Randy Fincham: Const. Randy Fincham said the photos were taken the afternoon of Dec. 2 by outraged visitors at the monument, which pays tribute to the 356 Indian immigrants who were infamously refused entry to Canada in 1914, according to CTV. Witnesses believe the yet-unidentified man, who appears disheveled in the photos, was drunk. Fincham said that wouldnt mitigate the seriousness of the offence and The Vancouver Police Hate Crimes Unit is investigating shocking images that appear to show a white man urinating on the Komagata Maru memorial in Coal Harbour. They unfortunately encountered this young man that was down at the memorial causing some mischief and causing some grief to people, Fincham said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Filipino workers Richard Pepito: Filipino workers Richard Pepito and Heidi Kibanoff allege that the Tim Hortons franchise owner in Fernie, B.C., made them and co-workers pay back some of their overtime in cash, according to The Star. He accuses their former employer of charging employees processing fees for their work permit applications, even though thats the employers responsibility and The British Columbia government and Tim Hortons restaurants head office are investigating a complaint that a doughnut shop owner has exploited Filipino workers brought into Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Pepito has filed a complaint with the B.C. Employment Standards Branch. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Komagata Maru: The board says the photo was posted on Facebook and staff have now cleaned up the Komagata Maru memorial in Harbour Green Park at Coal Harbour, according to 660 News. Park board chair Sarah Blyth says members are saddened and deeply offended by the disgraceful act and VANCOUVER The Vancouver park board says it has pointed out an online photo to police which apparently shows somebody urinating on a memorial marking the tragic return of 376 people to India more than a century ago. It says police are investigating the incident. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nelson Mandela Park Public School: The flags have been lowered to half-mast at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, which was renamed in his honour in 2001, according to CTV. Mandela and his wife, Graca Machel, attended the school's re-naming ceremony in 2001. He was also granted honorary Canadian citizenship during that same visit to Canada and As the world mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, Toronto residents are remembering the special connection between the former South African president and their city. Students and staff attended a special ceremony honouring the leader Friday morning. During the ceremony, principal Jason Kanderkery said it was important that the school continue to build on Mandela's "legacy of hope and purpose." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nelson Mandelas: Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that the world had lost one of its great moral leaders and statesmen, according to CTV. Nelson Mandelas enduring legacy for his country, and the world, is the example he set through his own long walk to freedom. With grace and humility, he modelled how peoples can transform their own times and in doing so, their own lives and Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum have weighed in on the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela. One of the worlds most beloved leaders, Mandela died Thursday at the age of 95. Despite his long years of captivity, Mr. Mandela left prison with a heart closed to calls for a settling of scores. Instead, he was filled by a longing for truth and reconciliation, and for an understanding between all peoples, Harper said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Brian Mulroney: The man known affectionately as Madiba died Thursday at age 95. Mandela never forgot the support he received from Canada and from former prime minister Brian Mulroney in his epic fight for freedom, said Stephen Lewis, Canadas former United Nations ambassador under Mulroney, according to The Chronicle Herald. All Mandela ever wanted to talk about was Canada, and Mulroney, said Lewis and OTTAWA Nelson Mandela is being remembered in Canada for his wisdom and fearless fight against racism. As it turned out, Canada also occupied a special place in Mandelas heart in later years. Its fair to say that Mandela was deeply attached to Canada, recalled Lewis, who visited Mandela and his wife, Graca Machel, numerous times between 2001 and 2009 in South Africa. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Mandela was remembered in all-party statements in the House of Commons on Thursday a short time after his death was announced, according to Times Colonist. Events of note in and around Parliament Hill today: OTTAWA - It's a day of reflection in Ottawa as federal politicians look back on the life of Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday at age 95. Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted the world had lost one of its great moral leaders and statesmen, while NDP leader Tom Mulcair called him an intelligent man who cared for his people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mandela: The third wife of the revered former South African president was by her husband's side earlier this summer when Mandela was admitted to hospital in June and multiple news reports stated Mandela was in grave condition. Machel, 68, remained quiet amidst the rumours Mandela was in a vegetative state and shortly thereafter the couple celebrated their 15th anniversary on July 18 . Mandela made a recovery and returned home. Mandela died months later on December 5, according to Huffington Post. Mandela and his wife met in the early 1990s, and officially became an item after they were spotted holding hands several times, and stealing a kiss at Robert Mugabe's wedding, according to Business Day Live and They were married on his 80th birthday. Now, in Nelson Mandela 's 95th year, Graca Machel must say farewell. Machel is, like Mandela, a dedicated humanitarian. She was first married to Mozambican president Samora Michel also deceased , and was appointed the First Minister of Education in 1975, after the country declared its independence. Since then, her work has included a groundbreaking report on the effect of armed conflict on children and has focused on improving the welfare of children and women in Africa. She has won numerous awards for her humanitarian work , including the Laureate of Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger in 1992, and the Nansen Medal in recognition of her contribution to the welfare of refugee children in 1995. Machel is a member of The Elders, a group of world leaders chaired by Kofi Annan with the goal of working together for peace and human rights . The group was founded by Mandela. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

public sector: The effort by governments to curtail or eliminate public sector labour rights comes from two sources. One is the 2008 global recession that has had a significant impact on governments at all levels. Fearing credit downgrades and knowing that their budgets will be fixed or decreased, governments know that they need to make radical changes to labour agreements and workers rights in order to save money, according to The Chronicle Herald. Of course, the reactions to Wisconsins Bill 11 were widespread, as protesters from both the left and the right took to the streets in confrontations with police over the sweeping changes to labour relations imposed by the bill and Canadas public sector is entering into a crisis state with its labour relations processes. For far too long, Canadians have watched their governments enter into bad agreements at a high price to taxpayers, and now that various levels of government can no longer afford the deals they have signed in the past, the labour rights of public sector employees are being altered, in many cases without appropriate consultation or justification. A second source governments have not highlighted is the lesson learned from the 2011 situation in Wisconsin. Due to a very serious budgetary shortfall, the state government passed Bill 11, which removed public sector unions from being able to bargain collectively over pensions and health care, limited pay raises, ended the automatic collection of union dues, and forced unions to certify annually, among other draconian things. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Komagata Maru: The board says the photo was posted on Facebook and staff have now cleaned up the Komagata Maru memorial in Harbour Green Park at Coal Harbour, according to Huffington Post. It says police are investigating the incident and VANCOUVER - The Vancouver park board says it has pointed out an online photo to police which apparently shows somebody urinating on a memorial marking the tragic return of 376 people to India more than a century ago. Man caught allegedly urinating on Komagata Maru memorial. VPD Hate Crimes Unit investigating http://t.co/byxGOFrV00 pic.twitter.com/O0ZyhTOqjb CTV British Columbia @CTVBC December 6, 2013 (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.