Here! Magazine Summer 2017

SPECIAL ISSUE

FOR NEWCOMERS TO CANADA

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Immigrant

HERE! IS THERE: OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY

Welcome Centre

BUILDING CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

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The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) helps individuals and organizations to connect across cultures.

We provide information, support and tools to help immigrants and refugees reach their goals. By engaging people through networks, education and arts programming we create a welcoming community.

Editor in chief | Fiona Bramble Copy Editors | Christy Sebelius, Kieran Wilson Contributing Writers | Kedsanee Broome‚ Nofel Sheleeg, Ruth Mojeed‚ Hyeyoung Jeon

If you are interested in learning about getting involved in the private sponsorship of refugees, ICA can help.

Design and Layout | Fiona Bramble Print and Production | Glenmore Printing

Immigrant Welcome Centre and Main Office: 930 Balmoral Road (At Quadra) Victoria BC, V8T 1A8 info@icavictoria.org Phone: 250-388-4728 Fax: 250-386-4395 Mon–Thurs: 8:30am–6:30pm Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm

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“ MAPLE”

Letter from the editor

“A ci t izen is a p oli t ic al and mor al ag en t w ho in f ac t ha s a share d s ens e of hop e and re sp onsibili t y t o ot her s and not jus t t o him or her s elf.” — H enr y G ir o u x

Citizens All For readers new to the Here! family‚ what we do and how we tell our stories might seem a little different. Our family is truly the whole community‚ and when we have story ideas‚ we meet‚ talk‚ question‚ laugh‚ eat‚ share‚ and walk together to explore what the themes mean to each of us.

From there, we map out how we can best put our experiences into words and images.

For this issue‚ we wanted to understand more deeply what it means to be a citizen and to be engaged in acts of citizenship. We asked what best demonstrates citizenship. Volunteering?

Voting? Military service? Activism? Caregiving?

Conservationism? While we most definitely celebrate Canadian citizenship in these pages‚ we also try to push the boundaries of formal definitions and get to the heart of what drives (or doesn᾽t) each of us to embody the principles of citizenship.

For several days at the beginning of July‚ a familiar camper van was parked at the top of my street. It was unmistakably Tim Van Horn᾽s Canadian Mosaic RV‚ otherwise known as “Maple.” Eight years ago‚ Tim started on what he calls a “modern-day pilgrimage” to capture Canada᾽s diversity. He has since taken over 54‚000 portraits. We were lucky enough to feature Tim᾽s photo-documentary project in our Fall 2015 Issue.

When I saw Maple‚ I had to resist the urge to fan mob Tim. After all‚ Maple is also his home‚ and I was an uninvited guest. So‚ I admired Maple from afar‚ and thought about what Tim᾽s impact as a citizen has been‚ and what might make him or others stand out as model citizens.

Tim has volunteered nine years of his life not simply taking pictures‚ but connecting with his fellow Canadians‚ bearing witness‚ documenting‚ and highlighting what many deem Canada᾽s unique strength: our diversity.

When you read the stories in these pages‚ you᾽ll see‚ as I have‚ that there is stiff competition for the title of model citizen in our community.

Passion‚ dedication‚ sacrifice‚ and love for all citizens of the world shine out from every profile and contribution. I feel honoured and privileged to have shared space and time with the inspiring citizens/Citizens who contributed to and informed this special issue.

And to our newest citizens‚ we welcome you to the Canadian family with open arms‚ and gratitude for helping make this country‚ as new citizen Carlos Miranda (see page 22) so beautifully puts it‚ the kind of place where “being here is the difference between living‚ and feeling alive.”

Fiona Bramble, Editor Second-generation French-Irish-Scottish-Canadian

IN THIS ISSUE Volume 4‚ Issue 1

features

12 LET’S TALK CITIZENSHIP Here! Magazine’s and House of the World’s Dinner-Discussion creates a space for all community members to share their thoughts

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on citizen/Citizenship.

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—by Hyeyoung Jeon

THE GLOBAL CITIZENS

Victoria is home to many globally-minded activists and advocates. Zen Tharani, Abkar Idriss, and Philippe Blanchard share what drives them to be changemakers on the global stage.

—by Ruth Mojeed

20 THE NEW CITIZENS

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Government House hosts a special citizenship ceremony for 150 new citizens on Canada Day 2017. Here! asks what taking the Oath of Citizenship means to them.

24 ALL IN A LIFE’S WORK

Citizenship Judge Gerald “Gerry” Pash has spent his working life in service to his community. Gerry takes us back to the beginning of a life of hard work, opportunity, —by Fiona Bramble and adventure.

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writers AOY 8 I, CITIZEN

NOFEL 9

THE ANGRY CANADIAN

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any of us came from somewhere el se. Some of us arrived 100 years ago; some of us 100 days ago. Now we are here—working‚ living‚ and learning together. We may have arrived in different ways and may have come for different reasons; we may be going down different paths, but one thing is the same: here is home.

I n o u r co nti n ue d e f fo r t to I n d i g e n ize o u r wo rk a n d to ch alle n g e th e o n g o i n g n e o co lo n iz ati o n , th e H e re ! fa m i ly wi s h es to ex p res s g ratitude to th e o ri gi n al s tewa rd s of th e l a n d , a n d to ack n ow le dg e th at o u r wo rk t a kes p l ace o n th e Lk w u n g e n te rrito r y of th e S o n g h e es a n d E s q u i m alt Fi r s t N ati o n s .

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1- 3: FILIPINO AND TIBETAN PERFORMERS 4 - 5: TEAM HERE! ( WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK, UNIVERSIT Y OF VIC TORIA , MAY 2017); 6: SHARMARKE DUBOW, SARI ALESH, AND SOFIJA VRBASKI 7: IBR AHIM HA JIBR AHIM AND R ANIM KHOCHK AR (OWNERS, SAYAR A HOT BREAD) 8: ELDER GREG SAM 9: IMAM ISMAIL MOHAMED NUR ( WORLD REFUGEE DAY EVENT, GREATER VIC TORIA PUBLIC LIBR ARY, J U N E 2 017 ) ; 10 : CHARL AYNE THORNTON JOE AND WINNIE LEE 11: ALFRED OKOT 12: REFUGEE ADVOCATES AND SUPPORTERS 13: K AWA AWIAR AND KERI GREENIDGE 14: ABK AR IDRISS AND RUTH MOJEED ( WORLD REFUGEE DAY, VIC TORIA CIT Y HALL, JUNE 2017); 15 -18: PARTICIPANTS IN HERE! AND HOW’S MULTICULTUR AL MOSAIC PROJEC T 19: XIMENA LONDONO, FIONA BR AMBLE, FR ANCES LITMAN (CAR FREE DAY, DOWNTOWN VIC TORIA B.C., JUNE 2017).

