abdirahman abdi: Chelby Daigle said people have been experiencing racism in policing, hiring practices, the school system and society generally for decades, according to CBC. She and other organizers saw momentum in the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and in Toronto as a way to get people talking about the issue locally. The event, organized by the City for All Women Initiative and the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership, was in the works even before Abdirahman Abdi died after a confrontation with police in late July. Chelby Daigle, one of the organizers of the anti-racism forum, said the idea was to get people talking and working together to fight racism, especially in light of the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement. It has to be about planning and organizing and more of a long-term, sustained effort to take action on these issues in our city," Daigle said. Come together' "But we needed to take advantage of it in a way that not so reactionary in terms of rallies and marches. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada reputation: Aminata Traoré is shown at the 2002 World Social Forum in Porto Alegre Brazil. "Especially since I've been to Canada several times to give conferences on the same themes." Traoré said she was told her visa application did not meet the requirements, but wasn't told why, according to Huffington Post Canada. She said she recently sent her documents for a third time to the Canadian embassy in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, where the visas are processed. Aminata Traoré, a high-profile anti-globalization activist and a former minister of tourism and culture in Mali, said the visa controversy is a stain on Canada reputation as an open country. "Honestly I wasn't expecting this," Traoré told Radio-Canada in an interview. But at this point, she said, the back-and-forth process has made her question her desire to attend the conference. "I don't know if I'll get the visa or not, but ultimately, I just decided today that taking into account all of these difficulties, I don't want to look like someone who been rescued," she said. The World Social Forum, an annual meeting bringing together activists and leftist intellectuals from around the world, runs from Aug. 9 to Aug. 14 in Montreal. "The government is very much aware of the situation and we hope to have good news," said Carminda Mac Laurin, one of the event organizers. Dreadful lesson in democracy' Traoré called the ordeal a "worrying" and "dreadful lesson in democracy." "It is precisely these countries that are supposedly there to give lessons to our democracies," she said. "In reality, the West is more and more afraid of debates on ideas ... We are bearers of ideas, not bombs." Despite increased media attention on the problem, organizers said several guests had yet to obtain their visas with the event set to begin Tuesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

door participants: The Girl Next Door Participants left the meeting almost unanimous, saying an official task force headed by the provincial government is key to tackling the problem in Ontario, where it is estimated that two thirds of all human trafficking in Canada occurs, according to CBC. Ninety per cent of victims are Canadian born, dispelling illusions of female immigrants forced into the sex trade, and the Highway 401 corridor across Southern Ontario is highlighted as an accessible and frequent route for traffickers. The meeting discussed human trafficking with local stakeholders and frontline workers, how to combat the issue in Southern Ontario, and addressed Bill 158. Waterloo Region police attended a roundtable to discuss a provincial human trafficking taskforce for Ontario. "It a very transient crime. Eugene Fenton, with the intelligence branch of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. "So we really think there needs to be a provincial approach and have a provincial task force that can gather all that intelligence, follow the crime, so to speak." In late July, less than two weeks ahead of the roundtable, Waterloo regional police arrested and charged four adults for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl to two Kitchener hotels, and selling her sexual services online. So the traffickers will move their victims from a hotel in Kitchener to a hotel in London to a hotel in Kingston, so on and so forth," said Staff Sgt. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

festival: Nestled in the beautiful Shuswap, this festival is the premier multicultural music festival of the B.C. interior, according to CBC. This year lineup include Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle, Whitehorse, Matt Andersen, Amy Helm, Eric Bibb and Delhi 2 Dublin! Enjoy a weekend of world class music on four daytime stages and two evening stages. Don't miss this amazing weekend of World, Alt-Roots, Folk, Dance, Blues and more. Daybreak South host Chris Walker with emcee the CBC Blues Stage at this one of a kind festival. For full details and tickets, visit the website at rootsandblues.ca. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

