amer saka: Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church allegedly obtained the money from over 20 people under the guise of a sponsorship program to bring refugee families into Canada, according to Huffington Post Canada. Police in London, Ont. say that a priest from St. Police say Amer Saka of St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church took hundreds of thousands of dollars that donors thought was for refugees. Saka, 51, was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges — fraud exceeding $5,000 and possess proceeds of property or thing exceeding $5,000. London police say the investigation began in February with the co-operation of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese and spanned throughout Ontario, the United States and other countries where refugees were trying to come to Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

amer saka: Police say Amer Saka of the St, according to Toronto Star. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church allegedly obtained the money from over 20 people under the guise of a sponsorship program to bring refugee families into Canada. By The Canadian Press Fri., July 15, 2016 LONDON, ONT.—A priest in London, Ont., has been charged with fraud in the alleged theft of more than $500,000 meant for refugees. London police say the investigation began in February with the co-operation of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese and spanned throughout Ontario, the United States and other countries where refugees were trying to come to Canada. The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have had dealings with Saka is encouraged to contact London police. Saka, 51, was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges — fraud exceeding $5,000 and possess proceeds of property or thing exceeding $5,000. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

brothers sisters: While singing a solo verse of the anthem, he changed the lyrics With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free, to We're all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great, according to Toronto Star. He also held up a sign bearing the message all lives matter on one side and united we stand on the other, while standing alongside his fellow Tenors on the field. By The Canadian Pres Fri., July 15, 2016 The Tenors member Remigio Pereira is officially apologizing for altering the lyrics to O Canada before this week Major League Baseball all-star game. In a video posted on his Facebook page on Friday, an emotional Pereira says he knows 'O Canada' is revered, and he was not intending to disrespect the anthem, the people of Canada, or the people who have fallen for this country to be free. Article Continued Below He also apologized directly to members of the Black Lives Matter movement who were offended by his actions. He says those who were offended by his all lives matter message should know that he not a racist, noting that he grew up in a multicultural environment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

business: Journalist Bal Brach explores the massive growth of the industry in a new documentary called "Little India Big Business," airing on CBC on July 23. "I was stunned to hear the average cost of an Indian wedding is $100,000 and most of the time, it hard-working immigrant parents footing the bill for week-long celebrations." Brach says Indian wedding vendors in the Lower Mainland are booking clients two to three years in advance. "It an incredibly lucrative business, if you have the energy to compete." Dave Singh of Well Groomed Designs helps a bridal client find the perfect outfit, according to CBC. Remarkable success stories Brach says she was most struck by the business startup stories of some of the vendors. They're often lavish, extravagant, week-long affairs with anywhere from 600 to 1,200 guests. Dave Singh immigrated to Canada in 2008 and started his clothing business, Well-Groomed, in his basement. "In his first year of business, Dave had 12 clients," said Brach. He even opened other locations in Toronto and California. "He known as the 'Sabyasachi of Surrey,'" Brach said, referring to India famous clothing designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. This year, Singh is set to dress 400 brides and has clients travelling from all over the world to shop at his store. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

care support: Police said the diocese cooperated with officers in the investigation, according to Hamilton Spectator. The Bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Mar Addai of Toronto had suspended Saka from his parish. London Police announced Thursday charges have been laid against 51-year-old Amer Saka after an investigation into misappropriated funds was launched in February. Bishop Douglas Crosby issued a brief statement on the situation to The Spectator. "I wish to affirm that the Diocese of Hamilton remains committed to the continuing care and support of all refugees under the Diocese refugee sponsorship program, including those whose sponsorship may have involved Father Saka," said Bishop Crosby. After the investigation became public in March, Hamilton Msgr. The Hamilton diocese knew there were about 10 or 11 of Saka refugees who had arrived in Southern Ontario within the past few months, and one or two of those could be living in Hamilton. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

coast rica: Montoya moved his family to Canada when he accepted a job as an environmental studies professor at York University, according to Metro News. But, when they applied for permanent residency in 2013, the Montoyas were told their son could be an undue burden to the country health system. They had promised news for me by the end of June but now are saying I will have to wait until fall, Felipe Montoya told Metro in an email from Coast Rica. The family appealed the decision and has been waiting for an update since late last year. They felt so much stress and frustration about this uncertainty, said Hadayt Nazami, a lawyer acting on the family behalf. They moved out of their Richmond Hill home two weeks ago. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

