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Februar y & March 2010 • Volume 3 • Issue 2 • w w w.thevoiceindiaspora.com • T:905.920.1752
“Using the power of the pen to facilitate smooth integration for immigrants into the Canadian society.”
FE DRI T EI OEN
NEW PAGE! FYI Page (For Your Information) 14
Black History Month
Every year Canadians are invited to take part in the festivities and events that honour the legacy of black Canadians, past and present, during Black History Month. This is a time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation we know today. It is also an opportunity for the majority of Canadians to
learn about the experiences of black Canadians in our society, and the vital role this community has played throughout our shared history. Background Despite a presence in Canada that dates back farther than Samuel de Champlain’s first voyage down the St. Lawrence River, people of African descent are often absent from Canadian history books. ∞ continued on page 14
Community Happenings
Page 15
Please Let My Dad Come!
Dear Government of Canada, This is Arnaldo and Wilka. How has your day been? I would like to talk to you about my Dad in Haiti. I would like to ask you that if you could give him the permission to come to Canada because We have always wished to live with our Dad and my Mom together even though I only lived with them together for like only 7 years. I know that there are lots of people in Haiti that have died and others that are suffering right now but please give my Dad the permis-
"An Attack on One is an Attack on All"
A Rally in Support of SISO, Feb 6
“Passionate hatreds can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. These people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content…” Eric Hoffer “To care for anyone else enough to make their problems one's own, is ever the beginning of one's real ethical development” Felix Adler: Hamiltonians- many friends of SISO, home owners around SISO New Dawn Centre, gathered Saturday February 6th, and with one resounding voice, denounced the unwarranted, ignorant, racist, and malicious attack on SISO and new immigrants to Hamilton.
Haitians in Shock!!! More than eighty Haitians living in Hamilton gathered in SISO conference room Friday January 22nd to hear what the government of Canada has planned with regards to sponsoring their loved ones still trapped in Haiti to Canada. The shock wrecked by the quake in Haiti is still fresh on anxious faces of men and women present for the meeting. Many did not talk much; they were all buried in thoughts about the situation back home in Haiti. Many recounted horror stories of loss of loved ones and the agony of waiting many days to confirm their demise. The atmo-
∞ continued on page 13
sion so that he could come and save his life because I do not want my Dad to die, I mean there’s not one child in the world that wants their Dad to die. Everyday, We always cry for those people in Haiti that are suffering , for our brother Steve, our whole family, but especially for our Dad and it hurts us so much just to know that they have no place to sleep, no food, not even water and that they’re living on the middle of the street . I believe in God so much and I know that He is the only one that knows what is going to happen in the future. Every time I pray with my knees down on the floor asking God to protect everybody that is living in Haiti. I also question why Haitian people have been suffering for more than 200 years now, living miserable lives and now same poor little country Haiti has to go through all these again? God hasn’t answered to my question yet but I know that he will because he knows that they have horrible and awful Earthquake that took their houses and their lives away and separated most of the families. I (Arnaldo) am in a basketball team and I always play really well and when they told me what was happening in Haiti, I couldn’t even play because of what happened. I wouldn’t want what’s happening to them to happen to anybody else because it is really painful. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you either. Please read our letter carefully because we wrote it from the bottom of our hearts and please give us the opportunity to see our Dad again because he has always been a great Dad and we love him so much. So ∞ continued on page 3
sphere in that room was one of sorrow and at the same time, expectation of what the future might bring. Aurel B.Marie Philomene (Hamilton) lost her 27 year old son in the quake. He was attending university at the time of his death. He was almost finished from his two-hour lecture before the quake buried him inside his classroom. Aurel lives here with her husband, but the rest of the family lives in Haiti. ∞ continued on page 4
EDITORIAL
This is an exciting new year for the Voice in Diaspora as it is entering another important year of serving the ethnic/ cultural populations in Hamilton and beyond. Our vision has not changed, and that is to continue being the Voice of diverse population that contribute to the greatness of this great nation. On January first 2010, Haitians in Hamilton invited the Voice in Diaspora to their independence anniversary. Many were in attendance, and it was a day of merry-making and great feasting. Couple of days later, the lives of many Haitians changed negatively as news of unfathomable losses grip the whole world in fear. What a tragedy! The whole world grieved and still grieves the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The tragedy unified people of different races, religion, culture, and socio-economic status. I
wonder whether it takes magnitude of tragedies like the Haitian earthquake to transform humans to creatures of mercy and compassion. However, much transparency is needed from more affluent nations to translate many of their aid promises into actualities. Many Hamilton Haitians lost their loved ones, and the agony of watching the ruin of their beloved country and not able to help many of the dead and wounded leaves many tortured. Our donations, prayers and thoughts would for a long time remain with Haitians. The months of February and March are agog with many celebrations. February celebrates the Black History month; Birthday of Prophet Mohammed; Valentines Day; Ash Wednesday; to mention but a few. The month of March ushers in St. Patrick’s Day; Palm Sunday; Inter-
Newcomer Family Centre
national Women’s Day; Daylight Savings Time; etc. The Voice in Diaspora continue to express gratitude to our partners and readers as they provide un-wavering support much needed to close the gap in news reporting as it pertains to our cultural/ethnic people. Thanks for your support. Veronica Chris-Ike Publisher/Editor
The Voice In Diaspora Needs You!
Downtown Office 360 James St. N Lower Concourse Hamilton, ON L8L 1H5 (905) 667-SISO (7476) siso@sisohamilton.org
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Are you interested in reaching out to others? Do you have experience organizing or conducting workshops? Do you have good inter-personal skills? If Yes, Contact us for an enriching opportunity to work with the ethno-cultural population in Hamilton. Call: 905-521-2875 venike@thevoiceindiaspora.com
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The IWD Committee 2010 coordinated by SACHA invites women and trans women from all over Hamilton to come together and celebrate Monday, March 8, 2010 – 9:00 am – noon Venetian Club 269 John Street North (at Barton Street East) Hamilton For more information about the event, please call Sandra, Maria or Erin at 905.525.4573
Mobile Office
To request ASL interpretation, please contact sacha@sacha.ca by February 26, 2010 Free event childminding – light lunch
1030 Upper James St., Hamilton, ON L9C 6X6 (905) 385-6192 thebusinesshub@sisohamilton.org
24 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8P 1H2 (905) 527-2049 youth@sisohamilton.org www.sisoglobe.ca
Location and route at www.sisohamilton.org/calendar
(905) 667-SISO (7476) or 1-877-255-8136 www.sisohamilton.org
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Government of Canada Introduces
Special Immigration Measures in Response to The Earthquake in Haiti
Government of Canada introduces special immigration measures in response to the earthquake in Haiti Ottawa, January 16, 2010 — Canada will expedite immigration applications from Haitians with family in this country, Citi-
“I want to express my deepest sympathy and support for the people of Haiti,” said Minister Kenney. “Canada has welcomed a large community of Haitians to this country and is working to reunite families affected by this disaster as quickly as possible. Haitian nationals who are currently
What Else Is Canada Doing to Help?
in Canada will also benefit from special measures.” Effective immediately, priority will be given to new and existing sponsorship applications from Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons who have close family members in Haiti. They must, however, identify themselves as being directly and significantly affected by the current situation and notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Priority consideration will also be given to pending adoption cases with the visa office in Port-au-Prince. New sponsorship applications should have “Haiti” prominently written on the mailing envelope. Sponsors and applicants presently in Canada who have applications in process should notify the CIC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm ET Monday through Friday) or by email at question-Haiti@cic.gc.ca to identify their existing applications, if they or the family they have sponsored have been adversely affected.
zenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. Haitians in Canada temporarily will also be allowed to extend their stay.
Haiti in Crises
We are making an effort to restore basic services and CIC will respond on a priority basis for those in Haiti who were directly affected by the disaster. However, the Embassy of Canada has suffered significant damage as a result of the recent earthquake and services are extremely limited. The Government of Canada’s current priority is to work with its partners to provide assistance to Canadians in the area.
CIC is making arrangements to resume visa and immigration services as soon as the situation permits and we have the capacity, including opening another office in the area. As services resume The Voice in Diaspora at a location other than the Embassy 571 James Street N. L8L 1J8 Hamilton, Ontario of Canada, CIC will provide informaTel: 905.521.2875 - Fax: 905.385.8085 tion on where people normally served www.thevoiceindiaspora.com by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their questions and applications. Our Mission
Using the power of the pen to facilitate smooth integration for immigrants into the Canadian society.
Publisher/Editor Veronica Chris-Ike venike@thevoiceindiaspora.com
Art & Creative Design Jihan C. Aydin www . A4AMEDIA . com
Advertising & Marketing Tel: (905) 920 1752 Venike@thevoiceindiaspora.com
Contributors Nica Brown , Veronica Chris-Ike, Hussein Hamdani, Jihan C. Aydin, St. Joseph's Immigrant Women Centre SISO (Settlement And Integration
Also effective immediately, CIC has put in place special immigration measures for Haitian nationals who are currently in Canada. Temporary residents already in Canada may apply to extend their temporary status according to normal procedures. These applications will be considered on an expedited basis and fees associated with these applications will be waived. Those who are unable to support themselves may also apply for a work permit. Further, all removals to Haiti have now been temporarily halted. Although normally the Government of Canada does not deport people to Haiti except in limited circumstances, this now applies in all cases.
Services Organization)
For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions.
The Voice in Diaspora Newspaper is free of charge. Publication will be done Bi-monthly. 10,000 copies will be printed and distributed as follows: 1000 copies mailed to stake holders, 6,000 copies dropped into personal mail boxes; 3000 copies will be distributed to businesses, shopping malls, churches, Non-profit organizations, adult learning Centres, etc, in Hamilton and environs. The views/materials expressed/used by writers/contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper. All rights reserved. The Voice in Diaspora is not responsible for accuracy of information provided by advertisers and contributors. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission is prohibited. Some graphic images may be used via flickr.com with respect to its rightful owners under the Creative Commons Licencing.
