Burnaby Now - Welcome Spring 2010

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burnaby

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new westminster

Spring 2010

Welcome

a special magazine committed to building bridges in immigrant communities and inclusion in Canadian society

Putting faith into action Communities United in worship and service to others

Under the Mango Tree resources for new immigrants |

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One woman’s journey

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editor’s letter

contents

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In the News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a family affair.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

law talk.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . reaching out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . reclaiming her roots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cover story.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . masjid al-salaam.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Resource Guide.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

World Tastes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . building success.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Welcome E ditor

pat tracy

D irector

of S ales & M arketing lara graham

L ayout

helen-louise kinton

C ontributors

alfie lau, niki hope, jason lang, julie maclellan, theresa mcmanus, iven k.s. tse, larry wright

A dvertising A ccount M anagers

cynthia hendrix, ruth lumsden, marney macleod, don michiel, cam northcott, terri rodger, mike wilson

P ublisher brad alden

P ublished

by

NOW Newspapers Ltd #201A - 3430 Brighton Ave, Burnaby B.C. V5A 3H4 www.burnabynow.com www.royalcityrecord.com

More than words Groups putting faith into action pat tracy

They are often the quiet, unsung leaders in our communities. The ones who offer asylum, a shoulder to cry on, a hot meal or a warm coat.

They do this because they care. And they care, in part, because their faith inspires them to - and because their faith offers support for those who follow a path of kindness and compassion.

The religious institutions and places of faith and worship that call New Westminster and Burnaby home are manifold, representing Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and others.

They are building communities of people who come from all around the world, with diverse backgrounds, cultures, languages and lifestyles, united by a common faith.

It’s impossible to underestimate the positive impact of that kind of unity.

Linda McQueen, secretary of Burnaby’s Gordon Presbyterian Church, may have said it best when she said: “I think there’s a feeling of unitedness with the whole world.”

And that feeling of unity doesn’t just exist within the four walls of a church, temple or mosque. It extends outward into the communities of New Westminster, Burnaby and beyond.

Because each faith group shares the basic viewpoint that how we treat others counts for much - in this life or the next.

You may not agree with their belief systems. But we all have to agree that, if there’s one thing that makes a difference in the world, it’s how we treat one another.

You may express this through the biblical Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” or through the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad: “What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the wrongs of the injured.”

But, however you express it, it is this concern for one another that makes a community a better place to live.

In this edition of Welcome magazine, we’ve taken a closer look at just a few of the faith communities in the city and how they are welcoming new immigrants while helping to build a stronger community for us all.

In St. Alban’s, in Gordon Presbyterian, in Masjid Al-Salaam - as in countless other houses of worship throughout our city - “faith” is not just a word.

cover photo : jason lang

It’s a way of life that’s making the community better for all of us. we lco m e

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people

In father’s footsteps Robin Dhir credits his father, Narinder, for showing him the importance of giving back alfie lau

When Robin Dhir thinks about who his hero is, he doesn’t have to look far.

“My dad, Narinder, was named one of the top 25 Canadian immigrants by Canadian Immigrant magazine (last year),” said the Burnaby native. “I’m so proud of him. To think of how far he has come and what a great future he gave me and my two sisters, he really is someone I look up to.”

Narinder came to Canada in 1969 hoping to continue his career as a businessman.

Unable to find a job in his chosen field, he had to take a job as a manual labourer, painting and doing odd jobs. At the same time, he started going to school, taking business courses that would allow him to get an office job to support his family.

Robin Dhir outside the hindu temple in north burnaby that his father, narinder, helped to found.

photos: larry wright

Within a year, Narinder was hired by Bristol-Myers, a pharmaceutical and consumer products firm. He worked on the production line and steadily moved up the ladder, becoming foreman and then supervisor within three years.

“I think that’s what really sticks with me,” said Robin. “He was willing to make the sacrifice and start from the bottom up. My father has a lot of pride, and for him to swallow his pride showed us that working hard is something you should never be ashamed of.”

Narinder would stay with Bristol-Myers for 15 years, but, in 1985, he was contracted by the provincial government to put together a report on why ethnic minorities had difficulty doing business in the province.

Shortly after completing that assignment, Narinder started his own building maintenance company that employed 45 people and cleaned a variety of government and commercial buildings.

In the next decade, Narinder branched out into real estate development, starting Dhir Enterprises, which developed residential subdivisions, and then Twin Brook Development, which involved all aspects of development, construction and real estate management in residential subdivisions.

But it wasn’t all business that drove Narinder. He wanted to give back to the country that had given him so many opportunities, so his list of volunteer activities is almost as impressive as his work history.

Narinder has been involved with the CHILD Foundation, which raises awareness of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and liver disorders, for the past 13 years, and helped co-found the Punjab Non-Resident Entrepreneurs group.

BurnaBy Welcomes you!

Burnaby is proud to be an ethnically diverse community, and we are blessed with the rich cultural contributions from individuals, groups and organizations that add to the fabric of our society. mayor derek corrigan councillor pietro calendino councillor richard chang councillor sav dhaliWal councillor dan johnston

councillor colleen jordan councillor anne kang councillor paul mcdonell councillor nick volkoW

page 6 City of Burnaby ¼ page

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people

from page 5

Narinder has also served on a roundtable to address Indo-Canadian gang violence and has been a Canadian representative during business delegations to New Delhi.

