Paul Wells National Affairs Sun.: The organizers were mostly groups working for gay rights — Equality Florida, Human Rights Campaign, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Come Out With Pride and a half-dozen others, according to Toronto Star. The venue was a big park in front of the city new performing arts centre. By Paul Wells National Affairs Sun., June 19, 2016 ORLANDO, FLA.—On Monday in Orlando, as the sun set on a day that was unseasonably hot even for June in Florida, I attended a vigil for victims of the massacre at Pulse nightclub. The crowd was huge and diverse: more than 10,000 people came to light candles and hear messages of comfort, mourning and defiance. At one point somebody on the stage called for a group hug. Buddy Dyer, the city popular mayor, was on a long list of speakers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

informal opportunity: Organized by local MPs Michelle Rempel and Blake Richards, the gathering, billed as Conservative Next, was an informal opportunity for the hopefuls to meet some of the grassroots, according to CBC. Rempel, who hinted at a potential run for the leadership on Twitter last year, said the point was for leadership candidates, and those exploring a run, to meet local organizers and activists. At least for the most part. She also said she wanted to get a sense of how people are feeling after the party first session in opposition. "I've never gone through a leadership race before as an elected MP," she said. "It weird. I don't feel like there these big sort of frictional battles that you sometimes see in leadership races. A lot of our caucus is getting along really well. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pit bull: Coderre Quebec City counterpart, Régis Labeaume, felt the threat was so severe that he will force even current pit bull owners to get rid of their dogs by the new year, according to CBC. Outrage, threats in response to Quebec City pit bull ban At the source of this most recent wave of concern was the death of a Montreal woman who was mauled by what police believe was a pit bull. Montreal pit bull ban could be in place by September Neighbour describes dog attack on woman killed in her backyard Existing owners will be allowed to keep their pets under certain conditions. Much of the discussion so far has been about whether the bans are legal, and whether they're politically wise. Or, more generally, about what responsibilities us humans have to the animals we keep as pets. But so far little has been said about whether they are moral. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: This summer of horror in the U.S., the U.K. and France is perhaps one where Canadians should be counting our blessings, according to Toronto Star. We not have — barring very occasional tragic exceptions — to live with the nightmare of urban terror in our cities. Order this photo By Robin V. Sears Sun., June 19, 2016 My beloved Scottish Presbyterian grandmother most impenetrable diktats, hurled whenever one of the many grandchildren swirling about her knees on summer vacations, whined about getting a smaller drink or less time in the kayak was, Just stop that! You should count your blessings, young man! The concept of blessings and how one would go about counting them was a mystery for many summers, but we knew it meant, Stop whingeing, or else. We do not have to endure vulgar opportunistic politicians, attempting to feed their ambition on the grief of families. We have built the most socially tolerant high-immigration nation on the planet, and continue to surprise ourselves with our success at the integration of greater and greater numbers of citizens from cultures as different from Canada host culture as it is possible to be. We have no one of consequence politically who would dare champion looser access to deadly weapons, as a remedy to gun violence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mel Slade: Last year it was all forested so we clear cut the land ... This year we brought in soil and the immigrants have started to plant and it starting to grow right now," said Slade, according to CBC. History of helping Slade has a long history of helping immigrant families from Congo, Nepal, and Bhutan. Fifteen new Canadian families are growing everything from pumpkins, kale, peas, beans, mustard and a few other things in Mel Slade back yard. "We've developed about 20 gardening plots here. He and his late wife sponsored immigrant families and helped them become full Canadian citizens. Slade named the farm Beaton Ridge, after his wife maiden name. $10K contest "She would be absolutely thrilled … to continue working with new Canadians and giving back," said Slade. The Bedford man, originally from Newfoundland, developed the garden as a tribute to his wife. "Over the last 35 years, all of our married life, my wife and I worked with welcoming new Canadians to Canada so this was just a natural progression to do something valuable for them," said Slade. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Cochrane: They're among the ones who will be part of the upwards of 30,000 Syrians settled in Canada by the end of this year, according to The Waterloo Record. When Cochrane visited them this week, someone had been playing his classic song "Life is a Highway." It was a moment of connection during a visit that impressed upon the Canadian musician the importance of the West making enduring connections to all refugees, not just the ones who may settle in Canada or elsewhere one day. A Syrian mother and her sons smile and wave from a group of shacks and tarps. After all, most just want to go home, he said. "If there is going to be peace in our world, it got to start with the kids and they have to know that the West cares and they have to know that we care," he said in an interview. Cochrane was in Lebanon to help draw attention to the issue; he been working alongside World Vision for years, one of many celebrities who've long lent their star power to promoting humanitarian causes. About half of those affected by the Syrian crisis are children; World Vision and others help fund education programs but the money is running out, putting the programs and the children they help at risk. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