month end: This comes ahead of an expected visit to China by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau starting at month end, before the G20 summit in Hangzhou in early September, according to Globe and Mail. Mr. Chinese can currently apply for Canadian visas in five locations, including Hong Kong. Trudeau has charged International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland with expanding Canada economic relationship with China. Canada also wants a further five visa application locations in the future to smooth the path for Chinese to come to Canada – bringing the total number to 15 – and is asking for additional air links between the two countries. Accordingly, the Liberals are trying to pry open the door wider for Chinese visitors to swell university enrolments in Canada, place foreign talent in high-tech jobs and bring in new investment cash – even if that means adding to housing demand at a time of overheated home prices. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rebel fortunes: But Turkey, post-coup, is realigning, and as tensions with the West soar, Erdogan has shown a desire to mend fences with Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to Metro News. On Tuesday, following talks in St. Erdogan survived the insurrection, and judging by the surprise reversal of rebel fortunes in Aleppo this week, so has his government support for the Syrian opposition. Petersburg, Russia, with President Vladimir Putin, the Turkish leader agreed to hold a separate discussion on Syria, involving top military and intelligence officials. Here is a look at the Turkish involvement in Syria and how Turkey latest post-coup realignment may play out:HISTORY OF RELATIONSErdogan was among the first world leaders to demand Assad step down, calling him a "murderous butcher" after his forces opened fire on demonstrators months after protests against him erupted in 2011. The meeting — Erdogan first trip abroad following the July 15 failed coup attempt — comes amid boiling tensions over the contested northern city of Aleppo near the Turkish border, with both nations supporting opposing sides. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

reporters number: Twenty-four hours before the beginning of the international event, conference co-coordinator Raphael Canet told reporters the number of people denied entry to Canada hasn't changed much since he raised the issue a week ago, according to Toronto Star. Canet said he sent 2,000 letters of inquiry to conference invitees asking about their travel plans and 70 per cent of the 315 people who replied said their visa application had been rejected by the Canadian government. By The Canadian Press Mon., Aug. 8, 2016 MONTREAL—Canada reputation as an open society risks being tarnished after many invitees to the World Social Forum 2016 in Montreal had their visitor visa application denied by the government, organizers said Monday. Co-organizer Carminda Mac Lorin said Canada reputation as a free and open society will be tainted if there are fewer people at this year conference. Article Continued Below Immigration Canada blamed conference officials and said rules for visitor visas need to be followed rigorously, while the event directors said they did all they could to facilitate the visa process. The majority of the people denied entry visas are from Africa, and many are from Latin America, organizers said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saturday morning: He was catching up with a family friend who was doing the Ride for Refuge, to raise money for refugees, according to The Chronicle Herald. He asked his friend: Why are you doing this when you could be sleeping The answer he received was one that got his wheels spinning. The idea came to 24-year-old Bauman one cold Saturday morning last October. Sometimes with problems of this scope, it can seem like it hard to make a difference, said Bauman, a Waterloo, Ont., native. felt like that was one small way he could. Just before he turned 10 years old, he lost his cousin to suicide. Bauman started thinking about mental health — a cause that not only affected him, but the lives of his family and friends. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visa application: Twenty-four hours before the start of the event, co-ordinator Raphael Canet said the number of people denied entry to Canada hasn't changed much since he raised the issue a week ago, according to CTV. Canet says he sent two-thousand letters of inquiry to conference invitees asking about their travel plans and 70 per cent of the 315 people who replied said their visa application had been rejected by the Canadian government. They say this could tarnish Canada reputation as an open society. Organizers say most of the people denied entry visas are from Africa, and many are from Latin America. World Social Forum is an annual conference that is being held in North America for the first time. Immigration Canada blame conference officials and say the rules for visitor visas need to be followed rigorously, while the event directors said they did all they could to facilitate the visa process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

woman man: We met people of strength and resilience who have the most incredible attitude regardless of the adversity they are facing, according to Huffington Post Canada. We saw aid workers from all over the world who work with UNICEF, along with various other UN agencies and NGOs, who work tirelessly and with so much heart and generosity to treat every child, woman and man with dignity and care. Za'atrari refugee camp is 14 kilometres from the Syrian border, close enough for us to see the Syrian hills and hear the bombing. We met a refugee family who welcomed us into their home with warmth, hospitality and happiness. I came to the camp not knowing what to expect and so worried about what I would see and feel. We met children with smiles that will melt your heart and brighten your day. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