“I’m very proud of having established something for a new generation,” said Narinder. “I think back to 1907, when we had our voting rights taken away, and now today, all ethnic groups are part of society.”

“As much credit as my dad gets, my mom should get equal credit,” said Robin. “Everything he’s done, she’s been an equal partner in.”

Robin, who now works with his father at Twin Brook, walked his own path before joining the family business. He worked at Kodak Canada as a senior business manager for five years before joining his father in real estate development.

“My father has taught me so much, and now I’m learning even more working with him,” said Robin. And while the business is one facet of Robin’s education, Narinder always impressed upon Robin the value and importance of charity.

Narinder was one of the founders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad temple on Albert Street in North Burnaby in 1972.

“That was the year I was born,” said Robin. “Our family still partakes in activities there, and it is a great community resource.”

“I remember when I came to Canada in 1969, I went to Robin Dhir. the doctor and asked if there was any Hindu temple close by,” said Narinder. “He said no, so I said, ‘Let’s start up our own temple.’”

Narinder had to take out a mortgage on his own house to help finance the temple, but that debt was paid off soon thereafter.

Walking with Narinder during this journey is Prem, his wife of 43 years.

“He’s always told us that we’ve been blessed to have the life we do,” said Robin. “This country has given us a lot of good things, and we have to give that back.”

To that end, Robin helped organize the inaugural A Night of Miracles gala last October at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel in downtown Vancouver.

The gala was the South Asian community’s first black-tie charity event, and all proceeds went toward purchasing a heart-lung machine at B.C. Children’s Hospital. It raised almost $80,000.

Free Safe Harbour Workshops for Burnaby Businesses Building welcoming communities starts with an understanding of diversity.

Did you know that more than 50% of Burnaby residents speak English as a Second Language and that Burnaby is one of the most diverse cities in all of Canada?

Burnaby Family Life and South Burnaby Neighbourhood House will deliver free (2 hour), Diversity Training workshops for smart, forward-looking businesses and organizations in Burnaby that are standing up for diversity and creating a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone, irrespective of their differences.

If your company or organization would like to provide your employees with an opportunity to increase their cross cultural understanding and win new customer loyalty, give us a call and we’ll organize a Safe Harbour workshop for you!

Call Rita at Burnaby Family Life – 604 659 2205 Call Kimberly at South Burnaby Neighbourhood House – 604 431 0400 | w e lco m e

law talk

How to keep your permanent residency status iven k.s. tse

C

onsider this scenario:You have finally obtained your permanent residency in Canada, and for months now you have yet to find a decent job.You still need to support your family, and your options seem limited and below your qualifications and experience.

You then receive a job offer from an employer in your home country, or your previous employer in your home country wants you back.

What are the risks involved in returning to your home country to work in order to support your family here in Canada?

There are many reasons why permanent residents leave Canada for an extended period of time. The problem comes when these people apply to renew their permanent resident status in Canada. What is the law in this area?

Canadian immigration law requires permanent residents to be physically present in Canada for a total of 730 days within a five-year period prior to their renewal. There are a few exceptions to this

rule – for example, if the permanent resident works overseas on a full-time basis for a Canadian company, or if the permanent resident accompanies a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who works full-time for a Canadian company overseas and who is their spouse or parent.

In the event the permanent resident breaks this rule and does not fall into any of the above exceptions, what are some of the factors that will be considered by immigration officers and the courts in any appeal? Here are some of the factors: 1. How long were you away from Canada?

2. What are your reasons for this absence from Canada?

3. What are your intentions to reside in Canada?

4. What efforts have you made to return to Canada?

5. How much time have you spent in Canada?

6. What is your level of establishment in Canada, including family, work and assets?

7. What hardship would you face if your status was lost because of this breach?

8. What is your degree of establishment outside of Canada?

page 8

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law talk

More protection for temporary workers

A

new immigration agreement signed by the governments of Canada and British Columbia is designed to improve life for temporary foreign workers.

Under the agreement (see related story on page 4), the province of British Columbia will have a greater role in helping temporary foreign workers come to Canada.

The agreement also helps to increase the protection of foreign workers in Canada. British Columbia will improve information for its temporary foreign workers concerning their rights as workers, their eligibility for British Columbia health insurance, workers compensation benefits, employer- or government-sponsored pension plans, and protection under the relevant provincial or federal occupational health and safety, employment and labour relations standards.

See more details at the Welcome B.C. website, www.welcomebc.ca - Source: www.welcomebc.ca

from page 7

9. What effect would this loss of status have on any children who are here in Canada?

Simply having family members in Canada is not enough to demonstrate establishment in Canada – the quality and strength of these relationships will be looked at by the immigration officer. Thus, infrequent contact or visits with family in Canada during the five-year time period will likely demonstrate a lower level of establishment to an immigration officer.

Similarly, working outside of the country on an indefinite contract will likely demonstrate an intention to remain in that country rather then demonstrating an intention to return to Canada.

