site: By the time the archeologists backfilled the site, located on Centre Ave. and designated to become the home of a giant new provincial courthouse, they had found the foundations of Toronto most important 19th century black church, as well as hundreds of thousands of artifacts from The Ward, the impoverished but vibrant immigrant neighbourhood that existed there from the 1840s to the 1950s, according to Toronto Star. Yet the evidence of this poignant past is in grave danger of disappearing because the two public agencies responsible for the site and its archeological treasures — Infrastructure Ontario and the City of Toronto — seem incapable of coming up with a dignified, accessible and sustainable plan to publicly interpret and commemorate these findings. By John Lorinc Sun., Aug. 14, 2016 Late last fall, a small team of archeologists completed excavating an unremarkable parking lot near Toronto city hall, a painstaking process that had captivated workers in the commercial towers overlooking the site for months. For the past eight months, officials with both bodies — Infrastructure Ontario is an agency of the province responsible for developing new public structures — have dismissed numerous ideas for acknowledging the discoveries, often for dubious or excessively bureaucratic reasons that reveal a troubling tone-deafness to what at stake. Article Continued Below In one corner, archeologists found what they later described as the most extensive collection of 19th century footwear ever discovered in Canada, some of it the handiwork of an African-American cobbler who settled in Toronto in the mid-1850s. As I reported in the Star and Spacing, the crews unearthed everything from handmade toys to tools, commercial bottles, hat forms, and even an arrowhead — a reminder that the site, prior to European contact, stood on the table lands just south of a sacred indigenous river later known as Taddle Creek. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

montreal: Bonne fierté! Happy Pride! @FierteMTLPride #fierteMTL #MTLpride #polcan #cdnpoli @melaniejoly Is Montreal Pride inclusive enough Speaking before the parade, Trudeau acknowledged his fellow politicians, saying it is important that a wide range of political parties are represented, according to CBC. NDP Leader Tom Muclair, Liberal MP Mélanie Joly, Parti Québécois MNA Martine Ouellet, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, Bloc Québécois MP Mario Beaulieu, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Philippe Couillard were some of the politicians in attendance at Montreal Pride parade. Trudeau is the first sitting prime minister to take part in the city Pride celebration, according to organizers. Representatives from the federal Conservatives, the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois, as well as provincial and municipal politicians were all in attendance. Trudeau also marched in the Vancouver and Toronto Pride parades earlier this year. Montreal Queer Performance Camp is a rare opportunity Trudeau said the show of solidarity is important now that the world is increasingly looking to Canada to set an example. "We're going to continue to work hard and push the limits of what other countries are doing because we have to get the message across that LGBT rights are human rights that have to be respected," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

police officers: Who commits large-scale acts of violence Overwhelmingly, they're people who struggle, often on multiple fronts, according to CBC. An African-American military veteran pulled the trigger in the recent shootings of white police officers in Dallas. Nationalists may ascribe this solely to religious radicalism — specifically, Islam — yet violence isn't one religion domain. In the terrible aftermath of the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre, the media trumpeted the shooter religion and affiliation with ISIS. He also appeared to have suffered from mental illness and struggled with gender or sexual orientation identity issues. In 1994, a Jewish American-Israeli physician killed 29 Muslim worshippers and wounded 125 more at the Ibrahimi Mosque at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, West Bank. The Oklahoma City bomber was a U.S. veteran who killed 168 people, including 19 children, and wounded 184 others … but he was neither African-American nor Muslim. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: The data offer insight into what lies ahead for the nearly 30,000 Syrian refugees who have arrived since November, because the demographics of the two groups share some similarities, researchers say, according to Hamilton Spectator. But the study also reveals that the groups settling Syrians last fall and earlier this year reported many of the same challenges that had already been encountered during the Iraqi experience. The 19,427 Iraqis who arrived between 2009 and 2014 faced numerous barriers, including the trauma of the war, greater medical needs and a relative lack of English and French, the study found. The surge of Iraqi arrivals strained resources, while the complexity of the cases made it hard to provide the right support, researchers were told. All of that has an influence on outcomes, and the fact that lessons appeared to go unlearned suggests governments need to do a better job thinking about how they respond to refugee crises, said Carl Hetu, the Canadian national director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, which has worked with refugees from both Iraq and Syria. "It is always about the now, and things that look good on Twitter on Facebook," Hetu said. "But you need to work at it." The Immigration Department said it did apply some lessons from the Iraqi experience to the Syrian program. Refugees also received little information about what to expect when they arrived and struggled to find affordable housing on income supports that didn't cover the high cost of living in urban centres, the study found. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

