Diversity Reporter Canada August 2015 by Diversity Reporter

Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations in town

Mango festival featured more than fruit

New in Town: My Milton I moved to Milton for love, but also to live.

FIRST MANGO FESTIVAL IN THE HISTORY OF CANADA

Martin Singh may become first white Sikh MP News east west

By Kulsoom sayed Mango-lovers were treated to a festival featuring the “king of fruits” at the Milan Banquet Hall. The idea of Mango festival was initially proposed by a very passionate entrepreneur and community-worker, Mr. Amer Rao and was given the form of an event by two wellknown not-for-profit organizations: United Canadian Pakistani Volunteers (UCPV) and Canadian Friends Front International (CFF). The event was designed especially for all mango lovers to enjoy Mangos is various kinds and forms: from Mango shakes to Mango Appetizers to formal Mango sit-down formal dinner. All Mangoes served at the event were from Pakistan, imported especially for this memorable event. The event also included Mango-shake drinking competitions, Mango sample testing, Mango giveaways for best dressed etc.

UCPV is a not-for profit organization run by young energetic volunteers under the leadership of Aryan Hussain. The vision and mission of the organization is to brand our country Pakistan. The volunteers are involved in various local charitable causes to better the community as well as help in fundraising for different causes in Pakistan. CFF is another well known and recognized not-for-profit organization that overlooks various projects overseas in Pakistan. Their most recent work in Tharparkar, Sindh was a big success where the organization raised funds locally and built a school for children as well as pro-

vided essential needs for people in Tharparkar. The project is called, “Hope for Thar Now”. It’s an ongoing project and the chairman of the CFF organization, MR. Abdul Hamid can be contacted for further information on how to get involved or donate money. After holding successful charitable events, both teams came together and collaborated to organize the Mango festival in Mississauga and bring something new for the community. In the event, both organizations shared their previous work and success they have made in the past in making a difference for hundreds of people and also about their future projects and goals.

TORONTO: Canada, which created history by electing the western world’s first turbaned Sikh – Gurbax Singh Malhi – as an MP in 1993, may create another record by electing a first white Sikh MP in the October 19 parliamentary elections. Martin Singh `Paaji’ , 42, who converted to Sikhism in 1991 and got baptized in 1993, is in the fray from Toronto’s neighbouring city Brampton which has the largest concentration of Indians – mostly Punjabis – in Canada. This fast-talking gora Sikh is the candidate from Brampton North for the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) which is leading in opinion polls.

Filipino Picnic Day

Friday August 14, 2015

Ontario youth awarded $5,000 scholarships for outstanding volunteer efforts in the fight against cancer

As youth volunteers with the Canadian Cancer Society, Rakhshan Kamran of Southwestern Ontario and Azana Hyder of Eastern Ontario, have made a significant impact against cancer within their communities. Thanks to the generosity of Gertrude Rellinger, a donor of the Canadian Cancer Society, the two high school graduates have each been awarded $5,000 scholarships for their post-secondary education. The scholarships were created in honour of Rellinger’s late husband, LeRoy. “Recognizing the hard work of youth volunteers by helping them with their education is a perfect idea. I would never have thought of that on my own,”

said Rellinger. “I was very happy to make the donation.” After losing his uncle to cancer, Kamran became involved with the Society’s advocacy and prevention work. Within his community and through provincial health groups, Kamran works to educate the public about the dangers of indoor tanning and tobacco use and advocates for better public policy. “Many of my peers didn’t understand the dangers that indoor tanning posed to their health,” said Kamran. “The knowledge I provided, along with the letters, postcards and demonstrations we initiated calling on the government to pass province-wide legislation banning youth from using tanning beds, will have a lasting impact.” Most recently, as a Big Tobacco Lies campaign leader, Kamran urged the Ontario government to pass Bill 45: Making Healthier Choices Act. The legislation bans the sale of flavoured tobacco -- including menthol -- and regulates the sale, use and promotion of e-cigarettes. It also requires menu labelling for restaurants with 20 or more locations. “The Society creates many opportunities for youth to get involved in the fight against cancer,” said Nicole McInerney, Senior Coordinator of Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. “Options include joining youth leadership councils, tackling advocacy and health promotion issues or participating in community fundraising initiatives.” The other scholarship recipient, Hyder, is being recognized for her leadership as chair of the Colonel By Secondary School’s Relay For Life event in Ottawa. Under her watch, the event has raised more than $198,000 in the past two years. It has also engaged more than 700 students and members of the community. “It’s rare to find an event volunteer who delivered the incredible results that Azana has achieved,” said Cam Whalen, Youth Program Specialist for Eastern Ontario at the Canadian Cancer Society. “She has earned this scholarship through exceptional leadership, dedication and enthusiasm.”

Money raised from Relay For Life events help fund life-saving research and the Society’s support programs within local communities across Ontario. Hyder and Kamran both plan to continue to be youth leaders in their communities. Each year the Canadian Cancer Society receives dozens of applications from youth volunteers who are making a difference in communities across Ontario. Recipients of the Gertrude and LeRoy Rellinger Youth Volunteer Scholarships are selected based on their contributions and commitment to the Society’s mission of eradicating cancer and improving the quality of life for people living with cancer and their families.

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Friday August 14, 2015

Mourners demand inquest, action over death in immigration custody

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Lack of Coroner’s inquest, and continued use of Ontario prisons for federal immigration enforcement sparks calls for change ToronTo - A petition initiated by 88 immigration detainees in the Central East Correctional Centre (CECC) in Lindsay and signed by over 1500 people will be delivered to Ontario Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Yasir Naqvi today, August 10th, Prisoner Justice Day, calling for a coroner’s inquest into the death of Abdurahman Ibrahim Hassan (Abdi). Abdi, a 39 year-old Somali refugee had been in immigration detention custody at CECC for three years when he was transferred to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and died on June 11th. The only known circumstances of Mr Hassan’s death comes from a short SIU statement saying that he died after being “restrained by officers”. Residents are also calling on Ontario to cut ties with federal immigration enforcement, and stop jailing immigrants without charges or trial on the federal government’s behalf. The agreement between the two parties is up for renewal in January, 2016. “Abdi was a friend, a brother, a son, and someone suffering from mental health illnesses, he deserved support, not three years of imprisonment without charges and trial and then death. Not only does Abdi’s death in immigrant detention in Ontario deserve a Coroner’s inquest, it’s actually required by law, what is taking so long?” says Tings Chak with the End Immigration Detention Network. “While a Coroner’s inquest will shed some light on what happened, Minister Yasir Naqvi has to take action now

to end use of Ontario prisons for immigration detention so that these tragedies don’t continue.” “Section 10 (4.6) of the Coroner’s Act specifies that an inquest must be called when death happens by unnatural causes and so it must take place but Abdi’s death is also a reminder that Ontario government has no business imprisoning thousands of people who have no charges and no trial, on the Federal government’s behalf. This is a completely unjust and unethical use of Ontario prisons and its resulting in deaths, it must end,” explained immigration consultant Macdonald Scott from Carranza LLP. “When we woke up [on June 12th] they told us Hassan died from a stroke. A newspaper said he was being restrained and died. We’re wondering who’s next. Am I next? Are my fellow friends my brothers here next who’s next ? We’re on immigration hold, you don’t know what’s gonna happen so you have the fear of losing your life, being assaulted or being forced to get on a plane. There’s a lot of concerns that we have” said T.R., one of the immigration detainees who initiated the petition. T.R. is a 27 year old father who has lived in Canada for 12 years, and has been in detention for 5 months. Abdi is the 12th person known to have died in immigration detention custody in Canada since 2000. Of them, at least six, Sheik Kudrath, Kevon OBrien Phillip, Shawn Dwight Cole, Joseph Dunn, Abdurahman Ibrahim Hassan and an unidentified man

are known to have died in Ontario provincial prisons. In 2011-2012, the Ontario government was paid $20,000,000 by Canada Border Services Agency to detain these immigrants. Ontario is thus profiting from these deaths, and these detentions are hugely costly to residents across the country. “Abdi’s death is proof that it’s not just policing agencies that refuse to accept that Black lives matter, but that Ontario prisons and the immigration system are also brutalizing and killing black and racialized peoples,” says Ellie Adekur-Carlson of the Network to Eliminate Police Violence. “Abdi, like Andrew Loku killed by Toronto police, was a refugee with mental illness, we need to make sure that these deaths do not continue, and those responsible are brought to justice.” August 10th is the 40th annual Prisoner Justice Day. The deaths of Edward Nalon on August 10, 1974 and the subsequent death of Robert Landers in May of 1976, both occurring in the segregation unit of Millhaven Prison, are the catalyst for Prisoner Justice Day. Prisoners in Millhaven Institution marked the first anniversary of Edward Nolan’s death on August 10, 1975 by going on a hunger strike and a day of mourning. Prisoner Justice Day was officially recognized as a memorial on August 10, 1976. Prisoners across Canada now mark August 10 as Prisoner Justice Day to mourn their friends and comrades killed and mistreated in incarceration.