countries canada: Financed by deficits, additional and bigger subsidies are available for provinces, territories and municipalities, indigenous communities, students, veterans, researchers and educators, arts and culture professionals, select families, environmental groups, and poor countries, according to Huffington Post Canada. Canada will see their immigration intake increase to 300,000 a year, as more spaces have been allocated for parents, grandparents and refugees. In just eight months, we got a lot of significant changes in government policy from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers: Ottawa no longer has the power to revoke the citizenship of terrorists.A law that says the government should balance the budget and reduce the debt is effectively scrapped. Our men and women in the military and the foreign service will be in more nations around the world in peace keeping roles, starting with Latvia and maybe Columbia. Prime minister Trudeau and his ministers have promoted them aggressively, while the opposition parties have politicized and made big issues out of them equally as aggressively. These changes in policy have not gone unnoticed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

day study: MacEwan Provost John Corlett told reporters that Bazelevskyy and a male student had gone down to the Promenade des Anglais to watch Bastille Day fireworks when a terrorist drove into crowds of revellers, killing at least 84, according to CTV. Corlett said the male student who was with Misha was quite close to the attack and feels fortunate to be alive. Ukrainian national Mykhaylo Bazelevskyy, 22, had not been located as of Friday afternoon, according to Mac Ewan University in Edmonton. He said that three other Canadian students had begun heading toward the promenade earlier in the evening, but turned around due to bad weather. Corlett said they are safe and in the student residence the five of them share. The other four students participating in a 15-day study abroad trip are Derek Anderson, Alanna Brokop, Ismail Khalil and Rebecca Smillie. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

disrespect anthem: In a video posted on his Facebook page, an emotional Pereira said he knows O Canada is revered and he wasn't intending to disrespect the anthem, the people of Canada, or "the people who have fallen for this country to be free." PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 09: Musician Remigio Pereira of The Tenors performs onstage during Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night XXII at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 8 in Phoenix, Arizona, according to Huffington Post Canada. Pereira also said those who were offended by his "all lives matter" message should know that he not a racist. "I have a biracial daughter, grew up in a multicultural environment where my best friend was black. While singing a solo verse of the anthem, he changed the lyrics "With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free," to "We're all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great." He also held up a sign bearing the message "all lives matter" on one side and "united we stand" on the other, while standing alongside his fellow Tenors on the field. I grew up with friends from Laos, from Asia — people from all over the world," he said. "My intention was to bring unity and peace through loving one another. It deserves to be heard. That has always been my message." He also apologized directly to members of the Black Lives Matter movement. "I stand with you for your voice. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

facebook page: In a video posted on his Facebook page, an emotional Pereira said he knows O Canada is revered and he wasn't intending to disrespect the anthem, the people of Canada, or "the people who have fallen for this country to be free." Pereira also said those who were offended by his "all lives matter" message should know that he not a racist. "I have a biracial daughter, grew up in a multicultural environment where my best friend was black, according to Hamilton Spectator. I grew up with friends from Laos, from Asia — people from all over the world," he said. "My intention was to bring unity and peace through loving one another. While singing a solo verse of the anthem, he changed the lyrics "With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free," to "We're all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great." He also held up a sign bearing the message "all lives matter" on one side and "united we stand" on the other, while standing alongside his fellow Tenors on the field. That has always been my message. It deserves to be heard. He also apologized directly to members of the Black Lives Matter movement. "I stand with you for your voice. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ctv london: Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church allegedly obtained the money from over 20 people under the guise of a sponsorship program to bring refugee families into Canada, according to Guelph Mercury. London police say the investigation began in February with the co-operation of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese and spanned throughout Ontario, the United States and other countries where refugees were trying to come to Canada. Related Stories London priest charged with stealing... London priest facing multiple fraud... Police say Amer Saka of the St. Saka, 51, was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges — fraud exceeding $5,000 and possess proceeds of property or thing exceeding $5,000. Saka lawyer told CTV London that her client remains devoted to his parishoners. "It a very difficult time for him," said Iryna Revutsky. "He is a man of God and these allegations, it very early in the process, so at this point in time we don't know how they're going to be resolved." By The Canadian Press The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have had dealings with Saka is encouraged to contact London police. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lessons i: More than 500 people gathered in downtown Toronto to discuss systemic racism, according to Rabble. The event marked the first of nine public meeting across the province aimed at engaging the public as part of the Ontario Government Anti-Racism Directorate. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. The Anti-Racism Directorate is a collection of governmental experts with a mandate to "apply an anti-racism lens in developing, implementing and evaluating government policies, programs and services." Below you'll find some lessons I took from the first meeting as well as a few powerful soundbytes from community members. 1. This pain compelled some to wait in line for more than two hours to have their story heard. "Your people brought slavery here.... When I hear 'shut up,' that comes from the residential school era and I will not 'shut up.'" 2. Trauma abounds From victims of health care providers that dehumanize patients and constrain medical benefits to survivors of residential schools, members of the community shared heartbreaking stories of trauma and violence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