For further information (media only), please contact: ■ Media Relations Communications Branch Citizenship and Immigration Canada 613-952-1650 CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
In addition to matching contributions by individual Canadians to registered charities, the Government of Canada provided an initial $5 million for relief supplies, the deployment of humanitarian experts to UN agencies, support to the International Federation of the Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and to deploy the field hospital co-managed by the Canadian and Norwegian Red Cross Societies. The supplies were part of an emergency stockpile that is part of CIDA's Global Rapid Response Project, maintained by the Canadian Red Cross Society. This allows quick deployment of Canadian technical expertise and emergency relief supplies in response to sudden humanitarian crises. On January 19, International Cooperation Minister Beverley J. Oda announced three new Canadian contributions: • $60 million to the United Nations Flash Appeal to help UN organizations deliver essential services to approximately three million people over six months. This includes food aid, as well as health, water and sanitation services. Canada will fund
the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the International Organization for Migration, as well as the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Population Fund, and the UN Department of Safety and Security. • $11.5 million to Canadian partners and non-governmental organizations. CARE Canada, Médecins du Monde, and Save the Children Canada, as well as OxfamQuebec, the Center for International Studies and Cooperation, World Vision, and the Canadian Red Cross Society will provide such life-saving services as emergency food, water and sanitation, medical treatment, shelter, and protection. • $8.5 million to the Emergency Appeal of the IFRC. This will help the IFRC continue to provide water and sanitation and health services to approximately 300,000 individuals. ■ http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca Image Sorce: DVIDSHUB/Flickr.com
Minister Kenney Calls on Ethnic Organizations to Submit Proposals for Historical Recognition Projects Ottawa, January 20, 2010 — Organizations representing Chinese, Italian, Jewish and Indian communities in Canada are being encouraged to submit proposals under the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), which commemorates wartime measures and immigration restrictions in Canada’s past. “As we move toward the completion of the Community Historical Recognition Program and open the third and final call for proposals, I encourage eligible organizations to consider how they might undertake meaningful projects to ensure that their experiences are shared with others,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. First announced in June 2006 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and formally launched in May 2008 by Minister Kenney, the CHRP is a grants and contributions program that makes $25 million available for community-based commemorative and educational projects related to historical wartime measures and immigration restrictions applied in Canada. Eligible projects include monuments, commemorative plaques, exhibits, documentary films and educational materials and activities. “The government believes it is important for all Canadians to understand our history,” said Minister Kenney. “This also includes the more unfortunate events that are inconsistent with the values of Canadians today.”
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Proposals that meet the program’s criteria are reviewed by advisory committees composed of community representatives whose role is to provide advice on the merits of projects to the Minister through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officials. ■ To access the CHRP guidelines and application form, please visit the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca.
Please Let My Dad Come Home! ...Continued from page 1
please have a heart because I know that you have a big one. We hope that you continue being the awesome government just like you’ve always been and we’re not just saying that so you could do what we are asking, it’s because you have. Thank- you for everything you’ve done for all the immigrants that came to your country because we really feel that we’re in the right place where we can live as human beings. Yours truly, Arnaldo and Wilka Poisson Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic School. Hamilton. Ontario.
Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Canada Works to Welcome More Indian Students to Canadian Colleges more, 95 percent of the students remain in good standing at an ACCC college. Processing times within the program are faster than the global norm, with an average of about two and a half weeks.
Toronto, January 28, 2010 — The acceptance rate for Indian students coming to study at a group of Canadian colleges has doubled thanks to a new program between Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). The announcement was made today by Member of Parliament Tim Uppal, on behalf of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney, and by James Knight, President and CEO of the ACCC. A joint pilot project called the Student Partners Program was launched in April 2009 between Canada’s visa offices in India and twenty member colleges of the ACCC. The goal of the program is to increase the approval rate for study permit applications at participating Canadian colleges. “The Student Partners Program has resulted in an increase in the number of Indian students on our college campuses,” said
Haitians in Shock!!! ...Continued from page 1 She does not know the whereabouts of her other seven children still in Haiti. Aurel cries herself to sleep every day. She attended this meeting with her bible which is her only consolation. Frito Nelson lives in Hamilton and has all his family back in Haiti. He lost his elder
The program has several checks and balances, from requiring applicants to provide verifiable documentation, to a feedback mechanism where colleges report back on whether students show up. The safety, security and health of Canadians are of the utmost importance. All students who come to Canada through the Student Partnership Program must adhere to the same screening requirements as any visitor or student. Minister Kenney. “International students bring with them new ideas and experiences and contribute both financially and culturally to the communities and institutions where they study.” In 2008, India ranked seventh with 3,244 people in terms of source countries for students. The total number of international students in Canada has more than doubled since 1998 to 178,000 and their presence provided employment for over 83,000 Canadians last year. A 2009 study commissioned by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada found international students contributed more than $6.5 billion to the Canadian economy in 2008.
sister and her two children in the quake. His daughter was badly injured, but was rescued and doing well. His son broke his left hand and is presently wearing a cast. Frito’s concern is that communication is bad and whenever he gets through, his children always complains of hunger and pain. The whole situation is frustrating for him, but Frito feels useless because he cannot provide them with any help. Frito spent three stressful days waiting to hear from his people back in Haiti. He described
THANK YOU!
CEP CEP-23 2322
Hamilton’s NDP MPs wish to thank the ethnic and immigrant communities for their contributions to strengthening our city!
Chris Charlton, MP
David Christopherson, MP
www.chrischarlton.ca
hamilton@davidchristopherson.ca
Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton Centre
those three days as days of hell, craziness Frito Nelson
and hopelessness. He stated that he hardly slept during those days, and was sick with worry. Now, Frito is less anxious, but still depressed because he could not go home to provide help and comfort to his people. He is urging those who could help to do so fast, because people have no shelter, food or water, and are desperate for basic ne-
www.waynemarston.ca
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Canada’s network of community colleges offers many outstanding programs to train young Canadians and their counterparts from around the world for the opportunities of today's economy. The Government of Canada will continue to look at ways to encourage international students to study in Canada. ■ http://www.cic.gc.ca
top of them and killed them. Marie is heart broken and helpless. Firstly, she has no paper to sponsor her people, and secondly, she has no work, and money to help any of them. Her situation is equally desperate. She reported that almost every body present at the meeting has lost one person or another. After the meeting, majority of the people the Voice spoke to remarked the meeting barely fulfilled their expectations as the Canadian government has not changed anything to facilitate immediate family class sponsorship. Many agreed that Canada came to the aid of Haiti with humanitarian goodwill, but they were hoping that
Aurel B. Marie Philomena
cessities of life. Frito came to SISO meeting to learn of ways to facilitate the sponsorship of his family members to Canada.
Hamilton East Stoney Creek
Representation that’s working for you Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
During the first nine months of the launch of the program, CIC’s visa offices in India received over 4,000 applications in the program. The program has successfully met its objective: the approval rate for the first group of students under the program coming to study this past September was more than double the approval rate for the same colleges the preceding year. Further-
Wayne Marston, MP
YOUR HAMILTON NEW DEMOCRATS 4
“International students contribute to the cultural life and economic success of colleges and institutes and of the communities they serve. In partnership with CIC, we have doubled the approval rate of visas for students from India coming to Canadian colleges. We will work with CIC to expand the initiative to other ACCC members,” said Mr. Knight.
“This type of program benefits both our country and those who participate in it,” said Minister Kenney. “When all is said and done, these graduates may remain in Canada and apply to immigrate under the Canada Experience Class. They would make Canada their home and continue to contribute to our country’s social and economic fabric.”
Marie Guerda Alexis
Marie Guerda Alexis, she lives in Hamilton, still awaiting her refugee hearing. Marie lost her sister, a niece, nephew and cousin. She reported that their hose fell on
Aurel B. Marie Philomena's Son (deceased)
the government could make it their top priority to re-unite those who have family members already in Canada with their loved ones. Some wondered why the family class sponsorship for Haitians could not be expanded to include brothers and sisters who desperately need close family relations in Canada to help them back on their feet. ■ Veronica Chris-Ike
How to Stop Living
of the expensive cable package, because if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you really can’t afford it.