Government cuts impacting patient care, municipal recruitment efforts By dr miKe toth, PresideNt, oNtario medical associatioN As municipal leaders from across Ontario gather for the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, a number of issues are sure to top the agenda and health care might not be one of them. It should be. Convenient access to medical services is a key component of making any town or city a great place to live. Unfortunately, the provincial government has imposed measures in recent months that are affecting access to care across Ontario. At a time when there are more than 800,000 Ontarians without a family doctor and 140,000 new residents are being added into our health care system every year, the government is cutting the number of spaces for new doctors from 40 to 20 - restricting the ability of family doctors to join group-based models of practice – the model in which new doctors are currently trained.

Doctors may only fill these spaces in groups in communities the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have identified on a list as “areas of high physician need.” There are nearly 200 of these designated communities across the province on the list out of 444 municipalities in Ontario. The result is that places like Niagara-on-the-Lake, Belleville, Kirkland Lake and parts of Toronto are all vying for those 20 much-needed family doctors each month. This is an example of further restrictions on doctors from a government that doesn’t understand what it means to put patients first. The result means it will be more difficult to attract doctors to communities across the province. And the reality is there is a need for family doctors in communities across the province – whether they are on the list or not – when there are 800,000 people without a doctor. Another change the government imposed was an arbitrary limit on the amount of medical services it will pay for annually. After the limit the government has set has been reached, doctors will either have to

work for free, stop working, or the government will want to be reimbursed through clawbacks or some other mechanism.Doctors see the patients who come to their offices – we don’t solicit them on the street. We provide care based on our patients' health and well-being. We aren’t going to say no to delivering care, but shouldn’t it be the government’s responsibility to pay for it? Isn’t that why we have medicare? Imagine running your municipality or business that way – telling staff in a department they provided too much good service to the community and now they have to give back some of their pay. You would never do that so why is it OK for the government to treat doctors this way? As government imposes these terms, doctors will do everything we can to limit the impacts these cuts have on patients. But make no mistake: there will be negative impacts on patients. We are asking municipal leaders and patients from across Ontario to let their MPP know this is not OK. Tell the government to stop putting its budget before your care.

www.diversityreporter.com Publisher: Mohsin Abbas Reporters: Laura Steiner, Daphne Jalique, Surjit Singh Flora,Imran Adnan, Brendan Kergin, Princess Zeri, Hafiz Muhammad Imran Advertising Sales & Marketing: Robin Read-Griffin Photographer: Rajazz Abbas Inquiries: contact@diversityreporter.com Tel: 416-900-2852 Fax: 250-483-6383 Classifieds: classifieds@diversityreporter.com Ontario: Diversity Reporter Media Inc. P.O. Box 30072 Hawthorne Milton, ON L9T 0L8 British Columbia: Diversity Reporter Media Inc. P.O. Box 49022 Victoria, BC V8P 5V8 Saskatchewan: Diversity Reporter Media Inc. 1555 14 Ave. Suite 208 Regina, SK S4P 0W7 Diversity Reporter is a multilingual publication. It is published by Diversity Reporter Media Inc. every Wednesday. We encourage newcomers and immigrants to share their stories with the best community on earth. We welcome local events, news, success stories, features, photos and videos from community members. Opinion and views expressed are of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Diversity Reporter.

Caring For Your Car in Summer Before hitting the road this summer, you can take several simple precautions to keep your family safe and save money at the pump. Extreme heat and long drives can be tough on cars. Cracked hoses, leaky radiators, under inflated tires and dirty filters can significantly lower your fuel efficiency, or worse, lead to a total breakdown. Check the following vehicle components periodically during summer to help avoid breakdowns and car problems: Check the electrical system to make sure it is

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charging correctly by checking the battery terminals. Be sure to do a pressure test, thermostat test, cooling fan test and visual inspection for leaks and corrosion annually. Check hoses and drive belts for cracks, bulges or frayed edges. Keep the radiator clean by using a garden hose and soft brush to remove bugs, dirt and debris. High temperatures put added stress on tires in the summer. Check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly,

And don’t forget about the exterior of the vehicle. Wash your vehicle weekly to protect the paint and finish, and wax every six months. Preparation is a key to handling harsh summer heat. Following these simple tips will help your vehicle to perform its best this summer. Not only will you and your vehicle be better prepared to survive the heat, but you'll also make the most of your summer by enjoying the freedom that a well-cared-for car can offer. To learn more about car care, visit www.BeCarCareAware.ca

Friday August 14, 2015

Can the son of a Pakistani bus driver be the future mayor of London? A son of a Pakistani bus driver and the first Muslim MP of London, Sadiq Khan, has said that a Muslim mayor for the city of London will send out a message to all ‘the haters in Iraq and Syria’ that the city is a ‘beacon of tolerance and respect.’ “If Londoners decided to do that, the message it would send to the rest of the world would be quite awesome,” Sadiq told the Guardian, explaining his case why it would be helpful for the city to have a Muslim mayor. Sadiq’s statement comes days after a brutal terrorist attack on British tourists in Tunisia and ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 bombings next week. Sadiq, who is the first Muslim MP to be elected in London, said the militants who killed 52 people on 7/7 were against British values and the British way of life, so electing a Muslim mayor would send a “phenomenal message and would say something about our confidence as a city”. “The idea that the mayor of London could be the son of an immigrant, son of a bus driver, ethnic minority and by the way, of Islamic faith would speak volumes, particularly when you bear in mind 10 years ago these four men wanted to destroy our way of life,” he added. Further, Sadiq said, “The reality is that we are a beacon in all sorts of ways. I think it’s just worth thinking about the impact it could have. It shows the confidence of Londoners – that we don’t simply tolerate but respect each other.” “What sort of message would it send if Londoners had the confidence,

tolerance and respect to vote for someone of a different faith (from most of them)? I’m a Londoner first and foremost, but it would show the haters in Iraq and the haters in Syria what sort of country we are: a beacon. And I think the reality is sometimes you need cool, calm voices, which is what I’d hope to provide.” During his interview, Sadiq did not criticise David Cameron or Theresa May, the home secretary, over their response to the terror attack in Tunisia or their policy on how to tackle extremism, because he believes their intentions were good. However, Sadiq did recall his frustration with the reaction of Tony Blair

to the 7/7 terror attacks, when the then-prime minister called in the newly elected MP and the three other Muslim Labour members of the House of Commons. “One of my criticisms of Tony Blair was when he called the four MPs of Islamic faith into No 10 and sat us round the table and said – to Mohammad Sarwar, Khalid Mahmood, Shahid Malik and myself – it was our responsibility,” Sadiq said. “I said: ‘No, it’s not. Why have you called us in? I don’t blame you for the Ku Klux Klan. Why are you blaming me for the four bombers on 7/7?’ Which is why, after he called us in, and there were lots of cameras outside

waiting to speak to us, my three colleagues spoke to the cameras and I walked away. This is a problem that is a mainstream problem for us all.” Sadiq noted that there had been in a change in attitudes since 7/7 and said he was proud of the sense of solidarity between Muslims and non-Muslims after the attack 10 years ago. He said that Londoners “got it” that there was no need for Muslims to apologise or say “not in my name”. Addressing how the UK responded to the Tunisian terror attack, Sadiq said the short-term concern should be the victims and their families, while the long-term response should be maintaining good relations between

the police and Muslim communities. “Bearing in mind the anniversary of 7/7, 10 years on, we still have a case where a 17-year-old Yorkshireman is going to Iraq and blowing himself up, mums with children are going to Syria because they think it’s the land of milk and honey. We still have got huge problems here,” he said. The Tooting MP said that as a parent of two teenage daughters he understood the home secretary’s aims when she said she wanted parents to report grooming by extremists to police. “If, God forbid, I saw my nephews or nieces or children being groomed, I would report it to the authorities. I want action to be taken against those on the other side of the net and with the ISP [internet service provider] maybe. We need to make sure communities have the confidence to come forward. It is a challenge for the police to be approachable and are seen to treat people well,” he said. Sadiq’s biggest concern is if the ‘grooming’ is taking place in the “ungoverned spaces – the bedroom, internet, front room” rather than in mosques and schools, where it could be addressed openly. “That’s where we’ve got to give young people resilience, so if there’s a charismatic criminal with a perverse ideology trying to groom them, they can say: ‘Hang on, I know that’s not Islam, I know that’s not the way to get to heaven.’ “Just like if you’re the parent of young children not to take sweets from strangers, you teach young children not to be taken in by flattery in a chatroom.”