material effect: The attack came during a week of soul-searching in Canada defence community over the country appropriate role in this new world order — where terrorists hide amongst civilians, and where social inequities undermine global stability, according to The Chronicle Herald. Canadian policy-makers also wrestled this week with the fallout of Brexit and its effects on the Canadian economy. Sorrow quickly turned to despair for the state of international relations. And domestically, while some of our challenges may seem petty at a time of such ugly global fissures, the positioning of federal and provincial politicians this week on funding health care — the part of government that matters most to people — will eventually have a material effect on everyday life in Canada. At the same time, the federal government is in the midst of ramping up Canada presence in the Middle East in the war against ISIL, with the new Liberal effort to replace the previous Conservative version now taking firm shape. Here are three ways politics mattered this week: TROOPS, TENSIONS, In the space of just a few days, Canada offered up hundreds of troops, equipment, expertise, leadership and credibility to NATO in its deterrence efforts against Russia; and also signalled that we are ready to send peacekeepers to Africa — maybe Mali — to conbat the spread of terrorism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

way: Mr, according to Globe and Mail. Zanotti takes the reins as the United Way undergoes a period of massive change. And our commitment is to give those individuals, wherever they are, that chance at a good life. The organization is going through a fundamental redrawing of the way it hands out the tens of millions of dollars to about 200 social-service agencies across the city. There is a lot riding on its success, as Toronto continues to grapple with rapidly growing inequality. And it is accelerating efforts to appeal to a new generation of donors as fundraising growth slows. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

camp: Up your camp cuisine with this Chinese hot pot recipe Walk in the woods helps youth with mental health issues Offered at parks across the country, the program tries to teach participants the basics of outdoor survival, according to CBC. Teresa Chan came to Canada from Hong Kong in 1993 where she says camping was not a common pastime. The idea of packing up, setting up, and tearing down can seem like a chore, but Parks Canada is hoping to change that — especially for new immigrants — with its Learn to Camp program. But within five years of her arrival, a couple decided to give her a crash course in the great outdoors — and Chan fell in love. So she got involved with Parks Canada and its Learn to Camp program at Rouge Park four years ago. "Camping is a lot of fun and it includes lots of cool activities," she said. "We have to bring simple tools, simple gear and live for four days and three nights in a campground — and we have to be real creative." Although Jacky Lau used to camp in his homeland of Hong Kong, he said the experience in Canada is a very different one. "Camping in Hong Kong, you have to pack very light," the camper said. "Everything you have to combine in one backpack and then usually you have to hike for two to three hours to find a campsite." Jacky Lau and Teresa Chan tell CBC Matt Galloway about how, as immigrants, they embraced a critical part of Canadian culture: camping. A real Canadian experience' Now, she teaches young Chinese immigrants to camp. "I find that camping is a real Canadian experience that I really wanted them to enjoy," she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