A balancing act is performed ...

A balancing act is performed in determining whether or not an applicant will either lose or keep their status. Each factor should be thoroughly considered and documented, either before a decision is made to leave Canada or if you have already been outside of Canada for an extended period of time.

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Opening a gateway into Canadian life Program reaches out to newcomers

people Borjana slipicevic coordinates the new westminster community gateway program.

photo: larry wright

theresa mcmanus

Royal City residents are invited to help newcomers feel more at home in the community. And a new program is starting to make it easier.

New Westminster Community Gateway is a demonstration project of the welcoming and inclusive communities and workplaces program.

The program will be administered by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families.

“We are at the early stages,” said program coordinator Borjana Slipicevic. “We are working hard at promoting it and creating community connections. It takes time. There is a lot of interest, not only in the refugee and immigrant populations but in the general public.”

The program will see local volunteers visiting newcomers, welcoming them to the community, helping them to express their needs, find appropriate services and develop connections. It’s meant to serve as an entry point for newcomers to the city, offering guidance, referrals and assistance.

Slipicevic said the program will try to match volunteers with newcomers who share their first language. In some cases a shared page 10

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people from page 9

language won’t be possible, so they’ll try to match people with a good grasp of the newcomer’s culture.

The idea is that the volunteer and newcomer will meet a few times.

The volunteer won’t be a mentor but may help newcomers obtain the information that’s most relevant to their needs, whether it’s documentation in Canada or school and childcare information.

“We hope to inspire the whole community to give our newcomers an advantage of a local helping hand,” said Dawn Embree, program director at the Purpose Society.

Connecting with newcomers can be a challenge, said Slipicevic, noting some newcomers are hesitant to access services in the community or may not visit places where they can read newspapers or find brochures about the program. The program welcomes referrals from neighbours who may have met someone new in the neighbourhood.

We hope to inspire the whole community

“There are already some existing host and mentoring programs. We would refer them. We will have information about all those programs in the community that are available. We will not only inform people about services. Our volunteers will actually go to places with the newcomers,” Slipicevic said. “In many cases people have family here who help them through that. For those that don’t, we are here.”

Before their assignments, volunteers will participate in a full training program that includes topics such as employment, child care, taxes, heath care, education and more.

New Westminster Community Gateway is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming training sessions.

The group is hosting open houses every second Friday to give everyone a chance to socialize and find out more about the program.

“We would like to have people coming from different cultures. We would like to try and make it a little bit fun,” Slipicevic said. “This will be an opportunity for volunteers and newcomers to meet, as well as to meet staff from other programs. We will have people coming from other community groups.

It’s a good place to talk about resources, to access other services.”

New Westminster Community Gateway is one of two programs offered at the 12th Street office. Newcomer Youth Connections is also being offered by the Purpose Society at that location.

For more information about the program, call Slipicevic at 604-8892672 or drop by the office at 720 12th St.

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people

Reclaiming her roots alfie lau

V

eenesh Dubois knew something wasn’t quite right.

On the surface, she was a successful actress, mother and manager at the popular Anton’s Pasta Bar in North Burnaby.

But underneath her smile and cheery personality was a woman still trying to understand why she felt like something was missing.

“I’ve got a great life now, but it wasn’t always this way,” said Dubois.

“I’ve had a lot of pain and a lot of happiness, and that’s something I wanted to take to the stage.”

Veenesh Dubois used her childhood experiences with immigration as the basis for her one-woman play, under the Mango tree.

photo: larry wright

Under the Mango Tree, a one-person show written and performed by Dubois, was the winner of the Pick of the Fringe award at the 2009 Vancouver Fringe Festival and recently completed a sold-out run in Victoria. It has also completed a three-day run at the Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre in Vancouver.

It’s now scheduled for runs in Edmonton and Toronto, and the sky’s page 12

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF BURNABY, NEW WESTMINSTER, COQUITLAM AND PORT MOODY Please contact us for assistance with issues related to Federal or Provincial Government services

Bill Siksay, MP Burnaby-Douglas

4506 Dawson Street Burnaby, BC V5C 4C1 604-291-8863 Siksay.b@parl.gc.ca www.billsiksay.ca

Kathy Corrigan, MLA Burnaby-Deer Lake

150 – 5172 Kingsway Burnaby, BC V5H 2E8 604-775-2414 Kathy.corrigan.mla@leg.bc.ca

Peter Julian, MP

Burnaby-New Westminster

7615 6th Street Burnaby, BC V3N 3M6 604-775-5707 Juliap1@parl.gc.ca www.peterjulian.ca

Dawn Black, MLA New Westminster

737 Sixth Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3C6 604-775-2101 dawn.black.mla@leg.bc.ca www.dawnblack.ca

Fin Donnelly, MP

New Westminster-Coquitlam and Port Moody

1116 Austin Avenue Coquitlam, BC V3K 3P5 604-664-9229 donnef@parl.gc.ca www.FinDonnelly.ca

Raj Chouhan, MLA Burnaby-Edmonds

5234 Rumble St Burnaby, BC V5J 2B6 604-660-7301 Raj.chouhan.mla@leg.bc.ca we lco m e

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people from page 11

encounter in a new environment.

the limit for Dubois.

