sudden change: As we ambled along a narrow sidewalk with a high wall on one side, chatting, I noticed a sudden change in her gait. Her shoulders slouched forward, she brought her arms closer to her body and picked up her pace. , according to CBC. Puzzled, I looked around. Up ahead, I spotted a small group of teenage boys standing at a street corner, smirking at her. A few years ago, when my oldest daughter was 12 or 13, she and I headed out for a walk in the centre of Rome, where we live. Then she nudged me and under her breath said, Lets cross. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nuit Blanche: Last year, Nuit Blanche decided to stick around for breakfast, at least, leaving a small handful of its all-nighters up for a longer look. This year, it extends the extension to a solid 10 , lingering through the Thanksgiving weekend for a good, long look in the cold light of day, according to The Star. Nuit Blanche 2014 brings out art lovers, street partiers alike If you've done Scotiabank Nuit Blanche as many times as I have nine and counting a strange but justifiable emptiness starts to take hold. Like the reckless one-night stand that it is, you start to wonder of the heat if the moment doesn't inevitably lead to a naggingly hollow feeling: That was great. I had fun. Um, call me? RELATED (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada: Thair Hafez, a small business owner, came to Canada from Syria in the mid 1980s. He desperately wants to bring aunts and uncles here and he adds he and his brothers have the money to support them. , according to CBC. Refugee advocates say the federal government needs to do what it has done in the past: grant temporary resident permits to Syrians with relatives in Canada. This was the method used by the Canadian government to help reunite families from the former Yugoslavia, Haiti and most recently, Iraq. An Ottawa man says he wants better solutions when it comes to getting his relatives out of Syria and into the safety of Canada than relying on the refugee process. The majority of them are still in Damascus, and they have no way out right now. If I have the opportunity I would love to do it and sponsor as many as I can, said Hafez. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Winnipegger Larry Hochman: "The good times, the camping, the family outings, the trips. You miss it. You miss not growing up with a dad and a brother," he said Tuesday. Fugitive in fatal 1977 Winnipeg crash faces U.S. deportation Former Winnipegger facing drug charges in Texas , according to CBC. Identifying and removing foreign fugitives from the United States is an ICE priority, said Steven P. Boll, field office director of ERO Houston. The co-operation between the United States and Canadian governments resulted in this foreign fugitive being safely returned to his home country where he can face justice for his crime. Winnipegger Larry Hochman said the return of a Manitoba man wanted for dangerous driving in a crash that killed his father and brother nearly four decades ago won't change much. Robert James Fox, also known as Robert Fotti, 65, was escorted back to the Pembina, North Dakota border crossing on October 6. He was then turned over to Canadian officials, according to a release from the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations ERO . Gordon Hochman, 42, and his son, Stewart, 17, were killed when Robert Fotti ran a red light on April 10, 1977. Family photo (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: With just three weeks left in a 10-month campaign for Torontos civic election, the Prime Minister has avoided commenting on the closely watched race especially given that the candidates have all spoken about the importance of relationships with other governments. But privately, Mr. Harper a public supporter of the Ford family before the drug and police scandals of the past year sought a meeting with Mr. Tory at which the pair discussed a wide range of topics, including the mayoral race and the future of Canadas largest city. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Toronto mayoral candidates continue to clash over racism charges Just as the Toronto mayoral race was ramping up in mid-summer, Prime Minister Stephen Harper invited front-runner John Tory to meet with him in Ottawa, The has learned. Torys support rises to 42 per cent as Ford fades, Chow in third: poll (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Adam Giambrone: Familiarity helps on the campaign trail. Its a given, statistically, that incumbents from the federal to the municipal level fare better come voting time, according to The Star. Bailao has lived in the ward since she immigrated to Canada as a teen, entering the municipal arena as assistant to councillor Mario Silva in 1998. Her first run for office against Adam Giambrone was unsuccessful, but her 2010 effort landed her a seat with sway as a centrist on a deeply divided council. Her term was not without controversy Bailao pleaded guilty to drunk driving after a night out at the Thompson Hotel in October 2012 and Before Councillor Ana Bailao even knocks on a door, a resident stops her in her tracks to give her a hug. While canvassing, Bailao crouches down to pet the family dog, dotes on a chubby-cheeked toddler, puts an elderly woman at ease by chatting with her in Portuguese and charms another with her attempts at Italian. The 38-year-old Bailao faces 11 other candidates bidding to take her job in Davenport, Ward 18, which stretches from Dovercourt Rd. in the east to the train tracks west of Lansdowne Ave., and from just north of Dupont, tapering off south of Queen St. W. on Sudbury St. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