phone interview: Provincial criminal courts in particular lagged with a mere 44 per cent of public confidence, according to Metro News. When you have numbers close to half or below 50 to 60 per cent, that would give rise to raised eyebrows, said the institute executive director, Shachi Kurl, in a phone interview. But would you consider that a good enough average mark for your country justice system That the average level of Canadians' confidence in our courts, according to new Angus Reid Institute opinion poll. It also speaks to a sense of, 'Do we feel safe in our communities, well-protected, and have access to fairness in this country ' However, Kurl said there are two more positive findings of this year survey that outshine the negatives. Prior to 2012 … our institutions related to justice were not necessarily inspiring a lot of confidence in Canadians, she explained, citing the botched investigation of serial killer Robert Pickton and the tasering death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski in Vancouver airport. For one, the results have actually improved dramatically over time for both police and courts — particularly compared to 2012, in some cases nearly doubling in confidence since the institute first justice survey. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

home: Aftwards, police say, the caller pretends to be the resident they just called and then calls police to request emergency assistance at the resident home address, in order to intimidate the resident into paying, according to CBC. On Monday, police were called to a home on Ladyslipper Drive in Waterloo by an unknown female. The person making the calls has been demanding residents pay approximately $2,500 for a 'voucher,' and if the resident refuses, the person has been threatening to call the police. The female caller said two armed men with shotguns were trying to get inside the home. The family had, however, received a call from three men claiming to be from Immigration Canada. When police arrived, they found a family at home who all said they did not call police or see any men with guns near their house. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saka lawyer: Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church allegedly obtained the money from over 20 people under the guise of a sponsorship program to bring refugee families into Canada, according to CTV. London police say the investigation began in February with the co-operation of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese and spanned throughout Ontario, the United States and other countries where refugees were trying to come to Canada. Police say Amer Saka of the St. Saka, 51, was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges -- fraud exceeding $5,000 and possess proceeds of property or thing exceeding $5,000. Saka lawyer told CTV London that her client remains devoted to his parishoners. "It a very difficult time for him," said Iryna Revutsky. "He is a man of God and these allegations, it very early in the process, so at this point in time we don't know how they're going to be resolved." The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have had dealings with Saka is encouraged to contact London police. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

way: Mr, according to Globe and Mail. Zanotti takes the reins as the United Way undergoes a period of massive change. And our commitment is to give those individuals, wherever they are, that chance at a good life. The organization is going through a fundamental redrawing of the way it hands out the tens of millions of dollars to about 200 social-service agencies across the city. There is a lot riding on its success, as Toronto continues to grapple with rapidly growing inequality. And it is accelerating efforts to appeal to a new generation of donors as fundraising growth slows. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: It turns out that bringing 25,000 government-supported Syrian refugees to Canada before year-end was logistically impossible, according to The Chronicle Herald. If achieved it would have created huge problems with finding lodgings. The successful Liberal campaign in 2015 is no exception. It is self-contradictory to promise an open competition for Canada next fighter plane, but exclude the F-35, which happens to be the most advanced fighter on the planet and the most popular choice among our NATO allies. The government appears to be walking back from unwise commitments like these, and we should be glad they are. It is not smart to promise wholesale adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when a literal reading of that declaration would, among other things, mean establishment of a third parliamentary chamber for aboriginal peoples and the need to buy back all of British Columbia and many other parts of Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian women: The women, who came from Syria as part of the federal government sponsorship program for refugees, were housed for months in hotels with no access to a kitchen to prepare food for their families, according to Hamilton Spectator. The Newcomer Kitchen in Toronto is the brainchild of Len Senater, founder and owner of The Depanneur, which hosts pop-up food events and workshops. Chopped onions bring a tear to the eye, the scents of lemon and mint mingle in the air, and amid the clatter of utensils and pots is the sound of happy chatter as Syrian women discuss combining the ingredients for yalanji — stuffed grape leaves — and gossip a little. When he heard about the plight of the refugee families, he decided to open his kitchen to them to cook and enjoy communal meals. The young couple, government-sponsored refugees from Sweida in Syria, did social work in their native country and worked as interpreters in refugee camps in Turkey. It wasn't easy to connect with the Syrian women until Rahaf Alakbani and her husband Esmaeel Abofakher became volunteers and then co-ordinators with the Newcomer Kitchen project. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