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Friday August 14, 2015

Why the Indian soldiers of WW1 were forgotten Approximately 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in World War One, and over 74,000 of them lost their lives. But history has mostly forgotten these sacrifices, which were rewarded with broken promises of Indian independence from the British government, writes Shashi Tharoor. Exactly 100 years after the "guns of August" boomed across the European continent, the world has been extensively commemorating that seminal event. The Great War, as it was called then, was described at the time as "the war to end all wars". Ironically, the eruption of an even more destructive conflict 20 years after the end of this one meant that it is now known as the First World War. Those who fought and died in the First World War would have had little idea that there would so soon be a Second. But while the war took the flower of Europe's youth to its premature grave, snuffing out the lives of a generation of talented poets, artists, cricketers and others whose genius bled into the trenches, it also involved soldiers from faraway lands that had little to do with Europe's bitter traditional hatreds. The role and sacrifices of Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and South Africans have been celebrated for some time in books and novels, and even rendered immortal on celluloid in awardwinning films like Gallipoli. Of the 1.3 million Indian troops who served in the conflict, however, you hear very little. As many as 74,187 Indian soldiers died during the war and a comparable number were wounded. Their stories, and their heroism, have long been omitted from popular histories of the war, or relegated to the footnotes. India contributed a number of divisions and brigades to the European, Mediterranean, Mesopotamian, North African and East African theatres of war. In Europe, Indian soldiers were among the first victims who suffered the horrors of the trenches. They were killed in droves before the war was into its second year and bore the brunt of many a German offensive. It was Indian jawans (junior soldiers) who stopped the German advance at Ypres in the autumn of 1914, soon after the war broke out, while the British were still recruiting and training their own forces. Hundreds were killed in a gallant but futile engagement at Neuve Chappelle. More than 1,000 of them died at Gallipoli, thanks to Churchill's folly. Nearly 700,000 Indian sepoys (infantry privates) fought in Mesopotamia against the Ottoman Empire, Germany's ally, many of them Indian Muslims taking up arms against their co-religionists in defence of the British Empire. The most painful experiences were those of soldiers fighting in the trenches of Europe. Letters sent by Indian soldiers in France and Belgium to their family

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members in their villages back home speak an evocative language of cultural dislocation and tragedy. "The shells are pouring like rain in the monsoon," declared one. "The corpses cover the country, like sheaves of harvested corn," wrote another. These men were undoubtedly heroes - pitchforked into battle in unfamiliar lands, in harsh and cold climatic conditions they were neither used to nor prepared for, fighting an enemy of whom they had no knowledge, risking their lives every day for little more than pride. Yet they were destined to remain largely unknown once the war was over: neglected by the British, for whom they fought, and ignored by their own country, from which they came. Part of the reason is that they were not fighting for their own country. None of the soldiers was a conscript - soldiering was their profession. They served the very British Empire that was oppressing their own people back home. The British raised men and money from India, as well as large supplies of food, cash and ammunition, collected both by British taxation of Indians and from the nominally autonomous princely states. In return, the British had insincerely promised to deliver progressive self-rule to India at the end of the war. Perhaps, had they kept that pledge, the sacrifices of India's First World War soldiers might have been seen in their homeland as a contribution to India's freedom. But the British broke their word. Mahatma Gandhi, who returned to his homeland for good from South Africa in January 1915, supported the war, as he had supported the British in the Boer War. The great Nobel Prize-winning poet, Rabindranath Tagore, was somewhat more sardonic about nationalism. "We,

the famished, ragged ragamuffins of the East are to win freedom for all humanity!" he wrote during the war. "We have no word for 'nation' in our language." India was wracked by high taxation to support the war and the high inflation accompanying it, while the disruption of trade caused by the conflict led to widespread economic losses - all this while the country was also reeling from a raging influenza epidemic that took many lives. But nationalists widely understood from British statements that at the end of the war India would receive the Dominion Status hitherto reserved for the "White Commonwealth". It was not to be. When the war ended in triumph for Britain, India was denied its promised reward. Instead of self-government, the British imposed the repressive Rowlatt Act, which vested the Viceroy's government with extraordinary powers to quell "sedition" against the Empire by silencing and censoring the press, detaining political activists without trial, and arresting without a warrant any individuals suspected of treason against the Empire. Public protests against this draconian legislation were quelled ruthlessly. The worst incident was the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre of April 1919, when Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire without warning on 15,000 unarmed and non-violent men, women and children demonstrating peacefully in an enclosed garden in Amritsar, killing as many as 1,499 and wounding up to 1,137. The fact that Dyer was hailed as a hero by the British, who raised a handsome purse to reward him for his deed, marked the final rupture between British imperialism and its Indian subjects. Sir Rabindranath Tagore returned his knighthood to the British in protest against "the helplessness of our position

as British subjects in India". He did not want a "badge of honour" in "the incongruous context of humiliation". With British perfidy providing such a sour ending to the narrative of a war in which India had given its all and been spurned in return, Indian nationalists felt that the country had nothing to thank its soldiers for. They had merely gone abroad to serve their foreign masters. Losing your life or limb in a foreign war fought at the behest of your colonial rulers was an occupational hazard - it did not qualify to be hailed as a form of national service. Or so most Indian nationalists thought, and they allowed the heroism of their compatriots to be forgotten. When the world commemorated the 50th anniversary of the First World War in 1964, there was scarcely a mention of India's soldiers anywhere, least of all in India. India's absence from the commemorations, and its failure to honour the dead, were not a major surprise. Nor was the lack of First World War memorials in the country: the general feeling was that India, then freshly freed from the imperial yoke, was ashamed of its soldiers' participation in a colonial war and saw nothing to celebrate. The British, however, went ahead and commemorated the war by constructing the triumphal arch known as India Gate in New Delhi. India Gate, built in 1931, is a popular monument, visited by hundreds daily who have no idea that it commemorates the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting in World War One. In the absence of a national war memorial, many Indians like myself see it as the only venue to pay homage to those who have lost their lives in more recent conflicts. I have stood there many times, on the anniversaries of wars with China and Pakistan, and bowed my head without a thought for the men who died in foreign fields a century ago. As a member of parliament, I twice raised the demand for a national war memorial (after a visit to the hugely impressive Australian one in Canberra) and was told there were no plans to construct one here. It was therefore personally satisfying to me, and to many of my compatriots, when the government of India announced in its budget for 2014-15 its intention finally to create a national war memorial. We are not a terribly militaristic society, but for a nation that has fought many wars and shed the blood of many heroes, and whose resolve may yet be tested in conflicts to come, it seems odd that there is no memorial to commemorate, honour and preserve the memories of those who have fought for India. The centenary is finally forcing a rethink. Remarkable photographs have been unearthed of Indian soldiers in Europe and the Middle East, and these are enjoying a new lease of life online. Looking at them, I find it impossible not to be moved - these young men, visibly so alien to their surroundings, some about to head off for battle, others nursing terrible