Paycheck to Paycheck damage. It’s easier to accumulate a lot of credit card debt or worse, payday loans2. The more credit card debt you accumulate, the higher your minimum payments3 will be. Before you know it, you won’t be able to afford your minimum payments and you won’t be able to borrow more money to make ends meet. Because your future is dependent on your current spending, you have to stop living paycheck to paycheck now. You know you’re living paycheck to paycheck if you find that you’re consistently running out of money before your next paycheck arrives. If you frequently have to borrow money from friends or relatives, take out payday loans or cash advances, or use your credit cards to cover your expenses until your next payday, then you’re living paycheck to paycheck. According to a CareerBuilder survey1, 61% of workers say they live paycheck to paycheck. The number is significantly higher than last year when 49% of workers reported living paycheck to paycheck. Problems With Living Paycheck to Paycheck The problem with living paycheck to paycheck is that you’re susceptible to financial
How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck You’re living paycheck to paycheck either because you’re not budgeting or because you don’t make enough money to cover the bills. Start by creating a budget (or fixing your broken budget). A budget4 helps you figure out how to make the most of your income. Since you make a budget before you actually spend your money, you’ll know ahead of time whether you make enough money to make ends meet. If all your expenses fit within your budget, then your income is enough and the reason you’re living paycheck to paycheck is that you’re spending more money than you can afford to. Track your spending. If your budget isn’t
working, track your spending5 to figure out where your money is going. Save your receipts. Separate them into categories like gas and food, then add up receipts for each category. This will let you see where you’re spending the most money. If you have online checking and primarily use checks and your debit card, you may be able to download your transactions into Excel or a finance software. Cut your expenses6. Once you see where money is leaking, you can start plugging the cracks. This process might require some lifestyle changes. For example, if you’re used to buying a $5 latte every morning before work ($100 a month), you may have to start making coffee at home ($20-$25 a month), or going without coffee completely. You might have to get rid
Increase your income. Increasing your income isn’t always a possibility, but there are options outside getting a raise. If you typically get a tax refund, you may be able to change your tax withholding7 and get more money in your paycheck each month. Of course, that will mean you get a lower refund (if you get one at all), but you’ll have more money to use during the month. You might also consider working part-time or making money on the side with a hobby. Beware: making more money won’t always solve your paycheck to paycheck problem. CareerBuilder reports that 30% of workers making six figures or more say they’re also living paycheck to paycheck. Change your attitude about money. Often people who live paycheck to paycheck don’t make the wisest spending decisions. They sometimes overestimate how much money they can spend and end up spending more money than they really make. You may find yourself spending more money on things you want than things you need. Or, it could be that your money is slipping through cracks you didn’t know were there. Whatever, the case, setting up a budget and paying close attention to your spending will help you get back on track. ■ By LaToya Irby, About.com Guide Image Source: bigburpsx3/Flickr.com
Hijab or Dupatta When I first came to Canada from Pakistan in 1997 June, as a Pakistani woman, I was used to wearing dupatta as part of my national dress-Shalwar kameez, sometimes known as Punjabi dress in Canada. As I struggled to adjust to the new society, I tried to engage with people of similar backgrounds. Coming from Pakistan with more than 90% of Muslim population, I felt at home interacting with women coming from non Pakistani but Islamic backgrounds. My interaction with the existing Muslim community in Canada soon revealed to me how Islam has been shaped by our cultural backgrounds. One such symbol of cultural difference within Islamic discourse relates to the use of the term “Hijab.” Initially, I struggled to understand what the word hijab meant. I soon learnt that the word “Hijab” comes from the Arabic “Hajaba” which means to hide, or conceal from view. However, in the western context, Hijab is a modest covering of a Muslim woman. The word hijab itself implies a cover, wrap, curtain, veil, screen, or partition. In contemporary Western discourse, the hijab may mean anything from a simple head scarf to the entire dress a woman wears in public that covers her body with the exception of her hands, face and feet a loose modest clothing. In other words hijab is all what dupatta meant for me when I first arrived in North America. In this article, I would like to talk about the genesis and evolution of the Pakistani dupatta, a Pakistani nuance of hijab. What is a dupatta? To me it meant everything what the hijab means, it was a covering of a woman’s head and bosom from a male gaze. Its origin is ascribed to the ancient Indus valley civilization which was perhaps later adopted by Indian Mughals and finally became an integral part of women’s clothing in all of Indian subcontinent. Different South Asian communities have different types of dupattas. It has been a symbol of a woman’s modesty in South Asia. It is also an alternate to burqa a traditional black covering from head to
toe. Dupattas have often been used as head coverings for religious gatherings and special ceremonies such as weddings or even funerals. Ironically, as much as dupatta is used to cover while praying it is also used by dancing girls provocatively. Dupattas are mostly adorned by embroidery, lace, sequences or simply have adorned borders. It is a long scarf which is worn in varying styles over a South Asian dress. A dupatta must match and also complement the dress. Most often the long scarf is throne on both shoulders with its middle part over the front of the body much like a huge garland. It may sometimes be worn over the head and then cover the body like a cape. Nowadays in urban Pakistan, it is fashionable that women wear dupatta with shalwar kameez and throw it on one should allow it to flow in the front and back. Dupatta can be made from any fabric from chiffon to cotton to silk or muslin, linen or georgette and can be of different sizes and colors. In fact the size and fabric of a dupatta can be telling of a woman’s place in the society. It can be a statement of style, a symbol of religiosity, a sign of a woman’s place in society or it can be a symbol pf political action. Before the creation of Pakistan, Muslim women of India used their dupattas as flags for Muslim league a political party that was fighting for the creation of Pakistan. If forcibly removed, it implies an assault on the woman or her family. If exchanged among women, it means a sisterly bond has been established among the two women. When presented to a woman, it implies respect to her. From a symbol of pride, it has been a tool for political victimization and religious oppression as well. Pure white Muslin dupatta initially signified grace as worn by Fatima Jinnah, and begum Rana Liaqat Ali khan. A V shaped sash type dupatta became an integral part of school uniforms for girls and still remains so. As dupatta started being recognized as a public code of dress for Pakistani women, the traditional burqa and chador
started giving way to it as more and more women choose dupatta instead of a heavier and more cumbersome outer garments like burqa or chaddors. They found dupatta as more practical and felt liberated by adopting it as opposed to burqa for example. However, during 80s when Pakistan was under the wave of Islamization, women appearing on Public television were ordered to cover their heads. This order met with a lot of opposition and was later retracted. It as then that dupatta became a symbol of religiosity. Consequently, when w w w.thevoiceindiasp ora.com
Benazir came to power, she had to cover her head wit her dupatta to endorse her Islamic identity. In the end we can say that dupattas come in varying sizes, colors and fabrics and they are as multi purpose as a fashion accessory, a religious attire, a symbol of modesty, a statement of fashion, a sign of respect or a sense of security. The Hijab in the west is also all of the above. ■ Basharat Tayyab Image Source: Wikipedia
Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Centre for Women of Colour
Bridging The Gap!
The Center for Women of Colour is a grassroots organization that provides afro centric counselling to women in the African, Caribbean and African Canadian communities, who have been abused or are going through abuse and are living in Hamilton. Afro Centric counselling is the psychological philosophy Africans use to rebuild lives, relationships, and empower individuals who have been through physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse. The Center provides Afro centric counselling, workshops on Canada`s family laws and financial classes. It also mentors abused women within the community through its counselling program and lobbies for affirmative action. ``Our programs are all based on need. We
need to be counselled from our cultural context in order to truly heal. We need to know the family laws of Canada so that we can be empowered within our relationships. We also need financial classes because in many cases, the first time a woman handles her own money is when she separates from her partner. The lack of knowledge about how to use money puts women of colour into a spiral of poverty. We are the poorest community in Hamilton. That is why in the future, we shall be lobbying for affirmative action. It is difficult for black women, especially immigrants to get jobs worthy of their educational qualifications in Hamilton. It is even harder to keep a job because of the colour of your skin,`` said Tambu Kahari, Executive Director and co founder of The Center for Women of Colour. The Center for Women of Colour was founded by women who are survivors of abuse. Most of them have gone through Canada`s protective and counselling services. ``The current services available to women in Hamilton are excellent. They however, do not take into account our culture and the view it has given us of the world. We have unique problems, like polygamy,
which is illegal in this country, but thrives, within our communities. Many of the women who access our services are in these unions. They are comfortable coming to us because we understand their positions and we can help without judgement or shock.`` said Ms Kahari. The Center`s afro centric counselling takes place in the homes of psycho social agents who are women of colour living in Hamilton. The women go through counselling training by the Center. No counselling occurs at the Center`s offices on 749A Barton St E. ``Each psycho social agent has eight women working with her. We organize these groups according to our African cultures and we foster intimacy between these women through various activities like shopping together, doing laundry and going to lunches. Intimacy is essential in Afro centric counselling. It is the ``I am because we are``, which is the very heart of Afro centric psychology. Each group has women who are in healthy relationships, women who are in polygamous unions, sexually and physically abused women. They help empower one another through discussions of our culture, our religion, the laws of the country we are in and our per-
sonal expectations of our lives.`` said Ms Kahari. This year, the Center will be holding discussions on various topics about abuse that come from the community at the Jamesville Community Center on a regular basis. The Center hopes in the future it will be able to attract women from all communities who may feel comfortable with a more personal form of counselling. ■ Tambu Kahari Executive Director
One Hit Too Many... in Hamilton In the early morning hours of January 4, 2010, the Hamilton Mosque and the Islamic School of Hamilton faced an atrocious act. The mosque was hit with a Molotov cocktail¹ that was thrown through a window of the school bursting into flames. This resulted in a smoldering fire inside the office of Mr. Zakir Patel, the Principal of the Islamic School of Hamilton. This episode has left members of the mosque as well as many in the Hamilton community in shock. Luckily, the fire did not damage the rest of the mosque or the school. Living in this wonderfully diverse community makes many wonder why and how something like this could have happened in Hamilton? The hit against the mosque has raised concerns and appears to be what many think would be defined as a hate crime. The Hamilton Police Arson and Hate Crime Units responded to the incident and are continuing to investigate this matter. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Hamilton has been victim to an alarming act of hate. Four days after 9/11, the Hindu Samaj Temple of Hamilton was burned to the ground. It was an act of ignorance and the site became known as the “Canadian Ground Zero.” As the fire destroyed most of the temple, many statues of deities that were worshipped by local Hindus were damaged, covered with soot, and even charred. According to the Hindu religion, any icon, statuary, or altarpiece that has sustained any damage cannot be used again, as these pieces have symbolic life that is taken away if they are damaged. The deities were hand painted and crafted in India for the temple in Hamilton, but were unnecessarily ruined by this act of hate. Sadly, the statues of these deities had to be sunk to the bottom of Lake Ontario where they were laid to rest as per the Hindu tradition. In addition to this, there were over 5000 volumes of religious texts from the 19th century which needed to be recovered however; it is hard to say if the community could recover from some-
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thing like this. Hate is a destructive emotion, which can tear apart the fabric of any society. Hate comes in all forms. A hate crime is an act that is rooted in one’s bias or discrimination against an individual or group based upon the personal dimensions of one’s identity including: race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, geography, ability, and other similar factors. In Hamilton, we have faced one too many hits, but with hope and patience we have been able to move forward. During both of these incidents, the local community, with the help of family and friends, have shown their support, compassion, and cooperation. Many community leaders and organizations have stepped forward, demonstrating the strength and resiliency of Hamiltonians. In Hamilton, we strive to promote civic participation, equity, and respect for all. As fellow Hamiltonians, it is our duty to uphold and promote such values. Our city is enriched with a myriad of cultures, languages, and customs which defines who we are. We should be proud of this and celebrate the fact that we are one of the most diverse cities in Canada. Unfortunately, there are those out there who still act out of hate. It is imperative that we find a way to explain that hate creates division, but dialogue creates unity and understanding. ¹ Molotov cocktail: also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, or Molotov bomb. It is a generic name used for a variety of improvised inflammable weapons. In the simplest form, it is a glass bottle containing petrol fuel usually with a source of ignition such as a burning cloth wick held in place by the bottle's stopper. The wick is usually soaked in alcohol or paraffin. Why do some people hate? The human mind is designed to understand the world around us and our environments. Our brains like to “categorize” people and things in order to facilitate this process. The environment that we grow up in
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shapes our values and belief systems. For example, society, family, media outlets, and our peers have a bearing on what we believe. As a result, we are comfortable and familiar with what we know. Anything that is outside of our comfort zone or that which we cannot “categorize” or understand, we step away from. People can feel threatened by what they do not understand or relate to. People can hate for a number of different reasons. It can be as simple as the way someone looks to something much more complex such as the religion one practices. Recently, it seems that religion has been the basis for some of the more prominent types of hate crimes. The mosque and temple fires are a testament to this. This is ironic, as many of the world religions teach us to love and live in harmony with each other and do not condone violence. After the tragedy of 9/11, many innocent people have been the target of hate. Countless Muslims and Sikhs in Canada reported being attacked in the days following September 11, 2001 because some believed that they were “terrorists” due to their religious dress such as turbans. As a result, some people changed their names to become more “Canadian” and I know of many who have shaved their beards and removed their turbans so that they would not be attacked. Why did they have to do this? Did they have to prove that they were not a threat to us? They did this because they feared for their lives and because people were acting based on their beliefs rather than taking the time to learn the facts. While it is important to consider the origins of hate, that is not enough. It is vital to work collaboratively to try to come up with solutions and ways to combat the hate that exists across the globe and right here in our own backyards. Fighting hate is a personal and community responsibility. It may seem like a daunting or impossible task, but doing nothing will not make it go away. Hate can be overcome with nonviolent acts. Look at the work of great
leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. The power of their messages are carried on through history and we continue the quest for nonviolence and inclusion even today. We need to replace ignorance with education and misinformation with awareness. When you do not know something, just ask. As simple as that sounds, it does work. We need to ask those key questions to learn more about, and understand one another. This dialogue can open the lines of communication and learning to overcome prejudices and beliefs that we may hold. We may not think that we are biased or hold such views, but the reality is that we all hold some form of these beliefs, including myself. Albeit this step of looking within ourselves is not easy, and you can experience discomfort during this process, however when you do, that is when the real learning happens. As a city and as a nation we must continue to move forward and learn. Diversity and inclusion have become the cornerstones of our future. Although our community has suffered many hardships, we have shown our strength when we come together to implement solutions and support one another. This is the sense of unity and mutual cooperation that we all need. It is only through awareness, understanding, and support that we can combat hate in our city. "An attack on one is an attack on all." ■ Priya Verma, B.A., B.S.W., M.S.W.