Kids at school were more fluent in English, boys were a whole different story, and, worst of all, there was no mango tree of innocence to retreat to.

“My hope is that when it runs in Toronto, people from New York and London get to see what a great story this is,” she said. “My dream is to take it to those two cities.”

Under the Mango Tree is a rollercoaster of emotional intensity that tells the story of when Dubois returned to her birthplace four years ago.

It’s the untold story of what uprooting one’s life and coming to a new country does to a family. Dubois experienced so many different emotions that they formed the spine of the story.

But to understand Dubois’ emotions, you have to go back to her childhood.

Her story begins in the late ‘60s, when, as a young girl growing up on a dirt floor in Ba, Fiji, she spent a lot of time in the village playing under a mango tree.

By 16, Dubois had to return to Fiji, not to the innocence of the mango tree, but to meet the man she was supposed to marry as part of an arranged marriage.

That marriage, along with another, failed, but Dubois did find love with her third husband, Ray, and the couple have been happily married for 15 years.

Dubois is now a mother herself, with three daughters: Reeta, 25, Monica, 23, and Kirin, 14.

And as happy as she was, there was something unresolved, and she sought closure when she returned to Fiji in 2005.

“I think I went back to find out what the mango tree meant to me,” she said. “And that’s when I started putting together Under the Mango Tree.”

She said the gathering place was where people would sit and eat their meals, play Veenesh Dubois in the opening scene of under the Mango music or tell stories. Dubois’ grandmother tree. would comb her hair, and, every now and Dubois discovered that what she thought photo courtesy of James Henley photography then, a mango, along with a child trying to was abandonment was the ultimate climb the tree, would fall. sacrifice of a parent.

That time represented innocence to Dubois.

“As a parent, you’ll do anything for your children, and that’s the The innocence would come to an end in 1970, when her father, Espanada Kisna, decided that a better life for his family meant immigrating to Canada.

understanding I got when I went back to the mango tree,” she said.

“And when I realized that, I started putting together Under the Mango Tree. I wanted to share that with people.”

Kisna took the road most immigrants take, working any and all odd jobs to pay the bills.

The one-woman play is, in Dubois’ own words: “A daughter’s love and yearning for her father. ... The story follows the letters that the daughter and the father exchange between one another.”

I went back to find out what the mango tree meant to me

“I remember my dad telling me how he sold popcorn on Granville Street and how he delivered Chinese food,” said Dubois. “I would tell him what was happening back at the village. It was very difficult for me.”

Dubois’ difficulties would get worse in 1972 when her mother and sister joined Kisna in Canada. Dubois was left behind to stay with her grandparents, and she wouldn’t immigrate to Canada until 1974.

“It was almost like losing my father,” she said. “I didn’t see him for those four years, and, instead of having great memories of being with my dad under the mango tree, I had letters from him. ... When I look back now, a lot of those feelings of resentment and abandonment come out of those four years.”

Dubois experienced many of the difficulties new immigrants 12 | w e lco m e

And when Dubois isn’t performing the play all across Canada, she can be found at Anton’s, where she’s trained her own replacement.

“My daughter Reeta fills in for me when I’m gone,” said Dubois. “I’m living my dream, and she’s helping me.”

“I’m completely in awe of what she’s done,” said Reeta. “Words can’t even express how proud I am of her.

“We didn’t know what to expect when the show started, but I’ve learned so much about the sacrifice my grandfather and my mom made. I’ve seen the show five times already, and I tell everybody they have to go see my mom.”

The one-woman play is, in Dubois’ own words: “A daughter’s love and yearning for her father. ... The story follows the letters that the daughter and the father exchange between one another.”

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cover story Faith builds strong communities Finding unity in worship alfie lau

I

magine how scary it is to come to a new country, not knowing anybody or any of the local customs.

For new immigrants, that’s reality, but one place where they always know things will be the same is in their place of worship.

“We welcome everybody who wants to come and pray,” said Rev. Faun Harriman of St. Alban’s Anglican Church on 19th Avenue in the Edmonds area. “We want to be the place where people can find security in life, a place where they can feel like they’re part of something bigger.”

Harriman has been a priest for eight years, first in Ontario and now with St. Alban’s for the last year.

It was a bit of culture shock for Harriman when she saw how diverse her new congregation was.

“We have about 120 people in our congregation, and there are some Africans and some Asians,” said Harriman. “What we all have in common is we’re Christians.”

Harriman said she’s learned so much from her diverse flock.

“From the Africans, they just have a real conviction that God is very present in their lives,” she said. “There’s just such a joy they bring.”

From the Asians, it’s entirely different in one aspect.

“The Asians are no less devout, but they are much more reserved,” said Harriman. “They are much more contemplative. ... What’s great for us at the church is we see how we can all be so different, yet we are all of the same faith.”

St. Alban’s also helps out immigrant faith communities that need a physical place of worship.