wounds. My favourite picture is of a bearded and turbaned Indian soldier on horseback in Mesopotamia in 1918, leaning over in his saddle to give his rations to a starving local peasant girl. This spirit of compassion has been repeatedly expressed by Indian peacekeeping units in United Nations operations since, from helping Lebanese civilians in the Indian battalion's field hospital to treating the camels of Somali nomads during the UN operation there. It embodies the ethos the Indian solider brings to soldiering, whether at home or abroad. For many Indians, curiosity has overcome the fading colonial-era resentments of British exploitation. We are beginning to see the soldiers of World War One as human beings, who took the spirit of their country to battlefields abroad. The Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research in Delhi is painstakingly working to retrieve memorabilia of that era and reconstruct the forgotten story of the 1.3 million Indian soldiers who served in the First World War. Some of the letters are unbearably poignant, especially those urging relatives back home not to commit the folly of enlisting in this futile cause. Others hint at delights officialdom frowned upon - some Indian soldiers' appreciative comments about the receptivity of Frenchwomen to their attentions, for instance. Astonishingly, almost no fiction has emerged from or about the perspective of the Indian troops. An exception is Mulk Raj Anand's Across the Black Waters, the tale of a sepoy, Lalu, dispossessed from his land, fighting in a war he cannot understand, only to return to his village to find he has lost everything and everyone who mattered to him. The only other novel I have read about Indians in the war, John Masters' The Ravi Lancers, inevitably is a Briton's account, culminating in an Indian unit deciding to fight on in Europe "because we gave our word to serve". But Indian literature touched the war experience in one tragic tale. When the great British poet Wilfred Owen (author of the greatest anti-war poem in the English language, Dulce et Decorum Est) was to return to the front to give his life in the futile First World War, he recited Tagore's Parting Words to his mother as his last goodbye. When he was so tragically and pointlessly killed, Owen's mother found Tagore's poem copied out in her son's hand in his diary: When I go from hence let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable. I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that expands on the ocean of light, and thus am I blessed ---let this be my parting word. In this playhouse of infinite forms I have had my play and here have I caught sight of him that is formless. My whole body and my limbs have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch; and if the end comes here, let it come - let this be my parting word. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains war cemeteries in India, mostly commemorating the Second World War rather than the First. The most famous epitaph of them all is inscribed at the Kohima War Cemetery in North-East India. It reads, "When you go home, tell them of us and say/ For your tomorrow, we gave our today". The Indian soldiers who died in the First World War could make no such claim. They gave their "todays" for someone else's "yesterdays". They left behind orphans, but history has orphaned them as well. As Imperialism has bitten the dust, it is recalled increasingly for its repression and racism, and its soldiers, when not reviled, are largely regarded as having served an unworthy cause. But they were men who did their duty, as they saw it. And they were Indians. It is a matter of quiet satisfaction that their overdue rehabilitation has now begun.

Friday August 14, 2015

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Friday August 14, 2015

By Kim steele I moved to Milton for love, but also to live. In November 2014 I was laid off from my job as stakeholder relations director in the pharmaceutical sector. After ten years in Toronto I was growing increasingly frustrated with congestion and construction; I found myself wondering what to do next and where to do it. Having lived in different communities across Canada, I knew I had options. Born in Montreal, my parents picked up and moved us to Calgary in 1979, following the exodus to Alberta in pursuit of oil, that is, “black gold”. At that time, Alberta was the fastest growing economy in Canada and its municipalities were booming. There were jobs for those who wanted

them, and housing was going up fast and furiously. As the province became rich with royalties it became richer in its diversity, something that was both encouraged yet feared. The community we lived in had the largest population of newcomers to Canada in all of Calgary. Our kindergarten to grade 12 school curricula was ripe with opportunity to learn about ourselves and each other. I drank it in like Kool Aid and loved having friends from all over the globe right in my own backyard and savoured the cultural curiosity we shared and celebrated. But not everyone felt the same. As I grew older, the wide-eyed wonderment of childhood discovery turned to woeful disappointment of those who felt threatened by newcomers to our community; these fears often exerted themselves in hurtful and hateful ways. This broke my heart,

but it also blew my mind: surely building strong, diverse communities was good for growing the economy and ourselves? I took a personal vow to celebrate diversity loudly and proudly. I studied anthropology and linguistics, became an advocate for post-secondary students from all walks of life in my roles of VP Academic, then VP External of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal College and the president of the provincial student organization. While at the University of Alberta I continued my work as an advocate leading policy development at the students union, and took to radio airwaves and print to spread my broadcasting wings. I then headed to our nation’s capital, Ottawa, to lead policy development for a national postsecondary student organization, where I stayed

for two years before being called to Toronto for a short stint with a think tank. Since that time, I held increasingly senior strategic communications and community engagement roles with some of Canada’s leading health charities and associations. So, yes, I had options and I chose Milton. Why? As I said, for love: to join my partner of several years in his home town; but I also came here to live, to contribute to my new home in ways that energize, empower. Through my new blog – My Milton – I hope to engage my fellow Miltonians in ways that have meaningful impact on our community, that help other newcomers like me come to know and be a part of our new home. If you’d like to share your story with our readers write us at contact@diversityreporter.com

Muslim Legacy Initiative Announces $1 Million Pledge to support the Milton District Hospital Expansion

MILTon (Pr) – More than 120 individuals from the Muslim community gathered at the Milton Sports Center for a special Iftar Dinner celebration and announced support of the Milton District Hospital (MDH) Expansion Project with a pledge of $1 Mil-

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lion over 5 years to the MDH Foundation's Our Home, Our Hospital Capital Campaign. “As exemplary members of our community it is our responsibility to support our community service partners who work so diligently for our well-being,” said Rabiya Azim. “What we do today will directly impact the future of our children and the generations to come. Let us join the esteem ranks of our fellow Muslim philanthropists to support healthcare in our community.” Rabiya Azim, a Milton resident, along with a core group of volunteers including Ayesha Khan, Azim Rizvee, Nazish Butt and Syed Raza committed support of this initiative. The Muslim Legacy Initiative will focus its initial efforts on holding a Gala event planned to take place in the fall of 2015 to celebrate and inspire philanthropy from individuals and sponsorship support from business owners. Support for this initiative was evident, even from guests who reside outside of Milton. Mahmood Khan, Father of beloved late Oakville Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan, addressed the group with passion. "We all (Muslims) live in this country, and we must do what we can to help. At this time when we are building this hospital, I would like to pay for one brick and one also for my son." “We are deeply honoured that our Muslim community has chosen to leave a legacy for future gen-

erations by supporting our Campaign, said Brian Penman, Chair of Milton District Hospital Foundation. “We look forward to watching our new partnership grow and mature. I am here today to thank you for your commitment and I look forward to returning in a few years to say “thank you” once again and celebrate your reaching your goal.” The Our Home, Our Hospital Capital Campaign is the most ambitious campaign the Milton District Hospital Foundation has undertaken. Funding of the MDH Expansion will be shared between the provincial government, Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) and the community. Community funds will be provided by the Town of Milton and through the MDHF Capital Campaign. These funds will be used for specific local share costs, which includes 100% of equipment costs. Contributions from community, and the efforts of the Milton District Hospital Foundation are vital to the success of the project. MPP for Halton, Indira Naidoo-Harris made a special trip to Milton to be in attendance for the launch. "The Muslim Legacy Initiative is an incredible gesture, and it shows just how deeply the Muslim community feels about our hospital and our town. It is yet another example of this communities ongoing commitment to this community and to healthcare. Highlights of the expansion project include a new

Emergency Department three times the current size, a modern maternal newborn unit better suited to support Milton’s young and growing population, new space for the Diagnostic Imaging Department, Surgical Suites, Intensive Care Unit and the addition of the hospital’s first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. About Halton Healthcare: HHS is a progressive, multi-site healthcare organization comprised of three community hospitals - Georgetown Hospital (GH), Milton District Hospital (MDH) and OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). Together these hospitals provide healthcare services to more than 300,000 residents in the communities of Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills. HHS hospitals have been recognized for their best practices in a number of patient safety and patient care initiatives. In 2013, HHS was Accredited with Exemplary Standing - the highest possible status granted by Accreditation Canada. About Milton District Hospital Foundation: Incorporated in 1980, Milton District Hospital Foundation is the Milton District Hospital’s fundraising arm. Its sole purpose is to raise funds for new and replacement essential medical equipment, renovation needs, and other supplemental projects of the Milton District Hospital.

Friday August 14, 2015

Plant that can cause third-degree burns popping up in Milton Officials in Canada and the U.S. are warning residents not to touch giant hogweed plants, which have been popping up in large numbers in both countries. When combined with sunlight, sap from the plants can cause extreme skin irritation, temporary or permanent blindness and scarring. Burns acquired from the plant can continue to cause painful blisters when exposed to sunlight for up to a decade. According to weather.com, there have been several reports of children in the U.S. and the U.K. suffering from severe burns following interactions with the plant, which blooms in mid-August. While reports in Canada have been minimal, a woman in Renfrew, Ontario was recently told she would have to avoid direct sunlight for three

years after being badly burned by wild parsnip, a close relative of giant hogweed. Wild parsnip looks similar, but is smaller and has yellow flowers. Earlier this year, 10-year-old Laura Fuller of the U.K. sustained third-degree burns after picking up a piece of giant hogweed while fishing with her father. Though not native to Canada, giant hogweed can be found in B.C., Ontario, Quebec and parts of Atlantic Canada.