year conference: Canet said he sent 2,000 letters of inquiry to conference invitees asking about their travel plans and 70 per cent of the 315 people who replied said their visa application had been rejected by the Canadian government, according to Guelph Mercury. Co-organizer Carminda Mac Lorin said Canada reputation as a free and open society will be "tainted" if there are fewer people at this year conference. Twenty-four hours before the beginning of the international event, conference co-coordinator Raphael Canet told reporters the number of people denied entry to Canada hasn't changed much since he raised the issue a week ago. The majority of the people denied entry visas are from Africa, and many are from Latin America, organizers said. World Social Forum is an annual conference that is being held in North America for the first time. Immigration Canada blamed conference officials and said rules for visitor visas need to be followed rigorously, while the event directors said they did all they could to facilitate the visa process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

calgary: Last year, 445 children were enrolled in the day camp, according to CBC. Of the 585 kids enrolled this year, 128 are Syrian refugees. The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth said it been inundated with calls and has had to turn some children away. MORE CALGARY NEWS Calgary area hammered with rain and hail but no tornadoMORE CALGARY NEWS Calgary man dies while climbing in Kananaskis The Bridge Foundation helps subsidize camp costs for low-income families. "The Syrian refugee children that have been here just about a year will not pay at all," said Umashanie Reddy, the foundation executive director. Building skills, learning community The camp also aims to help kids build social skills and learn about their community. "We did a scavenger hunt with the junior high group downtown during Stampede, so they can get to know the city and learn how to use Calgary Transit," he said. "They the camp kids from Syria will be teaching kids Arabic and the kids will be teaching them English and they just work hand in hand, together, in order to learn and find out different ways to understand each other." "Sometimes you don't need the language to show someone they're welcome into Canada," Noel added. Camp co-ordinator Rodney Noel says simple things, like a soccer game on a sunny day, take on more meaning for kids at the camp. "Being able to just go and play and be kids will make a huge difference on these kids' lives because of where they came from," Noel said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

entertainment landscape: W. The banter is non-stop and effortless, a preview of things to come for their new flagship morning show, launching Aug. 22 to replace the venerable Canada AM. Mulroney: I do all the Harry Potter voices for my kids, according to Toronto Star. Here one. 'You're a wizard Harry.' Mediwake with a puzzled look: Who that Mulroney: It Hagrid. By Tony Wong Television Mon., Aug. 8, 2016 Ben Mulroney and Anne-Marie Mediwake are talking animatedly in a small office at CTV headquarters on Queen St. I didn't say I was good at impressions. As well as hosting Your Morning, Mulroney will continue to work for entertainment showe Talk. Mulroney so far is doing a pretty good Canadian take on American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who seems to be everywhere in the entertainment landscape south of the border. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mori: Ignorant about what About the realities in their own country, according to Hamilton Spectator. Every year the London-based polling organization Ipsos Mori does its "Perils of Perception" poll, asking people in many countries what they believe about, say, the proportion of the population who are immigrants, or overweight, or over 65, and comparing their answers with the true numbers. And the five best informed are South Korea , followed by Ireland, Poland, China and the United States. Putting all the results together, Ipsos Mori then comes up with its famous Index of Ignorance. Take immigration. The level of ignorance is startling — and yet these mistaken beliefs can play a big role in the political choices that countries make. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nkurunziza: In an address at the conference, Willy Nyamitwe, a communications advisor to President Pierre Nkurunziza, said reports of human rights abuses by Nkurunziza supporters are overblown, according to CBC. Burundi clashes kill almost 90 International observers have grown alarmed about an ongoing government crackdown on opposition groups in Burundi. Global Affairs Canada issued a sternly worded statement following a controversial event last week in Quebec City, at which a senior member of the current Burundian government spoke. The United Nations and several rights groups have documented numerous cases of torture and extra-judicial killings in the East African country. But Global Affairs Canada cautioned the Nkurunziza government about trying to use Quebec large Burundian expatriate community as political leverage. "Canada was not officially informed of which participants were to take part in the Quebec City meeting," Global Affairs said in a statement to CBC News. "However, any attempt by Burundi authorities to move the debate to Canada would be a regrettable, useless and ill-timed distraction." UN cites 'extremely alarming' trends of gang rapes, torture in Burundi Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion in the House of Commons. Human Rights Watch has said abuses have also been committed by armed opposition groups. "I wanted the Canadian opinion to hear another part of the story about Burundi, because some news stories are really biased about Burundi," Nyamitwe told CBC News following his July 30 speech. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