university degree: Iraqis: 19,427: number of refugees resettled in Canada between 2009 and 2014. 8,340: number of those who were government assisted 11,087: number who were privately sponsored. 70.2: percentage who reported speaking neither English or French. 30.5: percentage of those under the age of 18. 10: percentage of those with a university degree, according to The Chronicle Herald. Syrians: 29,713: number resettled in Canada since Nov. 4, 2015. 16,129: number of those who are government assisted. 10,762: number who are privately sponsored. 51: percentage who, as of January, reported speaking neither English nor French. 40: percentage refugees who, as of January, were under the age of 14 2: percentage of government assisted refugees, who as of January, had a university degree. Here is a look, by the numbers, of how that group compares to the Syrian one. Immigration Department reports Source Source The Canadian Press (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: The data offer insight into what lies ahead for the nearly 30,000 Syrian refugees who have arrived since November, because the demographics of the two groups share some similarities, researchers say, according to Brandon Sun. But the study also reveals that the groups settling Syrians last fall and earlier this year reported many of the same challenges that had already been encountered during the Iraqi experience. The 19,427 Iraqis who arrived between 2009 and 2014 faced numerous barriers, including the trauma of the war, greater medical needs and a lack of English and French compared to others, the study found. The surge of Iraqi arrivals strained resources, while the complexity of the cases made it hard to provide the right support, researchers were told. All of that has an influence on outcomes, and the fact that lessons appeared to go unlearned suggests governments need to do a better job thinking about how they respond to refugee crises, said Carl Hetu, the Canadian national director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, which has worked with refugees from both Iraq and Syria."It is always about the now, and things that look good on Twitter on Facebook," Hetu said. "But you need to work at it."The Immigration Department said it did apply some lessons from the Iraqi experience to the Syrian program. Refugees also received little information about what to expect when they arrived and struggled to find affordable housing on income supports that didn't cover the high cost of living in urban centres, the study found. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian interests: When media comes into close co-operation with Communist control, it will follow that locally reported issues will in one way or the other reflect foreign interests rather than Canadian interests, said Gloria Fung, a Toronto-area commentator on Chinese affairs, according to Globe and Mail. This is a threat to media expression in Canada. Critics worry that two sets of standards for a free press are emerging – one for Chinese-Canadian journalists and another for those in the mainstream media. Many others see the partnership as a positive step for bilateral relations and an inventive business model at a time of fiscal austerity. We pick the articles. It a win-win for us, People Daily and our readers, News publisher Herbert Moon said, adding that his paper receives no financial support from its Chinese partner. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

homestead hardship: Sask. homesteaders had difficult road to success Province proclaims 2016 the year of Saskatchewan Ukrainians As the federal government sought to promote agricultural development in the prairies about 100 years ago, it did so with a focus on fulfilling an Anglo-Canadian ideal, according to CBC. Immigrants wanted, with conditions According to Saskatoon historian Bill Waiser, Canada leaders were looking for a certain type of immigrant. "They wanted people that would settle the land, that had some agricultural experience, that would persevere and last and stick it out during those years of homestead hardship, for one or two generations," said Waiser. In the early 20th century, certain ethnic groups were shunned, banned and arranged into an order of preference for immigration. But their search was guided by stereotypes about ethnicities. Jews were not considered good farmers. British labourers were not welcomed because it was believed they would move into cities and take jobs from Canadians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i dream: Ban met with Syrian refugee families in Calgary earlier in the day and recalled hearing from one mother whose deaf son was shot in the neck, according to CTV. He said the woman told him: "I dream that my kids will do something good for Canada because Canada saved us." Elsewhere in the world, Ban said, refugees have not been welcomed as openly. "All this xenophobia, discrimination, we have to reject." Ban also met with indigenous leaders during his first official visit to Alberta since he became Secretary-General in 2007. In a speech at the University of Calgary, Ban said he was grateful for the "generous and compassionate" commitment of the Canadian government to resettle tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. His speech coincided with International Youth Day and focused on three areas where young people can make a difference: tackling unemployment, fostering peace and security and battling climate change. He urged students listening to his speech to show that youth are not a "liability," but an "opportunity." "Young people can break barriers, reach across divisions and forge understanding. He noted that there are 75 million unemployed youth around the world. "This is a massive challenge for the United Nations and for world leaders, but young people can be part of the solution," he said. "Youth can do more than find jobs -- they can create them." Ban said he "outraged" so many young people lives have been uprooted by violence and he concerned about the perception some have that youth are part of the problem. "Violent extremists may prey on young people, but the vast majority of young people want peace," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