It can grow up to 2 metres in height and looks like a gigantic version of Queen Anne's lace. Health officials have called the invasive species a 'public health hazard'. Should you come into contact with the plant, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and avoid sunlight for 48 hours. If you think you have been burned by giant hogweed, see a physician immediately. Giant hogweed sightings can be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Kanda Optical team pose for a group photo on the occasion of the inauguration of the Milton store. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Diversity Reporter Staff Photo by Rajazz Abbas

Dr. Kassis brings years of experience in family medicine practice to her new clinic, Marketplace Medical Centre and Pharmacy at 1035 Bronte St S, Milton, (Bronte & Louis St. Laurent). www.diversityreporter.com

Friday August 14, 2015

Martin Singh `Paaji’ may become first white Sikh MP in Canada in October elections

News east west TORONTO: Canada, which created history by electing the western world’s first turbaned Sikh – Gurbax Singh Malhi – as an MP in 1993, may create another record by electing a first white Sikh MP in the October 19 parliamentary elections. Martin Singh `Paaji’ , 42, who converted to Sikhism in 1991 and got baptized in 1993, is in the fray from Toronto’s neighbouring city Brampton which has the largest concentration of Indians – mostly Punjabis – in Canada. This fast-talking gora Sikh is the candidate from Brampton North for the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) which is leading in opinion polls. Married to a Sikh girl from Amritsar, Martin Singh is pitted against two Sikhs – the sitting MP Parm Gill of the ruling Conservative Party and Ruby Sahota of the Liberal Party. “We are here to win. I am confident that I will be elected. People are responding very well,’’ says

the father of three as he canvasses from door to door in Canada’s most ethnic city. “There are 21,000 Punjabis in my riding (constituency) and I am connecting each and everyone. They have confidence in me. They know what I can do for them,’‘ says Martin Singh who runs a pharmacy business that employs about 500 people. Recent changes in immigration have impacted families, says Martin Singh, adding that addressing this issue will be his top priority. “The Canadian immigration and visa system is broken, we want to fix it as immigrant families want all their members to be united. I am a businessman and I want to create jobs which have vanished.’’ Because of his turban, this fast-talking gora Sikh made headlines in Canada when he ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party 2012. Ask him why he converted to Sikhism, he says, “Sikhism attracted me because Guru Nanak emphasized `Naam japo, kirat karo, vand chhako’ (meditate, earn honest living by hard work and share) and his vision to pass guruship

on to the most deserving, not his kin. So I embraced Sikhism in 1991. In 1993, I got baptized.’’ He says his family was very supportive of his conversion to Sikhism. “My mother says that her son has done many interesting things in life, but this one (conversion) has lasted the longest.’’ Martin Singh says he got baptized in 1993, and thanks a Sikh family in Calgary he got introduced to a Sikh girl in Amritsar who was to become his wife. “I first went to India in 1997, and met with the woman librarian of Religious Studies Department at Guru Nanak Dev University. The librarian was related to the Sikh family in Calgary. She introduced me to her niece Amandeep Kaur who had just finished her Masters in Punjabi literature from Punjabi University Patiala. I liked her and we got married in Amritsar. I came back and she joined me here in 1998 as her visa took some time.’’ Though he cannot speak much Punjabi, Martin `Paaji’ has acquired enough knowledge to read Sikh scriptures in the Gurmukhi script. And it is quite amusing to hear him use the word `paaji’ (which means elder brother in Punjabi) in his conversation much more frequently than an average Punjabi. Out of the eight Indo-Canadian MPs in the

outgoing House of Commons of 308 members, six were Sikhs. In the upcoming elections, it is Sikh vs Sikh in over a dozen ridings or constituencies.

Sikh postman 'wins turban battle with Disney' A Sikh postman at Disney World has won his fight over claims he had been made to work away from customers so they would not see his beard and turban. Lawyers for Gurdit Singh said he had been segregated from staff and customers at the Florida theme park because he violated a "look policy". Disney now says Mr Singh can deliver post on all routes, in full view of customers. The company says it does not discriminate based on religion. Mr Singh, who has worked at the theme park since 2008 but always out of sight of visitors, said he was "incredibly thankful" Disney had decided to change course. "My hope is that this policy change opens up the door for more Sikhs and other religious minorities to practise their faith freely here at Disney. "My turban and beard serve as a constant reminder of my commitment to my faith... these articles remind everybody that we're all equal. That's not just a Sikh value, that's an American value." In May, lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group for the religion, wrote to Disney expressing their concerns over Mr Singh's treatment. They said he had been assigned to only one delivery route which kept him away from customers, while other staff were rotated through different assignments where they were visible to guests. They argued this was "specifically, because of his racial/ethnic and religious appearance", and was a violation of his civil rights. Disney restored him to all the routes and said it is an "employer of choice that is committed to di-

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versity and prohibits discrimination based upon religion." Mr Singh remains in his job in Florida, delivering post at the park, and says he is happy to work for the company. Gurjot Kaur, a lawyer acting for the Sikh Coalition, said that her client first applied for a job at Disney in 2005, and was told he would have to work in the back, cleaning the car park or in the kitchen. "The interviewer indicated that he could not work in front of guests because of his turban and beard," his lawyers said. Mr Singh didn't take up the position, but applied again in 2008, initially to work as a doorman. Despite extensive experience in hospitality, Ms Kaur says her client was denied the position "because his 'costume' did not match the 'costume' necessary," - Singh took "costume" to mean his turban and beard.

Friday August 14, 2015

Host: Naheed Mustafa

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Friday August 14, 2015

Event Countdown 14th August by Ahmed & Shehla Jafri. – Photos by Rajazz Abbas

Mango Festival Canada 2015

There were a lot of happy smiling faces as a large crowd of people came out to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day on Friday, August 14, 2015 at the Milton Seniors' Activity Centre. The event was put on by the Canadian Pakistani Association of Halton. – Photos by Hammad Gardezi

Pakistan’s Independence Day Thorncliffe Park

Canadian Association of Pakistani origin (CAPo) and Universal Promotions in collaboration with Consulate of Pakistan organized first ever flag raising for Pakistan Independence Day in Thorncliffe Park at Go Green Cricket Field on August 14, 2015.

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Friday August 14, 2015

Taste of Toronto 2015 Taste of Toronto is one of the biggest culinary event in Toronto. For the 2nd year, Toronto Chefs and foodies gather together at Fort York to celebrate the best of Toronto’s food scene. This year’s line up of restaurants included Bosk, r&D, rasa, oliver & Bonacini, Morimoto, Little Sister, The Drake, Guu, Kinton ramen, and many many more! Taste of Toronto ran from Thursday July 2 to Sunday July 5, other than the Thursday session, all days featured a lunch and dinner session. Entry fees ranges from $19 – $100 depending on the day you plan to visit and what kind of pass (General, Premium, or VIP). A great thing that Taste of Toronto have is the Crown payment system. You simply purchase a crown card for $1 and load it up with however much you like. At each of the vendor, there is a tap pad so you can pay easily. It tells you how much Crowns you used and what your new balance is. Some of the ticket prices included a Crown card.

The Fort York grounds was organized very well with vendor booths, Delta VIP Lounge, Cadillac Taste Theater, Metro Master Class, Taste x WayHome Music Stage. The whole ground was buzzing with excitement as the air filled with delicious aroma from all the vendors. Even though it was filled with people, there was a lot of open space to walk without bumping into someone and enjoy the food. We first stopped at Morimoto Toronto for some Toro Tartare. Chef Morimoto (Iron Chef) has numerous restaurants around the world and will be opening his first Toronto restaurant later in the year in the Toronto Entertainment district. Toro is fatty tuna and it was paired with caviar, sour cream, wasbai and dashi soy. The flavours were delicate and the toro just melted in my mouth. Amazing! Next stop was to El Caballito & Los Colibris for some Rajas Poblanas with chicken, corn, poblano and corn tortilla. Raja Poblanas is a very popular traditional dish from Mexico which features the mild pepper – Poblanas. The flavours

blended nicely and a had a great balance in flavours. We then stopped at Montecito for some meatballs. The Montecito meatballs was paired with a creamy polenta and tomato sugo. The meatball and polenta was very tasty and well cooked. We were a bit disappointed that the serving only included one meatball for 10 Crowns. I am a huge fan of Oliver and Bonacini so I had to stop by their booth to try the Biff’s Bistro Merguez Lamb Burger. The burger came with red pepper chutney, harissa (Tunisian hot chili pepper paste – yum) mayo and was on O&B artisan brioche. Finally for dessert we stopped by Rasa for some cornflake ice cream popsicle with chocolate, banana and puffed grains. This was fantastic! Not too sweet that just hit the spot after all the savory dishes. The best part of the evening was getting a chance to cook with Alvin Leung (Michelin Star Chef & Master Chef Canada Judge) at the Metro Master Class Kitchen. All the Metro Master Classes were fully booked so we waited quite some time to be on the stand by list. Luckily we

were able to get in to cook. Chef Alvin taught us how to make a delicious Miso Black Cod from Bo Innovation. The experience was one of a kind and I think was well worth the wait. Teams of two are assigned to a cooking station. There were plenty of volunteers and chefs floating around the kitchen to lend a helping hand when needed. The Metro Master Class was hosted by Abbey Sharp (Abbey’s Kitchen). Taste of Toronto was a great event. Great food, great chefs and the interactive components of having cooking classes, demo stages and chef tables makes the event stand out even more and can draw lots of participants yearly. I would highly recommend this event but you will definitely be spending a lot of money! I would definitely visit Taste of Toronto again in the future. Joyce is a food purchasing manager by day and food blogger by night. She loves food, and everything that has to do with it. Share your food photos and stories with our readers at contact@diversityreporter.com

