, territories and settlement service providers across the country are key to achieving this…
Although the North American film industry has been recently evolving toward being more inclusive, there is still a long way to go, especially for Middle Eastern actors. Vancouver-based actors Hani Mefti, Panta Mosleh and Mostafa Shaker discuss the daily challenges they face in their acting careers. The number of auditions and callbacks Middle Eastern actors…
“The news coming out of Afghanistan is about how women leaders are fleeing for their lives, and girls are being denied the right to education,” says Holly Benna, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society’s (PIRS) communications and marketing associate. PIRS, a grassroots organization focused on local action, is one of the few organizations across Vancouver and the…
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Bridge Program, which helps newcomer youth in Canada adapt to their new surroundings and set meaningful goals for their future, took on both common and unique challenges. Rachel Nelson, an associate director at the Office of Community Engagement (OEC) at SFU, who helps lead…
Immigrants have been an integral part of Canada’s mosaic cultural landscape for a very long time, and recently, innovative researchers have been asking some thoughtful new questions about the immigrant experience in the last few decades. How have changes and challenges in the new environment impacted their psychological wellbeing? How can policies help immigrants to…
Cultural disorientation can inflict strain on personal relationships, says Pooja Tuli, a certified intercultural competence facilitator and a mental health first-aider. “Couples often see that they are slowly moving away from their traditional cultural roles and adapting to the Canadian lifestyle,” says Tuli, who also has an academic background including psychology and sociology. She is…
In these uncertain times, it can seem overwhelming trying to keep track of the constant changes in rules and regulations set out by the province. However, for some, this task becomes increasingly difficult when language and systemic barriers are also at play. MOSAIC, one of the largest settlement and employment agencies in the country, has…
New research shows social circles of visible minority youth grow less diverse over time. Sean Lauer of the UBC Department of Sociology and Miu Chung Yan of the UBC School of Social Work published their findings on the social circles of minority youth in the Ethnic and Racial Studies journal. The study analyzed data from…
An upcoming two-part exhibition with a focus on its surrounding community, A Seat at the Table takes both a historical and a contemporary look at the stories of Chinese Canadians in BC. The exhibition, a collaboration between the Museum of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, aims for a more dynamic way of engaging…
When Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson and the city council headed off to Chinatown on April 22, 2018 to deliver a formal apology to the Chinese Canadian community for Vancouver’s history of exclusionary laws and legalized racism, it left a legacy. The apology itself was symbolic as Vancouver’s leaders left their seat of power at city…
Surrey-based non-profit organization DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society empowers newcomers and other diverse communities to build the life they want in Canada. Through efforts like the recent Bundle Up Campaign which provided warm clothes, food staples and more for local refugee families, it champions diversity and inclusion for all, with a clear message: everyone belongs here.…