paul wells: Yes, Canada is doing relatively well, Harper said at a campaign stop in St, according to Toronto Star. John in 2011, as he began putting a historic thumping on Michael Ignatieff Liberals. By Paul Wells National Affairs Fri., Aug. 12, 2016 Stephen Harper used to call it the Sea of Troubles. But a Sea of Troubles is lapping at our shores. He would repeat the pitch in 2015, but listlessly, inconsistently, the way he did so much else last year. It was, in those days, a feature of every campaign stop. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: Ban met with Syrian refugee families in Calgary earlier in the day and recalled hearing from one mother whose deaf son was shot in the neck, according to Huffington Post Canada. He said the woman told him: "I dream that my kids will do something good for Canada because Canada saved us.'' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to University of Calgary students on International Youth Day Aug. 12, 2016. In a speech at the University of Calgary, Ban said he was grateful for the "generous and compassionate'' commitment of the Canadian government to resettle tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. Elsewhere in the world, Ban said, refugees have not been welcomed as openly. "All this xenophobia, discrimination, we have to reject." Ban also met with indigenous leaders during his first official visit to Alberta since he became Secretary-General in 2007. Youth are an 'opportunity' He noted that there are 75 million unemployed youth around the world. "This is a massive challenge for the United Nations and for world leaders, but young people can be part of the solution,'' he said. "Youth can do more than find jobs Ban Ki-moon Is Still A Fan Of Canada Response To Refugees they can create them.'' Ban said he "outraged'' so many young people lives have been uprooted by violence and he concerned about the perception some have that youth are part of the problem. "Violent extremists may prey on young people, but the vast majority of young people want peace,'' he said. His speech coincided with International Youth Day and focused on three areas where young people can make a difference: tackling unemployment, fostering peace and security and battling climate change. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i dream: Ban met with Syrian refugee families in Calgary earlier in the day and recalled hearing from one mother whose deaf son was shot in the neck, according to Brandon Sun. He said the woman told him: "I dream that my kids will do something good for Canada because Canada saved us."Elsewhere in the world, Ban said, refugees have not been welcomed as openly."All this xenophobia, discrimination, we have to reject."Ban also met with indigenous leaders during his first official visit to Alberta since he became Secretary-General in 2007. In a speech at the University of Calgary, Ban said he was grateful for the "generous and compassionate" commitment of the Canadian government to resettle tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. His speech coincided with International Youth Day and focused on three areas where young people can make a difference: tackling unemployment, fostering peace and security and battling climate change. He urged students listening to his speech to show that youth are not a "liability," but an "opportunity.""Young people can break barriers, reach across divisions and forge understanding. He noted that there are 75 million unemployed youth around the world."This is a massive challenge for the United Nations and for world leaders, but young people can be part of the solution," he said."Youth can do more than find jobs — they can create them."Ban said he "outraged" so many young people lives have been uprooted by violence and he concerned about the perception some have that youth are part of the problem."Violent extremists may pray on young people, but the vast majority of young people want peace," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

applicants show: The majority, 78.3 per cent, live in urban communities, and more than half are women, according to Globe and Mail. The data show that of the people who have applied, almost half have a university education and grade averages of more than 86 per cent. The data on the applicants show that 44.6 per cent — the largest cohort — come from Ontario, followed by Quebec, B.C. and Alberta. Most worked their way through school, and two-fifths experienced mental health issues or financial stress at home. There are also 31.3 per cent who identify as LGBTQ. The percentages don't add up to 100 because applicants were allowed to choose multiple fields. Of the applications received, 52.8 per cent identify as a visible minority, 11.1 per cent as a recent immigrant and 14.8 per cent identify as Inuit, Metis or First Nation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada switzerland: In the latest survey, Canada fell to tie for its lowest placement ever — second place, according to Huffington Post Canada. You can blame this brutal silver-medal finish on Sweden, which scored slightly better than Canada, at 78.3 out of 100, to our 77.8. We have dominated the Reputation Institute Country Rep Trak for years, placing first in four of the past six surveys — the only country to win gold more than once in that time. Even though it ranks first, Sweden is on par with Canada and Switzerland as countries with the best reputation, the institute said in its report. Countries' reputations take a long time to build, but can drop in an instant, the report said. The study, which used data from 58,000 respondents around the world, surveyed people attitudes about countries in three dimensions: Effective government and quality of institutions The level of economic development Lifestyle and environment Police in Diyarbakir, Turkey use tear gas and water cannon in 2015 to disperse people marching to protest a double suicide bombing in Ankara. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

