industrial powerhouse: That can be hard to grasp as the former industrial powerhouse tries desperately to extricate itself from the downward spiral of lost manufacturing might and shrinking population, according to The Star. But there was a time when some of the greatest architects in the U.S.A. came to the Queen City to practice their art and If architecture is anything to go by, Buffalo ranks as one of the great cities of America. In 1900, Buffalo was among the 10 largest cities in the U.S. Not only was ideally located as the western terminus of the Erie Canal, it was a centre of the grain and steel industries, as well as a railroad hub. One by one these advantages were lost; the St. Lawrence Seaway rendered the Erie Canal obsolete, heavy industry moved abroad and trucks replaced trains. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Juan Diego Posada: Born in Bogota, Colombia, Juan was only 9 years old but remembers being enveloped by the sense that he and his mother Martha Henao and father Juan Diego Posada had landed where they belonged, according to The Star. Even at that tender age, Juan worried about the future. They had crossed the border with nothing but hope and whatever fit into their old vehicle. He wondered whether they d ever have a home? Would his father, an electrical engineer by training, find work? What would school be like? Would he fit in and In his most beautiful technicolour dreams Juan Camilo Posada never saw how much his life would change when he and his parents arrived in Canada five years ago. Though the family had lived in the U.S. before coming to Canada, it had been an unsettling time for them and they never felt at home there. Canada was where they wanted to put down roots. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Glen Paul: Mr. Paul says he didnt start his training with a specific plan to end up in the mining industry, but there he was at the New Afton project near Kamloops, which at the time was still two years away from full production. By his second day, he was standing underground for an orientation of the mine site. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Canadas population continues to flow westward Glen Paul still remembers his first week on the job at a copper-gold mine in British Columbias Interior a position, he says, he landed three years ago as a fluke after taking a course to operate heavy machinery. How to stop worrying and love migration (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

OECD Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development: What prompted this unbanker-like outpouring from TD Economics was a survey of essential skills by the OECD Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development ranking 24 industrial countries on basic literacy and numeracy. Canadas literacy score was a mediocre 11th. Its numeracy score was a below-average 4th. The most disheartening thing of all was that both scores had dropped since the OECDs last survey in 2003, according to The Star. Seven years ago, the bank issued a national call for action, urging policy-makers and corporate leaders to make literacy a national priority. It is critical that everyone understands the writing is on the wall, the banks deputy chairman, Frank McKenna, said at the time. Improving literacy outcomes must be a national priority and The word depressing pops up three times on the first page of the Toronto Dominion Banks latest report on Canadian literacy. Troubling, worrying, alarming and abysmal also figure prominently in the nine-page analysis. I waited 10 years for the new numbers and I was really hoping we would see progress, said Craig Alexander, the banks chief economist. It turns out we are losing ground. We desperately need to do better. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Paul Poirier: She wasn't a Canadian yet, but had fingers crossed her citizenship would come through in time to compete at the Sochi Olympics with ice dance partner Paul Poirier, according to Times Colonist. "I have felt like a Canadian citizen for some time and I am extremely excited that it is now official," Gilles said in a release. "I've dreamed about competing in the Olympics my whole life and hope to be in Sochi next year. There is no bigger stage than the Olympics and it would be an honour to represent Canada in front of the entire world." TORONTO - At the world figure skating championships last spring, Piper Gilles wore a bejewelled Canadian flag that she'd crafted herself on the right shoulder of her bodysuit. Her dream was realized Tuesday at a citizenship ceremony in Toronto. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Resolute Forest Products: More often than not, the money is only a temporary fix at best and, in the end, isnt enough to paper over major flaws in the business case, according to The Chronicle Herald. The former NDP government in Nova Scotia found this out when Resolute Forest Products handed back a $25-million carrot it was offered in exchange for keeping the old Bowater Mersey paper mill operating. It turns out the company couldnt justify taking the money, knowing it would only be a short reprieve and Some may say governments providing incentives to faltering companies or those involved in fading industries is a naive way of dealing with a changing world. Though the old tried-and-true government inducement sometimes works, lately it seems that even millions of dollars worth of enticement isnt enough to stop a business from closing up shop. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Sears Home Services: SHS Services Management Inc. has been providing home installed products and services under the Sears Home Services banner since February, according to The Star. In nine months, SHS lost approximately $14 million and is projected to lose approximately $18.1-million in the year ending Jan. 31, 2014 and The company operating as Sears Home Services has gone into receivership, leaving 643 people jobless and putting into limbo $3-million in customer deposits for home installed goods and services ranging from carpeting to roofing. It went into receivership on Friday, citing liabilities of $17-million. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care: Lawyers for Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers told a federal court the move wasnt an act of Parliament, nor was it a regulation which they argue makes it invalid. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Refugees Ottawa studied limits on accepting refugees with high needs health problems, documents show Ottawa overstepped its bounds when it clawed back health-care coverage for refugee claimants without consulting the provinces and other stakeholders, doctors and lawyers charged Tuesday. Health care Doctors plead for cuts to refugee health coverage to be reversed (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: In the letter, Snowden commended the Brazilian government for its strong stand against U.S. spying, according to Times Colonist. Revelations about the NSA's spy programs were first published in the Guardian and The Washington Post newspapers in June, based on some of the thousands of documents Snowden handed over to Barton Gellman at the Post and to Brazil-based American journalist Glenn Greenwald and his reporting partner, Laura Poitras, a U.S. filmmaker and RIO DE JANEIRO - National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden wrote in a lengthy "open letter to the people of Brazil" that he's been inspired by the global debate ignited by his release of thousands of NSA documents and that the agency's culture of indiscriminate global espionage "is collapsing." He wrote that he'd be willing to help the South American nation investigate NSA spying on its soil, but could not fully participate in doing so without being granted political asylum, because the U.S. "government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Tibetan Cultural Society: They didnt know who this bearded man in red was, but it was fun, said Tsering Dolma from the Tibetan Cultural Society of Vancouver Island. She is one of several Victorians helping to sponsor five Tibetans to build new lives here. The Tibetan refugees are among 1,000 who will move to Canadian communities over the next two years. , according to Times Colonist. We hope to bring 50, Dolma said. This would nearly triple Greater Victorias Tibetan community which has about 20 people, including children. There are also a few Tibetans in Duncan. The first Tibetan refugees to arrive in Victoria under a federal resettlement program got more than a warm welcome from community members and Santa Claus at Victoria International Airport. They also received a few west coast essentials tuques and umbrellas. In 2007, Tibets exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama appealed to Canada to help Tibetans find permanent homes. Many have fled Tibet since China claimed the country in 1951. Three years after the appeal, the federal government committed to a resettlement program, overseen by Project Tibet Society. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.