Filipino Picnic Day in Milton

Photos by Mohsin Abbas www.diversityreporter.com

Friday August 14, 2015

Shoes with a story: Markhor is a start-up you should know about

By KhiZr i. taJammul Shoes, crafted from leather by hand, are being produced in Okara and picked up all around the world. This remarkable export activity is the result of the hard work of two young entrepreneurs, Sidra Qasim and Waqas Ali. Over five long years, they have suc-

they move on to the next one. Selling online will rob them of that experience." When Waqas pushed him further, Hussain finally succumbed and said, "This is madness. But I am with you in this madness." As time passed, they became both students and mentors for each other. oBSTACLeS Recently, when I visited the Mark-

cessfully identified indigenous shoemaking talent, built its capacity to an international standard and found a market for its products beyond Pakistan. In their most recent achievement, Markhor raised $107,000 through a Kickstarter campaign last year and in June, delivered 700 orders to customers across 35 different countries. The BeGInnInG The story began in 2010, when Waqas met a shoemaker in Okara called Muhammad Hussain at a local panchayat (council meeting). The two men could not have been more different. Waqas was a young boy in his early 20s, kindling an interest in social media marketing. Hussain, then in his 50s, loathed the internet and considered the possibility of a nationwide ban on Facebook an absolute necessity. And yet they had the one thing in common that drove them past their differences: both men possessed a brilliant curiosity to learn. Though Waqas knew nothing about shoe-making, he felt compelled to change Hussain’s opinions about the digital world, and the best way to do it was to connect Hussain’s craft to an international audience online – a journey that was riddled with challenges. When Waqas first broached the idea of selling shoes online, Hussain’s response was of shock and horror. He said, "I know how people buy a shoe. They hold it. They smell it. And then

hor office in Lahore, Waqas was in the US, developing business and personally delivering shoes to some of Markhor’s customers. I was lucky to meet Sidra, who was happy to recount her entrepreneurial journey with Waqas, and insisted that luck had nothing to do with their success. “I hate the word ‘lucky’,” she told me. Before Sidra and Waqas got together for business, their families knew each other in Okara. Waqas was grappling with a waning interest in Physics at FC College and a growing curiosity in social media marketing until he stopped attending classes altogether and started helping local businesses with their communications and promotions online. When he met Hussain, he knew he would not be able to put him on the world map while pursuing an undergraduate degree in Physics. So Waqas dropped out of college and didn’t utter a word of it at home. He knew his parents, both of them teachers, wouldn’t understand, and see his business idea as an unnecessary risk. With all his boats more or less burnt, Waqas had to succeed. He realised he couldn’t create a new business on his own. Recounting his story, Sidra said, "Nobody really takes a lone young man seriously." In other words, when Waqas knocked on doors – between investors, vendors, customers and potential partners – nobody gave him what he wanted. Waqas needed a

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partner who could match his ambition and make up for his weaknesses. That was when Sidra came on-board, with challenges no less daunting than his. Living in Okara with her parents, Sidra, like many young women her age, was expected to teach at a local school and eventually get married. Entrepreneurship was far too outlandish an idea and she, like Waqas, decided not to share her entrepreneurial ambitions with her parents. Instead, she said she wanted to pursue a job opportunity in Lahore. After much opposition, her parents reluctantly let her go in the hope that she would soon buckle under the hardship of independent living and come home. To expedite her return, they denied her financial support. Sidra’s input in the business began to open doors. Lack of funds, however,

stifled new opportunities. The duo was forced to do odd jobs and learn the skills they could not outsource but needed desperately, like digital marketing. Together, Sidra and Waqas applied to the limited universe of grant opportunities for start-ups; they read the Harvard Business Review for inspiration; they explored online marketing tools – learnt how to code a website and harness the tools of social media. Finally, their brand, initially titled ‘Hometown’ as a nod to the core team's Okara origins, was assigned a digital footprint. It was a website without Paypal or any other financial transaction service and labeled an online store. It was the only platform they could use to make sales. Within five days, the website was approached by its first customer in France. Essentially, Hometown customers were not only buying a pair of fine quality shoes from an obscure part of the world; they also had in their acquisition, a story. Each shoe came with

its own history, as though it were a living, breathing thing, shipped across continents for adoption, accompanied with a personalized hand written letter from Waqas. Despite the time and effort its cofounders put into Hometown, until early 2011 they had not worked long enough to understand the many pitfalls of starting a business. They had an intriguing, unique product but the sales were not enough to sustain operations. Lack of funding returned like a recurring nightmare and the duo were pushed out of action. Down BUT noT oUT Sidra returned to her home in Okara where her laptop was banished to the darkness of a cupboard. In Lahore, where Waqas was relentless in his search for funding, a competition for start-ups advertised a prize of $10,000 to four separate winners. A month later, Hometown won the prize money. It seemed they were saved at last.

friend and its lead craftsman. Soon after, however, his son Junaid stepped in to fill the vacuum. The fruit of the partnership is evident from the impact their brand, which was renamed Markhor in May 2014, is making. CULTUre ChAnGInG Both cofounders have benefited immensely from fellowships at the Acumen fund. Sidra elaborated on other steps Markhor is taking to enhance social impact. For instance, "Markhor offers 70% more pay to craftsmen compared to the market rate. Also, its first 25 employees will get the opportunity to gain equity in the business, depending on how they perform in the first eight months of their time at Markhor." Besides better, more equitable human resource policies, Markhor is also influencing the power imbalance in the leather industry. Until Markhor started full-scale operations last year,

In August 2012, Google and the Punjab Government Innovation Policy featured Hometown along with other companies that had made an impact through business and technology. Waqas had not seen a happier Hussain, who after all his doubts and suspicions, was glad to be wrong. He had developed an online presence, started using an Android phone and a laptop and was happy to connect with his

shoemakers in Okara were stuck in a 60 to 90 day credit cycle, which meant they had to wait at least two months to get paid for the sales they made. Markhor has challenged that culture with advance payments, titling more protection in the favor of the craftsmen as opposed to the retailer. Moving forward, Waqas and Sidra share the ambition of creating a million new jobs across multiple industries in multiple countries; a mission that is likely to keep them occupied for a significant amount of time. Just to give Dawn some perspective on Pakistan’s potential alone, Sidra made a comparison: "We export leather goods worth 100 million US dollars and that could easily be the net income of a single large leather goods manufacturer in India." According to Sidra, in 2003, Lahore had 25 outlets of high-end, hand stitching units for leather goods. Today, less than 5 such units have survived due to dwindling international orders and the proliferation of cheaper, relatively easier to produce shoes with thermoplastic rubber (TPR) soles. Beyond a set of personal challenges that both propelled and stymied growth at Markhor in its infancy, the young entrepreneurs at its helm now face an entirely new set of challenges. Their goal to establish Pakistan as a major exporter of fine quality leather products will demand a special effort in the days ahead and given what they have so rapidly achieved, it seems they are primed for the challenge.

buyers. Not only that, he began to learn digital communications and English with more fervor than ever before. But the setbacks, it seemed, were still not over. In 2014, Muhammad Hussain died from advanced bone cancer. Hometown had lost an invaluable

Friday August 14, 2015

Motorcycle diary of the first Pakistani girl who dared to ride solo through northern areas