SISO - Departments Working Together To Help Clients Succeed By Natalie Renton Success is achieved when our clients are happy and when their goals are realized. At SISO, this is not done in isolation or by one person in one department working alone. It is a team effort and it takes communication and partnerships with other community organizations. Success comes from communicating together to make our clients’ dreams become a reality. Recently, a client came to SISO’s Newcomer Family Center for a language assessment to help him complete his high school diploma. He had dropped out of high school a couple of years ago in order to work and make money for his family. It was only now that he had chosen to return to attend adult education classes to try to finish his final credit in English and receive his high school diploma. The school had suggested that he attend LINC classes in addition to his high school courses in order to help him pass the English Literature course that he was failing. However, after the assessment he explained that he could not attend regularly scheduled LINC/ESL classes at any formal school because of work commitments and his current high school course. He was stuck. How could he get the help he needed to fulfill his dreams of having a higher education if he couldn’t attend regular classes? This man was willing to do anything to achieve his goals. He was inspiring. He worked full-time to make money for his family, took part-time classes to get his high-school diploma, and wanted to devote any other free time to getting help with his English language skills in order to improve his life in Canada and achieve his dreams. The assessor then introduced him to the Globe’s representative for youth services at the Newcomer Family Centre who suggested he bring in his school work and that he attend the homework club for
assistance. The client had only two months to improve his mark in order to pass and was very worried he would never get his high school diploma or be able to fulfill his dream of attending Mohawk College. There were often times he could not even attend the homework club due to work, so to find a better solution for our client, our youth worker devoted extra time and one-on-one help in finding the resources that our client needed. Last week this client returned to SISO and told us that he passed his final credit and received his high-school diploma. He can now apply to Mohawk College, which has been his dream for a long time. He was so happy and came in to tell us that he believes it was the dedication and cooperation of various SISO staff members and other community service providers that made his dreams become reality. This is a real success story. This is only one example of how different areas of SISO work together to help a client succeed. I know there are many more out there, and sincere thanks go out to all of the staff who share ideas and go above and beyond to help a client. Whether we are part of the Employment Department, SCS, RAP, LAC, CITS, SWISH, LSSP, IT, Administration or the Globe, we work together on one team and that is our success.
Random Acts of Kindness By Aurelia Tokaci “To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue... gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” Confucius (551-479 BC) Random Acts of Kindness represent the small effort that each of us is able to make to bring comfort in someone’s life or a smile to someone’s face. The Random Acts of Kindness Week focuses on the spirit of hope and goodness. It is a time when we are reminded to act with generosity of heart. It is a time when we are reminded that we need to be concerned for others, give or help without expecting anything in return. A random act of kindness could be offering a flower or helping to carry a grocery bag; assisting your elderly neighbor to clean the snow or buying a few extra cans to be donated to the food bank or the shelter. The World Kindness Movement (WKM) started in 1997 when representatives from several countries gathered at a kindness centred conference in Tokyo. Twenty countries are currently members of the WKM. This year’s Random Acts of Kindness Week is scheduled for Feb. 15-21. However, in the wake of the tragic events in Haiti, it feels as though it has already started. We’ve heard of so many people who offered to help and send donations of all kinds: World Vision is on the ground right now in the Haitian city of Port-Au-Prince, helping families and children. Since the earthquake struck, more than 400 International Red Cross workers have hit the ground in Haiti (including 12 trained emergency response workers), along with 70 tons
of food, water and medical supplies. More aid is arriving every day. And the list of organizations collecting donations and sending volunteers and aid is growing every day. Canadian ships and equipment and an announcement of millions of dollars in additional funding have topped the list. But many others have found a way to deliver Acts of Kindness: take the major wireless carriers that have set up a way for Canadians to grab their cell phones and text donations for relief efforts, coining the new “mobile giving”. The Canadian Red Cross developed a way to allow any individual or organization to launch a fundraising campaign in support of Canadian Red Cross efforts. The Francophone community in Hamilton held emergency meetings to organize and coordinate efforts. SISO has developed a plan to assist any potential refugees from Haiti and many staff have already donated cash or volunteered for the January 26 Telethon. Food, water and sanitation, shelter and emergency health response are immediate needs. From all corners of the world, help and assistance is pouring in right now for Haiti. It is an impressive effort to assist in many small ways. Let us remember that psychological and social support as well as long term economic solutions will also need to be considered. Let us remember that there are many other places where people are in need of basic shelter and food. Let us remember the weak and the poor, the ill and the defenseless. Let us remember that humanity and our planet indeed can benefit from our Random Acts of Kindness. This February (and maybe throughout the year) try to be nice to those around you, just for the sake of it!
Karens Celebrate Year 2749! On December 19, 2009, over 600 Karens from Hamilton and the surrounding areas met at the SISO New Dawn Centre to celebrate their new year. This was the year 2749 according to their calendar. It was a big success and an unforgettable, fun-filled, entertaining day where a talented group of Karens of all ages participated in the entertainment. Members of the multicultural community and volunteers attended the celebration, and we all had a wonderful time, as we enjoyed the performances, songs and dances from the Karen culture. Most attendees came with the traditional colourful ethnic garb. Here is some background information about the Karens who have been welcomed to Canada and specifically Hamilton.
Karens Celebrate at New Dawn Reception Centre
The first group of Karens assisted by the Resettlement Assistance Program came to Hamilton in September 2006, from a refugee camp that is at the
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border of Thailand and Myanmar. Karens have their own language which is comprised of two major dialects Sgaw and Pwo. They are spoken by Sgaw and Pwo Karens, respectively. To most people who are familiar with the Karens, they are known for their colourful traditional clothes and for their energetic and jubilant festival dances. Mostly, the Karens are known for their hospitality and friendliness which they readily extend to everyone.
Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Rolan's Story
First Nintendo
Rolan is a teacher and is looking forward to one day professionally practicing in this country. It was from this experience that she came to understand SISO as an agency that was open and welcoming. After this experience she felt encouraged to get involved with other programs. Rolan has now completed many programs that have helped her get closer to her professional goals such as the ELT and Bridging Programs.
Rolan remembers the first time she came to one of the Host programs at the Philpott Memorial Church organized by SISO. She felt so welcomed by the warmth and affection shown to her as she was introduced to Canadian culture, food, customs and traditions. The women from the Philpott Church volunteered to help the new immigrants learn different crafts and food that is a part of Canadian lifestyle. This made such a difference to her life, particularly in that first year. She was introduced to people on a ‘broader platform’ as she puts it, getting to understand and learn about other cultural backgrounds and to make friends. This ‘getting to know’ people expanded beyond the two Thursday night meetings a month. The opportunity to meet with others and be connected grew to the point where she could see others in the community that she knew and with whom she could exchange greetings. This is what made her start feeling like she had a place in the community.