Daud Ali, chair of the Masjid Al-Salaam, the Burnaby mosque on Canada Way, is seen in the main prayer room. Behind him, on the second

Heiin Lim is one of 40 people in a Korean congregation that rents out St. Alban’s for services three days a week.

floor, is the woman’s prayer room.

“We didn’t have our own space, but this has fit our needs,” said Lim. “What I like about this is I like being part of a church. I like being part of this church.”

For the congregation at Gordon Presbyterian on Edmonds Street, having a 50-person Korean congregation has been very beneficial.

Lim said she’s been going to Korean services at St. Alban’s for about five years, and, while the faces do change, the numbers do not.

“To me personally,” said Lindy McQueen, secretary of Gordon Presbyterian, “I think there’s a feeling of unitedness with the whole world.

“We seem to have people come and go,” she said. “We’re always at around 40, but we do have new people who replace the people who have left.”

“We have people coming together who believe in the same thing, yet we all come from such different backgrounds. I feel so united when we have people from all over the world using our church.”

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cover story McQueen said there’s also a small group of Spanish people in their congregation.

“They may be small in number, but they are very exuberant,” she said.

It’s not just churches where the feeling of togetherness is prevalent.

At the Burnaby Mosque and Education Centre on Canada Way – the official name is Masjid Al-Salaam, with Masjid being Arabic for mosque and Al-Salaam Arabic for peace – chairman Daud Ali welcomes members come from all over the globe including Fiji, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Bosnia, China, Hong Kong, Egypt, Syria, South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Lebanon and the United Kingdom.

“There is a saying in our faith that we must pray five times a day, but there is even more reward when you pray together,” said Ali, who pointed out Friday is the day when Muslims come to a mosque to pray together.

Ali said seeing people from all over the world praying shoulder-toshoulder shows him how powerful being united can be.

“You really feel like you’re a part of something more,” he said.

The Burnaby mosque averages about 750 people who come to pray together each Friday, and those numbers are growing because of how the next generation of Muslims is doing.

“We are getting a lot more Muslims because when Muslim children marry outside (of the Muslim community), they are able to get their spouse to come into the Muslim faith,” he said. “We have a large number of converts from marriage, and that’s because we welcome anybody’s who’s sincere about learning about our faith and being a part of our faith.”

Top: The railings at the Masjid Al-Salaam in Burnaby include ‘Allah’ in script on the lower half of the railings. Bottom: In the prayer room, versions of the Qur’an are available for reading and contemplation.

photos: jason lang

Ali said the mosque’s community outreach programs also give them greater visibility in the community.

“We love to serve people less fortunate,” said Ali, who pointed out the mosque runs its own food bank.

“We also offer counselling services for people who want somebody to listen. ... As a community that believes in giving back, we never say no when the community asks for help.”

That’s something Harriman couldn’t agree with more.

“Part of our outreach is showing the community that we are a resource that can be accessed,” said Harriman. “When you come before God, you learn about humility and humanity and how you have to help those less fortunate.”

McQueen said getting out in the community also shows people help is not far away.

Rev. Faun Harriman leads the congregation at St. Alban’s Anglican Church. She said her ethnic parishioners add a different element to regular services, and she welcomes their energy and devoutness.

“I know how connected and united I feel within (our congregation),” she said. “If others see that and want to be a part of it, that benefits everybody.”

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cover story

Building a place of peace Burnaby mosque welcomes all alfie lau

W

hen the Burnaby Mosque and Education Centre at 5060 Canada Way opened in 2009, it was a curious addition to the area.

The main Burnaby fire hall was across one street, while a gas station and strip mall was across another. Burnaby Village Museum was off in the distance, and the never-ending barrage of cars coming on and off the Trans-Canada Highway was constant.

But once you step inside the officially named Masjid Al-Salaam and Education Centre – Masjid is Arabic for mosque, while Al-Salaam is Arabic for peace – you are transported to another world.

“Every day, we have people who pray towards Mecca five times a day,” said Daud Ali, chairman of the mosque.

Daud Ali, chairman of Masjid al-salaam, in prayer at the Burnaby mosque.

photo: jason lang

The first prayer is at sunrise, and the last one is at night. With the changing seasons, prayer times differ, but an overhead television has the prayer times for people as soon as they enter the mosque.

WELCOME from the New Westminster Public Library

The mosque, owned by the B.C. Muslim Association, was a labour of love and financial prudence that took more than a decade to complete.

The process began in November 1997, when local Muslims met with then-mayor Doug Drummond and asked for the city’s help in building a mosque in Burnaby. The city’s planning department suggested the current location, which was previously a gas station.

Within 19 months, the land had been rezoned, and, by May 2000, the local Muslim community had started fundraising and doing architectural work on the new site.

“We did not want to go to the banks and be issued a loan with interest,” said Ali. “We did fundraising ourselves, and we had an interest-free line-of-credit from the B.C. Muslim Association.”

Ali admitted that doing it this way meant it would take a long time to build the mosque, but he has absolutely no regrets.

“We wanted to do this right, and that meant being sensible both with the plans for the mosque and with the finances.”

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in November 2000, with excavation and construction beginning in January 2001. The mosque got its full occupancy permit on Jan. 21, 2009.

