IMMIGRANTS FACE AN ID CATCH-22
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BLEAK SUMMER ON COASTAL FERRIES
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BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCH TIPS
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The planned redevelopment of the Intercity Motel is good news, says Diane Gillis. See Page A3
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 27 2014 www.burnabynewsleader.com
Frustration grows as Labour Day approaches Mario Bartel
photo@burnabynewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Lubna Ali shows off some of her favourite Sudanese treasures, including a traditional dress, a beaded candy dish in the colours of the Sudan flag, and bottles of Sudanese perfume.
Healing Sudan’s wounds through culture Mario Bartel
photo@burnabynewsleader.com
Lubna Ali is tired of hearing bad things about her homeland, Sudan. Instead of civil war, terrorism and famine, she’d like people to learn about the unique beauty of the confluence of the Nile and Blue rivers in Khartoum, and the vast game preserves that protect African wildlife like the rhinoceros and gazelle. She’d like people to look past the refugee camps that skirt Sudan’s borders and see a civilization older than Ancient Egypt.
So Ali has organized the first a fundraiser with dancing to the Sudanese Culture Day to be held on live music of the Sudan/Canadian Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 fusion musician Sudanda. All p.m., at the Alan Emmott Centre in the money raised from the $10 South Burnaby. admission to that event will help The free event will support work feature Sudanese being done in cultural displays, Sudan by the Lubna Ali music, arts and Bikmakaly Women Kids want to learn the crafts. There will be Canadian way, but it’s Empowerment Sudanese products Organization. important to educate them about the Sudanese culture. like perfume and Ali said she hopes Sudanese food like the culture day will eggplant salad and crunchy, salty also help bring the local Sudanese donuts available for purchase. community together, as many of the From 6 to 10 p.m., there will be 3,000 ex-pats now living in Metro
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Vancouver brought with them their political loyalties that divided their homeland. “We are a huge community, but we are separated,” said Ali, who left Sudan 14 years ago. “We don’t have to bring our problems to B.C.” Those problems include three civil wars that have scarred the country since 1955, killing more than three million civilians and sending more than five million fleeing to the safety of refugee camps. Ali said a celebration of Sudanese culture transcends differences. Please see SUDAN, A4
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With the scheduled beginning of classes only days away, teachers are again walking the picket lines at all of Burnaby’s schools. And frustration is rising amongst the teachers and parents as the labour dispute between the province’s teachers and government drags on into a fourth month. Shyamala James, a teacher at Windsor elementary, said she’s feeling anxious at two levels. She wants to be in her classroom this week, preparing to welcome back her students, sorting teaching materials, making lesson plans. She’s also stressing about what to do with her own two children who are supposed to be entering kindergarten next week. “It’s been stressful all summer,” said James, one of three teachers standing in the shade of a tree in front of Windsor elementary on Monday. The uncertainty over the new school year has also been difficult financially, said James. With no paycheque since the dispute began last spring, and no prospects for another any time soon, she said she took on summer work as a pharmacy technician to help pay the bills. see GOVERNMENT, A3