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WE BUILD BUILD WE WELCOMING WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE AND COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES 10

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CommunityPartnership Partnership Community Network Member Network Member Masjid Police Al-Iman Mosque Saanich Department

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The Community Community Partnership The Partnership Network (CPN) Network (CPN)isisaagroup groupofof local agencies, agencies, businesses, local businesses and and institutions committed institutions committedtotobuilding building diverse, welcoming, diverse, welcoming and and inclusive inclusive communities in Greater communities in GreaterVictoria.

Victoria.

CPN members CPN memberswork worktotodevelop develop their capacity by their capacity bysharing sharingresources resources and information information aimed and aimedatatpromoting promoting and supporting supporting our and ourincreasingly increasingly diverse region. diverse region.

Inter-Cultural Association The Inter-Cultural Association has of Greaterfunding Victoriafrom has received received Citizenship funding from Immigration, Refugees and Immigration Canada to lead the and Citizenship Canada toPartnership lead the CPN-Local Immigration CPN initiative.

The CPN connects connects initiative.

The CPN-LIP key steakholders, stakeholders, immigrants, key immigrantsand and CPN members CPN membersfrom fromaarange rangeofof sectors to sectors to create createaacomprehensive comprehensive and meaningful and meaningfulimmigration immigration settlement strategy. settlement strategy.

BECOME A MEMBER

communitypartnershipnetwork.ca icavictoria.org/community/cpn

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ON AN OCTOBER DAY eight years ago‚ when my sisterin-law told my nephew that his only Asian aunty would become a Canadian that day‚ the bewildered four-year old asked‚ “How can Aunty Aoy be a Canadian?” To him‚ that was almost impossible‚ as if someone had decided to call a dog a cat.

history of corruption and coups in Thailand made me pay less attention to politics. Seeing my Thai name among the others on the list of Canadians who can vote was also motivation for exercising my rights. It is very special to be a Canadian with Thai ancestry and to feel welcome and equal.

On the day I I continue attended my to speak own citizenship Feeling Canadian English with ceremony‚ a started when I began an accent.

Thai friend of to fall in love with the I haven’t mine gave me smell of the cool fresh stopped a shirt with connecting Canadian air perfumed with the with my stereotypes scent of cedar trees.

Thai culture. written on it.

These She announced qualities don’t indicate with a grin that I was officially the Canadian in me. When a Canadian. We knew that did I begin to identify as a the stereotypes such as Canadian? I know it didn’t saying “eh”‚ wearing a toque‚ happen the day I was granted and watching hockey were Canadian citizenship. It was irrelevant. I hardly watch more gradual. Self-awareness hockey‚ but I gave an interview about feeling Canadian to a Times Colonist reporter started when I began to fall when the Panorama Recreation in love with the smell of a Centre won the vote to host the campfire and the cool fresh Kraft Hockeyville 2015 preair perfumed with the scent season games. As a Canadian‚ of cedar trees. It started with a constant feeling of safety.

It started when navigating a four-way stop with everyone gesturing for me to go first, out of politeness‚ regardless of who got there first.

My proudest moment as a Canadian was when I voted for my Member of Parliament.

Voting was my first official act as a citizen. I had never even voted when I was in Thailand. Perhaps the long

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AOY AND DAUGHTERS. PHOTO CREDIT: FIONA BRAMBLE

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I, CITIZEN

AOY [oI]

I was there with my girls to support the community. And yes, I often say “eh” with a strong Thai accent‚ which I am proud of and never wish to change.

Recently‚ I received an invitation from an Aboriginal elder to join the drum group at the Tsartlip First Nation. I arranged a field trip for students at a school I work with to join the group. The elders passed the drums to students and kindly showed them how to follow the beats. There was not a lot of conversation‚ only the heartfelt joy of drumming and singing.

Apart from the Aboriginal students‚ there were 13 students from different cultural backgrounds including Chinese‚ Filipino‚ Irish‚ Mexican‚ and Ukrainian. Our skin colours were different, but our hearts were one. This is why I love being Canadian.

Kedsanee (Aoy) Broome immigrated to Canada from Thailand in 2004 and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors‚ specializing in cultural diversity.

THE ANGRY

CANADIAN

NOFEL

[nofɘl]

Grappling with the negative change in the socio-political dynamics in the only country that I call home‚ I became mentally and physically exhausted.

Now‚ I realize that I’m no longer drained; I’m angry‚ and I’m galvanized by this anger.

I’m angry because I’m often regarded as foreign simply because my skin colour isn’t the same shade as that of the majority.

shooting at a Quebec City mosque‚ I understood that I belong to a community that has been dehumanized for so long that even our allies dehumanize us and alienate us as the Other. Some people were saying that “they” and “all Canadians” apologize to Muslims‚ as if somehow Muslims weren’t Canadian.

P H O TO C R E D I T: F I O N A B R A M B L E ‚ 2 017

ONLY LATELY have I become mindful of the politicization of my existence. The change in political discourse in North America after Donald Trump was elected U.S. president made me realize that Canada was becoming a less accepting place and that my presence was often deemed inferior. It’s too late for me to stop calling this country home; it embraced me long ago‚ and I embraced it back.

are still reinforcing so-called White superiority.

People were saying that “they” and “all Canadians” apologize to Muslims‚ as if somehow Muslims weren’t Canadian.

I’m angry because when a person of European origin‚ socalled White‚ commits an act of terrorism‚ our society is reluctant to call him a terrorist‚ even when our prime minister labels him as such.

So here are Canada and I together‚ and I am taken aback by the extent to which prejudices have become more overt—prejudices which perpetuate the dominant eurocentrism, in which those with white skin are superior to those with darker skin.

I’m angry because there’s so much eurocentrism and heterosexism in Canada that prevents people from truly uniting with the “Other‚” who they have been taught is inferior‚ even when they respect the “Other’s” right to existence and dignity.

What startles and frightens me most is the degree to which people of colour have internalized this notion and

When I attended the Solidarity Against Islamophobia Event at Centennial Square in Victoria in February‚ following a mass

Saying that all Canadians apologize for the actions of a Canadian‚ who killed his fellow Canadians‚ whom he

deemed to be the Other‚ perpetuates the alienation of Muslims. Had people said all non-Muslim Canadians apologize for the terrorist attack that targeted Muslim Canadians‚ that‚ too‚ would have been absurd‚ yet less alienating. Then‚ who is “all Canadians”? Are Muslims included? Are other minorities who’ve been previously targeted included? Is it only those who are of a European origin? Are not we all equally Canadian?

I am an angry Canadian‚ and so should many of us be.

Nofel is a calm Arab and an angry Canadian.