material effect: The attack came during a week of soul-searching in Canada defence community over the country appropriate role in this new world order — where terrorists hide amongst civilians, and where social inequities undermine global stability, according to Brandon Sun. Canadian policy-makers also wrestled this week with the fallout of Brexit and its effects on the Canadian economy. Sorrow quickly turned to despair for the state of international relations. And domestically, while some of our challenges may seem petty at a time of such ugly global fissures, the positioning of federal and provincial politicians this week on funding health care — the part of government that matters most to people — will eventually have a material effect on everyday life in Canada. At the same time, the federal government is in the midst of ramping up Canada presence in the Middle East in the war against ISIL, with the new Liberal effort to replace the previous Conservative version now taking firm shape. Here are three ways politics mattered this week:TROOPS, TENSIONS, In the space of just a few days, Canada offered up hundreds of troops, equipment, expertise, leadership and credibility to NATO in its deterrence efforts against Russia; and also signalled that we are ready to send peacekeepers to Africa — maybe Mali — to conbat the spread of terrorism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

november march: More than 1,200 have already settled in Waterloo Region, according to The Waterloo Record. More local groups wish to sponsor more refugees, McCallum heard on Thursday. "And they're still waiting," he said. "We're moving as fast as we can. Between last November and March, an initial wave of 25,000 Syrian refugees came to Canada at a federal cost of $319-million. This is a good problem to have in the sense it reflects how generous Canadians are." McCallum said the Syrian refugee process has taught his ministry how to do it faster, while doing the job well in terms of health and safety concerns. "That knowledge can be transferred to other kinds of immigration, family and economic immigrants," McCallum said in a media scrum after Thursday roundtable discussion with more than a dozen stakeholder participants from Waterloo Region and Guelph. "We can become more efficient, which means we can allow in more immigrants with the same amount of money." Canada aims to welcome 300,000 new permanent residents in 2016, up from last year target of 279,200. So McCallum — who, on Thursday, was flanked by Liberal MPs Bardish Chagger , Raj Saini and Lloyd Longfield — is travelling across Canada to gather public input on immigration matters. Come November, McCallum plans to announce how many immigrants will be brought into Canada for the next three years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pop-up dinners: The project, Newcomer Kitchen, has since enjoyed widespread news coverage and welcomed dozens of diners looking to welcome the newcomers to Canada . As a result of the success of the program, Depanneur owner Len Senater says, co-ordinating the dinners has required a considerable amount of capital and volunteer labour – everything from finding translators to lining up childcare and co-ordinating transport for cooks, according to NOW Magazine. To help ease that transition, he set up a Fundrazr page for the project. So when they donated their space to a group of Syrian refugees looking to start new lives in Canada for a series of pop-up dinners, it seemed like a match made in heaven. The campaign, which ends July 19, raised 55% of its $25,000 goal so far. Perks include discounts or prepaid meals at the kitchen, as well as a gift pack of LUSH products and signed cookbooks. The cash will go toward salaries for newcomer liaisons, legal and accounting fees incurred while incorporating a non-profit, and hiring translators and IT support, as well as developing a guide for other Newcomer Kitchen-style projects in other cities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saka lawyer: Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church allegedly obtained the money from over 20 people under the guise of a sponsorship program to bring refugee families into Canada, according to Brandon Sun. London police say the investigation began in February with the co-operation of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese and spanned throughout Ontario, the United States and other countries where refugees were trying to come to Canada. Police say Amer Saka of the St. Saka, 51, was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges — fraud exceeding $5,000 and possess proceeds of property or thing exceeding $5,000. Saka lawyer told CTV London that her client remains devoted to his parishoners."It a very difficult time for him," said Iryna Revutsky. "He is a man of God and these allegations, it very early in the process, so at this point in time we don't know how they're going to be resolved." The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have had dealings with Saka is encouraged to contact London police. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

woodworth: They might get a prestigious new job, or join a few boards, according to The Waterloo Record. But Stephen Woodworth, former Conservative MP for Kitchener Centre who was defeated in the federal election last fall, is not like most politicians. They return to their profession of law, academia, or medicine. In fact, you can barely tell that he is no longer the MP. Woodworth, 62, had a long career as a lawyer before he was elected to Parliament. He is working full-time as an unpaid politician and political activist. But he has moved on from that. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.