child-minded ignorance: My mother is second-generation Italian, my father is first-generation Filipino, according to Huffington Post Canada. But only now, as an adult, can I truly comprehend the cultural divide that followed the divorce that I didn't recognize as a child. Adulting is challenging enough with having to pay for your own shit, but pile on divorced parents where you can't hide behind the security blanket of child-minded ignorance, and you're left with an insurmountable amount of pressure to make everyone "happy." It only gets harder with age, especially when your parents hail from two polar-opposite cultures. My earliest memories of shuffling back and forth from Mississauga to Ajax in my dad used Pontiac were punctuated with superstitions like holding your breath when passing cemeteries, lifting your feet when driving over railroad tracks and making the sign of the cross when you see a church. When we'd pull up to the driveway at my grandma house, I could barely contain my excitement to see my cousins, my "Filipino side." I am grateful for the time I spent with my Filipino family on the weekends papa had us. My dad made sure my sisters and I did that last one every time. "Good," he'd say, when we did it on our own without prompting. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

day i: Solar-power and windmills provide the community power, autonomous planes ply the skies and self-driving cars cruise the city streets, according to Toronto Star. And all in the space of a table-top. Order this photo By Jesse Winter Staff Reporter Fri., Aug. 12, 2016 IRIS Robotic City is a high-tech place. The Lego city is part of Kidz Robotic & Sportz Summer Camp, a pilot program organized and run by the Somali Parents Liaison Coalition at Don Bosco Catholic secondary school in the city west end. The first day I came here I had no one to talk to or stay with, but I made new friends. I think this is a really educational camp and a fun camp, said nine-year-old Abubakar Hassan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

departments agencies: A further 22,027 started the application process, but had yet to finish it before Friday deadline, according to CTV. While only 30 will eventually be council to the prime minister, four-fifths of applicants said they were willing to share their thoughts with federal departments and agencies as part of a government push to create similar boards for other ministries. As of Friday morning, there were 9,929 applicants to be on Trudeau youth council, according to data provided to The Canadian Press. It at once a shrewd political and policy development move for the government, says David Coletto of Abacus Research, who has conducted research on the views of young voters during last year election. On policy development, Coletto says it a way for departments to bounce ideas off a focus group of interested Canadians, rather than passively posting a survey online and hoping people fill it out. Political, he says, because it a way for the Liberals to keep the young voters they won over in the last election in the fold for the next trip to the ballot box in 2019. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant children: Soccer is well-known all over the world, according to CTV. Any child that played soccer at some point, especially immigrant children, I knew that I would get cooperation from parents because the parents they love soccer and they used to play soccer when they were kids, said founder Jean-Claude Munyezamu. Soccer without Boundaries welcomes children of all ages and abilities to its program and caters to new Canadians, refugees, and low-income families. On Friday, the kids in the program challenged the Calgary police to play against them and then with them on mixed teams at a field in the city southwest. For the players, it was an opportunity to improve their soccer skills and to build friendships with officers. For police, it was a chance to meet with the new arrivals and to show them that they can have a good relationship with police. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

israel implements: Listen to the full exclusive interview with Elizabeth May Last weekend, delegates at the Green Party of Canada national convention in Ottawa adopted a policy resolution supporting the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, according to Rabble. The resolution declares Green Party support for "the use of BDS that are targeted to those sectors of Israel economy and society which profit from the ongoing occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories … until such time as Israel implements a permanent ban on further settlement construction in the OPT, and enters into good faith negotiations with representatives of the Palestinian people for the purpose of establishing a viable, contiguous and truly sovereign Palestinian state." Carried by a large majority in plenary session, the resolution also opposes "all efforts to prohibit, punish or otherwise deter expressions of support for BDS." Canadian Greens now stand on "the forefront of human rights in this country, on an issue with respect to which it has been very difficult for human rights advocates to speak out," according to the resolution author and the party Justice Critic Dimitri Lascaris. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. The resolution places Green BDS advocates in glaring opposition to their leader Elizabeth May. Should Elizabeth May resign as Green Party leader May was not present for last February House of Commons vote condemning BDS -- on the grounds that it "promotes the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel" -- but she declared her opposition to that vote at the time. "You can't call pro-BDS groups anti-Semitic. May, the only sitting member of the Greens in the House of Commons, told rabble in an exclusive interview during the World Social Forum, the vote has left her "devastated," and on the verge of stepping down. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mobility scooter: He celebrating his 110th birthday on Aug. 23, and while there are no individual Statistics Canada records to point to, that will likely make him the oldest man in Canada, according to Globe and Mail. Today, Mr. Sarosy is the only man in Canada who remembers where he was when the First World War started. Sarosy lives in a seniors' home on Bloor Street West, across from High Park. He remembers the past but what amazes me is his short-term memory, says Elena Yeryomenko, lifestyle program manager at the Chartwell Grenadier Retirement Residence Mr. Though he now uses a wheelchair to get around – at 102, he finally conceded he could use some help and got a mobility scooter – his mind is still sharp, perhaps from a lifetime of chess. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