He is also a writer and a poet. nofelshelleg@gmail.com heremagazine.ca

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WITH 2017’s CANADA 150 CELEBRATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED CONTROVERSY (PAM PALMATER‚ A MI’KMAW LAWYER AND UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IS CLEAR: IT’S A CELEBRATION OF THE WORST 150 YEARS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ LIVES)‚ THERE HAS BEEN A HYPER-FOCUS ON CANADIAN-NESS‚ WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF NATIONHOOD AND SHARED VALUES THAT HAVE HELPED FORM A UNIQUE CANADIAN IDENTITY OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS. THE CANADIAN BRAND‚ ON THE SURFACE AT LEAST‚ EXCLUDES THOSE WHO DON’T NECESSARILY IDENTIFY AS CANADIAN: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO ARE ALREADY MEMBERS OF A DISTINCT NATION; NEWCOMERS TO CANADA‚ SUCH AS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS‚ REFUGEES‚ UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS‚ TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS‚ AND ECONOMIC OR FAMILY CLASS IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON A PATH TO FORMAL CITIZENSHIP; AND LONG-ESTABLISHED PERMANENT RESIDENTS WHO‚ FOR A VARIETY OR REASONS‚ HAVE NOT OR WILL NOT PURSUE OFFICIAL CITIZENSHIP STATUS. THERE ARE EVEN MANY BORN IN CANADA WHO HAVE NEVER HAD TO AFFIRM THEIR CITIZENSHIP OR WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CITIZEN BEYOND REMEMBERING MOST OF THE WORDS TO ‘O CANADA’ AT (OF COURSE!) A HOCKEY GAME.

SO WHAT OF THOSE WHO AREN’T OFFICIALLY CANADIAN? ONE DICTIONARY DEFINES CITIZENSHIP AS “THE QUALITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSE TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.” IN OUR COMMUNITY‚ SO-CALLED SMALL-C CITIZENS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR VOLUNTEER CORPS‚ ACTIVIST GLOBAL CITIZENS‚ DIASPORA POWERHOUSES‚ CHILD AND ELDER CAREGIVERS‚ ESSENTIAL LABOURERS, INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS‚ AND MULTI-LINGUAL AND GLOBALLY-EDUCATED ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO‚ WHETHER OR NOT THEY CHOOSE TO BECOME BIG-C CITIZENS‚ ASPIRE AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR PERCEIVED SHARED VALUES. WELCOMING CITIZENS OF BOTH THE SMALL-C AND BIG-C VARIETY IS NOT ONLY CANADA’S STRENGTH‚ IT IS‚ PERHAPS IRONICALLY‚ EXACTLY WHAT SHAPES OUR UNIQUE CANADIAN-NESS.

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LET’S TALK

CITIZENSHIP @ Here! Magazine + House of the World Dinner-Discussion

by H ye young Je on

PHOTO CREDIT: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM

I T WA S a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y F r i d a y e v e n i n g a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f s u m m e r.

Here! Magazine and House of t h e Wo r l d b r o u g h t c o m m u n i t y members together in a downtown restaurant for an evening of sharing experiences and exchanging ideas i n a w a r m a n d f r i e n d l y a t m o s p h e r e.

T h e d i n n e r- d i s c u s s i o n f o c u s e d o n i n c l u s i o n‚ b e l o n g i n g‚ c i v i c e n g a g e m e n t‚ a n d c i t i ze n s h i p.

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Jakelina Listes‚ Founder of House of the World‚ star ted the conversation with a question: “ What is the advantage of being a Canadian citizen over being a permanent resident?”

Gerald Pash‚ Citizenship Judge at Immigration‚ Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Citizenship Commission‚ responded‚ “The differences bet ween permanent resident status and Canadian citize n s hip i s t ha t a s

I , CI T I Z E N

a Canadian citizen‚ you can vote‚ you can carr y a Canadian passpor t‚ you don’t have to keep track of your residenc y requirement to maintain permanent resident status‚ and you have access to a wider range of jobs.”

Judge Pash then showed us a photo of himself per forming a bedside citizenship ceremony for a terminally ill woman.

For Judge Pash‚ that moment highlighted another “aspec t of becoming a citizen which is intangible.” He reflec ted that considering the woman’s health and age‚ “ the benefits of being a Canadian citizen [were] pret t y minimal” and that “all the rest of it is belonging‚” including joining her own family as a Canadian citizen.

Heidy Lopez shared her definition of being a citizen in a communit y: “I think that being a citizen in a communit y means the right to live in Canada‚ the joy of freedom and oppor tunit y to work here‚ vote‚ contribute to the communit y and happily pay taxes. I say happy because at least in Canada I have seen clean streets‚ clean bus stops‚ good public ser vices. So‚ I can see in some way how and where

the taxes I pay are invested.”

Heidy moved to Canada in April 2012 from Caracas‚ Venezuela. She has Venezuelan citizenship and is hoping to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Here! and HOW is a Meetup Group lead by the members of Here!

Magazine and HOW (House of the World Society) —a non-prof it/social enterprise for immigrant women.

Our vision for this Meetup Group is to create a space for immigrants, refugees, newcomers, ex-pats, world travellers and open-minded people who wish to share their culture and experiences and exchange opinions on various topics related to contemporar y life in Canada.

A bill to change Canada’s Citizenship Ac t has finally been passed by the Senate with amendments‚ bringing the legislation a step closer to becoming law.

As a result of this bill‚ immigrants to Canada will be able to apply for Canadian citizenship earlier and more easily than before. According to CIC News‚ a Canada Immigration newslet ter‚ Bill C- 6 reduces the amount of time permanent residents have to live in Canada in order to become eligible to apply for citizenship‚ from four out of six years to three out five years (1095 days). In addition‚ applicants who spent time in Canada on a temporar y basis‚ such as on a work or study permit‚ would be able to count a por tion of this time towards the three - year requirement.

Applicants between 18 and 54 years old—rather than the previous 14 and 64 years—

must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship.

Laith Bahjat, another par ticipant, was born in Iraq and raised in the United Kingdom. He moved to Canada in 2011 with his wife Nidaa‚ and their son. He has Canadian citizenship and he believes his countr y of origin suppor ts dual citizenship.

He said, “I assume that if I was from a countr y not suppor ting dual citizenship‚ I would have most likely dropped my original citizenship in favour of the Canadian one. Our future is here; our son’s children will be first- generation Canadians and they will be building this great countr y.

I don’t see any difficulties here deciding what to do in my case.”

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA G E

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

D aniel a do s S anto s Pinto m ove d to C an a d a from B ra silia‚ the n a tion al capital of B razil‚ in t he s ummer of 2013 w it h her t wo b oy s (7 and 11 ye ar s ol d a t t he time) to p ur s u e gra du a te s tu die s in Political S cien ce a t t he Uni ver sit y of V ic toria. D aniela b elieve s t h a t “b ein g a citizen in a communit y me an s yo u know yo ur nex t do or neighb o ur; yo u s in cerel y care ab o u t t he well - b ein g of ot he r p er s on s and familie s t ha t li ve ne ar yo u; and yo u a c t w henever ne ce s s ar y in s up p or t of ot her communit y memb er s a chiev in g t heir dre am s .” S he i s a p erm anent re s ident an d w ill s tar t ap p l y in g for C an a dian citize n s hip for he r famil y nex t fall. D aniel a want s C ana dian citizen s hip for t wo re a s on s . Fir s t‚ b e cau s e s he “ tr ul y [b elieve s] in C an a dian valu e s” and th a t s he ha s “con s cio u s l y cho s en to rai s e [her] kid s in C an a da s o t hey co ul d al s o ex p erien ce li v in g t heir d ail y li ve s under tho s e valu e s .”