official visits: Let unpack this, according to Globe and Mail. In less than two months, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence Mohammed bin Salman made two visits to the United States to advance trade, defence and security interests. What should be worrisome to the Canadian government and business executives is that our number one trading partner – the United States – is taking full-advantage of Canada lack of interest in a $750-billion economy. On both official visits, Canada was overlooked. The Deputy Crown Prince also travelled to New York and Silicon Valley where he announced a $3.5-billion investment into Uber from the Saudi Public Investment Fund and he signed a deal with 3M, granting them a trading licence that makes them one of only three companies to be granted 100-per-cent ownership and the ability to operate and invest in the kingdom. In Washington, he met with President Barack Obama, the U.S. Secretary of Defence, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as executives of defence companies, including Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ont .,: After two tours in Iraq, Walcott, who now lives in Peterborough, Ont., fled to Canada to avoid fighting in the war, according to Toronto Star. By Craig Scott Mon., Aug. 8, 2016 The time has come for Prime Minister Trudeau to allow American deserters who resisted the war begun in Iraq by the U.S. and the U.K. in 2003 to stay in Canada. Dean Walcott is seen with his wife and two of his Canadian-born children in Toronto on Friday, July 22, 2016. During the election, he signalled this was where his moral instincts lay. One is that this government is prone to buying into certain Harper-era 'moral' and geopolitical arguments. Unfortunately, so far his Liberal government is not showing leadership on this issue.I have a double worry about where a Trudeau government may be heading. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rights-bearing people: The Indigenous Affairs department should provide permanent and enlarged funding to a kaleidoscope of Métis organizations, many of which now style themselves governments, according to Globe and Mail. These organizations will deliver social services to their own clientele, even though Métis people are scattered across the country. Here are some highlights from the report: The Métis should be treated, like First Nations, as a rights-bearing people under Section 35 of the Constitution Act. Ottawa, which is already trying to deal with more than 600 First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis, should deal with these Métis organizations on a basis. Cue the demands for impact-and-benefit agreements and ultimately for a share of natural-resource revenues . Most problematic, in my view, is the demand that Ottawa guarantee enhanced, long-term financial support for construction of a Métis registry, based on genealogical research as a first step in determining who is eligible for future benefits. And Métis governments must have the same right to be consulted on economic-development projects as the First Nations do, even though there are no legally defined Métis traditional territories. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

t governments: Anybody reading a newspaper or watching TV is surely aware that robots, drones, computers and gadgets yet to be discovered will all have an effect on future employment, according to Toronto Star. Which raises the question: From the taxpayer point of view, instead of funding immigrants, why don't governments pay a lot more attention to helping the unemployed get employed Article Continued Below Roy Smith, Whitby The Morning Headlines Newsletter Delivered daily to your inbox. A quick Internet search shows that Canada youth unemployment last year was about 13 per cent; in the U.S. it was about 11 per cent; in the U.K. 13 per cent; in France 23 per cent; and in Italy and Germany, 39 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. Sign up react-empty: 141 (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

taxes: Her economic agenda calls for middle-class tax cuts and she has repeatedly said she would not raise taxes on middle incomes, according to Huffington Post Canada. In a speech in Omaha, Nebraska, last week, she talked about "fairer rules for the middle class'' and delivered a line that was difficult to understand: either "we are going to raise taxes on the middle class'' or "we aren't.'' If she said the former, it was obviously a flub. A look at some of his claims and how they compare with the facts: "She said she wanted to raise taxes on the middle class.'' If Clinton said that — and it debatable — it clear she didn't mean to. Her policy on middle-class taxes has been consistent — no increases. There are clear signs that new business formation has slowed, but it hasn't ground to the halt that he suggests. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a post Republican Convention campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio, July 22, 2016. "You cannot ever start a small business under the tremendous regulatory burden that you have today in our country.'' Trump is exaggerating. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

year conference: Canet said he sent 2,000 letters of inquiry to conference invitees asking about their travel plans and 70 per cent of the 315 people who replied said their visa application had been rejected by the Canadian government, according to CTV. Co-organizer Carminda Mac Lorin said Canada reputation as a free and open society will be "tainted" if there are fewer people at this year conference. Twenty-four hours before the beginning of the international event, conference co-coordinator Raphael Canet told reporters the number of people denied entry to Canada hasn't changed much since he raised the issue a week ago. The majority of the people denied entry visas are from Africa, and many are from Latin America, organizers said. World Social Forum is an annual conference that is being held in North America for the first time. Immigration Canada blamed conference officials and said rules for visitor visas need to be followed rigorously, while the event directors said they did all they could to facilitate the visa process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