Nudrrat KhawaJa LAhore: Defying societal boundaries and norms, a 20-year-old young woman set on a journey through the Kashmir belt. What made her solo travels even more unusual is her choice of vehicle: a motorcycle. Inspired by the dream of her deceased father who “wanted to travel the world on a bike”, Lahore-based Zenith Irfan traveled through Kashmir, riding different motorcycle models including Honda 125, Honda CD -70 and Suzuki GS-150. When asked about her decision to ride a motorcycle, she defiantly replied, “Why not?” Wearing a white helmet and backpack carefully tied at the back of her motorcycle, Irfan raced along the dangerous terrain of northern Pakistan. The daredevil started her six-day journey from Lahore on June 14th and completed it on June 20th. On her return, Ifran documented her journey in

a personal photo blog on Facebook, “Zenith Irfan: 1 Girl 2 Wheels”. Irfan said she did not come across any resistance when she decided to make this journey. “My mother is a very liberal woman. In fact, she was the one who motivated and pushed me to ride a motorcycle,” said the braveheart. For Irfan, riding a motorcycle is synonymous to challenging social norms, “A social taboo is enforced on them (female motorcycle riders) by creating a sense of disgrace and shame.” This is the very perception that

Irfan aims to change with her motorcycle adventures. She describes herself as a “free hearted soul”, which is evident from her Facebook pictures, in which she can be seen crossing a river, spending time among remote tribes, playing with village children and admiring the brave truck drivers. Irfan’s personal blog is the testament of her adventures. Describing the challenges of backpacking in Kashmir, she writes, “Rocky plains, rugged landscapes, broken roads – a natural combination of all trails is presented to you and you have to ace it.”

Despite the difficult terrains and rocky mountains, one thing she found

challenging was “public stares”. She said that being a Pakistani woman there are certain limitations, “I have to

calculate my speech and body language.” Her carefully documented journey can serve as a guide for future women adventurers, who dare to destroy gender stereotypes of Pakistan’s society and embrace the freedom of soul. In Irfan’s own words, “With my motorcycle adventures, I aim to elevate and encourage them (women) to embrace their passions and goals, with open arms.” In coming weeks, Irfan will travel “all of north, funding mosques for necessary renovation and providing aid to the flood victims in Chitral.” For more photographs and updates on Zenith Irfan’s motorcycle adventures, connect with her on her Facebook page.

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza win Wimbledon women’s doubles final Martina Hingis has waited 17 years – half her life – to add to her three Wimbledon titles. The wait is over after a topsy-turvy, tooth-and-nail women’s doubles final in which the 34year-old Swiss and her partner, India’s Sania Mirza, defeated the formidable Russian pairing of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. The match started on Centre Court in bright sunshine and finished under the roof and floodlights, two and a half hours later, with Hingis and Mirza finally prevailing 5-7, 7-6, 7-5. Hingis may have won bigger individual prizes but the way that she and Mirza bunnyhopped around the court after coming through match point, finishing with a celebratory arse-bump, suggested that few victories have given her such satisfaction. “It feels like it was in another life,” said Hingis, reflecting on those previous titles. “But 17 years, usually you’re lucky to win it once or happy to be out here and play on the Wimbledon grounds. It’s above my expectations.” Martina Hingis reaches US Open doubles final eight years after retiring Mirza was making history of her own: she became the first Indian woman to win a grand slam event. “It means everything to be here today,” she said. “To come out at Wimbledon Centre Court and have the whole crowd behind you is pretty incredible. But I think for me, as an Indian, I’m in Little India here. There are so many Indians in England. Thankfully there are a lot of us everywhere, but in England especially I’ve always had amazing support.”

It was, to be frank, a match that Hingis and Mirza, the No1 seeds, rarely looked like winning. For most of it Makarova and Vesnina, the No2 seeds, were powerful and merciless. Vesnina, who announced each involvement in a rally with a glass-shattering shriek, smashed volleys as if they had personally insulted her, while Makarova served faultlessly, at least

until she had to do so to win the match at 5-3 in the final set. Doubles tennis, by its nature, is collaborative but it was hard for this final not to be dominated by the narrative of one person with a long, complex history at SW19. Almost inconceivably, Hingis won her first Wimbledon prize, the girls’ singles title, as a precocious 13-year-old in

1994. She first claimed the senior doubles title two years later, aged 15, and then won her one and only singles championship here the following summer. Her last significant victory at Wimbledon came in the women’s doubles in 1998, when she was partnered by Jana Novotna. It has certainly been an eventful decade and a half since then. Hingis

retired, for the first time, in 2003, aged 22, after a pair of ankle surgeries, first on her right, then her left. She announced she wanted to spend more time horse riding, maybe even patch up an education fractured by an adolescence on the tennis circuit. Hingis returned in 2005, rose to the world’s top 10 again but then tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007. The amount was minuscule – and she still denies taking anything – but she was banned for two years. The third coming of Hingis – “no longer a spring chicken,” as she said recently – has been as a doubles specialist since 2013. And she has clearly lost none of her skill at the net and astute reading of the game: with Flavia Pennetta, she reached the final of the US Open in 2014, losing to Makarova and Vesnina; she then won the mixed doubles final of this year’s Australian Open with India’s Leander Paes. “I had one comeback when I came back in singles, now another one in doubles,” said Hingis. “I always believed in it. Without that you can’t come out here and play and compete at this level. I always felt like I had one of the best volleys in the world, one of the best backhands in the world, so you got to believe in something if you want to win.” Hingis, who was obviously drained by a long fortnight at Wimbledon, will be reunited with Paes on Sunday afternoon in the mixed doubles final against Austria’s Alexander Peya and Hungary’s Timea Babos. One of the most unexpected stories in tennis is set to have another chapter.

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Friday August 14, 2015

加拿大联邦竞选第一场辩论今晚举行辩论如何改变民意 2015年加拿大联邦大选的第一场政党领袖辩论将在今天（星期四）晚间举行。执政保守党领导人哈珀，官方反对党新民主党领导人穆凯尔，自由党领导人贾斯汀.特鲁多，以及绿党领导人伊丽莎白.梅四位联邦政党领袖将会参加辩论。在竞选中，政治人物在辩论中的表现对赢得选举作用关键。加拿大广播公司（CBC）的资深主持人曼斯布里奇就此回顾了加拿大政坛两次著名的辩论。 “你有选择，先生” 1984年，约翰.特纳（John Turner ）接替退休的皮埃尔 .特鲁多（ Pierre Trudeau）成为加拿大总理，并且宣布在当年的九月份举行联邦大选。不过，就在大选前夕，特纳确认了特鲁多退休前的几项重大人事任命，其中包括了参议员、法官、国有企业董事长等职位。这件事情被普遍解释为特鲁多对自由党的长期忠实支持者的“奖励”。在特纳与进步保守党领导人马尔罗尼（Brian Mulroney）进行的辩论中，马尔罗尼就此提出严肃质疑，并说出了那句著名的“先生，你有选择” 。他说，你可以说，我不会这么做。对加拿大来说，这是错误的，我不会让加拿大人为此付出代价。你有选择，先生。对这件事情说“不”，但你却说了“是”… … 我可以很尊敬地告诉你，对加拿大人来说，这不够好。”面对马尔罗尼咄咄逼人的攻势，特纳只有招架之功，回应说：我别无选择。 1984年的大选结果是，进步保守党大获全胜，取得了211个议席，成为了加拿大选举历史上获得席位最多的一次；而自由党则失去了95个议席。

“在加拿大，员工不上班就得不到升职” 另一次为政治评论人士津津乐道的辩论会出现的转折是在2011年。当时的新民主党领袖杰克 .雷顿（ Jake Layton）在辩论中质问自由党前领袖伊格纳迪耶夫（Michael Ignatieff ），为什么他在议会的出席率如此之低？雷顿说，我很想知道，你为什么成为议会中出席率最糟糕的议员。你想做加拿大总理，首先要做好一个议员。在加拿大，员工不上班是无法得到升职的。这番话令伊格纳迪耶夫无法正面回应。在2011年的大选中，自由党失去了官方反对党的位置，而新民主党则增加了67个席位，创造了“橙色风暴” ，在加拿大历史上第一次成为了官方反对党。今晚看点

首先是现任总理、保守党总理哈珀会成为其他三人的主要攻击目标，特别会提到加拿大目前的经济形势；他为什么要举行加拿大历时最长的选举，增加纳税人负担；以及他在环境、参议院改革问题上的立场。第二，穆凯尔和特鲁多如何互动？作为新民主党和自由党两大在野党的领导人，穆凯尔与特鲁多如何互动也值得寻味。虽说两人的主要目标是要击败保守党的哈珀。但因为是三党竞选，分属于中间以及中间偏左立场的新民主党和自由党也需要争取各自的选民，因而导致他们之间的相互攻击。第三，他们会提及哪些选区在辩论中，你能看出政党领袖们在针对哪些选民喊话。通常，他们在辩论中会提及一些选区，这是他们心目中争夺的重点。比如，特鲁多希望争取温哥