Rolan shares her knowledge and experience with others. She has found that some people do not have all the advantages that she has. They may not have the advantage of the same education or professional work experience as a teacher. To help other newcomers, she readily shares information and encourages others to participate. Within the Host group, Rolan has seen the confidence of others grow; one woman felt confident enough to have a craft stall at a bazaar in a church; and another was willing to go to a Job Search Workshop. But in the end, Rolan speaks of the benefits to herself, her increased self confidence, the ability to use her skills as a teacher and mentor within the group, as well as continuing to become more familiar with the Canadian life style. To find out more about how you can join a group and make connections in the community or volunteer and make a difference in a person's life, contact: Susan Cheeseman, Coordinator Volunteer Services at SISO 905-667-SISO (7476) getinvolved@sisohamilton.org
By Marjan Bateni On my daughter’s 8th birthday, I got her a Nintendo DS game. She had been begging for one for over 2 years by then, but both my husband and I had persistently refused to give in, as we considered these sorts of games unhealthy for kids’ social engagement, physical activity, and mental sharpness. However, my daughter, Tara, tried hard to prove to us that she had enough maturity to handle owning an electronic game without letting it take control of her life, and she finally earned it. The gift was a surprise and the look on her face was priceless when she ripped off the gift wrap and found the shiny pink Nintendo hidden inside. She was on cloud nine. My husband and I kept an eye on her for weeks to make sure she kept a healthy balance between her school-work, her physical activity, the time she spent with us, and the Nintendo. She passed our thorough inspection with flying colors. Not long after Tara’s birthday, my husband planned a train trip for us. We were going to visit Montreal and Quebec City on a 5-daytour by train. It promised to be a lovely trip for us; still I knew it was too long a time to spend on a train for an 8-year-old and I was very thankful she had her Nintendo. However, when Tara was happily packing away her game along with her clothes, my husband refused to let her take it. “It’s our family time together”, he said looking affectionately into her wondering eyes and ignoring my imploring look. “The parents who allow games on such occasions don’t want to spend much time and energy on their children”, he continued leaving me defenseless and my daughter convinced. “Don’t worry baby. Your mother and I will keep you company. We are going to have a jolly time on the train”, he said pulling Tara to himself and smiling triumphantly at me.
fast, and then she read a bit more. After that, she was plain bored. She came to us, squeezed herself between my husband and me and declared, “I’m bored.” My husband, feeling guilty for not allowing the game on board and being melted under my fiery glares, came up with all sorts of fun things to do with her. He pointed to some sceneries or animals and made interesting comments on them for her. He sang silly songs for her and made her complete them. He played rock-paper-scissor with her and allowed her cootie catchers to tell his fortune. They had such a fun time together that I had to forget my grudge and join in. We got giddy and improvised silly riddles. We played “I spy with my little eye” and spied the most obvious things and laughed hysterically at our own giddiness. We were cramped and worn-out, but as my husband had predicted, we had a jolly time. My daughter remained fascinated with her Nintendo for a couple of months, and then she lost interest. Now she is asking for new games, an iPod, or time on my laptop. I am not concerned about her having computer games at her disposal anymore. I am sure that as long as my husband and I set priorities and rules for her, she will have a balanced use of her time.
We sure had a good time on the train for the first couple of hours but the allure of the train was not strong enough to entertain my daughter for long. She read a bit, and painted a bit. Then she put her puzzle pieces together a couple of times. She walked up and down the aisle and went to the bathroom over and over just to hear the roaring flush. She looked out the window at the figures passing us by
HOST PROGRAM GROUP ACTIVITIES February/March 2010
SISO MOUNTAIN OFFICE
English Conversation Circle
Mondays, 3:30pm-7:00pm, (7) Tuesdays, 4:00pm-5:30pm, (8) Thursdays, 4:30pm-6:00pm, (3)
Cooking & Crafts
2 Wednesdays, 5:00pm-6:30pm, (9)
English Conversation Circle
Mondays, 5:00pm-6:30pm, (1) Tuesdays, 5:00pm-6:30pm, (1)
ECC for South Asian
Mondays, 2:00pm-4:00pm, (2)
NEWCOMER FAMILY CENTRE
ECC for Karen
Saturdays, 10:00am-12:00pm, (2)
FCC French Conversation Circle
Mondays, 5:30pm-6:30pm, (3) Tuesdays, 6:00pm-7:30pm, (1)
Francophone Computer Sessions
ECC
SISO DOWNTOWN OFFICE ECC
English Conversation Circle
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 3:30pm-5:30pm, (10) Saturdays, 10:00am-12:00pm, (10)
Saturdays, 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-3:00pm, (4)
Art & Craft
Tuesdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm, (10)
Women’s Sewing
Saturdays, 10:00am-12:00pm, (2)
Sewing Club
Mondays, Thursdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm, (10)
Women’s Fitness
Mondays, 3:00pm-5:00pm, (5) Wednesdays, 2:00pm-3:30pm, (5)
Women’s Cooking
2nd Thursday, 5:00pm-7:00pm, (6)
Women’s Crafts
4th Thursday, 5:00pm-7:00pm, (6)
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
ECC
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Central Library, 55 York St. Jamesville CC, 209 MacNab N. Terryberry Library, 100 Mohawk W. ACFO Régionale Hamilton, 627 Main St. E.
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(5) The Globe, SISO Youth Centre, 24 Main St. W. (6) Philpott Church, 84 York (7) St. Charles Mountain, 150 East 5th
(8) Turner Park Library, 352 Rymal Rd. E. (9) Immanuel Church, 61 Mohawk W. (10) SISO, Newcomer Family Centre, 2511 Barton St. E.
The Faces of Poverty in Hamilton (Part 2) By Liban A Abdi Single parent families are among the most vulnerable and make up 60 percent of those living with poverty. With the worsening economic situation in 2009 lasting into the start of 2010, poverty has become even more of a social pandemic which is upsetting entire communities. The burden on single parents is complex and hard to comprehend because of the limited opportunities in every aspect of their lives. Let us examine a single parent with two young children who has been laid off due to the economic situation. Think of the multitude of challenges this parent will face. Single parents who are living with poverty continue to struggle and find it impossible to balance. With respect to getting a job, they find it most difficult and often face barriers to finding work due to child care limitations, transportation costs, and lack of training opportunities. Also, single parents have much more difficulty in attending training opportunities or gaining more skills because of the financial limitations they face. The challenges are enormous; Employment Insurance does not cover nearly enough to get the family through some of the basic household expenses. Moreover, it takes considerable effort, time and money to seek another job. This is time that this parent cannot afford because to leave the two young children alone would require paying for child care and he/she cannot afford anymore child care costs due to significant cut backs in their income level. Transportation costs also add up quickly when looking for a job because one has to travel to various agencies and interviews and bring their family with them. Moreover, upgrading their skills may be required in order for this single parent to get back to work or be re-hired. What is even more traumatic is that the number of single parents living in poverty is increasing and the prospect of them getting out of this situation is becoming dimmer. This situation may sound hopeless, but it is common. The reality is that families are put in these situations due to relaxed employment legislation that does not protect the rights of the workers. More and more working poor are faced with minimal or no notice of layoffs. A majority of them do not have savings and do not get severance pay. By the time their Employment Insurance benefits are exhausted, this scenario gets bleaker and the family is forced into Social Assistance. At this level of income, which is approximately $ 1,250 a month,
they may not have enough money to sufficiently cover rent, some medications, utilities and other day to day living costs. The struggle to pay the rent on time and to provide nutritional food for their children becomes ever more challenging. In addition, single parents without employment may need to attend training programs. Some programs cost a considerable sum of money and may require a time commitment. This is time which single parents do not have due to parenting their young children that need to be nurtured and cared for. In Part 1 of this article, we touched on the working poor and their struggle to pay for their increasing expenses due to a higher cost of living. Imagine, if a single household income was already facing challenges while working fulltime, the challenges faced when unemployed is even greater by far. Day-to-day life is already a struggle for many single-parent families, but now the challenge becomes finding ways to cut back money from other household areas in order to pay for rent, utilities, transportation and etc. The previous part of this article highlighted that when a parent sends children to school hungry or without snacks, the negative effects are great. However, the negative impact is not limited to children going to school without breakfast or a snack for lunch. The reality is that there are adults, single parents and couples, who run out of food at least once a month. The number of families that depend on local food banks is increasing. The cutbacks that families make often come out of their budget for clothing, food and other household essentials. These struggles are measured in terms of being unable to put food on the table; to pay for their expenses; to pay for their children’s lunch for school; to pay for the rising costs of utilities and gas; and being unable to pay for school trips and after school activities for their children. The ultimate cost is their diminished health, which in turn results in hospitalization, depression treatments, and in some cases, suicide. Poverty also leads to isolation, social exclusion and feelings of shame for many families. The primary challenge in front of us as a society is to address the issues of affordable housing, child care, equitable wages, and benefits for all. The issues of housing and child care costs are at the heart of eradicating poverty because many families spend about 70% of their income on these basic necessities. In today’s society, a wealthy nation like Canada should not have to send some of our children to school hungry.
NEWCOMER INFORMATION SESSIONS - Feb/Mar 2010 MONDAYS
February 3: E.L.L. Parent’s Meeting Barton Secondary School Library (75 Palmer Rd.), 4:30pm February 9 : Welcome To Canada! Get To Know Your Library & City Red Hill Library, Program Rm (695 Queenston Rd.), 6:30pm- 8:00pm February 11: Healthy Eating Session St Thomas More Secondary School, Lecture Hall, (1045 Upper Paradise Rd.), 9:45 am February 16: Report Cards C.B. Stirling Elementary School (340 Queen Victoria Dr.), 2:00pm February 16: Glendale Parent Information Night SISO Newcomer Family Centre (2511 Barton St. E. ), 5:30pm-7:00pm February 18: Understanding the Report Card Collegiate Ave Elementary (49 Collegiate Ave.), 2:00pm–3:15pm February 19: 2010 Chinese New Year Celebration for Seniors! Jamesville Community Centre (209 MacNab St. N.), 10:00am-3:00pm February 22: Understanding the Report Card Green Acres Elementary School (45 Randall Ave.), 2:00pm-3:15pm February 23: Recreation Programs for Children (Free/Low-cost Programs) Riverdale Community Centre, 1:30pm-3:00pm February 24: Nutrition & Healthy Eating Queen Victoria School, 166 Forest Ave., 3:00pm March 9 : Welcome To Canada! Get To Know Your Library & City Red Hill Library, Program Rm (695 Queenston Rd.), 6:30pm- 8:00pm March 09: Oral Health Education Queen Victoria School (166 Forest Ave.), 3:00pm March 18: Revenue Canada & Income Tax Barton Secondary School Library (75 Palmer Rd.), 9:00am March 19: Chinese Seniors Program Series Central Library, Dundas Room (55 York Blvd.), 10:00am March 25: Report Card Information Session Hess Street School 107 (Hess St. N.), 3:00pm For more information and registration, please call: Nila at (905) 385-6192, Ext. 3418
MOBILE OFFICE CALENDAR - Feb/Mar 2010
SISO Downtown Office * 9:30am-11:30am or 1:00pm-3:00pm
MONDAYS
9:00 am - 5:00 pm No Frills & Zellers, 499 Mohawk Rd. E.