W hile a dmit tin g tha t C an a d a i s not p er fe c t‚ D aniel a in si s te d t ha t “it i s wa y m ore s e c ure‚ re s p e c t ful‚ an d e quitab le” t h an B razil. D aniel a al s o b elieve s t ha t hol din g citizen s hip i s not onl y ver y imp or tant for he r chil dre n‚ “s er v in g a s a s t ron g fo un d a tion to t heir s en s e of b elon gin g in C an a d a‚” b u t w ill al s o aid her go al of p ur s uin g a care er w ith the fe deral government in the fu ture. B razilian s can ho l d du al citize n s hip‚ b u t if th a t weren’t t he ca s e‚ D aniel a s aid s he wo ul d p rob ab l y cho o s e to ke ep her B razilian citizen s hip ra t her t han s urren de r it to b e come a C an a dian citizen. D anie l a continu e d‚ “ In my p e r s on al opinion‚ it i s imp or tant to h a ve t hi s conne c tion w it h yo ur origin s‚ and al s o to b e ab le to vote and e le c t rep re s enta ti ve s t ha t are aligne d w it h yo ur ow n p olitical valu e s .”

t heir A me rican citize n s hip w he n t hey g aine d C an a dian citize n s hip. J e nnie reve ale d th a t “a t t ha t time — aro un d 1979 — t he re wa s no option for du al citize n s hip‚ s o we cho s e to b e come exclu si ve l y C an a dian.” D an an d J e nnie s tar te d t he H ome le s s Par tne r s Chri s t m a s W i s h Li s t in Van co u ve r in 20 0 5 an d re ce nt l y l aun che d a new p ro gram calle d Refu ge e Par t ne r s to he lp p e op le conne c t p e r s on all y an d dire c t l y w ith in di v idu al refu ge e s in t heir communitie s .

J e nnie s aid, “ We ha ve inte r v iewe d 16 refu ge e s an d volunte e r s an d up d a te d t heir on goin g s torie s an d w i s h li s t s on o ur we b site s o eve r yone in o ur communit y can re a d t he s torie s . We b e lieve th a t a p owe r ful wa y to he lp refu ge e s i s to know t heir s torie s an d to conne c t w it h the m p e r s on - to - p e r s on. T hi s conne c tion b uil d s s t re n g t h an d co ura ge to m ove for ward in t heir li ve s .”

Hyeyoung Jeon immigrated to Canada from South Korea in 2010 to join her husband.

She is a Registered Social Worker with the B.C. College of Social Workers. South Korea does not permit dual citizenship‚ so Hyeyoung has no immediate plans to become a Canadian citizen.

Here! and HOW᾽s Dinner Discussion series continues with topics such as immigration‚ Canadian culture‚ cross-cultural understanding‚ inclusion‚ and global citizenship. If you are interested in joining us‚ please visit Here! Magazine’s or House of the World᾽s Facebook or Twitter pages. We look forward to more exciting evenings meeting new people and engaging in a meaningful dialogue about issues that interest you!

For more information on Dan and Jennie᾽s valuable work‚ please visit their websites: www.refugeepartners.com and www.homelesspartners.com House of the World Society is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to the empowerment of immigrant women in the

D an an d J e nnie Ke e ran immigra te d from t he Unite d S ta te s . T hey ha d to s urren de r

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Capital Regional District. For more information‚ visit House of the World᾽s website: www.houseoftheworldvictoria.com

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to be or not to be?

Sometimes having your heart and your feet in two countries is challenging. These highprofile folks saw their dual citizenship posing a problem for their careers. Of course, for others, dual citizenship is not even an option. Many countries, including South Korea, Japan, India, Poland, Denmark, Austria, and the Netherlands restrict or do not recognize dual citizenships, leading to automatic loss of citizenship upon acquiring other citizenship.

Australian Greens Senator Larissa

“I will renounce any Canadian citizenship. Nothing against Canada, but I’m an American by birth and as a U.S. Senator, I believe I should be only an American.”

Waters was forced to resign when it was discovered she was a dual citizen. Her colleague, Scott Ludlum, also resigned when he realized he held dual New Zealand-Australian citizenship. In Australia, you are

—Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator,

not permitted to be a member of Parliament if you hold dualcitizenship. In Canada? No problem.

“I made i t cle ar whe n I re nounce d i t I wa s only do in g i t t e mporarily .”

“It is with great shock and sadness that I have discovered that I hold dual citizenship of Australia and Canada.”

Republican

Former media baron Conrad Black renounced his Canadian citizenship to sit in the British House of Lords. Black was convicted in 2007 of obstruction of justice and three counts of fraud.

He ser ved 37 months of a 42-month sentence in a Florida prison.

DUAL CITIZEN S Under C anadian law‚ a citizen of C anada can b e b oth a C anadian citizen and a citizen of another countr y. H owever‚ for citizens of some other countrie s who obtain C anadian citizenship‚ dual citizenship do e s not always apply.

According to C anadavisa.com‚ some countrie s will revoke citizenship when a citizen of that countr y acquire s a C anadian p as sp or t; other nations may simply not re co gnize the new citizenship at all. Each countr y p o s se s se s its own set of rule s and law s re garding dual citizenship.

Individuals se eking C anadian citizenship should cons ult their native government or native countr y’s emb as sy or cons ulate for complete information re garding the imp ac t on their current citizenship s tatu s should they acquire C anadian citizenship. W hile there are many b enefit s to dual and multiple citizenship‚ there are some disadvantage s‚ s uch as p o s sibly having a previou s citizenship revoke d; it is also p os sible to b e cau ght b et we en t wo countrie s’ le galitie s‚ taxation‚ comp ulsor y militar y ser vice s‚ and other unexp e c te d problems.

— H ye yo u n g J e o n

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GLOBAL GROWING UP in Lagos‚ Nigeria‚ I decided af ter my undergraduate education that I wanted to see the world. I wanted to see the world‚ not as a traveller‚ but as a curator of diverse experiences— as one who could interpret the world through the experiences of others.

Though Nigeria has a rich cultural heritage‚ it was in no way representative of the entire world I wanted to experience. I wanted firsthand knowledge of what the world outside mine looks like. I had crossed a few borders and enjoyed new ways of doing things‚ and I wanted to see and learn more.

More came in the form of migration through higher education. I opted for a Master’s degree in Intercultural and International Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria B.C.‚ Canada. Beyond the prospect

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of learning new theories and concepts‚ I was particularly excited about the new cultural experiences that awaited me.

