Immigrate To Canada Dept: A few years later, my parents began helping their parents and siblings immigrate to Canada. This was the early 1970s and the process involved going down to the Manpower and Immigration office on Edmonton Street to speak to an immigration officer. After filling out a 3-4 page form in which my parents had to declare that they had $50 in assets for each family member, their sponsorship applications were approved, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Immigration from the Philippines has transformed Manitoba, with the province's Filipino community reaching 60,000 due to an immigration boom over last five years On a cold January morning in 1968, my parents, Rey and Gloria Pagtakhan, arrived at Emerson to immigrate to Canada. About 12 weeks earlier, my father sent in their immigration application from St. Louis, Missouri, where he and my mother were going to school on visas from the Philippines. Instead of a visa confirming his immigration, my father was sent a telegram by what was then Manpower and Immigration Canada with the simple instruction to proceed to the border. Philippines edition (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Desiree Carbonell Dept: Boris Minkevich / archives BORIS MINKEVICH Enlarge Image, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Boris Minkevich / archives BORIS MINKEVICH Enlarge Image Desiree Carbonell and other young Filipino immigrants enjoy a day at the Festival du Voyageur. TREVOR HAGAN/ Enlarge Image Visitors take in the display at the first Filipino Folklorama pavilion in 1970. The Winnipeg Filipino community now numbers close to 60,000. Enlarge Image (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

WAYNE GLOWACKI Dept: Philippines edition, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Africa Edition Paul Robles uses a paper-cutting technique to create intricate, brightly coloured works of art. He has been shown in Paris and New York as well as several local galleries. WAYNE GLOWACKI / Immigration from the Philippines has transformed Manitoba, with the province's Filipino community reaching 60,000 due to an immigration boom over last five years (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Permanent Residence Dept: Starting immediately, Kenney said spouses will have to wait five years from the day they are granted permanent residence status before they can sponsor a new partner, according to Winnipeg Free Press. "I held town hall meetings across the country to hear from victims of marriage fraud," said Kenney, who made the announcement in Brampton, Ont., just west of Toronto and oTTAWA -- A five-year sponsorship bar to crack down on bogus marriages of convenience falls short of addressing the real problem, critics said Friday, shortly after Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced the regulatory change. The move is meant to prevent people from fraudulently marrying Canadians for the purposes of immigration only to leave them and then sponsor a new partner while their Canadian spouse is still financially responsible for them for three years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Neighbourhood Dept: Growing up in Caloocan City, Philippines, I remember how closely knit our neighbourhood was. It seemed everybody knew everybody. My cousins and I were free to roam around; it seemed our parents did not worry much about us being abducted or harmed -- unlike most parents today. It was a pleasant and happy neighbourhood and, in spite of the obvious disparity of economic status among the neighbours, we were all friends, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Philippines edition As a child in the 60s, I could not help but notice we made quite a few trips to the airport to see our neighbours off. We had neighbours who were doctors, engineers and lawyers. We also had neighbours who were jeepney drivers, laundry women and market vendors. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadiens Dept: Neither is schadenfreude, which means pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. The German language has lent little terminology to hockey - although "scheiss" Google it would do nicely to describe the season of your Montreal Canadiens. In lamenting the Sturm und Drang that has enveloped their own team, Montrealers have drawn some solace from the late-season collapse of the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Montreal Gazette. The Bell Centre faithful are serene by comparison - and not just because demanding dismissal of the Canadiens' coach involves a more multisyllabic chant and nostalgia, a wit once observed, just ain't what it used to be. After winning three in a row at the beginning of February, the Leafs ended the month on a 1-9-1 run. Fans at the Air Canada Centre who have been chanting "Fire Wilson!" got their wish Friday evening. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Spouse Dept: The new rules take effect immediately and are meant to prevent people from fraudulently marrying Canadians to get into the country, only to turn around and leave that sponsor to bring in another spouse, according to CTV. "I held town hall meetings across the country to hear from victims of marriage fraud," said Citizen and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney in a statement. The minister made the announcement Friday in Brampton, Ont and in a move intended to crack down on bogus marriages, Ottawa has increased the length of time that a sponsored immigrant can turn around and sponsor a new partner. Canadians who sponsor immigrants are financially responsible for them for three years. Under the new rules, a spouse must wait five years from the day they are granted permanent residence status in Canada before they can sponsor a new spouse. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

McMaster University Dept: Arthur Sweetman , an economist at McMaster University , said an expanded role for business in selecting immigrants could prove valuable, particularly since it would provide a better picture of the skills that are wanted in the labour market. But the planning horizon for most businesses is a few years at most. Governments must plan for a lifetime. That s why it is important, he said, that those nominated by employers will still need to qualify under the revamped points system, which is expected to emphasize language, youth and education all good indicators of adaptability, according to Globe and Mail. Richard McKeagan , president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada , welcomed the news that Mr. Kenney wants to introduce a special immigration stream for skilled tradespeople and speaking at the Metropolis conference on immigration research in Toronto on Thursday, Mr. Kenney laid out his vision for immigration. Although his speech was short on policy details, Mr. Kenney emphasized his plan to create a just-in-time immigration system in which immigrants, particularly those with strong language skills, would be offered a job, have their credentials assessed, get accepted and settled in Canada all within a year of applying. At the moment, that process can take several years. Mr. Kenney said immigration must be about nation building. In doing so, he signalled that the federal government does not intend to relinquish its role in immigrant selection. He also said he would like to see the provinces adopt stricter language testing in the selection of immigrants under the provincial nominee program, and hinted that the program is unlikely to grow. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Kosher Meat Products Dept: The product may be contaminated with listeria and Glatt s Kosher Meat Products of Montreal is voluntarily recalling it from the marketplace, according to The Star. The product was sold in Ontario and Quebec, but so far there have been no reported illnesses and oTTAWA The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Glatt s Kosher Meat Products are warning the public not to consume Glatt s brand Beef Frankfurters Jumbo BBQ. The affected product is sold in 375 gram packages with a best before date of April 21, 2012. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Lindbergh Dept: In what was called the crime of the century, the 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his crib inside the family's New Jersey mansion. Lindbergh, who'd gained fame by flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, and his wife Anne found muddy footprints and a $50,000 ransom note in their son's second-floor room. The trials of the family as they searched for young Charles Lindbergh III - they received a second ransom note for $70,000 and paid it, but were unable to find their son in the identified location - captivated the nation. The saga came to a grisly conclusion on May 12. The boy's body, his skull fractured, was discovered less than a mile from the family home. It was believed he died on the night he was kidnapped. German immigrant and carpenter Bruno Hauptmann was later convicted of the crime and executed, after he was linked to marked ransom money. The forensic work which included analysis of the handwriting and of the wood in the ladder used during the kidnapping was featured in the 2011 movie J. Edgar. div (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.