Karen Language Services
Newcomer Family Centre ** 1:00pm-5:00pm
TUESDAYS
12:30 pm - 7:00 pm 2 Oriole Crescent
Citizenship Classes
SISO Downtown Office, 5:00pm-7:00pm Newcomer Family Centre, 4:00pm-6:00pm
WEDNESDAYS
9:00 am - 5:00 pm 40 Grandville & Delawana
Karen Language Services
SISO Downtown Office, 12:00pm-7:00pm
FRIDAYS
9:00 am - 3:00 pm 55 Wendover Dr. (Wendover & Magnolia)
PPC Parents Providing Care
TUESDAYS
LSSP/SWISH Activities February/March 2010
WEDNESDAYS Pediatric Clinic
SISO Downtown Office, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Call: Penny Drover, 905-667-3173
For more information, please call:
THURSDAYS
Karen Language Services
SISO Downtown Office, 9:00am-5:00pm
3 FRIDAYS
Seniors Workshop
Hamilton Central Public Library 10:00am-12:00pm
February 11
Children’s Aid Society
SISO Downtown Office, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Health Power 2010
Newcomer Family Centre, 10:00am-12:00pm
Canadian Educational System
SISO Downtown Office, 4:00pm-6:00pm
rd
February 25
(905) 667-SISO (7476) (905) 512-7389 (905) 512-8327 Downtown Office 360 James St. N Lower Concourse (905) 667-SISO (7476) East End Office 2511 Barton St. E (905) 561-2039
* SISO Downtown Office, 360 James Street North, Lower Concourse ** Newcomer Family Centre, 2511 Barton Street East
Mountain Office 1030 Upper James St. (905) 385-6192 Youth Centre 24 Main St. W (905) 527-2049 www.sisoglobe.ca
www.sisohamilton.org
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Recent Trends In Refugee Claim Processing By Robert W. Young Anyone who has made a refugee claim in Canada can tell you that one of the greatest hardships a refugee claimant can face is the day to day dread and uncertainty as the person waits for the claim to be decided. The in-Canada refugee system is horribly backed up. In January 2006 there were about 20,000 refugee claims waiting to be heard. At the end of 2009 that number had jumped to about 62,000 claims. In 2006 the average wait time between a refugee claim being referred to the IRB and a Hearing being held was slightly under 12 months. Now it is probably over 18 months. To speed up processing, the Immigration and Refugee Board has started to daily triple and quadruple book Board Members. IRB Board Members are assigned to "teams" broken down by geographical area. Most of this triple and quadruple booking is done by members of the team handling Colombian and Mexican cases.
This means that claimants are being given at most two hours to explain why they fear to return to their home country. It is quite obvious to practising lawyers that a Board Member hearing three or four cases is not
paying attention to the subtleties of the individual claims but generally has instead prejudged the claim. It is very hard to tell how long an individual case will take to be sent to a Hearing. There was a practice just a year ago of pushing Mexican cases through the IRB as quickly as possible, presumably so that claims could be rejected (the overall success rate for Mexican claimants was about 10%) and deported. Colombian cases were on average being dealt with in slightly over a year's time. The success rate for Colombian refugee claims since the late fall has dramatically dropped. Because Mexican and Colombian cases were being given priority, cases from other parts of the world were taking 2½ or more years to be scheduled for a Hearing. There is no consistency in planning or scheduling Hearings. No improvements to the situation are anticipated. Indeed, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration hinted several times in the last half of 2009 that he is considering replacing the present
SISO to Expand the Employment Services By Aurelia Tokaci Employment Ontario is moving forward with a plan to change the way it conducts business so that Ontarians will be able to find the employment services and training programs they need in a one-stop shop. Additional changes relate to more focus on addressing individual needs and barriers and the provision of consistent and straightforward services to all Ontarians. The process started 3 years ago and included provincial and regional consultations with existing service providers and other stakeholders. In addition, organizations currently funded were evaluated for their capacity to deliver enhanced, quality services under the new framework. As a result of this process 173 qualified organizations were identified across Ontario. SISO is proud to be one of the seven organizations chosen to provide services on behalf of Employment Ontario in Hamilton. This
At The Globe MONDAYS Club d’amis, 4:00pm-5:30pm Woman’s Workout, 3:30pm-5:30pm G1 Driving Classes, 5:30pm-6:30pm Drop In, 6:00pm-8:00pm TUESDAYS Francophone Literary Club, 3:30pm-4:30pm Education Advice by Appointment, 2:00pm-5:00pm English Conversation Circle at New Dawn, 3:30pm-4:30pm Career Counseling, 9:00am-5:00pm Computer Workshop, 5:00pm-6:30pm French Conversation Circle, 5:00pm-6:00pm BASKETBALL, YMCA, 5:00pm - 6:00pm Drop In, 5:30pm-7:30pm SOCCER, Call for time & location
WEDNESDAYS Woman’s Workout, 2:00pm-3:30pm Online Job Application Drop In, 9:00am-5:00pm Sewing Club, 3:30pm-5:30pm Francophone Homework Club, Central Library, 4:30pm-6:30pm THURSDAYS English Conversation Circle at Jamesville, 3:30pm-4:30pm Boys Cooking, 3:30pm-6:30pm Drop In, 6pm-8pm FRIDAYS French Classes, 3:30pm-4:30pm Youth Club (16 & up), 3:30pm-7:00pm Arab Club, 4:30pm-7:00pm
EVENTS Job Matching Session, February 1, 10:00am-4:00pm Chinese New Year, February 12, 4pm-7pm Black History Month Celebrations, February 17-19
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
OPEN TO NEWCOMER YOUTH
MARCH BREAK
6-12 yrs:
9:30am-1:00pm
13-24 yrs:
11:30am-8:00pm
For more information contact RABE at 905-527-2049
For more information or to access our services, call: 1-877-255-8136
YOUTH PROGRAMS - February/March 2010
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Robert W. Young is a lawyer at Sullivan Festeryga LLP, Barristers-at-Law, where he offers a full range of Canadian immigration law services extending from corporate company transfers to Immigration hearings. He represents clients in Canada and throughout the world.
What’s on this MARCH BREAK? ALL
means that SISO will expand its services to add additional programs which will be available to all Hamilton residents. SISO programs and services already cater to a wide variety of groups including women (53.4%), men (46.6%) and youth (36%), as well as persons representing diverse cultural, social and educational backgrounds. SISO’s inclusion in the new Employment Ontario network speaks for the organization’s capacity and maturity and it represents a formal recognition of service excellence. The Employment, Career and Business Development Department at SISO includes 12 different programs which cater to various needs, including job search, employment assistance, free access to resources, sectorspecific skill enhancement and business start-up.
refugee claim system, which has at least a few of the procedural rights of a regular Court system, with a clerical/ administrative system such as the United Kingdom and USA use. It is rumoured that instead of having a Hearing, refugee claimants would be interviewed soon after arrival by an Immigration official who will decide whether or not to accept the claim. It is not clear what will happen in such a situation to those claimants whose claims are rejected. If such a new system comes into force, it will be very important for people to have their claim fully documented and be fully prepared for an extensive interrogation before they present themselves to a Canadian official.
2010
at The Globe March 15 - 20
Women’s Workout, Arts & Crafts, Music Program, Drumming Session, Scavenger Hunt, Rap Battle, Girls Spa & Swimming, Movies, Sports Olympiad, Cooking & Baking, Knitting/Crochet Club, Staff vs Youth Tournament Games, Pool & Games Tournament, Room Drop In, Learn How to Juggle, Special Speaker, Learn New Skills, and much more...
East Office MONDAYS Homework club, 4:00pm-6:00pm Computer Classes, 5:00pm–7:00pm Drop In, 3:00pm-7:00pm TUESDAYS Self Expression Corner, 4:00pm-6:00pm Model UN, 5:30pm-7:00pm Drop In, 3:00pm-7:00pm WEDNESDAYS Homework Club, 4:00pm-6:00pm THURSDAYS Ayuda, 4pm-6pm FRIDAYS Movie Nights, 3:30pm-7:00pm SATURDAYS Beauty Enrichment, 10:00am-12:00pm Model UN Drop In, 10:00apm-12:00pm EVENTS Skate On Ice, February 7, 12:00pm-5:00pm Valentine’s Day Movie Special, February 12, 3:30pm-7:00pm
Importance of the Birth of Prophet Muhammad
political leader. Today, thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive. The majority of the persons in this book had the advantage of being born and raised in centers of civilization, highly cultured or politically pivotal nations.”