The classroom became my introduction to a multitude of cultural differences‚ and a setting for engaging with a variety of ideologies‚ manners and cultural norms. I studied alongside students from twelve different countries. Our shared experiences became avenues for translating different cultural ideas and expressing unique cultural identities.

Through interactions with Chinese friends‚ I got a taste of Chinese culture; I came to understand certain nuances of the Indian culture through shared experiences with my Indian friends. This was the beginning of the unveiling of a whole new world for me — one where openness and a willingness to share became an invaluable part of my journey.

PHOTOS (LEFT): ABKAR IDRISS, RUTH MOJEED; (CENTRE) RUTH MOJEED, PHILIPPE BLANCHARD. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, JULY 2017. PHOTO CREDITS: FIONA BRAMBLE

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I , CI T I Z E N

CITIZENS

b y Ru t h M oje e d

At the same time, I started to connect with members of the wider community through different community engagement platforms and volunteer opportunities. I volunteered with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) to raise money to support Syrian refugees who had moved to Vancouver Island a few months earlier. I reached out to individuals‚ and consulted with key stakeholders to create better opportunities for newcomers through employment and other avenues that help them adjust and find a sense of belonging in their adopted home. I sought mentorship opportunities with major influencers in Greater Victoria and beyond‚ and I started reaching out to

mentors who became friends and‚ ultimately‚ a community of support for people with similar motivations.

My connections also led me to Zen Tharani‚ Aboubakar (Abkar) Idriss‚ and Philippe Blanchard.

Zen Tharani‚ who moved to Canada with his family as a teenager‚ had few expectations of his new home— he was simply a child who was part of a family’s search for better opportunities. The excitement of being in a new country was soon threatened by a sense of loss for old identities and connections.

His parents made a tough choice‚ sacrificing their thriving careers in Pakistan to create a better future for their children through quality education in Canada.

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T PA G E

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I , CI T I Z E N

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Zen has now lived in Canada for twentyfive years‚ and he believes his life would have been very different had his parents not made their early sacrifice.

As a younger person‚ he had wondered if he would have made the same choice his parents made‚ but as father to a 22-month-old son‚ he is now more certain than ever that he would do the same.

He hopes his young son will grow up to be an explorer with a zest to experience a world beyond the geographical limitations of his location.

causes both locally and globally. People are usually more motivated to tackle issues that affect them directly or are in close proximity.

Zen maintains that helping others isn’t an either- or choice in terms of local vs. international suppor t; he believes we can do both.

As the Director of World Partnership Walk Victoria‚ Zen and his team of volunteers raised $175‚000 this year in support of the Aga Khan Foundation’s sustainability programs intended to provide food security‚ healthcare and economic development for people in parts of Asia. His major challenge has been convincing people of the need to support

Abkar Idriss was determined to break the limitations of poverty that had ravaged his country‚ Chad‚ after years of continuous war and political instability.

At the age of 12‚ he made up his mind to pursue further education in spite of the challenges of being an undocumented refugee with his parents in Saudi Arabia.

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before deciding to move to Canada to seek better opportunities for his family.

ZEN THARANI‚ SECOND FROM LEFT. PHOTO CREDIT: ISMAILIMAIL

His dream of carrying a backpack to class like other kids kept him going each day‚ and he kept it alive each night as he attended classes with much older people.

The family was barely getting enough to eat ‚ yet he was set on being the first member of his family— and his entire tribe— to attend college. His dream seemed lofty and unattainable to his parents who did not see any value in formal education because they were more concerned about putting food on the table. Their mindset was: “We are poor. That is the way it is and that is the way it will always be.”

He overcame every kind of obstacle to obtain undergraduate education in Malaysia

Abkar is convinced that education is the way out of poverty‚ as it was for him and his family. He is currently providing access to muchneeded information for young people to discover educational opportunities abroad through his YouTube channel. He delivers his videos in Arabic‚ discussing various topics‚ including how to find the right schools abroad‚ how to access scholarship opportunities and how to connect with other people who support newcomers in different parts of the world.

Through his videos and other programs‚ Abkar has been able to help thousands of young people from Chad and other countries to access good quality education on different continents.

Moving forward, he also hopes to expand his reach beyond the Arab world.

I , CI T I Z E N

Philippe Blanchard was born and raised in Quebec‚ and visited many countries during his twenty-six years of service in the Canadian Air Force.

After leaving the Forces‚ he decided to do some more travelling and visited the Philippines for the first time two years ago.

Seeing the deplorable living conditions in some parts of Manila‚ Philippe founded Progressive Assistance Canada (PAC) in May 2016 to serve the scavenger community of children and youth who lack access to food and basic education. He works with a team of 200 volunteers who ensure the project runs smoothly. Philippe currently provides 90% of the funding for the project.

He is also reaching out to the larger Filipino diaspora and Canadian community to support the cause as there is very little support for programs in the Philippines due to the fact that organizations often focus more on other Asian and African countries.

For Philippe‚ getting support from Canadians for international projects like PAC is a way for them to reach out beyond their borders.

It is a way to extend some

conversations or are reluctant to tackle such difficult subjects.

With the world becoming a global village‚ we no longer have the luxury of ignoring what happens beyond our borders.

Many Canadians are privileged to enjoy an exceptional quality of life‚ but that privilege also places on us a responsibility to help others as well.

PHILIPPE BLANCHARD VISITING BENEFICIARIES OF THE PAC PROGRAMS We should not build imaginary walls‚ but CONNECT WITH ZEN: Visit the World Partnership instead bridge divides.

Walk Victoria page and learn about how funds from Canadians are helping people around the Stepping into the shoes world. We hope you choose to donate! of others helps us to www.worldpartnershipwalk.com/en/walk-cities/ understand their situation victoria and to put our own CONNECT WITH ABKAR: abkar.idriss@hotmail.com experiences in the right YOUTUBE: Aboubakar Idriss WEB: www.proffg.com perspective.

CONNECT WITH PHILIPPE: PAC is looking for volunteers in Victoria! www.pacanada.org 778-350-5207/philippe@pacanada.org FACEBOOK: Progressive Assistance Canada

of the privileges Canadians enjoy to others who otherwise would not be able to access such support. With more non-profit organizations and individuals creating opportunities for partnerships and collaborations‚ we now have a better chance of seeing the world beyond ourselves and where we are. It all begins with an open mind and a willingness to have the right conversations.

Unfortunately‚ seemingly many Canadians do not understand the need for these kinds of

With individuals like Zen‚ Abkar‚ and Philippe‚ we can build a growing network of change agents who will continue to have global impact that begins in our local community.

Ruth Mojeed grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and has since fallen in love with the beautiful city of Victoria. She is a public speaker, a freelance TV reporter—she hosts the Community Connect talk show on Shaw TV— and a writer and columnist who explores issues around creating better opportunities for immigrants and other newcomers to the community.

