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A Surrey-based organization, Genesis Family Empowerment Society, was formed out of a need for mental health services for newcomers. With several years of experience working for another large non-profit organization, founder and CEO, Ershad Fawcett, worked with children who were abused and adults who suffered from grief and trauma. While working, Fawcett found that counselling…
Pablo Godoy is the national representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Canada (UFCW Canada) and founder of Students Against Migrant Exploitation, or S.A.M.E. On Feb. 20, Godoy was the keynote speaker for the documentary Food Chain$, which showcased in Vancouver at KDocs, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s own documentary festival. The documentary Food…
Although Canada has a multicultural policy, not all perspectives are represented equally in literature. Annette Henry, a professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), has launched a speaker series highlighting Canadian black scholars to provide viewpoints from a black perspective. The series aims to change conversations about the presence of black people. Addressing issues…
The mass migration of Syrians fleeing their war-torn country has forced the international community to act urgently in response to the crisis. A panel of five Vancouver scholars and writers will contribute their perspectives and research on the issue in the discussion Migration or Escape: Journeys to Sanctuary on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at…
“It’s starting to show us a lot of things but it’s also starting to not show us a lot of things in terms of these types of algorithms, so it’s a new thing and what it’s going to turn into we don’t know,” says Peter Chow-White, associate professor, SFU School of Communication. SFU’s Spring President’s…
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…
Tiny numbers despite big expectations, at least until now. Since the Federal Government announced its plan to welcome 2,700 Syrian refugees in British Columbia, only 300 to 500 government-sponsored people have made it from the refugee camps to Western Canada. These are rough numbers that Rahim Othman, spokesperson of the Syrian Canadian Council, shared with…
Lightmetrics, an Indian-based tech start-up that invented an app capable of giving a 360-degree view of driving behaviour, came to visit Vancouver’s new Simon Fraser VentureLabs in early December 2015. Now Lightmetrics is ready to target the Canadian market. Lighmetric is one of the five winners of the Next Big Idea contest held by Zone…
Beneath the surface of New Delhi traffic lies acceptance. One might easily miss it amid the cacophonous honks, the strain of overworked engines and the veil of smog, but it is persistent. You find it on the face of every driver who is cut off (and honks) or crosses on red (while honking) or slices…
The newly appointed Poet Laureate for the City of Surrey, Renée Saklikar, incorporates her poet practice of place and community to connect people living in Surrey. “Being a Poet Laureate for the City of Surrey is both terrifying and wonderful all at the same time,” says Renée Saklikar. Saklikar, a local author, won the 2014…
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…