risk journey: The family decided to risk the journey to a refugee camp in Tanzania; it was the best bet for survival, according to The Chronicle Herald. That same year Makene Kitwanga, also nine years old, headed for the same place, the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, setting out with her uncle after the death of her parents and grandfather. His father, pressed into service by the DRC Army on numerous occasions to haul equipment and supplies, was in poor health and unlikely to survive another round of forced service. Makene and Akili lived in Nyarugusu camp, housed in tents, with approximately 150,000 of their compatriots for the next 20 years. They left the camp, with their growing family, in March of this year, sponsored by a community group in Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia. It was there that they met and 'in the midst of hardship,' Akili said, they agreed to marry. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tech company: Unfortunately, according to the Canadian government, most Syrian refugees are unable to find a paying job within the first year of their new lives in Canada, according to Vancouver Observer. Globalme is a tech company focusing on the testing of emerging technologies and speech recognition optimization and dedicated to bettering the lives of those of need in their community. More than 2,000 refugees now call British Columbia home . Many refugees are educated and skilled professionals hoping to start providing for their own families as soon as possible. Through their Globalme Involved initiative, they help companies and people by providing them with free of charge services and unique working opportunities. Globalme is currently interviewing candidates to join their team for a three-month, fully paid employment opportunity similar to that of an internship. Globalme Involved goal this year is to provide jobs to refugees in the greater Vancouver area, giving them a running start to their life in Vancouver. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

terrorists spies: The government alleges the Egyptian-born Jaballah, 54, is a member of terrorist group al-Jihad, an accusation he denies, according to Metro News. It has been trying to deport him through a national security certificate — a tool for removing suspected terrorists and spies from abroad — but the case has meandered through the legal system for years. It is the latest twist in a saga that stretches back 17 years. Jaballah arrived with his family in Canada in 1996 using a false Saudi passport. In May, Federal Court Justice Dolores Hansen ruled the government had not established reasonable grounds to believe that Jaballah is a danger to Canadian security. He sought refugee status on the basis he was wanted by Egyptian authorities on charges of inciting violence, and that he would be killed if sent back.A Canadian Security Intelligence Service investigation led to the first of three security certificates being issued against him, the most recent dating from early 2008. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

terrorists spies: The government alleges the Egyptian-born Jaballah, 54, is a member of terrorist group al-Jihad, an accusation he denies, according to Hamilton Spectator. It has been trying to deport him through a national security certificate — a tool for removing suspected terrorists and spies from abroad — but the case has meandered through the legal system for years. It is the latest twist in a saga that stretches back 17 years. Jaballah arrived with his family in Canada in 1996 using a false Saudi passport. A Canadian Security Intelligence Service investigation led to the first of three security certificates being issued against him, the most recent dating from early 2008. He sought refugee status on the basis he was wanted by Egyptian authorities on charges of inciting violence, and that he would be killed if sent back. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

york university: Whether Felipe Montoya, his wife and two children were allowed to stay in Canada affected mostly just themselves, according to Toronto Star. On another level, though, their story says something important about what kind of society we are. Fri., Aug. 12, 2016 In the greater scheme of things, the fate of one family may not matter a great deal. And the fact that they will now be allowed to settle in Canada is a small victory for compassion and common sense. Earlier this year they were told by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that their application had been denied because his 13-year-old son Nicolas has Down syndrome and could be expected to cause excessive demand on the health system. Montoya had been teaching environmental studies at York University when he and his family applied to remain in this country as permanent residents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mary bay: About 85 of the 110 people who came to Newfoundland this week have no direct connection to the events of August 11, 1986, he said, according to The Waterloo Record. It was a key moment for all Tamil Canadians. "It touched all of us ... most of us came as refugees," said Kanapathipillai, 29, who wasn't even born when this group of refugees arrived and has no familial connection to the event. Related Stories Reunion planned in Newfoundland for... Gary Anandasangaree: Accepting... Organizer Sarujan Kanapathipillai said the 30th anniversary commemorations were not only for the four refugees who returned with their families. He was simply moved by the story. Mary Bay by fishing boat captain Gus Dalton. The two 10-metre-long open lifeboats carrying about 150 refugees were found in St. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.