“Before we had the mosque, we had to go to the Tri-Cities or we had

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cover story from page 16

to use other facilities,” said Ali. “Now that we have a place of our own, it has been very nice.”

Outside of the daily prayer services, the mosque also offers a special room designed for confidential counselling sessions. There are also plans for a youth centre that will be equipped with exercise equipment.

Ali pointed out there are more than 10,000 Muslims in Burnaby.

On Fridays, when Muslims are required to go to a mosque to pray together, the Burnaby facility averages 750 devout Muslims.

The facility also provides services of a weekend religious school for children who want to learn about the Koran, Hadith (the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), the basics of Islam and the Arabic language.

“On Good Friday, we had 1,200 people,” said Ali.

We have a place of our own

The mosque was able to accommodate that many people because there are multiple prayer rooms.

On the main floor, the main prayer hall is for men. On the second floor, the women have their own prayer room. And in a separate room right behind the women’s room is the children’s room, where children can pray. More importantly, the women can pray without having to worry about their children.

The mosque also has established programs for adult education, computer classes and even courses and seminars on healthy cooking and seniors’ health.

The mosque also participates in an interfaith program, where it regularly partners with local churches, such as the Deer Lake United Church, Columbia Bible College and the Ahavat Olam Synagogue for joint events.

“We have a saying that prayer is good, but there is more reward when you pray together,” said Ali.

“We also believe in giving back to the community,” said Ali. He pointed out that the mosque also provides meat to local soup kitchens and to the Burnaby school district’s hot lunch program.

During the daily prayers, the congregation is asked to pray shoulder-to-shoulder, a task made easier by the fact the carpeting has rectangular squares that mark off separate prayer spots for each person.

“We also run our own food bank,” said Ali. “Every week, volunteers distribute groceries to needy families in the mosque’s parking lot.

Last December, we donated $15,000 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.”

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Genworth Financial Canada provides easy to understand homebuyer information about purchasing responsibly at www.HomeownershipHelp.ca

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resource guide

languages, community bridging, multicultural peer support and more. In Burnaby call 604-395-8000, in New Westminster call 604525-9144.

niki hope

ESL Outreach Program, provides classes at the Kingsway Foursquare Church at 4601 Kingsway. Call 604-871-7145.

ESL and preschool program for African women, a course sponsored

by Family Services of Greater Vancouver, with government funding.

The program is for African mothers with young children, at Olivet Baptist Church, 613 Queens Ave. Child care is provided. Call 604525-9144, ext. 3655.

South Burnaby Neighbourhood House, offers ESL and English conversation classes. Call 604-431-0400.

Immigrant Women’s Support Group, a place for immigrant women to share stories and strengths. Free child care provided, support group by donation. Call 604-312-3243.

New Westminster Family Place offers the Immigrant Grandparents on the Go Program on Fridays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the community room at Royal City Centre mall. A family support worker helps grandparents to become more comfortable and connected in their new country while playroom staff provide a fun learning environment for the grandchildren, aged newborn to six years old.

Call 604-520-3666.

Burnaby Welcome and Assessment Centre, offers guidance to families and their school-aged children, helping them integrate into the community and school. The centre features a language-testing centre, where students receive testing to determine placement levels for instruction. Settlement workers offer orientation into the school system, help accessing government services, workshops and counselling. Call 604-664-7230.

Burnaby Multicultural Society, offers drop-in ESL conversational classes on Tuesday and Thursday, for $2 (seniors free); free Internet access and more. Volunteer positions also available. Society is at 6255 Nelson Ave., across from Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre.

For registration or questions, phone 604-431-4131, ext. 27.

Immigrant Services Society of B.C. provides newcomers with a range of settlement services, including settling counselling in various

Welcome to Burnaby Public Library!

We offer FREE services to help you settle into your new life

• • • • • •

Information on local services, schools and government agencies English as a second language materials and conversation circles to help you practice your English Job search tours & resources Computer training Citizenship test information and study guides Children’s programs Phone 604-436-5400 for more information

18 | w e lco m e

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. provides a large number of services to newcomers in social services, employment, business and economic development, training and education and health care. Call 604-684-1628.

Burnaby Community Connections provides information about community services and resources in Burnaby and New Westminster.

Call 604-299-5778.

MOSAIC Settlement Services offers a wide range of services, including counselling in more than 20 languages. Call 604-254-9626.

Social Insurance Number (SIN). To work in Canada, you need a Social Insurance Number. Most immigrants apply for this shortly after they arrive in Canady. For more information, visit www.servicecanada. gc.ca/en/sc/sin/index.shtml.

Canada Child Tax Benefit, The Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. To be eligible, you must be a resident of Canada, and you or your spouse or common-law partner must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protect person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months. For more information, visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/cctb/ menu-eng.html.

W.I.N.G.S.: Women In Need Gaining Strength, an outreach program that offers support to multicultural women who have experienced or are at-risk of being abused in intimate relationships. The group offers multicultural women emotional support and connections to safe homes, legal aid, counselling and other outreach services. For more information, contact Roshni Vedamanikam at 604-521-1888.