The Prophet Muhammad was born on Monday, the 12th day of Rabia' Awal, the 3rd month of the Islamic Year. The birth celebration of Prophet Muhammad is widely practiced and celebrated event in the Muslim world despite its controversial acceptance. However, Islamic scholars have differed on celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad. Some of the scholars think the event as an innovation in the religion of Islam and some of them agree that it is a good way of remembering and honoring the Holy Prophet. In fact neither the companion of the Prophet nor Muhammad himself had provided any referential support to this argument, as it is not an act of religious ritual of any kind. But, let me take you from this ambiguous discourse to emphasize his importance to Muslims and non-Muslims as well. He was, arguably, one of the most influential characters in history. In fact, Michael H. Hart stated in his book Prophet Muhammad as the most influential person in history (1978). He also stated that “ My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated one of the world's great religions, and became an immensely effective
He also added “How, then, is one to assess the overall impact of Muhammad on human history? Like all religions, Islam exerts an enormous influence upon the lives of its followers. It is for this reason that the founders of the world's great religions all figure prominently in this book. Since there are roughly twice as many Christians as Moslems in the world, it may initially seem strange that Muhammad has been ranked higher than Jesus. There are two principal reasons for that decision. First, Muhammad played a far more important role in the development of Islam than Jesus did in the development of Christianity. Although Jesus was responsible for the main ethical and moral precepts of Christianity (insofar as these differed from Judaism), St. Paul was the main developer of Christian theology, its principal proselytizer, and the author of a large portion of the New Testament. Muhammad, however, was responsible for both the theology of Islam and its main ethical and moral principles. In addition, he played the key role in proselytizing the new faith, and in establishing the religious practices of Islam. Moreover, he is the author of the Moslem Holy Scriptures, the Koran, a collection of certain of Muhammad's insights that he believed had been directly revealed to him by Allah. Most of these utterances were copied more or less faithfully during Muhammad's lifetime and were collected together in authoritative form not long after his death.” Alphonse de LaMartaine regarded Mu-
hammad in his book as "Never has a man set for himself, voluntarily or involuntarily, a more sublime aim, since this aim was superhuman; to subvert superstitions which had been imposed between man and his Creator, to render God unto man and man unto God; to restore the rational and sacred idea of divinity amidst the chaos of the material and disfigured gods of idolatry, then existing . Never has a man undertaken a work so far beyond human power with so feeble means, for he (Muhammad) had in the conception as well as in the execution of such a great design, no other instrument than himself and no other aid except a handful of men living in a corner of the desert. Finally, never has a man accomplished such a huge and lasting revolution in the world, because in less than two centuries after its appearance, Islam, in faith and in arms, reigned over the whole of Arabia, and conquered, in God's name, Persia Khorasan, Transoxania, Western India, Syria, Egypt, Abyssinia, all the known continent of Northern Africa, numerous islands of the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, and part of Gaul. Dutch scholar Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje said “The league of nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations.” He continues: “The fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations.”
divinity, individuals whose lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically speaking, none of these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad accomplished. And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting mankind for the worship of One God on the codes of moral excellence. Muhammad or his followers never at any time claimed that he was a Son of God or the God-incarnate or a man with divinity - but he always was and is even today considered as only a Messenger chosen by God." ■ J.C. Aydin
Image Source (Arabic Artistic Calligraphy): The name "Muhammad" in traditional Thuluth calligraphy by the hand of Hattat Aziz Efendi, Turkey 1934
"The world has not hesitated to raise to
Small Claims Raises The Limit signed for the unrepresented litigant. It is meant to be navigable by the civilian with no legal background. The government publishes guides to Small Claims Court proceedings which take you through the entire process from filing or defending a claim to judgment and enforcement proceedings, and the forms are all readily available online. It was designed this way to promote access to the justice system. The idea is that if you are owed a relatively small amount of money you should be ale to access the system yourself without incurring legal costs that end up being more than the amount you are owed. However, despite all the concessions and the design of the system including the availability and the accessibility; at the end of the day, it is still a legal proceeding, which can be daunting.
On January 1, 2010, the limit for claims in the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court went up from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00. This change will bring a busier Small Claims Court system with more litigants and larger claims. Knowing your rights and what you are entitled to is becoming more important than ever. The Small Claims Court system is de-
The question remains, then, how do you balance access to the justice system, ensuring your rights are protected and keeping legal costs down? This is especially significant, because disputes in Small Claims Court will now be for up to $25,000.00, which is by no means a small amount. First and foremost, speak to your lawyer. Even if it is not financially viable for them to take carriage of the entire Small Claims Court file – if the amount claimed is too small, for example – they can still offer some insight into the process and can give you an overview of your rights and obligations. You may ask them to only draft a Plaintiff’s claim or a statement of defence
for you and then you can take care of filing and serving the documents on the other party. Or, you may ask them if they are willing to look over your pleadings for a reduced cost. You may also consider having them explain the rules of the Small Claims Court to you. The amendments that came into force on January 1, 2010 also brought with them some changes to the rules. One of the most significant changes has to do with the rules of service. Remember, the staff at the Court House cannot provide legal advice to you. Ask your lawyer if you can come to a negotiated arrangement where they can answer your questions and provide you with the answers you are looking for. For a large Small Claims Court file – this would be one where the amount claimed is closer to the upper limit of $25,000.00 – you should perhaps consider speaking to your lawyer. Many law firms hire articling students, who are law school graduates and are working towards their call to the bar. They charge reduced rates, work under the guidance of their law firms and are familiar with the legal process. You may request that the firm’s articling student take carriage of the file. This way, you are still getting a lawyer to handle your file but at a reduced rate.
you have, what obligations you have and how to navigate the system. While the rules of the Court, the simplified guides to the process and all the forms are available online, and keeping in mind that the Small Claims Court system is designed so unrepresented litigants can access the justice system, you may still find yourself in the middle of a legal conundrum without realizing it. Enter your lawyer, who should be able to guide you out of it and negotiate a fee that reflects your desires and their expertise. Hussein Hamdani is a lawyer at SimpsonWigle Law LLP where he practices in the area of corporate/commercial and real estate law. Naaila Sangrar is a student-at-law at SimpsonWigle Law LLP, practicing in the areas of corporate/commercial, real estate and wills and estates.
■ Hussein Hamdani is a lawyer at SimpsonWigle Law LLP where he practices in the area of corporate/commercial and real estate law. Naaila Sangrar is a student-at-law at SimpsonWigle Law LLP, practicing in the areas of corporate/commercial and litigation.
The most important part of the entire process is that you understand what rights w w w.thevoiceindiasp ora.com
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Dietary Soy Linked to Lower Risk for Breast Cancer Death "Soy foods are rich in isoflavones, a major group of phytoestrogens that have been hypothesized to reduce the risk of breast cancer," write Xiao Ou Shu, MD, PhD, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and colleagues. "However, the estrogen-like effect of isoflavones and the potential interaction between isoflavones and tamoxifen have led to concern about soy food consumption among breast cancer patients." From MedscapeCME Clinical Briefs Dietary soy intake among Chinese women with breast cancer is significantly associated with lower risk for death and recurrence, according to the results of a large, populationbased cohort study reported in the December 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study goal was to determine the association of dietary soy intake after diagnosis of breast cancer with total mortality and cancer recurrence. In the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study of 5042 female breast cancer survivors in China, women 20 to 75 years of age who were diagnosed between March 2002 and April 2006 were recruited and followed up through June 2009.
At about 6 months after cancer diagnosis, participants provided information on cancer diagnosis and treatment, lifestyle exposures after cancer diagnosis, and disease progression. Three follow-up interviews at 18, 36, and 60 months after diagnosis allowed updating of this information. To obtain survival information for participants who were lost to follow-up, the investigators used annual record linkage with the Shanghai Vital Statistics Registry database. Disease and treatment information were verified from medical record review. Primary study endpoints were total mortality and breast cancer recurrence or breast cancer–related deaths. Adjustment for known clinical predictors and other lifestyle factors was performed using Cox regression analysis, with dietary soy intake treated as a time-dependent variable. Median followup was 3.9 years (range, 0.5 - 6.2 years). During follow-up of 5033 breast cancer patients treated with surgery, there were 444 deaths and 534 recurrences or breast cancer–related deaths. Soy food intake, measured by either soy protein or soy isoflavone intake, was inversely associated with mortality and recurrence. Compared with the lowest quartile of intake of soy protein intake, the hazard ratio for the highest quartile was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 - 0.92) for total mortality and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.54 - 0.87) for recurrence. For women in the lowest and highest quartiles of soy protein intake, the multivariate-adjusted 4-year mortality rates were 10.3% and 7.4%, and the 4-year recurrence rates were 11.2% and 8.0%, respectively. Women with either estrogen receptor–positive or estrogen receptor– negative breast cancer exhibited this inverse association, as did both users and nonusers of tamoxifen. "Among women with breast cancer, soy food consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence," the study authors write. Limitations of this study include a relatively
short follow-up period and limited statistical power for subanalyses, such as estrogen receptor status or tamoxifen use status. "In this population-based prospective study, we found that soy food intake is safe and was associated with lower mortality and recurrence among breast cancer patients," the study authors conclude. "The association of soy food intake with mortality and recurrence appears to follow a linear dose-response pattern until soy food intake reached 11 grams/day of soy protein; no additional benefits on mortality and recurrence were observed with higher intakes of soy food. This study suggests that moderate soy food intake is safe and potentially beneficial for women with breast cancer." In an accompanying editorial, Rachel Ballard-Barbash, MD, MPH, from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and Marian L. Neuhouser, PhD, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, note differences between China and the United States in the quality, type, and quantity of soy food intake. Differences in screening rates and other factors in China compared with the United States may also preclude comparisons of stageand treatment-specific results. "Even though the findings by Shu et al suggest that consumption of soy foods among breast cancer patients is probably safe, studies in larger cohorts are required to understand the effects of these foods among diverse clinical subgroups of breast cancer patients and survivors," the editorialists write. "In the meantime, clinicians can advise their patients with breast cancer that soy foods are safe to eat and that these foods may offer some protective benefit for long-term health. Moreover, the potential benefits are confined to soy foods, and inferences should not be made about the risks or benefits of soy-containing dietary supplements." The US Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program and the National Cancer Institute supported this study. Dr. Shu reports having received a research development fund from the United Soybean Board in 2005. The other study authors and editorialists have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. JAMA. 2009;302:2437-2443, 2483-2484. Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/File:Soybeanvarieties.jpg
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Gladys Pardo – Extra-ordinary, Artistic,
Enterprising And Highly Articulate!
tive and the space is very attractive and accommodating. As an artist, Gladys expresses herself in her paintings. Her themes originate from her cultural expressions with a blend of Canadian culture. She makes some of her arts as printing cards which she sells to customers alongside her imported jewelleries. Gladys advice to new comers to Canada is to work hard even in the face of discouragement. She advised that since new comers made a decision to come to Canada, they should explore every possible avenue to succeed here. Gladys believes
Gladys was born and raised in Columbia. Her background is in Computer Engineering and has worked in that field for over 20 years before immigrating to Canada 4 years ago. Gladys had her own business back in Columbia as a business out sourcing computer Engineer.
a chance to prove herself.