controversial decision: The previous Conservative government imposed visas in 2009 to stop thousands of asylum claims being made by Mexican citizens later ruled to be unfounded, according to The Waterloo Record. It was a controversial decision that sparked outcry from industry and the Mexican government. But multiple sources tell The Canadian Press negotiations are still underway on whether the plan will contain a fixed date to remove the visas as Canadian officials push to link it to the implementation of new border controls still in their infancy. "We shall see," Immigration Minister John McCallum said when asked whether a deal will be reached by June 29. The Liberals promised during the election campaign the visa would be lifted. The visa issue was among the diplomatic irritants at the time, though the Tories had promised to lift some restrictions through a new electronic travel authorization system that was supposed to take effect in March 2016, but has been delayed. Pressure to do so intensified as part of Trudeau decision to convene the Three Amigos summit — the meeting between the leaders of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico that the Tories postponed last year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Minister John McCallum: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian WyldOTTAWA - A plan for how Canada will meet a promise to lift visa requirements for Mexicans will be announced later this month when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosts Mexico president as part of the Three Amigos summit, according to Brandon Sun. But multiple sources tell The Canadian Press negotiations are still underway on whether the plan will contain a fixed date to remove the visas as Canadian officials push to link it to the implementation of new border controls still in their infancy."We shall see," Immigration Minister John McCallum said when asked whether a deal will be reached by June 29. A plan on how Canada will meet a promise to lift visas for Mexicans will be announced later this month when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosts Mexico president as part of the Three Amigos summit. The previous Conservative government imposed visas in 2009 to stop thousands of asylum claims being made by Mexican citizens later ruled to be unfounded. The Liberals promised during the election campaign the visa would be lifted. It was a controversial decision that sparked outcry from industry and the Mexican government. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Syrians: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren CalabreseOTTAWA - Tom Cochrane turns his phone around to give a glimpse of where he sitting — the middle of Lebanon farming heartland that now home to settlements of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees.A Syrian mother and her sons smile and wave from a group of shacks and tarps, according to Brandon Sun. They're among the ones who will be part of the upwards of 30,000 Syrians settled in Canada by the end of this year. Cochrane is among those calling for fresh eyes to be cast on the severity of the refugee crisis worldwide as humanitarian agencies roll out an unprecedented campaign trying to raise more awareness. When Cochrane visited them this week, someone had been playing his classic song "Life is a Highway."It was a moment of connection during a visit that impressed upon the Canadian musician the importance of the West making enduring connections to all refugees, not just the ones who may settle in Canada or elsewhere one day. About half of those affected by the Syrian crisis are children; World Vision and others help fund education programs but the money is running out, putting the programs and the children they help at risk. After all, most just want to go home, he said."If there is going to be peace in our world, it got to start with the kids and they have to know that the West cares and they have to know that we care," he said in an interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

