Property Insurance Dept: That was after spending roughly six decades selling insurance and sometimes real estate, mostly from the family storefront in Kerrisdale, according to Vancouver Sun. Adrian Dix, the 47-year-old B.C. NDP leader, has never sold auto or property insurance. Instead, when he wasn't executive director of Canadian Parents for French in B.C./Yukon, he has mostly toiled in politics, including as the chief of staff to former premier Glen Clark and ken Dix, the father of the leader of B.C.'s New Democratic Party opposition, sold his business and retired last November. He was 81. The father of Adrian Dix had emigrated from Dublin to Sudbury, Ont. in the 1950s, and later met his British-born immigrant wife, Hilda. After moving to Vancouver in 1969, the couple ended up running Dix Insurance Agency Ltd. on West 41st. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Viktor Bout Dept: The "Land of Smiles" has long been a favourite haven for criminals -- from Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to gangsters, drug smugglers and pedophiles -- drawn by its open-door visa policy, lax law enforcement and huge variety of white sand beaches, according to CTV. "We have to admit that there are threats all over the world, and our country is a weak link," National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree said after an apparently foiled bomb plot was uncovered when an explosion in the Iranians' rented house Tuesday forced authorities to acknowledge that Thailand was a target of international terrorists and the three Iranians detained in Bangkok and accused of plotting to attack Israeli diplomats set priorities during their trip to Thailand. They spent several days at a seaside town in the company of prostitutes, soaking up the sun and sin that has attracted many of the world's unsavoury characters. Thailand's tourism industry rakes in more than $25 billion in revenue a year, accounting for more than 6 per cent of the economy. But officials are now questioning if they should roll back the welcome mat a little. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prison Term Dept: Naser al-Raas, a Kuwaiti-born Canadian citizen, was acquitted Thursday by a Bahrain court of appeal . He was accused of taking part in anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom and was facing a five-year prison term, according to CBC. He spent 31 days at al-Qala prison, during which time he said he was beaten with sticks and suffered electric shocks and an Ottawa man who was arrested in Bahrain and allegedly tortured in prison has won his court case, but says he won't feel safe returning to the airport for a flight out of the country without a representative from Canada at his side. submitted photo Al-Raas was arrested at Bahrain International Airport last March as he prepared to leave the country after what was supposed to be a two-week visit with his sisters and fiancee in the capital Manama. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Dupont Dept: But there is a real Dovercourt Park at the centre of this hood north of Bloor, south of Dupont and loosely between Dufferin and Ossington depending on who s sketching the boundaries. On some real estate maps it s also known as Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson, according to Globe and Mail. Today a few automotive businesses linger, but most of the heavy industry is gone and mention the name in passing, and many Torontonians have trouble picturing it on a map. In years past, the neighbourhood developed a stolid, lunch bucket character as industrial plants set up close to the Canadian Pacific Railway line just north of Dupont and Portuguese and Italian immigrant workers moved onto the side streets to the south. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Refugee Claims Dept: Fast-tracking refugee claims from these countries, and ensuring failed claimants are promptly deported, is an excellent way to ensure Canada does not become a magnet for abuse. The bill will also implement biometric identification, such as fingerprints and photos, for people who apply for visitor s visas. This welcome change will guard against the use of false identities, according to Globe and Mail. Mr. Kenney s opponents are irked that in introducing the bill, the minister reversed many of the compromises he had agreed to in an earlier version, which was passed under a Conservative minority government in 2010 and the legislation rightly focuses on weeding out claimants who are not genuine, and stemming the flow of asylum seekers from countries such as Mexico and Hungary that are democracies with respect for basic rights and freedoms. Last year, the number of refugee claims from Hungary doubled to 4,900; many are Roma. The acceptance rate is only about two per cent. Following a spike in asylum claims from Mexico, Ottawa imposed a visa in 2009, which has been the source of great irritation for all Mexicans, with good reason. However, Mr. Kenney s decision to eliminate a right of appeal for all refugees from a designated list of safe countries is problematic. Critics are concerned it could result in the persecution of genuine refugees. The new bill has also eliminated a committee of experts which was meant to advise the government on which countries should be on the safe country list. This is unfortunate, and opens the process to political pressure. If you have to have a safe country list, input from independent experts would give it more credence, notes Sharry Aiken, a law professor at Queen s University. