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Nigeria is currently in the international spotlight over the terrible events of the past three weeks. Two bombings rocked the capital city, resulting in the deaths of at least 89 people, and on top of that, more than 200 secondary school girls were kidnapped, plus another 11 girls this month. These events add to the…
Social activism at the local level and environmental sustainability on a global scale have a new visionary in Claudia Li.
Vancouver shows its appreciation for the contributions of its diverse communities by dedicating parts of the city to the celebration of their heritage.
Since 1998, Kinbrace, British Columbia’s first dedicated refugee claimants housing, has been providing affordable transitional housing to over 400 refugees. According to the organization, many of these newcomers from all around the world start their new life in Canada with meagre to no resources, and often struggle with the harsh realities of poverty, isolation and…
University of British Columbia (UBC) students can explore topics like their family roots through a new minor program that focuses on Asian migration to Canada. In February 2014, the UBC Senate approved a new multidisciplinary minor program, Asian Canadian and Asian Migration Studies, in the Faculty of Arts. According to UBC, the minor delves into…
What is the proper etiquette when one is invited to go to a party in Canada? What kinds of parties are held? How early to the party should one arrive? How late is acceptable? And how do people from other cultures host parties? These are some of the questions that can be asked and discussed…
The cultural artifacts you are bound to find on a visit to the Klahowya Village in Stanley Park are evidence of the historical presence and impact of Aboriginal communities in the Pacific Northwest. Gathering our Voices, a conference of Aboriginal youth held in Vancouver in March, brings together thousands of Aboriginal descendants who carry on this…
New Canadian citizens can look forward to learning more about their country’s arts scene, thanks to the Cultural Access Pass (CAP). The pass grants new Canadians free access to over 1000 of Canada’s cultural attractions during their first year of citizenship. “It gives a good introduction to the whole of Canada, different cultures and experiences.…
Yoga is one way Vancouverites socialize and relax, but another kind of treatment could release stress in a whole different way. West Coast Ayurveda, located in downtown Vancouver, offers different Ayurvedic treatments – based on an ancient naturopathic system of medicine – for every body type. “[Ayurveda] is the oldest, continually practiced system of medicine…
Female genitalia mutilation (FGM) rituals wound not just the young girl they are performed on, but also can tear at a nation’s basic social foundation. International Women’s Day is March 8, and reminds people about the struggles in seeking justice for both women and girls. But this year, a ground-breaking UN art show revealed the…
The Turkish community is reaching out to different cultural communities in the Lower Mainland through the fine arts. Mesut Orhan, folk dance coordinator at the Turkish Canadian Society (Society) says that because of the location of Turkey there are multiple ethnicities that make up the Turkish culture. This diversity makes Turkish immigrants to Canada uniquely…
Between 1881 and 1885, about 17,000 Chinese men came to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. They were paid less than other workers and had to live in poor conditions. In 1885, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, which mandated that all Chinese entering Canada must pay a $50 fee; this fee was…
In 1988, the Parliament of Canada passed the Canadian Multiculturalism Act to “promote the understanding and creativity that arise from the interaction between individuals and communities of different origins.” However that mandate was already the focus of one man who started an organization in the Lower Mainland the year before. Charan Gill is the CEO…