Life has not been the same for Gladys and her family since their arrival in Canada. She came with her 2 children while her husband joined them later on. With poor spoken English, Gladys faced many barriers, but never gave up her dream of making it here in Canada. Like many new immigrants to Canada, there were road blocks anywhere Gladys went. The answers she received to her numerous employment applications were all the same – ‘you do not have Canadian experience’. Gladys attended and got a certificate from the ELT Program that qualify immigrants for the job market, but still did not get employment. For Gladys, computer is the same the world over. She could read and understand the computer books like any other person, and could apply that knowledge to her work. However, she was never given
Gladys went through the settlement organization to get connected to organizations looking for volunteers. She volunteered for North Hamilton Community Health Centre as a computer data base co-ordinator for clients’ files. Gladys also volunteered in other organizations in computer-related programs, but none of her services landed her any job after. Gladys remembered volunteering as a Spanish translator for one organization, and her work was well liked and appreciated. However, when a vacancy came up for a paid Spanish translator, the organization brought in some one from outside to take over her position. That was very sad and frustrating for Gladys. She sees herself as a good volunteer but never well enough for the employers. However, she would never give up volunteer work. Currently, she is
A Rally in Support of SISO ...Continued from page 1
The faceless individual that wrote the racist letter against SISO would be ashamed to see the support and solidarity shown to SISO by the hundreds of in-
dividuals that came to the rally. Wise and encouraging words spoken by politicians, New Dawn neighbours, concerned Hamiltonians and friends of SISO not only brought re-assurance from our community, they clearly sent a big message to hate monger (s) that there is no place in Hamilton for such individual (s). A building is a building; the importance comes with what it stands for. SISO New Dawn stands for new hope for new immigrants. For that reason alone should require support from all that value their freedom to lend a hand to those looking
volunteering abroad with the ‘Medical Ministry International’ However, after years of frustration due to lack of employment, Gladys decided to start importing pre Columbia arts in form of jewelleries for sale here in Canada. Gladys goes on exhibition with her jewelleries that dates back to 1800 years ago. Every where she exhibits, she shares her heritage with people, thus she is a good ambassador of her native Columbia. These jewelleries are the replicas of jewelleries in the Gold museum in Bogota. Gladys and her husband recently opened a business centre in Locke street Hamilton. It is a one stop commercial space that offers everything from individual/company conference meeting space; to courier services, internet café, photocopying and printing services, as well as desk top publishing. Their prices are very competi-
that many immigrants are over qualified for what ever they are doing now, and are sometimes exploited and used only as volunteers by many organizations. Gladys encourages immigrants to share ideas with one another on how they were able to succeed in Canada, and also to help, support, and patronize one another. ■ Veronica Chris-Ike
for freedom. SISO Board Chairman Hussein Hamdani succinctly made this fact known at the rally. As well, SISO ED Mr. Jafarpour explained that the mission of the New Dawn Centre is closely related to that of the old church, and that is, succour to those in need. The old sisters that lived in the convent on the church ground, provided same services of compassion to people that walked through their door.
So also in this era, SISO New Dawn is providing services of compassion to New Immigrants that flee dangerous situations to call Hamilton their new home. It is without doubt from speaker to speaker that the New Dawn with the help of SISO, and the support of all Hamiltonians would help realise the vision of the old church - that is making SISO New Dawn, a haven for ‘weary’ new Immigrants. ■ TVID Team
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Another plus? You can enjoy the summertime beauty of our capital. Outdoor sports and activities, summer festivals, great patio restaurants to enjoy – Ottawa has it all, with easy access to other destinations in Canada and the United States. We can help you learn and grow in the following areas: • Accounting • Business Administration/Commerce • Communications/Marketing • Economics/Research • Finance • Human Resources • Information Technology • Office Services
International Women’s Day 2010 “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future” The IWD Committee 2010 coordinated by SACHA invites women from all over Hamilton to come together and celebrate Monday, March 8, 2010 – 9”00 am – noon Venetian Club 269 John Street North (at Barton Street East) Hamilton
• Operations/Trades
Transitions And Possibilities
Do you have what it takes? Our summer student employment program is open to students who have, at a minimum, completed a high school diploma and who will be enrolled on a full-time basis for the following school term. You must also be entitled to work in Canada and be eligible for security clearance. Submit your resumé by 7 March 2010. How to apply http://jobs.workopolis. com/jobshome/db/bankcan_en.apply_ job? ■ http://www.bankofcanada.ca
The WISE Initiative International Women’s Day Conference offers professional development workshops and showcases the phenomenal research conducted by students, post doctoral fellows, and faculty in science and engineering. The conference promotes the exchange of information, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, and serves as a forum for podium and poster presentations. Details: WHEN: Friday March 5 (from 12:30pm) & Saturday March 6, 2010.
CYBF Canadian Newcomer Entrepreneur Program
For more information about the event or to request ASL interpretation please contact Sandra, Maria or Erin at 905.525.45.73 by February 26, 2010 ■ Maria Contreras Office Coordinator
Tax Tip
What's new - your 2009 income tax and benefit return Did you know... ... that you may be able to take advantage of new incentives or changes to existing credits, deductions, benefits, and services when filing your 2009 return?
WHERE: Psychology Building, McMaster University (google map), 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1A8, CANADA
Here are some that you should know about: • Personal amount: The basic personal amount has increased to $10,320.
Co-op Programs
The Bank of Canada's co-op programs offer you the chance to gain valuable, real-world work experience. Candidates must be university students interested in a three- to six-month position. You can learn more from the employment centre at your educational institution. • Apply for this program. http://jobs. workopolis.com/jobshome/db/bankcan_ en.apply_job? Summer Employment 2010 Summer Student Recruitment Put yourself in a central role with a summer job at the Bank of Canada! Take on challenging, meaningful work that affects the lives of Canadians. The Bank of Canada is looking for students from a wide range of backgrounds who bring knowledge, enthusiasm, and ideas to the table. While you're here, you'll learn more about Canada's central bank and the influential role it plays in Canada and around the world. A Crown corporation, the Bank of Canada is responsible for setting monetary policy, is a key player in the country's financial system, and oversees the production of bank notes. There's no better place to enhance the knowledge you are gaining through your studies in a great team environment.
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
• Age amount for persons 65 years of age or older: The maximum amount has increased to $6,408.
Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) Applies to: British Columbia, Ontario Are you a new immigrant to Canada between the ages of 18 and 34 years, with dreams of being your own boss? The CYBF offers business start-up loans of up to $15,000 to young immigrants who live in British Columbia or the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario (this program may be offered in other areas in the future). To apply, you need: • a business plan • a letter from your bank confirming your account status • reference letters CYBF will look for a mentor who speaks your language and understands business in Canada to help you. The loan is repayable. ■ http://www.canadabusiness.ca/
• Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and registered retirement income funds (RRIFs): If an unmatured RRSP or RRIF of a deceased person decreases in value after the person's death, and the final payment from that RRSP or RRIF is made after 2008, a deduction may be claimed on the final return of the deceased person for the decrease in value. • Working income tax benefit (WITB): Tax relief provided by increased funding to the WITB has been enriched for 2009. • Home Renovation Tax Credit: If you are a homeowner, you may be able to claim this new non-refundable tax credit [Footnote 1] of up to $1,350 based on eligible expenses incurred for work performed or goods acquired after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010, in respect of a renovation or alteration to an eligible dwelling. The credit applies to expenses of more than $1,000, but not more than $10,000. • First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit: If you are a first-time homebuyer, a person with a disability, or an individual buying a home on behalf of a related person with a disability, you may be able to claim this new non-refundable tax credit [Footnote 1] of up to $750 for the acquisition of a qualifying home after January 27, 2009 (closing after this date). • Home Buyers' Plan (HBP): As of January 27, 2009, the maximum amount you can withdraw from a registered retirement sav-
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ings plan under the HBP has increased to $25,000. • New payment option: If you have access to online banking at a participating financial institution, you can make payments to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) online using the My Payment option. • My Account for Individuals online service: You will be asked to choose and answer security questions as part of CRA security enhancements. For more information on new incentives and changes to existing credits, deductions, benefits, and services, go to www. canada.gc.ca/taxinfo. Footnote 1: Non-refundable tax credits reduce your federal income tax. If the total of your non-refundable tax credits is more than your federal income tax, you will not receive a refund for the difference. ■
Black History Month
...Continued from page 1
There is little mention of the fact that slavery once existed in the territory that is now Canada, or that many of the Loyalists who came here after the American Revolution and settled in the Maritimes were Blacks. Few Canadians are aware of the many sacrifices made in wartime by black Canadian soldiers, as far back as the War of 1812. In an attempt to heighten awareness of black history in the United States, historian Carter G. Woodson proposed an observance to honour the accomplishments of black Americans. This led to the establishment of Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson is believed to have chosen February for this observance because the birthdays of the renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass (February 14) and former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) fall in this month. During the early 1970s, the week became known as Black History Week. It was expanded into Black History Month in 1976. In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. The motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons. In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first black man appointed to the Senate, introduced a motion to have the Senate officially recognize February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008. The adoption of this motion completed Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month. Senator Anne Cools was the first black woman to be appointed to the Senate. Demographics According to the 2001 Census, 662,215 Canadians identified themselves as Black. The majority of Black Canadians live in five Canadian cities. As of 2001, Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Vancouver and Halifax were home to approximately 78.4 percent of all Black Canadians. In spite of the great contributions Black Canadians have made, many still face challenges in our society. According to the Ethnic Diversity Survey that was released in September 2003, almost half of the Black Canadians surveyed said they have experienced some form of discrimination or unfair treatment in the past five years. ■ http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/black/index.asp
Congo Community 2009 New Years Eve Party
Haitians in Happier Times Celebrating Their Independence January 1, 2010
SISO Donates to Juvinski Cancer Centre
St Charles celebrates Extravaganza
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Feb & Mar 2010 • Vol 3 • Issue 2
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Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Council Wish You a Successful Black History Month We recognize the rich culture and exceptional postive contributions of African Canadians to our community
905.574.3733
www.MayorFred.ca
Paul Andrea Miller Horwath
MPP, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek 289 Queenston Road (905) 545-0114
MPP, Hamilton Centre
20 Hughson St. S., Suite 200 (905) 544-9644