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CITIZEN NEW

L I L I A S A M A R I A M I TC H EL L

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: TANZANIA

What does today mean to you?

I c ame h ere as an immigrant f ive years ago an d re ce ntly de cide d to apply for citizenship. Af ter I passe d th e tes t , I got a let ter invitin g m e to b e h ere today! It is a big step an d [I fe el ] happ in ess for get tin g my Citize nship an d b e coming a C anadian .

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On July 1, 2017, The Here! Team joined 150 new citizens from 33 different countries at a special citizenship ceremony hosted by The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, on the grounds of Government House in Victoria. The special ceremony included a surprise concert by the Gabriola Island Singers who performed “Happy Birthday Canada” and “More Canada,” among other songs. We got the chance to speak with a few of the new citizens and asked them about their paths to citizenship and what taking the Oath of Citizenship means to them.

NS

AREF HAJ ASSAD COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SYRIA

W h at wa s yo u r pat h to c i t i z e n s h i p? I c am e h e re a s a Pe rm an e nt Res i de nt . My wi fe sp o n so re d m e. I wo rke d h ard h e re an d t h e n ap p l i e d fo r my cit ize n sh i p.

W h at d o e s t a k i n g t h e Oat h o f C i t i z e n s h i p m e a n to yo u? It’s a b i g t h i n g to m e, actual ly, to b e a C a n ad i a n .

It’s o n e of t h e h ap p i es t days of my l i fe. Al s o to sh a re t h i s wit h my fam ily wh o are al re ady cit ize n s . N ow we are al l cit ize n s .

SHINOBU M U R ATA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: JAPAN

NEW CITIZEN PHOTOGRAPHY: ABKAR ADRISS

W h at wa s yo u r pat h to c i t i z e n s h i p? I wa s yo u n g an d fo o l i sh an d I fe l l i n love wit h a C an ad i an .

U nfo r tu n ate ly, my m a rri ag e d i d n’t l a s t lo n g —we l l , 1 5 ye ars— b ut it wa s a g re at ex p e ri e n ce an d p a r tly why I b e c am e an i m m i g r ant . B ut I fe e l n ow, i n my n ew l ife t h at I cre ate fo r mys e lf, I ch o os e to s t ay i n C a n ada . My h e rit ag e I wil l def i n ite ly n eve r los e, b ut I fe e l my n ew l ife i s h e re. Th i s i s my b i g g es t d re am . I am ve r y p ro ud to b e co m e a C an ad i an to day.

W h at d o e s t a k i n g t h e Oat h o f C i t i z e n s h i p m e a n to yo u?

Fin al ly, I fe e l a p ar t of C an ada . Fo r m e, it i s a b o ut t im e I m ade it of f i ci al an d b e c am e a C an ad i an ! heremagazine.ca

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CARLOS MIR ANDA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: PERU What was your path to citizenship? I went to school here and then I moved back to Peru. Through a sponsorship program, I became a resident. It gave me a chance to explore more, and the more I saw—the Mainland, the West Coast—it just made me want to be here. Once upon a time, Canada was the furthest place I’d ever been and now it has become my home. Whenever you are away, you can’t wait to come back here. What does taking the Oath of Citizenship mean to you? Everything. It means everything to me. I love it here.

Being here, for me, has been the difference between living, and feeling alive.

SHARMARKE DUBOW COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SOMALIA What was your path to citizenship? My relative in Winnipeg, Manitoba sponsored me five years ago through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. I arrived in Canada as a landed immigrant, meaning with permanent residence. What does taking the Oath of Citizenship mean to Sharmarke takes his Oath of Citizenship seriously and is happiest when supporting newcomers to Canada and advocating for refugee rights around the world. Speaking here at Victoria City Hall, June 20, 2017, World Refugee Day. PHOTO CREDIT: LAUREN KELLY/ICA

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you? It means to me stability, safety, belonging— and to have rights and responsibilities. I am so grateful to be Canadian and continue to make Canada a better place. My Canada also includes refugees. I am so excited to join this large family of settlers and indigenous people—and to call Canada home.

T H I N K I N G A B O U T TA K I N G T H E C I T I Z E N S H I P T E S T ?

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The Inter- Cultural Association of Greater Vic t t e s t o r h a v e a t l e a s t s t a r t e d t h e p r o c e s s . S t a r t s i n S e p t e m b e r a n d r u n s u n t i l t h e e n d o f M a r c h 2 018 . I C A’s 4 - h o b e g i n n i n g w h e n a p p l y i n g f o r c i t i ze n s h i p . O c t o b e r 17t h & 24 t h f r o m 3 : 3 0 p m t o 5 : 3 0 p m . P r o g r a m s a r e f r e e . N e w

PHOTO CREDITS THIS PAGE: RACHEL RILKOFF/GOVERNMENT HOUSE

A FE W WO RDS FRO M TH E H O N O U R AB LE J U D ITH G U I CH O N, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (pictured right): “The

C anada Day Citizenship Ceremony was a wonder ful way to celebrate our S esquicentennial , as we c ame together as a communit y to welcome 1 50 new citizens . Although all of us originate from dif ferent backgrounds and many dif ferent par t s of the world, we share d that moment , and from coast to coast to coast on C anada Day, we were unite d by our desire to grow in underst anding , in accept ance of our diversit y and to be come ever more inclusive. While we do not all share the s ame past , we cer t ainly share a common future. And together we will make it great .”

t o r i a ( I C A) o f f e r s a C i t i z e n s h i p Te s t C l a s s t o h e l p w i t h t e s t p r e p a r a t i o n f o r c l i e n t s w h o h a v e a d a t e f o r t h e i r our Citizenship Preparation Program to help clients understand the process and what they need to do from the w c l i e n t s a r e w e l c o m e . C l i e n t s m u s t r e g i s t e r a t I C A . C o n t a c t I C A f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n : 25 0 - 3 8 8 - 4728

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ALL IN A

by Fiona Bramble

JUDGE GERALD “GERRY” PASH understands intimately the arbitrary nature of life‚ those moments when your journey pivots in one direction when it could easily go another—for better or for worse. When Gerry talks about his own life‚ he carries a healthy respect for the “what-ifs.”

Of Polish and British ancestry‚ Gerry was born in 1944 in Winnipeg‚ Manitoba with a condition called macroglossia‚ causing his tongue to be so oversized that it hung out of his mouth. The doctors determined that Gerry’s oversized tongue‚ in the language of the time‚ was a feature of a “spastic mongoloid”‚ or‚ in today’s terms: one with Down syndrome with cerebral palsy.

His father died tragically when Gerry was only four months old‚ and although on her own with limited support‚ Gerry’s mother did not accept his diagnosis. She miraculously found a surgeon who was practicing a then-controversial technique to shorten babies’ tongues. He agreed to perform the procedure on Gerry‚ and it was a success. It also became obvious that Gerry’s early diagnosis had been terribly wrong‚ the consequences of which could have easily steered young Gerry’s life down a very different path.