华的选票；而安大略省的议席则成为保守党和新民主党争夺的重点等等。第四，辩论形式会影响效果以往的联邦政党领袖辩论都是由广播联盟（the broadcast consortium ）主办的，它包括了CBC以及其他加拿大主要电视网以及新闻机构，辩论会由电视直播。不过，今晚的政党领袖辩论是由加拿大时政杂志“麦克林，Maclean” 主办的，它的时政编辑Paul Wells将会主持这次辩论。而在辩论形式上，与往年不同的是，会出现主持人针对每一个政党领袖的一对一提问，其间的气氛和应对对于展示领导人的形象很重要。保守党候选人哈珀很早就拒绝了参加广播联盟的英语电视辩论，所以今晚这场辩论也可能是今年大选中唯一的四个联邦政党领袖一起出现的英语辩论。

纽芬兰省成为加拿大第一爱德华王子岛风景如画个取消学生贷款的省份，中国移民纷纷投资加拿大纽芬兰省成为加拿大第一个取消学生贷款，代之以发放助学金的省份。该省从上星期六开始这项新政策，大专院校学生不会再因读书期间经济困难向省政府借钱，背上债务。

海滩、岩石、红色的土壤…位于加拿大东部的爱德华王子岛省（P.E.I.）一直对旅游者有着独特的吸引力，加拿大作家露西 ·莫德·蒙哥马利（Lucy Maud Montgomery）的著名小说“安妮的绿色小屋 ”（ Anne of Green Gables）就是写自这里。

虽然目前加拿大各省政府在向大学生发放贷款时，也会评估申请人经济状况，发放一定比例的助学金（Bursary ），但贷款部分总是要还的。加拿大的学生组织多年来一直在呼吁各省政府能够以全额助学金代替贷款。

建立家庭，不敢买房买车，无法创建自己的生意。现在将贷款转为资助，有利于这些学生走出去，做他们想做的事，为经济做出贡献”。

纽芬兰省的进步保守党政府预计做出这项改变后，今年将向7千多学生发放1260万元的助学金，到2019年总共需要拨款5060万加元。加拿大学生联盟在纽芬兰省的主席特拉维斯·佩里（Travis Perry）说：“那些因贷款在毕业时背着沉重债务的大学生，比没欠债的毕业生更难

佩里说，现在省政府已经跨出了第一步，他们还要继续工作。例如省级贷款只占贷款总额的40%，联邦级的低息贷款仍占60%。他们还要在今秋省选期间继续推动省政府，为让更多年轻人能够进入大学创造便利条件，培养更多具有高技能、高素质的劳动力，从而促进纽芬兰省经济和未来的发展。

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根据加拿大新闻社的报道，2014年，王子岛接待了至少135 万名游客，比2013年增长3.8%，旅游者在岛上的直接开支为4.01亿加元，也比2013年增长5.1%。与此同时，岛上的中国人也在增多，但他们并不是旅游者，而是投资移民，不少人投资旅游业，加拿大广播公司记者 Érik Tremblay报道说，中国移民的投资正在给当地的旅游业带来变化。中国移民纷纷投资 Cavendish，是位于爱德华王子岛北部的一个旅游景区，在这个风景被

比作明信片的小镇，旅游业是主要的经济活动，当地居民不过几百人，大多都经营着与旅游业相关的生意，其中不少人年纪已大，考虑退休，出售生意。琳达·劳德就是其中一位，她刚刚把自己经营了30多年的度假村卖给了来自中国的新移民魏晓玲（译音）。她在接受加拿大广播公司的采访时说，看看我们的年纪，确实到了该考虑出让生意的时候，一般来说，我们这儿的生意要卖出去需要3-5年的时间，现在有了中国移民，交易的达成快多了。

Friday August 14, 2015

Nuestra América desfila con amistad Desde hace 5 años, centenas de personas de diversos lugares del mundo –especialmente de las américas- participan en el Desfile de la Amistad Nuestroamericana que se lleva a cabo en el marco del Festival Presencia Autóctona. El Desfile es un encuentro multicultural en el que los participantes muestran sus trajes típicos y tradicionales, su música, su gastronomía y otras herencias y rasgos distintivos de sus países de origen. Esas culturas se encuentran, además, con las primera naciones de Canadá, los pueblos indígenas y autóctonos del país que han desarrollado una amistad especial con varias de las comunidades que participan en el encuentro anual. Martín Movilla habló con Gladys Navarro, la organizadora y creadora del Desfile.

Los exitosos Juegos Panamericanos de Toronto La cooperación internacional en buenas manos

Se cerró el telón, llegaron a su fin los Juegos Panamericanos Toronto 2015. Es la hora de los primeros balances deportivos y administrativos porque en pocos días comienzan los Juegos Parapanamericanos, también en la ciudad de Toronto. Lo que se vio en los Panamericanos terminó siendo del agrado de muchos y permite llegar a una conclusión: el continente americano cuenta con un relevo generacional bien preparado y con muchas capacidades para competir con los mejores de otros continentes. A esto se agrega que la combinación de atletas y seleccionados de experiencia con otros que apenas comienzan su carrera, una unión interesante y productiva que se convierte en buena plataforma de lanzamiento para quienes asumirán la responsabilidad de representar sus países en los próximos Juegos Olímpicos de Brasil. Freddy Vélez estuvo siguiendo de cerca las justas deportivas y la forma como los organizadores sortearon este desafío. Martín Movilla habló con el periodista ontariense.

Estudiar en Canadá: entre experiencia y desafío Estudiar en Canadá es el sueño de muchas personas en el mundo. Cada año, miles de estudiantes de diversos orígenes y continentes vienen a las universidades del país para estudiar en casi todas profesiones. Europeos, estadounidenses, africanos, árabes, asiáticos, australianos, indios y latinoamericanos hace parte de las listas de personas que escogen Canadá para seguir sus estudios superiores. Sin embargo, no son pocos los latinoamericanos que se preguntan ¿Por qué ir a Canadá? ¿Vale la pena? ¿Cómo es la experiencia de estudiar en ese país? ¿Es fácil o difícil adaptarse? ¿Qué modelo, método o fondo filosófico tiene la educación canadiense? Canadá como país es bastante grande y diverso y aunque hay una columna vertebral generalizada, los sistemas educativos y de costos son tan disímiles como las sociedades que viven en las provincias donde quedan las universidades. Claudia Duque es una estudiante latinoamericana que vino a la ciudad de Quebec a estudiar un doctorado en antropología. Ella ya había estudiado una maestría en Francia. Con ella dialogó Martín Movilla sobre su experiencia aquí, las dificultades, los retos, las facilidades y los temas que rodean ese mundo educativo.

Con frecuencia nos referimos a emprendimientos solidarios que tienen su origen en decisiones gubernamentales u organizaciones civiles sin fines de lucro. Pero es mucho menos frecuente ver actividades de cooperación internacional cuyos protagonistas principales son estudiantes de escuelas secundarias. Eso es lo que hace el Colegio Notre-Dame-deLourdes, de la localidad de Longueuil, en la ribera sur de Montreal, en el marco de su programa educativo Nuestra América. Jóvenes estudiantes del 4° y 5° año de ese establecimiento viajaron meses atrás a Ecuador, en donde participaron de tareas tan diversas como cavar la tierra para permitir la instalación de redes de agua potable, cultivar huertas, vender productos en el mercado, colaborar con la limpieza de la casa en la que vivían y, por supuesto, practicar el español, lengua curricular del colegio. Se trató de una experiencia única. Para muchos fue la primera ocasión para salir de las fronteras de su país. También se trató de un descubrimiento múltiple, el de otras culturas, el de otra América, similar en algunos aspectos y diversa en otros y, también, una forma de aprender a conocerse a sí mismos. La última experiencia los llevó a un intercambio con la tribu indígena ecuatoriana de Ilumán. El próximo destino será Guatemala y el futuro podría llevarlos a otros pasajes de América Latina. Los preparativos, la creatividad a la hora de buscar financiación y, por sobre todo, la cristalización de una experiencia de la que los estudiantes mismos salen totalmente cambiados en su forma de ver el mundo. Así lo explica Daks Philippe Desjardins, profesor de español en el Colegio Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, de Longueuil, en diálogo con Luis Laborda.

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Friday August 14, 2015

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Friday August 14, 2015