ESL conversation circles, running Wednesdays at the Burnaby Public Library’s McGill branch. Some knowledge of English required; a librarian guides weekly discussion on everyday topics. No registration required. Drop in to check it out. Info: McGill, 604-299-8955.

Burnaby School District’s Welcome Centre helps new families with school-age children. Call 604-664-7230, for more information.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY Richard T. Lee, MLA

Burnaby Public Library www.bpl.bc.ca

Burnaby North Phone: 604.775.0778 Fax: 604.775.0833 richard.lee.mla@leg.bc.ca www.richardleemla.bc.ca

world tastes

A welcoming place alfie lau

W

hen Tony Obuck returned last year as a manager at Anton’s Pasta Bar, one of the few faces who recognized him was Harbans Sandhu.

Obuck had worked at Anton’s for five years in the early ’90s, but, when he had to make a choice between a career as a corrections officer and being a bartender, he chose the former.

“I did that for 10 years, and then I worked in security and for the liquor board,” said Obuck. “I haven’t worked here in 15 years, but when (owner) Tony (Mauro) asked me to come back, I was happy to come back to what I consider my family.”

At the first staff meeting to introduce Obuck to the 60 staffers at Anton’s, Obuck was nervous until he saw Sandhu’s smiling face.

“She was one of the few people who worked with me the first time,” he said. “The only difference now is that she was washing dishes back then and now, she’s moved all the way up to being the head daytime chef.”

Sandhu demurs when asked to speak, but Obuck is more than happy to talk about how she’s taken an opportunity and turned it into a career.

“I think what makes this place feel like family is the owner isn’t afraid to give people a chance to succeed,” said Obuck. “And he has the patience to see things through, and that translates down to the managers and the rest of the staff.”

Veenesh Dubois has worked at Anton’s for the past dozen years, and her story of immigrating from Fiji was the inspiration for her one-woman play, Under the Mango Tree, which opened to rave reviews at the Vancouver Fringe Festival last year. (See story about Dubois on page 11.)

Anton’s manager Veenesh Dubois, seen here holding the Anton’s special salad, is one of many people given a chance to succeed at the thriving North Burnaby eatery. The multicultural staff at the restaurant may serve Italian food, but their stories come from all over the world.

As Reeta and Veenesh try to tell their story, they also have to deal with the seemingly endless stream of customers at Anton’s. For a weekday lunch crowd, the lines start up 15 minutes before the doors open at 11:30 a.m.

The owner isn’t afraid to give people a chance to succeed.

“I know what it’s like to be an immigrant, not sure your English is good enough and just hoping to fit in,” said Dubois. “What Tony (Mauro) has done for me is he’s always encouraged me to pursue my dreams (outside of Anton’s), and anything I need, he’ll help me with.”

For example, Dubois’ successful play will be performed in Edmonton and Toronto this spring, and she won’t be able to perform her regular duties at Anton’s.

Enter Dubois’ oldest daughter Reeta.

“She’s worked here eight years now, and she’s moved her way up to being a manager now,” said Dubois. “I won’t say it was part of a master plan, but it has worked out that she fills in for me when I’m gone.”

“I’m happy to do it for her,” said Reeta, who’s engaged to be married later this year. “I appreciate the sacrifices she made for me when I was young, and now I’m able to return the favour and help her realize her dreams.”

The history of the restaurant begins in 1983, in a smaller location on Hastings closer to the Vancouver-Burnaby border.

Mauro opened with only nine tables in what can charitably be called a hole in the wall.

As business and word-of-mouth spread throughout the neighbourhood and the Lower Mainland, Mauro was able to expand to his current location in 1989.

“Good Italian food, large portions, staff members who care about the customer, that’s always going to work in the restaurant business,” said Obuck. “But the real secret to our success is Tony treats everybody like family, and that goes right down to the customers.

“We have so many people who come here regularly because it feels like they’re coming for their weekly family dinner.”

And while the food is predominantly Italian fare from the Calabria region, the customers come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.

“Look around this lunch crowd,” said Obuck. “There’s some Asian university students over there, there’s an older couple from Africa over there, and we have people who came from all over Europe.” page 20 we lco m e

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world tastes

from page 19

It’s not hard to see why people keep coming back because for our recent lunch, two of us shared Anton’s salad ($6.95 for a small and $8.95 for a large) and the linguine pescatore ($11.95).

“The linguine is a favourite of a lot of our customers,” said Obuck.

“And the salad comes with Anton’s special dressing.”

Of note is the fact we were the only customers not to leave with a doggy bag for the next day.

“You would have had one if you had each ordered an entrée,” joked Obuck. “The best thing about the big portions is you have another meal or a snack for later.”

Mauro hasn’t forgotten about people in need, as each Christmas Eve, Anton’s hosts a free dinner for the less fortunate.

The linguine pescatore at Anton’s features ample quantities of clams,

“All of the staff work for free, and we make sure people get a good meal, some socks and their kids get a wrapped Christmas gift,” said Dubois. “It’s our chance to give back to the community that’s been so good to us.”

And this year, Anton’s also got involved with a Peller Estates promotion where 25 cents from every glass of Peller VQA wine sold goes to a local charity.