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G O V E R N M E N T H O U S E ‚ F E B R UA RY 2 017 P H OTO G R A P H U S E D W I T H T H E K I N D P E R M I S S I O N O F J O H N - E VA N S N O W © 2 017 J o h n - E v a n S n o w‚ F OTOV I E

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Having overcome that early challenge and the loss of his father—a hard-working man‚ who even in poor health served in World War II and was later honoured for his service with the naming of Manitoba’s “Pash Lake”— Gerry‚ along with his older brother‚ spent the first eight years of his life in Winnipeg.

Their widowed mother‚ raising both boys on a wartime pension‚ met and fell in love with a “sailor from Esquimalt”‚ who had come to Winnipeg to fight the 1951 Winnipeg flood. They married and the family moved to Victoria. And so began the next chapter of Gerry’s life.

The family settled in the Personnel Married Quarters in Belmont Park and both boys attended local schools. Gerry played sports and joined army cadets. Eventually‚ however‚ Gerry’s mother’s marriage fell apart. Gerry characterizes the time that followed as “not a happy time.” They moved four times in eighteen months. Gerry believes that his stepfather‚ once a young man on the beaches on D-Day‚ likely suffered from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder—a condition little understood at the time—and that his alcoholism and the subsequent breakdown of the marriage were a result of these mental health struggles. As with other moments‚ Gerry contemplates the what-ifs of his stepfather’s life and can’t help but wonder

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PHOTO CREDIT: FIONA BRAMBLE

that if “any one thing” had been different for him‚ perhaps the family would have stayed together. Gerry continued to visit his stepfather several times a year until his death in 2016 at the age of 92.

As a young man‚ Gerry became very interested in radio broadcasting‚ hanging out at on-location broadcasts and getting to know local personalities. One day in 1961‚ Gerry had a chance opportunity to chat with Keith MacKenzie of (now-defunct) local radio station CKDA. Seizing the moment‚ Gerry put

his question to Keith: “How do you get into radio?”

Keith was clearly impressed with Gerry’s enthusiasm because later that afternoon Gerry found himself in the station reading wire and ad copy into a microphone in the control room. It was his first audition. For the next year‚ Gerry “played radio” in his basement‚ a record player spinning and him reading authentic news copy he’d bring home from the station.

The next summer‚ Keith asked Gerry to come down for a

second audition. Gerry was hired on the spot‚ and on June 25‚ 1962‚ 18-year old Gerry began broadcasting in the midnight to 6 a.m. slot for CKDA’s “Coffee Mac’s Early Bird Show.”

coordinate them. As luck would have it‚ one of Gerry’s contacts in Victoria mentioned his name to the Admiral. After whirlwind trips to Esquimalt and Halifax‚ within a period of 30 days‚ Gerry was the first person on the ground to open the Public Affairs Office at Maritime Forces Pacific. Gerry’s original 9-month contract morphed into a 22-year career.

Gerry’s career in radio spanned over 25 years‚ taking him to Fraser Valley Radio in Chilliwack (where he was the first to report on the 1965 Hope Slide) and eventually to Okanagan Radio in 1972 as Managing Director at the age of 29. Looking back‚ Gerry marvels at his quick rise in the business: “People just said‚ ‘We think you can do this’.”

Prior to his retirement from Maritime Forces Pacific and the time to hang up “his shiny button suit‚” Gerry explored a new role that had come to interest him: Citizenship Judge.

By 1989‚ one of the partners in the station wanted to move on‚ the partnership dissolved‚ and Gerry began to contemplate what to do next. He threw himself into community work.

And so began a long process of oral and written interviews— and waiting. Over two years from the date of his application‚ Gerry received a phone call from then-Citizenship and Immigration Minister‚ Jason Kenney. The background noise on the telephone was such that Gerry could not make out what the Minister was saying‚ but soon‚ it was officially posted: Gerald Pash had been appointed Citizenship Judge.

Getting involved in the Air Cadet program was a natural choice for Gerry‚ having been an Army Cadet in his youth and then an officer on the Reserve Force Cadet Instructors List. He reactivated his Instructor status and took over the Penticton Air Cadet Squadron. Gerry also applied his media background to that position and began doing media for the cadet program‚ even developing a “media relations handbook” for the program.

As with other opportunities in Gerry’s life‚ good timing and the right skill set meant that he was well-positioned when his next adventure rose on the horizon in the form of the Canadian Forces Maritime Command.

P H OTO S T H I S PAG E S U P P LI E D BY G E R A LD PA S H

Maritime Command was opening Public Affairs Offices on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada and needed to find the right people to

Over the last five years‚ Gerry has travelled back and forth to Surrey. (In 2012‚ Citizenship and Immigration offices were closed en masse across the country‚ including the Victoria office). When asked if the toll of travel and significant personal expense has been worth it‚ Gerry admits that he “basically works one day for free‚” but “the opportunity to serve in this capacity has been absolutely amazing.”

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BALLOTS & BELONGING A 2015 national study by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) explored how new citizens par ticipate politically.

The repor t includes f irsthand account s from 2,300+ new citizens—members of the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass program— collected from a national online sur vey and cross-countr y focus groups. Two major themes emerged from the study:

JUDGE PASH AND ALETTA UPTON‚ JUNE 7‚ 2017. PHOTO CREDIT: PARKER CROOK/MORNING STAR

Gerry is proud of his special touches during a ceremony‚ such as reminding the children present that they “could be prime minister one day.”

Once‚ Gerry was tipped off that it was the birthday of a young new citizen and led the whole crowd in a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. Gerry also describes powerful moments such as performing a private citizenship ceremony at the hospital bedside of a terminally ill person as “incredibly moving experiences.”

On August 16‚ 2017‚ a citizenship ceremony will be hosted at HMC Dockyard. For Gerry‚ this will be a special day—a full circle moment—performing a ceremony in front of his former colleagues.

Asked if he is nervous‚ Gerry laughs‚ “I am always nervous before a ceremony! I want to make it right for the people.”

When Gerry started out as a Citizenship Judge in 2012‚ there were thirty-eight full- and part-time Citizenship Judges across Canada; there are now eight. Gerry explains that the new Citizenship Act allows for far fewer discretionary decisions‚ leaving the role of Citizenship Judge largely ceremonial‚ with some outreach and education responsibilities. Gerry’s current term will end in June 2018.

Although the language has changed over the years‚ the core principles of the cadet program—being a proud citizen‚ contributing to Canada’s future‚ and representing Canada in a positive light—are exactly aligned with Gerry’s work as a Citizenship Judge and his own deeply-held beliefs. It makes perfect sense that Gerry would say of his amazing journey so far: “I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

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When it is suggested that his work as Citizenship Judge seems more like a calling than a job‚ Gerry responds that he can “draw a direct line from his time in cadets as a teenager” to today.