puerto ricans: They also tried chico, but that didn't get to him either, according to NOW Magazine. Vidal recognized chico as a slur in the US against Puerto Ricans and other Latinos. When Francisco Vidal arrived in Toronto as a refugee from El Salvador civil war in 1991, his classmates called him spic, a word he didn't understand. But as a Salvadoran new to Canada, it wasn't part of his history. They tried to offend me with some other people insult, says Vidal, who manages community programs at the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples in Toronto. The bullies didn't have the cultural knowledge to get under his skin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

year conference: Canet said he sent 2,000 letters of inquiry to conference invitees asking about their travel plans and 70 per cent of the 315 people who replied said their visa application had been rejected by the Canadian government, according to Brandon Sun. Co-organizer Carminda Mac Lorin said Canada reputation as a free and open society will be "tainted" if there are fewer people at this year conference. Twenty-four hours before the beginning of the international event, conference co-coordinator Raphael Canet told reporters the number of people denied entry to Canada hasn't changed much since he raised the issue a week ago. The majority of the people denied entry visas are from Africa, and many are from Latin America, organizers said. World Social Forum is an annual conference that is being held in North America for the first time. Immigration Canada blamed conference officials and said rules for visitor visas need to be followed rigorously, while the event directors said they did all they could to facilitate the visa process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada re-engagement: That because Canada is home to hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tamils, the Sri Lankan minority group that fought a 26-year civil war against the mainly Sinhalese central government that ended in a final wave of bloodshed in May 2009, according to Metro News. In the aftermath, the previous Conservative government downgraded relations with Sri Lanka government as the Tamils continued to face persecution. The ultimate success of Canada re-engagement with Sri Lanka, which was formalized last month when Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion visited the south Asian country, will have domestic political implications for the Liberals government in the years ahead. At the same time, the Colombo government resisted international pressure for an independent investigation of war crimes committed by its military and the Tamil rebels in 2009. It raised hopes among many Canadians of Sri Lankan descent, including the large Tamil bloc mainly centered in Toronto. The stars realigned last year with the election of a more conciliatory Sri Lankan government and the arrival of Canada Liberals. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian debates: Hurtig was a passionate, progressive voice that attracted followers and ruffled feathers in roughly equal measure, according to Hamilton Spectator. But neither ally nor enemy could reasonably deny his contribution to the defining Canadian debates of our time. The author, entrepreneur and political activist, who died Tuesday at 84, left his father Edmonton fur shop in the mid-1950s to found first a chain of bookstores, then a publishing house and eventually a series of public projects all dedicated to promoting the ideas he held dear: that Canadians should be allowed to shape their own future and that prosperity should be fairly shared. Hurtig first came to prominence as a publisher, most notably of the massive Canadian Encyclopedia, an ambitious project hinting at the nationalism that would define his political life. Hurtig feared that with the North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada was selling off the resources that gave us our competitive advantage. After selling his publishing company, he became a key figure in the debates over free trade that divided the country in the 1980s. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

development trade: We are Canadian, according to CBC. We have integrated into the Canadian fabric, but we're also a very strong fabric on our own." The event launched an official year of the Ukrainian-Canadian in Alberta, where more than 345,000 people can trace their roots back to Ukraine. "This declaration recognizes and commemorates the accomplishments and contributions of Ukrainian-Canadians to our society in every way from culture and the arts, to education, to business and public service," said Deron Bilous, Alberta Minister of Economic Development and Trade. "They helped build this incredible province and — as one of their many descendants — I take tremendous pride in honouring that contribution on behalf of the Government of Alberta," he said. Their celebration marked the 125th anniversary of the first Ukrainian immigration to Canada. "Ukrainians have touched upon everybody lives," said Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Edmonton. "AsUkrainians we are farmers, we're agriculturalists, we're teachers, we're nurses, we're doctors. Stelmach House, the restored home of Alberta 13th premier Ed Stelmach, opened for a sneak preview during Ukrainian Day at the province Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Visitors got a preview of Stelmach House, the restored home of Alberta 13th premier Ed Stelmach. Along with perogies and garlic sausage, the event served up a heaping helping of history. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.