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jason Kenney Dept: That's what a day of ethnic outreach with Canada's socalled "minister for curry in a hurry" is like, according to Vancouver Sun. At times it feels as if the Tory with the cherubic face and uber-ambitious personality is really Justin Bieber and imagine a minisoccer game with Jason Kenney as the ball. No matter where he goes - a prayer ceremony, a grocery store or a festival - a throng of camera-toting fans follows. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Stable Condition Dept: The wounded agent is hospitalized in stable condition, ICE Special Agent in Charge Claude Arnold, according to Globe and Mail. Names of the agents involved were not released pending notification of next of kin and mr. Martinez characterized the incident as a case of workplace violence involving two federal agents. He says one agent fired several rounds at another agent, wounding him. At that point, another agent intervened and additional rounds were fired, resulting in the death of the shooter. At times like this words honestly seem inadequate. When something like this happens in our offices, it s incomprehensible, Mr. Arnold said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Colombian Slang Dept: She has trouble with Colombian slang, she s prone to grammatical errors and sometimes she can t find the right words for everyday objects, according to The Star. Hint: it starts with p and rhymes with mala and anne-Marie Vettorel speaks Spanish up to a point. For example, the Spanish name for shovel. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins Dept: Benedict presided over the ceremony Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica to formally create the new cardinals, who include the archbishops of New York, Prague, Berlin, Hong Kong and Florence, Italy, as well as the heads of some key Vatican offices, according to CBC. Cardinals are the Pope's closest aides, but only those under age 80 can take part in the election of a new pope after the death of Benedict, who turns 85 in April and pope Benedict XVI has inducted 22 new Catholic churchmen into the elite club of cardinals who will elect his successor amid signs the 84-year-old pontiff is slowing down. Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins was also among those who were officially elevated to the new role. Collins, 65, was ordained as a priest in 1973 and appointed archbishop of Toronto in 2007. Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to preside over a consistory in St. Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Andrew Medichini/Associated Press (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jeremy Lin Dept: Sports: Not so long ago, a single athlete named Tim Tebow took the world by storm when the word Tebowing became infamous. This week, the term Linsanity forced non-sports fans to figure out who exactly basketball star Jeremy Lin might be. The 23-year-old Harvard grad on the New York Knicks has seen his stardom suddenly explode with big plays in recent weeks, none bigger than his dramatic game-winning moves at the expense of the Raptors this week. And yes, it must be said: the fact that Lin is one of the few Asians in the NBA has contributed to the mad swell of attention, according to The Star. Economy: Sears Canada Inc. cut prices on more than 5,000 of its wares this week, some of them by as much as 30 per cent. The move underscored the struggles of the historic department store to compete with discount giants Wal-Mart and Target, the latter of which is soon due to change the retail landscape in Canada when it opens its first stores here. A Natuzzi leather sofa for almost $1,000, down from almost $1,600? Sounds like good news for customers and politics: The Conservatives announced they would again try to legislate against bogus refugees with a new bill aimed at reducing applications from countries deemed safe for inhabitants, such as Mexico. The Tories hope to use their majority to reverse compromises they were forced to make in 2010, the last time they attempted to reform the asylum process. If you do not need Canada s protection, we will give you access to our fair asylum system quickly and then send you home quickly, said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. Culture: A death in the television world drew some attention this week despite the fact that it happened more than four years ago. The Star broke the story that Degrassi actor Neil Hope died at age 35 on Nov. 25, 2007, although the show s producers only learned of it this week. Epitome Pictures said it had lost touch with the actor, remembered for his determination, hard work and hopeful optimism, since his last appearance in 2003. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.