How climate change is impacting older women

Older women can come to the table to tackle inclusive climate change solutions. Recent heat waves around the world are reminders of global warming and its detrimental impact on our health and well-being. At the same time, Canada is on track to become a super-aged society with older adults constituting 20 per cent of the…

Investing in Indigenous youth and forests

Canada’s Forest Trust (CFT) and Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP), part of Dexterra Community Initiatives (DCI), have drawn up a partnership in order to build powerful relationships with Indigenous communities and youth in Canada. Through this partnership, CFT and OYEP will collaborate on their shared goals of supporting Indigenous youth through engagement, leadership opportunities and…

Orange Shirt Day – a look back

For several years now, Orange Shirt Day and its call for justice, ‘Every Child Matters’ has been commemorated by Canadians to honour Indian Residential School survivors, the children who never made it back home, their families and the broader Indigenous community who still bear the scars from a legacy of harm. The Truth and Reconciliation…

Global citizenship and its Canadian award

“Adrienne Clarkson asked me to create the medal for the Prize for Global Citizenship. I had the idea of bringing together the world of creation with that of the great mythological winged deities. Sedna is the Inuit goddess from whom all creatures of the sea spring. Atalanta, Nike, Lilith and the winged bearers of souls…

Family diversities framework

Developed by the Vanier Institute of the Family through consultation with academic and government policy partners, the Family Diversities Framework is a roadmap for understanding family diversity. Based on three intersecting lenses – of Family Structure, Family Work, and Family Identity – the framework provides a focal point for discussion, knowledge creation, and decision-making to…

A fresh look at immigration policies

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,…

Nchem?u?s Day – A day of fun, Indigenous style

North Vancouver’s Presentation House Theatre will host Nchem?u?s Day, an afternoon to celebrate Indigenous culture with food, music, shows and indoor and outdoor activities on the grounds of the theatre. Nchem?u?s Day, happening on Aug. 25, is open to people of all backgrounds, although some activities may be more suited for adults. To Keith “Bubbas”…

Can robots be good therapists?

Using therapeutic robots to support people’s needs is a rising field of research in healthcare. Designing them for best results, however, is more than an engineering problem according to Paul Bucci, a Computer Science PhD student at UBC. A variety of robots are currently available for assistive care. PARO, a white baby seal robot from…

British Columbia’s Polish community stands in solidarity with Ukraine

The Polish community has been diligently working to help Ukrainian refugees by raising funds via different means. Polish organizations under the Canadian Polish Congress have done some incredible work fundraising for Ukraine. In the month of March, the St. Casimir’s Polish Catholic Parish in Vancouver raised a remarkable $22,000 for Ukraine. The White Eagle Polish…

Better Connected – Girlpower in the age of social media

Social media is being re-defined by younger generations as a tool for positive activism, and the movement inspired mother-daughter team, Tanya and Julia Kyi, to write the children’s book Better Connected (Orca Books Publishers, 2022). “The good things I saw Julia and her friends accomplish on social media sparked the idea for this book,” explains…

Finding a purpose in climate change reform

Climate change is a problem that is both multifaceted and universally impactful to the current and future generations of society. Learning about this ongoing crisis and drawing lines to minimize our community’s carbon footprint is what the Vancouver Public Library and UBC Climate Hub’s workshops are all about. “We believe connection is crucial for bringing…