1) Barriers to participation are challenges we shouldn’t fear We’re dealing with solvable, structural challenges such as dif f iculty navigating the systems and lack of information rather than cynicism, language barriers or apathy.

2) Most new citizens are politically engaged New citizens shared that , while they understand that working with politicians is necessar y for policy change, they f ind more immediate result s of their work and gain greater satisfaction through volunteering and donating to charities.

Ballot s & Belonging explores new citizens’ experiences as voters and beyond the ballot as politically engaged citizens in their communities: The new citizen voter • New citizens vote because they feel it is generally impor tant as an act of citizenship, and they wanted to have their voices heard. They are less likely to be drawn to the polls by a par ticular candidate or issue.

• New citizens we talked to who have not voted, yet were eligible, expressed concerns around the convenience of voting and dif f iculties f inding information and navigating the system; these are similar issues other Canadians cite as barriers to voting.

• The majority of new citizens have experience with the democratic process in their countr y of origin.

The politically engaged new citizen • While new citizens consider voting ef fective, the types of ac tivities new citizens repor ted engaging in tended to be activities we would consider civic engagement or activism such as donating money to charity (70%), volunteering for a community organization (55%) and signing petitions (46%). visit ballotsandbelonging.ca for full report

belonging

New Citizens on Political Participation

1. Displacement

1.

Think that voting is important (35%)

6. To vote against a specific party or candidate (3%)

46%

2. Distraction

3. Dissociation

40%

3.

Eligible to vote (12%)

7. Other (2%)

88% think that voting is an effective way to create change

lack of knowledge of the candidates/issues, lack of knowledge of the process

2.

To have voice heard (29%)

5. Concerned about a particular issue (9%)

61% of survey participants had already voted in a Canadian election

REASONS FOR NOT VOTING

REASONS FOR VOTING

4. To support a specific party or candidate (10%)

A new national study by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship that explores Canadian democracy through the eyes of more than 2,300 of Canada’s newest citizens – a growing group that is keen to participate and give back to their new home.

Here’s what they had to say.

6%

out of town, too busy, ill, family emergencies

lack of interest, lack of engagement with the campaign issues, dissatisfaction with the government or political system, belief that their vote does not matter

ELECTION REFORMS Support for other reforms

Should permanent residents be able to vote in municipal elections?

Yes No 48% 52%

59%

60%

Referendums on important public issues

Internet voting

37% Changes to Canada’s political system (e.g. proportional representation)

25%

9%

Mandatory voting

Lower voting age

BEYOND THE BALLOT BOX 70%

Donated money to a charity

Generally, civic engagement is more popular than political participation

55%

Volunteered for a community organization

46% Signed a petition (paper or online)

34% Attended a community meeting about a local issue

23% Called or emailed a politician about an issue

21%

18%

Commented Boycotted a on online product or stories about service politics or current events

14% Participated in a protest, demonstration or march

8% Wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper

7%

6%

Volunteered Became a on a political member of campaign a political party

NEW CITIZENS SHARE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO EASE THE WAY FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS MAKE VOTING MORE CONVENIENT

• Make election day a weekend or a holiday • Longer poll hours • Internet voting • Voting places that are more convenient to work/home

Full results at ballotsandbelonging.ca

HAVE CENTRALLY LOCATED INFORMATION HELP ME GET MY VOTERS’ CARD

• Coordination between municipal, provincial and federal election agencies

• Central online space to compare candidates and their platforms • Workshops offered to new citizens on the political system • Give new citizens more information on voting at citizenship ceremony

1% Was a candidate for political office

o u r m u l t i cu l t u ra l co m m u n i t y Victoria has a vibrant and growing multicultural community! These organizations celebrate culture and diversity with annual events like the Dragon Parade‚ Flamenco Festival‚ Greekfest‚ Festival Mexicano‚ India Mela‚ Loy Kratong‚ AfriCa Fest‚ and the Highland Games and Celtic Festival. They also offer support and services to their members and newcomers‚ including language support‚ health and wellness activities‚ networking opportunities‚ and work-related skill development.

A f r i c an H e r i t a g e S o ci e t y of Van co u ve r I s l an d ( A H AV I ) 3 4 3 6 B e t h u n e A v e ., V i c t o r i a,

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V ic tor ia Filipino - Canadian S enior s A s so ciation B a y a n i h a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e

V i c to r i a H i ghl an d G am e s A s s o ci a t io n

L a S o ci é t é f r an co p h o n e d e V i c to r i a

3 27 7 D o u g l a s S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

5 5 5 L a m p s o n S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

S o n s of S cot l an d‚ 20 4 B al g ow ni e

We b: s o n s o f s c o t l a n d .c o m /a b o u t - u s /p r o v i n c i a l locations/204-balgownie

170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

2 0 0 - 5 3 5 Ya t e s S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

2 5 0 - 3 8 8 -73 5 0

V i c to r i an Cr o a t i an C o mmuni t y

4 0 81 G o r d o n H e a d R d .‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

Vic toria Korean- Canadian Women’s A ssociation We b: v kc w a.w o r d p r e s s .c o m

L e o n ar d o D a V in ci C e n t r e

I n di a C an a d a Cul t ur al A s s o ci a t io n

V i c to r i a Filip in o - C an a di an A s s o ci a t io n

Fa c e b o o k : I n d i a C a n a d a C u l t u r a l A s s o c i a t i o n

Bayanihan Communit y Centre 170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

Victoria Filipino-Canadian Caregivers Association B a y a n i h a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e

J e w is h Fe d e r a t io n of V i c to r i a an d Van co u ve r I s l an d 3 6 3 6 S h e l b o u r n e S t.‚

170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

V i c to r i a A f r i c an C ar ib b e an Cul t ur al S o ci e t y We b: v a c c s o c i e t y.c o m

T h ai K i d s Club

Fa c e b o o k : T h a i K i d s C l u b Victoria BC, Canada

195 B a y S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .

V i c to r i a N ik ke i Cul t ur al S o ci e t y Fa c e b o o k : v n c s .c a

M e x i c an C an a di an C o mmuni t y A s s o ci a t io n of V i c to r i a We b: v i c t o r i a m e x i c a n c a n a d i a n .o r g

V I C TO R I A I M M I G R A N T & REFUGEE CENTRE SOCIET Y 9 3 0 B a l m o r a l R d .‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C. 2 5 0 - 3 8 8 - 47 2 8

6 37 B ay S t ., 3 r d F l o o r, V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C. 2 5 0 - 3 61- 9 4 3 3

P l e a s e co n t a c t u s a t co m m u n i t y @ h e re m a g a z in e.ca i f yo u n e e d t o u p d a t e yo u r o r g a n iza t i o n’s in fo r m a t i o n o r i f yo u w o u l d li ke t o hi g h li g h t yo u r o r g an iza t i o n o r e ve n t in H e re ! M a g a z in e.

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