international event: It very beautiful and the people are very kind, Ibrahim said following the Walk with Refugees on Saturday, according to Metro News. She spoke to Metro with the help of an interpreter. She arrived from north Syria in February with her husband and four children. Walk with Refugees is an international event to raise awareness and amplify the voices of refugees. Andrew United Church. Dozens of Halifax-area residents, many clad in yellow, participated in the walk presented by Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia . A reception later took place at St. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Liberal government: The Trudeau government has introduced legislation to set up a parliamentary committee, with members from both the House and the Senate, to oversee the activities of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the many other federal departments and agencies that deal with security and intelligence, according to Rabble. The Liberal government touts this new committee as partial fulfillment of its promise to modify the Harper government anti-terror legislation -- legislation for which the Liberals voted in favour. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. The committee members, and its Chair, will be selected by the Cabinet, not by all Members of Parliament collectively. That promise will not apply to this new oversight committee, it seems. One of Prime Minister Trudeau key democratic reform promises during the last election campaign was that all House committee chairs would be elected by all MPs, by secret ballot. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: She had previously tried and failed to get her siblings to safety, but on Saturday, Charbaji took her struggle to the streets, according to The Chronicle Herald. She joined 200 of her fellow Haligonians for Halifax third annual Walk for Refugees, in the hope that something might be done to save her surviving relatives. That because her brother and sister are still in Damascus after five years of brutal civil war that has left up to 450,000 Syrians dead and nearly five million as refugees abroad. It is very frightening. They were old but the war made it worse. I lost my mother and father seven months ago, said Charbaji, adding that they were not killed directly by the war. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Denise Scott: It continuing the momentum for us, according to CBC. It a moment where can actually step back and say, 'Yes, this is continuing,'" said Denise Scott, an official with the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia . Many Syrian refugees are observing Ramadan and the hot weather kept some of them from attending today walk. Attendance was up in part due to the arrival of so many Syrian refugees to Nova Scotia during the last six months. "It has been a tough year, but it been a fantastic year. During the religious event, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink while the sun is up. They braved the heat to help celebrate their new home in Canada. Smooth sailing for one Syrian family Layla Ibrahem and her family came to Nova Scotia four months ago from Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jose Demetrio Tellez Suazo: By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Sat., June 18, 2016 Marcela Gomez Camacho life took a drastic turn on Aug. 14, 2014, when her husband was pulled over in a commercial vehicle inspection blitz led by border officials — and deported, according to Toronto Star. The mother of two from Mexico went into hiding, scrambling to become the breadwinner, cooking meals, cleaning houses and selling Amway cosmetics while caring for their two sons, Josue, 13, and Santiago, 6, who was born in Toronto and suffers severe autism. Order this photo Marcela Gomez Camacho is shown in a family photo with sons, Josue, now 13, Santiago, 6, and husband, Jose Demetrio Tellez Suazo, before he was deported to his native Mexico. I was so scared. If I got caught and deported, Santiago would not be able to get the help he needs for his autism, said Gomez, 34. I had no idea how I could carry on by myself. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

European Union: Your primer on the U.K. June 23 referendum on leaving the What is Brexit Shorthand for Thursday upcoming national referendum to decide on a British exit from the 28-member European Union, according to Toronto Star. Also, an annoying non-word. By Mitch Potter Foreign Affairs Writer Sat., June 18, 2016 From drama to farce to comedy and now tragedy, the Brexit stakes remain the same. Often in the U.K., you will find signage that says 'Way Out' in lieu of 'Exit.' We think Brayout might have better described the noisy fear-mongering campaigns on both sides. Mostly ugly. So it been noisy, then Horribly so. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Hudson Bay Company: Leading up to the confrontation, there had been a corporate battle between the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company, according to CBC. The tensions hit a new point with the Pemmican Proclamation, which had a huge impact on the Métis populations who relied on the food for nutrition and trade. On June 19, 1816 the Battle of Seven Oaks started a "spark of consciousness" for the country Métis population, according to Will Goodon, minister of Tripartite Self-Government Negotiations at the Manitoba Metis Federation. "This consciousness of nationalism was really sparked at that time," he said. The Pemmican Proclamation, issued by Miles Macdonell, governor Assiniboia, in 1814, banned the export of food from Red River and thereby prevented the North West Company from supplying its distant trading posts. "The Métis had been around and had been trading, had been developing the pemmican for years and generations, and then all of a sudden there were people coming from the east, coming from Europe, and putting down laws that really made no sense at the time other than to try to fill the coffers of certain fur trade companies," Goodon said, adding that there were outlying factors beyond the economic issues. The local governor Robert Semple decided to make a stand, Goodon said, around what is now West Kildonan near Main Street and Rupertsland Boulevard. "He was going to teach these guys a lesson. The day of the battle, Métis leader Cuthbert Grant and a group of mostly Métis people were travelling through the area to trade some pemmican. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

