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People often study for years to achieve the degree of professional experience they need to excel in their careers. However, all this effort can seem wasted when a person immigrates to a new country, only to find their credentials and experience are not recognized or not enough for the host country. Even in a place…
Rashid Sumaila, PhD, and Daniel Pauly, PhD, both of the University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, have been named 50th laureates of the Tyler Prize, an international award that recognizes individuals who have made inspiring and notable contributions to the environmental science, health and energy domains. The award, established in…
The theme for Black History Month 2023 is a reminder that Black people have valuable stories to share. These stories are an integral part of our history. Many stories go unheard or unnoticed, so this theme feels especially important to highlight the stories of Black people in Canada. At every single Black History Month event…
“Have you ever felt nervous about speaking to someone or out loud in a classroom because of your accent? I have, and I still do. All the time. This annoying feeling has a name: it is called linguistic insecurity,” says Marie-Eve Bouchard, an assistant professor of sociolinguistics for the Department of French, Hispanic & Italian…
As part of its mandate, UNESCO has launched a global dialogue to provide guidelines for regulating digital platforms, to fight disinformation and hate speech and protect freedom of expression and human rights. The high point will be an international conference organized at the Organization’s Paris headquarters on 21–23 February. This will result in the presentation…
Learning a new language can be a daunting task for many, but a recent study by University of British Columbia (UBC) English professor James Stratton, suggests that understanding language history may hold the key to more effective language learning. Stratton, a historical linguist who works on second language acquisition, is not alone in finding language…
Community support and economic solidarity are alive in Surrey in a safe, respectful and welcoming space for those committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and challenging traditional concepts of work. Founded in 2015 and launched in 2017 in the Whalley area of Surrey, Solid State Community Industries is a working cooperative with approximately 19 different cohorts…
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February (February 1–7) after General Assembly designation in 2010. Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith…
In their public conversation on Jan. 26 entitled “Homelands: Exile and Return,” Amyn Sajoo and Kamal Al-Solaylee will delve into that feeling of belonging and the yearning immigrants have about returning to their homelands. Al-Solaylee will look to unpack these restless quests, including his own. Sajoo, a term lecturer and scholar-in-residence at SFU, and Al-Solaylee,…
I grew up in Peru, and often visited my grandparents in the Andes mountains. My grandmother was a wise woman. She didn’t know how to read or write, but she was rich with traditional knowledge. We hiked together to find medicinal plants. I helped her deliver babies. She impressed upon me the power of nature and…
Will the rabbit bring in a tamer year? Associated with peace, longevity and prosperity across Asia, the rabbit is a symbol of hope. The Lunar New Year has been celebrated at the time of the new moon since 104 BC, during the Han dynasty, when a date on the traditional Chinese calendar was chosen to…
Released last December, a new study, entitled Perceptions of shared values in Canadian society among the immigrant population, compares the proportions of Canadian-born people and immigrants who believed that Canadians share values to a significant extent. These values represent the democratic norms or standards that provide a basis for social inclusion in a diverse society, providing…
There is little doubt that society is politically polarized over many dimensions of environmental protection. There has been a widening gap in recent years between conservative and liberal voter support for government spending on environmental protection, belief in climate change and support for climate policy. Research suggests conservatives tend to be more enamored of capitalism…