preferred destination: That puts Canada behind only the U.S. and Britain as a preferred destination for global talent. All three top destinations are anglophone, and English is the second language most commonly taught around the world. Almost half of China rich want to leave the country, Barclays says Skilled immigrants to be offered 'express entry' to Canada in 2015 , according to CBC. The study found that Canada holds the greatest appeal for Mexicans, South Koreans, Saudi Arabians, and Britons. The global workforce is increasingly mobile with more than 35 per cent of respondents to a Boston Consulting Group survey saying they d be willing to work in Canada. The finding is based on a Boston Consulting Group online survey of 200,000 people in 189 countries. Researchers conducted interviews with about 50 people. The sample was weighted by age, background and geographic area. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Douglas Carswell: Residents of Scotland have had their say on the future of the United Kingdom. Now its the turn of the residents of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, to weigh in, according to Globe and Mail. leader says Cameron s EU plan a gross deception John Sainsbury is professor emeritus of History at Brock University. On Thursday, they will vote in a by-election triggered by the defection of their MP, Douglas Carswell, from the governing Conservative party to the UK Independence Party Mr. Carswell is the candidate for the party hes just joined, and opinion polls suggest he will win handily and and become the first member to sit in the British House of Commons. More Related to this Story (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigration Canada: Do the math: Canada has a compassion problem, according to Globe and Mail. Canadian mean-mindedness is back Lorna Dueck is host of Context TV , seen Sundays on Global and Vision TV. The Syrian-Iraqi refugee crisis is one of the worst of our lifetimes, and the numbers and practice of how Canada is responding are so confusing that its drawing no public engagement. What we do know is that 1,100 Syrian refugees have been allocated to be sponsored by the end of this year in Canada through 85 sponsorship agreement holders . Immigration Canada has yet to respond to an appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for 100,000 Syrians to be resettled, and there is no numerical plan yet in place for how Canada intends to respond to this crisis in 2015. More Related to this Story (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Victor Moke-Ngala: The petition, signed by 500 people, says many families from Edmonton growing immigrant francophone community have enrolled their children in schools managed by the Greater North Central Francophone Education School Board. , according to CBC. Parent Victor Moke-Ngala, who helped launch the petition with a group of parents of African descent, says no teachers at his daughter school, cole Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc , share her ethnic background. He says his daughter told him she would not feel comfortable with a black teacher because she has never had one. Parent Victor Moke-Ngala helped launch the petition with a group of parents of African descent. Hundreds of people have signed a petition urging Edmonton francophone school board to hire more immigrant teachers. "Unfortunately with 20 years of existence, we see that the board has put in little effort in ensuring its personnel reflect the diversity of its student population," the petition reads. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jaime Chicano: They moved here a little over a year ago from the Philippines and spent their first Thanksgiving with relatives eating turkey with ketchup , spring rolls and kebabs of hot dogs interspersed with marshmallows, according to The Star. Jaime Chicano says grace while his wife Mary Jean and daughters Ibsen, 16, Zayin, 12, and Dana, 11, bow their heads and The Chicano family arrives at test kitchen for an early Thanksgiving dinner unsure about what to expect. This year they re greeted with a makeshift table in an office/kitchen and a classic Canadian meal roast turkey with dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, roast squash, green beans, Brussels sprouts and pumpkin pie (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Evidence points to a bureaucratic backlog of files inside Citizenship and Immigration Canada, as a n internal government report produced late last year blames the backlog on too few staff in the departments centralized office in Winnipeg. That office processes privately sponsored refugee claims. Read the complete internal report at bottom of story. , according to CBC. Peter Showler , a professor at the University of Ottawa and former chairman of Canada immigration and refugee board, called the long processing times inexcusable. Federal government job cuts have increased problems with bringing Syrians refugees to Canada, say advocates trying to help those refugees re-settle. The report states the backlogs are at "an unprecedented high" and warns it could take several years to catch up. Peter Showler, a professor at the University of Ottawa, says the CIC long processing times for refugees is inexcusable. Photo submitted by Peter Showler (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Western Canada: Understandably, Jim Prentice, the new Premier of Alberta, is responding to pressures from employers in his province and elsewhere in Western Canada to relax those changes, according to Globe and Mail. But the exception of the TFW program has unintentionally been allowed to mushroom and Jason Kenney, the Minister of Employment, is justified in not backing down on the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which limit the numbers of foreign workers that large and medium-sized companies are allowed to hire. The long-standing and well-founded policy of Canada has been opposed to guest-worker programs, with unusual exceptions at the high end for pro athletes and other well-paid professionals, and at the low end for seasonal agricultural workers. But for the most part, Canada has grown its labour force with permanent residents immigrants who have a clearly laid-out path to citizenship. This country does not want or need a temporary underclass. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jean-Claude Duvalier: Payam Akhavan isn't parsing words, though. , according to CBC. However, he was unable to prosecute Duvalier before the former dictator death on Oct. 4. The news of former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier death is being met with mixed feelings by the international community. The former United Nations prosecutor and current law professor at McGill University was hired by the government of former Haitian president Ren Pr val to prosecute "Baby Doc" Duvalier for human rights violations. Jean-Claude Duvalier, ex-Haitian dictator, dead at 63 Haitian judge orders ex-dictator Baby Doc to appear in court Duvalier probed for crimes against humanity (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Gerard Veldhoven: It was 1954 and homosexual sex was a criminal offence in our country, according to The Chronicle Herald. Things have changed so much and At 14, Gerard Veldhoven came to Canada with an illegal desire. In those days you didnt come out because it was too risky you d end up being found in an alleyway somewhere, said Veldhoven on Thursday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Christy Clark: Clark took a bold stand in a speech to the province business community Thursday, just ahead of her government return to the legislature and planned introduction of new LNG laws. , according to CBC. "We should not think about people who come from across the world to British Columbia to work as being something less than the rest of us," she said, after laying out her Liberal government priorities. 'Call them "potential new Canadians," because they're coming here to help us build our country.' - B.C. Premier Christy Clark, on temporary foreign workers British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has accused federal politicians of "tragically misdirected" policies over the issue of temporary foreign workers, as she pushes for the thousands of skilled labourers needed for her envisioned liquefied natural gas industry. She told the Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon that as federal election campaigning unfolds, leaders in Ottawa must stop playing politics over the controversial program. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Meena Wong: Back then, Ms. Wong didnt understand what was happening. Her mother had initially told her the trip which saw the three pass through Shanghai and Guangzhou was to visit family members. But today, the long-shot mayoral candidate for the Coalition of Progressive Electors recognizes it was a tremendous effort by her parents to seek better lives for their children. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Ottawas tepid response to Hong Kong protests marks a shift in policy Meena Wong was 11 years old when she fled with her mother and younger brother to Hong Kong from Beijing. The year was 1973 seven years into the decade-long Cultural Revolution that ultimately killed millions. Analysis Hong Kongs falling value fuels Beijing s intransigence (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Halifax: An urban farm in the heart of Halifax has grown more than 450 kilograms of crisp greens, crunchy cucumbers and fresh beans for the nearby Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, according to The Chronicle Herald. If it wasnt for this place, I dont think we d be able to have as much in the house, and its good for his little brain, Sampson added, referring to her 1 1 / 2 -year-old son in a stroller. You cant carry a can with you on the go, but you can carry the vegetables and eat them anywhere and Vegetables unfit for market are usually the only produce that make it to the food bank in north-end Halifax. But not this year. I actually tried zucchini for the first time and I ve been eating a lot of that, Shawna Sampson, 26, said at the food bank. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

United Nations Security Council: In Iraq, the attacks have the legitimacy conferred by being formally at the request of the Baghdad government. In Syria, where a civil war is raging, theres no request from Bashar al-Assads regime which Mr. Obama still wants toppled or the United Nations Security Council. Thats why some nations, notably Britain, will bomb Islamic State jihadis in Iraq, but not in Syria. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Globe Editorial has threatened Canada but thats not the best argument for intervention The U.S.-led coalition attacking Islamic State in Iraq and Syria now boasts dozens of nations although President Barack Obama has yet to secure UN Security Council authorization and the legality of the entire campaign remains murky. R. Half measures in fight against Islamic State will only make matters worse (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: In a significant move, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has failed to make the case for Canada to join the U.S.-led combat mission, which includes several other Canadian allies. The party has traditionally supported Canadian military missions while in opposition, although a Liberal government opted not to participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Nations rally to support U.S. efforts attacking Islamic State Canada is poised to go to war in Iraq without the support of the federal opposition parties, whose leaders say they will not back a government motion to join U.S.-led air strikes because past interventions in the region have failed. Harper seeks six-month military mission to Iraq, with no ground troops (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Islamic State of Iraq: Cross, of course, may well be wrong. Revolutionary movements, of which the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is the religious equivalent, often sweep all before them and then collapse because of their internal contradictions, according to The Telegram. In the 17th century, Europe was almost torn to bits by a ferocious war between Catholics and Protestants that went on for 30 years and His guesstimate was about three generations. Thats roughly 60 years of continuous conflict, or us and much of the Middle East getting trapped into a bloody war that goes on to near the end of this century. But by no means are the terms in power of such transformational movements always brief. Communism ruled the Soviet Union for some 70 years and it still rules China today. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Hastings Park Winter Market: Here are four more great goings-on across the Lower Mainland this weekend. The fifth event listed happens next week, on Thanksgiving but only if you choose to take part. , according to CBC. The city kicks off its inaugural Doors Open event this Saturday. There a lot going on across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland as fall gets underway, including the annual arrival of Bordeaux wines at B.C. liquor stores , the launch of the Hastings Park Winter Market and the unveiling of the 'Wait for Me, Daddy' sculpture in New Westminster. 1. Doors Open Vancouver (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Miriam Saunders: I pretend she is still in university, said Miriam Saunders of how she copes with the death of her daughter. Miriam and her husband, Clayton, will be among the families of victims and others at a special vigil in St. Johns today, according to The Telegram. But the incredible support of family, friends and strangers and events such as todays vigil have helped the couple cope, Miriam said and Loretta Saunders, who was from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, was a grad student at Saint Marys University in Halifax when she was brutally murdered this past February. She was writing a thesis on missing and murdered aboriginal women. Right now its getting harder every day. For a long time I was just numb. The feelings are coming back. She called me every day. She dont call anymore. The longer she dont call, the more real it is. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Last weekend I found myself with business leaders talking about good leadership at the Face to Face conference in Terra Nova. Having a vision and a plan for executing it is what sets leaders apart, particularly when courage and commitment are needed to ensure that vision is attained, according to The Telegram. The latest projections from Statistics Canada show our population at about 526,000, but according to Stats Can, between 2013 and 2038, Newfoundland and Labrador will experience a population decline and Last month I wrote about the release of the City of St. Johns municipal plan, Envision St. Johns, which outlines how municipal officials want our city to look in coming years. But a municipal plan is not enough to secure our potential. We also need our provincial government, no matter what the political stripe, to articulate a vision for the future that will focus on sustaining and building upon our current prosperity. Sustaining the prosperity of Newfoundland and Labrador is going to require a plan to ensure we have the capacity to guarantee future project development. Capacity is going to be heavily influenced by productivity, and that means we had better have enough working-age people with the right skills to fill available jobs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Vancouver International Film Festival.: "Every time my writing partner Michael Begler and I decided to do something where we said, 'Oh, no one ever going to make this,' it always ended up changing our careers," Amiel said in an interview at the Vancouver International Film Festival. , according to Hamilton Spectator. Begler personal experience also helped contribute to the birth of "The Knick," which stars Clive Owen and airs on HBO Canada. With a background in sitcoms, "The Knick" showrunner Jack Amiel was excited that the 1900-era medical drama pushed him out of his comfort zone. The pair began as writers on programs including "Malcolm In the Middle" and "The Tony Danza Show," then wrote and produced features: the teen romantic comedy fairytale "The Prince And Me" 2004 and "The Big Miracle" 2012 about whales trapped in Alaska. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Friends of Syria Group: The irony is that the two leaders, along with others in the so-called "Friends of Syria" Group of countries FSG , created the Frankenstein known as They organized a covert war against Syria using jihadist mercenaries; arranged funding from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar; enlisted Turkey and Jordan to provide military bases and training; encouraged Israel to provide medical support in the Occupied Golan Heights; and funnelled arms and equipment from defeated Libya and Yugoslavia. For more than three years in Syria, jihadist mercenaries executed priests, journalists and prisoners of war; beheaded "infidels"; practised cannibalism; looted homes; engaged in sexual slavery; destroyed churches; used poison gas on civilians, and shamelessly posted videos of themselves committing some of these barbaric acts. All this without criticism from Obama or Harper. , according to Hamilton Spectator. There are many problems with Obama idea of airstrikes against in Iraq and Syria and increased funding for "moderate rebels." First, airstrikes against Syria without the consent of its government is a violation of its sovereignty and of international law. So is arming mercenaries to overthrow its government, whose president, incidentally, was recently re-elected with a big majority in an election with a massive turnout. If the U.S. really wants to stop it should co-operate with the Syrian government On 9/11 anniversary, United States President Barack Obama announced escalating military attacks against in Iraq and Syria and increased funding and training of "moderate rebels" in Syria, to the tune of $500 million. He also called for a new "coalition of the willing" to do the dirty work. In response, the Harper government of Canada, with neither parliamentary nor United Nations approval, dispatched commandos to Iraq. However, when an offshoot of al-Qaida jihadists in Syria funded by the FSG, invaded Iraq, pursued Yezidis up a mountain, and beheaded two U.S. journalists, Obama suddenly appeared concerned. In my opinion, he was only concerned about them as pretexts for intervention. He was, in fact, upset that al-Maliki government ordered remaining U.S. troops out of Iraq and that nearly overran the new U.S. puppet statelet in Iraqi Kurdistan, where the oil fields and headquarters of U.S. oil corporations are located. Obama ensured that al-Maliki was replaced. He drew a red line around Kurdistan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.