real estate agent: But their first child was born and the recently arrived immigrant family decided to make Waterloo Region their home. "If you asked me three years ago, 'Where are you from ' I would have said I'm from China, according to The Waterloo Record. Now, I say I'm from Waterloo Region," said the 40-year-old real estate agent. They thought they should to move to a big city. Li is among 12 faces that make up the public education campaign sponsored by the region Immigration Partnership highlighting the positive impacts of a diverse population and recognizing the contributions of immigrants, refugees and refugee claimants, said Janet Howitt of the Immigration Partnership. The campaign posters will be posted in area businesses, organizations and municipal buildings. "Sometimes people come down fairly negative on newcomers. I am Waterloo Region, the campaign launched Friday, will feature one person each month for a year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: Prof, according to Globe and Mail. Gordon argued that that corresponds with a major increase in the number of houses assessed at more than $1-million in Vancouver. In 2014, that number soared to $52-billion. The number of houses priced below $1-million dropped from 41 per cent in assessment year 2014 to 9 per cent by 2016, according to Mr. Prior to the exodus of Chinese money, assessment figures show the market was levelling off. Yan data. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yard sale: Lip balm, according to CBC. Cufflinks. Backpacks. Baby bibs. The list reads like a bad yard sale but it actually just a few of the promotional items on offer from various government of Canada departments and agencies. Fake tattoos. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

white paper: On Tuesday, Al Jamil said her father, who is new to Canada and doesn't speak English, noticed something in the driveway. "As he going back in the garage he notices a Ziploc bag — it the sandwich-sized one — with a paper in it, a white paper, sealed and it has a fairly big rock in it," she told CBC Radio Maritime Noon. "When I came down he showed me the letter and I instantly called the police." Fix it now pig' The letter reads: "You know we take pride in our community and people like you come in and make it look like a mess, according to CBC. Maintain your yard or see what happens to you and your home if you don't. The letter is one of two disturbing incidents this week for Zinah Al Jamil and her family, who also found nails scattered where she parks her car at their home in Beechville. You are not a Canadian and maybe this is how your home looks in your country but we don't want you messy yard and lack of upkeep ruining our community. I never thought in a million years that I would," said Al Jamil. "When it sunk in, I realized that it really wasn't a joke and it is a direct threat and I really need to call the police." Not sure if race has anything to do with it Al Jamil, a permanent resident, and her sister moved into the Beechville neighbourhood of Halifax in January 2015. Fix it now pig." "I thought it was a joke, to be honest with you, because I've been in Canada for 11 years and I've never encountered anything that like that. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

: If you Google "diversity in Canadian newsrooms," you will find that seven out of the first 10 results still cite my research prominently -- something that both surprises and concerns me, according to Rabble. You see, the last research I did on that subject is now more than 10 years old. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. Isn't that proof enough that diversity at news organizations has fallen off the radar No news organization seems to be openly championing it. There are no models to tell us whether diversity can make a media outlet more popular or profitable. No one is even keeping track of it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Conference Board of Canada: The Conference Board of Canada expects the city gross domestic product to be the second-fastest growing among 28 Canadian cities this year, according to The Chronicle Herald. But Ian Munro, chief economist for the Halifax Partnership, says it about more than money. But why should immigrants or other Canadians give Halifax a second look We asked an economist, a planner and a playwright for some answers. We don't measure success by economic stats, he said Thursday, two days after releasing the Halifax Index, which ranks the city against a handful of similar-sized municipalities. The Halifax Index compares various indicators including education, environmental sustainability, affordability and health, all of which he said people should consider if they are thinking of moving to the area. GDP growth is great and income growth is great, but that not the be all and end all of what makes Halifax a great place. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: This is the priority." Conservative Jason Kenney, who has spent weeks urging the government to put the genocide label on ISIL, says Dion is missing the larger picture by focusing only on the Yazidis. "This genocide affects more than the Yazidis," Kenney said. "It affects the other indigenous minorities of Mesopotamia, according to Hamilton Spectator. It affects the Assyrians and the Chaldeans and the Armenians, and so will he not join the U.S., EU and U.K. and the Opposition in recognizing the broader genocide " In debating and then defeating the Tory genocide motion on Tuesday, the government said politicians should shy away from declarations of such magnitude. "Determinations of genocide need to be made in an objective, responsible way," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during the debate. "That is exactly what we have formally requested the international authorities weigh in on." The report issued Thursday seems to fit that bill, although it deals specifically with the Yazidis. "Genocide has occurred and is ongoing," Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, said in the report entitled, "They Came to Destroy: ISIS Crimes against the Yazidis." "ISIS has subjected every Yazidi woman, child or man that it has captured to the most horrific of atrocities," Pinheiro said in a news statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Dion said Thursday he accepts the findings of the report of an independent, UN-mandated commission which says the militants known variously as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh have committed genocide against the ethnically Kurdish minority group. "We are taking the lead in asking the Security Council to be sure that they will prosecute the perpetrators of these atrocities and investigate in order to understand what is happening on the ground," Dion told the Commons. "In the meantime, we have tripled our effort to fight ISIL on the ground, because we need to rescue these populations. The independent commission was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 to investigate and record all violations of international law in Syria. The Conservatives have used the genocide accusation to demand that the government resume the Canadian combat mission against ISIL, but Dion said that not the way to go. Its report focused on violations committed against Yazidis inside Syria, where it found that thousands of women and girls are still being held captive and abused, often as slaves. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian literature: Maud Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author Passed Away April 24, 2016 Anne of Green Gables is a staple in Canadian literature and it all thanks to Lucy Maud Montgomery, according to Huffington Post Canada. The beloved children book was Montgomery first novel, published in 1908, and was an immediate success. From author Lucy Maud Montgomery to politician Elijah Harper, we've rounded up the best names from celebrated Canadians, both past and present. 1. It has since been studied in schools across Canada and has also been adapted into a number of plays, movies and TV shows. Maud is chic and sophisticated, especially when spelled with an 'e' at the end . 2. Why we love this name: Maud might sound old fashioned, but that all part of its appeal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Statistics Canada: The Quarterly Demographic Estimates report said 1,460 people arrived in the province from Jan. 1 to April 1, according to Toronto Star. Nova Scotia has struggled to grow its population in recent years due to outmigration and an aging population. By The Canadian Press Fri., June 17, 2016 HALIFAX—Nova Scotia population is the highest it has ever been, with Ottawa attributing the increase mainly to new immigrants, including Syrian refugees.A new report from Statistics Canada released Thursday said the province population has increased by about 4,900 people since April 2015, bringing its total population to about 947,000. Also on thestar.com Article Continued Below Welcome back, long-form census: Editorial The report said the increase in Nova Scotia was mainly driven by international migration. International migration is also responsible for a rise in population nationally. It said Nova Scotia natural population change — the number of births and the number of deaths — continues to decline, with 2,005 births and 2,543 deaths. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

population: Nova Scotia has struggled to grow its population in recent years due to outmigration and an aging population, according to Metro News. The report said the increase in Nova Scotia was mainly driven by international migration. The Quarterly Demographic Estimates report said 1,460 people arrived in the province from Jan. 1 to April 1. It said Nova Scotia natural population change — the number of births and the number of deaths — continues to decline, with 2,005 births and 2,543 deaths. Between Jan. 1 and April 1, Canada population increased by about 106,000 people, bringing the total population to about 36 million."Since the introduction of the current system of demographic accounts in July 1971, Canada had never received so many immigrants in a single quarter," the report said."The arrival of Syrian refugees largely accounts for the increase in the number of immigrants posted in the first three months of 2016." International migration is also responsible for a rise in population nationally. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.