Anton’s Pasta Bar is located at 4320 Hastings St. in North Burnaby.

It’s open from 11:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday and from 3 p.m. onwards on Sunday. For more information, call 604-299-6636.

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mussels, scallops and prawns. The portions are so large that almost every customer leaves with a doggy bag for a future meal. photos: larry wright

“We’ve raised $750 for the Make-a-Wish group already,” said Obuck, who said the promotion should continue through the spring.

people

Finding success through SUCCESS Organization helps newcomers get established in Canada alfie lau

It’s never been busier at SUCCESS’s Burnaby settlement office, and that has Ronald Ma smiling.

As the program director for SUCCESS Employment Services, Ma has seen a steady increase in people dropping in at 118 - 5021 Kingsway to work on their resumés, job search on the computer or speak to a counsellor about what the next best steps are to getting employed.

Ma, who has been with SUCCESS 19 years, the last 13 of them in the Burnaby office, said, “I’ve seen a lot of growth in what we offer our clients, and we are very successful.”

Ma said SUCCESS has a successful placement rate of almost 80 per cent, and, each month, it sees 1,200 people come through its doors in Burnaby.

Thomas Tam, Chief operating officer of SUCCESS, has spent 18 years with the organization and now helps lead its strategic growth. Here, he’s in the Burnaby office checking out some of the programs on offer to new immigrants.

Ma pointed out that the centre offers a friendly, supportive and nonjudgmental environment for job seekers.

“We like to think of ourselves as a resource, and if that means providing needs assessment, counselling or just a computer to work on, that’s what we’ll try to do,” he said.

Ma became acquainted with SUCCESS’s services as a new immigrant himself.

Trained as a social worker in China, he wanted to know whether his qualifications would be recognized when he came to Canada.

As he was getting the information from SUCCESS, an opening intrigued him, and he’s been with the company ever since.

“My job involves many of the things I used to do as a social worker,” he said. “We’re still counselling people, and we’re helping them prepare for their next job or their next career.”

Approximately 70 per cent of the SUCCESS’s annual operating fund comes from the three levels of government.

The remaining funding is raised through donations, membership dues, cost recovery programs, corporate sponsorships and contributions from the SUCCESS Foundation.

The SUCCESS Foundation holds two major annual fundraising events: the Walk with the Dragon and a gala dinner.

The foundation recently announced it will have a new chief executive officer, Clarence Cheng. page 22 we lco m e

| 21

people Ronald Ma, director of SUCCESS employment services in Burnaby, has almost two decades of experience with the organization.

Here, at his desk, he shows off the wealth of information at his fingertips, both in the manuals behind him and the computer in front of him.

from page 21

Cheng’s main job will be to develop one-year, three-year and five-year working plans to expand the operation of SUCCESS’s endowment fund.

The SUCCESS Foundation was incorporated in 2001 and is key to SUCCESS and its affiliated organizations as they try to better the community.

As for SUCCESS, it is also actively searching for a new chief executive officer because, on April 1, present CEO Tung Chan announced he will retire on Nov. 1.

“This is really my second try at retirement,” said Chan, who took the top job in 2006 after a 28-year career with TD Bank. “Many of the goals I set for myself and the organization have been achieved, so it is time for SUCCESS to move forward once again with a new leader.”

Whoever Chan’s successor is, that person won’t be expected to reinvent the wheel because SUCCESS prides itself on being the most accessible resource to new immigrants.

One of the major successes of the organization is its settlement department. SUCCESS assists immigrants in their settlement and integration into Canadian society and also helps immigrants overcome language and cultural barriers.

SUCCESS provides services in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Farsi, Punjabi, Hindi, Tagalog and Spanish.

Some of the programs they offer include direct information referral services; new immigrant services; public education programs; English language training; citizenship programs; a health and wellness centre; 22 | w e lco m e

photos:

larry wright

interpretation and translation services; an on-line Chinese info centre; and a legal advice clinic.

SUCCESS is also involved with the Gateway to Asia program, started in 2002. The program offers counselling and support services for new Canadians who are looking to start their own business.

In addition, the CANN airport reception service that SUCCESS helps operate is now at both Vancouver International Airport and Pearson International in Toronto.

Thomas Tam is the chief operating officer of SUCCESS, and he’s proud of the 18 years he’s spent with the organization.

“I’ve been lucky to have been involved with an organization that has been so successful for almost 37 years,” he said. “My job is to continue building on the successes that so many other people have helped achieve.”

SUCCESS, with more than 400 employees, has offices all across the province, with the Burnaby settlement service office located at 118 - 5021 Kingsway.

Louis Wong is manager of the Burnaby office and has been an employee since Day 1, Sept. 15, 1997.

“Every day is a new challenge, and every day is very rewarding,” he said. “We help so many people in so many different ways.”

SUCCESS’s successes are a reflection of the spirit of longtime executive director Lilian To, who passed away in 2005.

“Her spirit is still with us in everything we do,” said Wong. “From the corporate culture to the compassion to the hard work of all our employees, Lilian always stressed that our clients are our first priority. ... That spirit will always be a part of SUCCESS.”

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