british columbia: The outpouring of support and help and the level of collaboration between the different level of governments, faith communities, health authorities, private sector was unparalleled in our history in working with history over the past 45 years unparalleled, according to Metro News. Royal visit Prince William and Kate meet Syrian refugee families Metro chats with refugees in Vancouver But with the vast majority of B.C. allocated refugees going to the Lower Mainland, resettlement service providers struggled at first to accommodate everyone, especially large families. About 2,100 government-assisted refugees have arrived in British Columbia since the Canadian government promised to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees in November 2015.B.C. can expect another 299 refugees before the end the year, according to Chris Friesen, director of settlement services at Immigrant Services Society of B.C. ISSofBC . It has been a rewarding 12 months, he said. There weren t enough resources for children, for example, said Friesen. Subsequently now, over the last few months, we now have children programming at all of our temporary sites. We didn t realize that 50 per cent of Syrian refugees would be under the age of 12, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

deepak obhrai: Obhrai told Alexander in the House of Commons that equality under the law was a fundamental right, no matter what, according to Huffington Post Canada. A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, Obhrai said. His name is Deepak Obhrai and, in 2014, he challenged then-immigration minister Chris Alexander on controversial legislation that allows the federal government to revoke the citizenship of dual citizens convicted of terrorism or treason. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ended up repeating that phrase the night he captured a majority government. Photo Liam Richards/Canadian Press Obhrai is now running for Conservative leader. Deepak Obhrai is dean of the Tory caucus. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

job: Now finding work is difficult, he said, according to CBC. He only started to speak English after he arrived in Fredericton in September 2015. When war forced Enana Jaber to leave Iraq with his wife and four sons, they sought refuge in Canada. He continues to take classes, but his English is still not good enough to find employment or go back to school, he said. I am thinking about a job but I think first I must complete my English. The language is very important if you want to open a business or get a job, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government crackdown: The slickly produced video surfaced as IS propaganda has waned as the extremists continue to lose territory in Iraq and Syria under the onslaught of a U.S.-led coalition campaign against them, according to The Chronicle Herald. Bahrain is part of that coalition. The appeal for violence came in a video that also urges militants to attack the Sunni-ruled island Shiite majority amid a wider government crackdown on dissent there. In the IS video, images of Bahraini fighter jets are juxtaposed to footage of an airstrike hitting an IS-held area. Wherever the enemies of Allah are found, there is jihad. It also shows clips of a Bahrain-based Gulf Air flight, the King Fahd Causeway linking the island to Saudi Arabia and other sites in the capital, Manama. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

active-duty servicemen: And they stood and clapped when survivors joined active-duty servicemen and women and National Park Service rangers in dedicating wreaths to those killed, according to Brandon Sun. Attendees also gave a lengthy ovation to Adm. The crowd bowed their heads at the precise moment decades ago when Japanese planes began their assault on the harbour U.S. naval base. Harry Harris of the U.S. Pacific Command when he spoke in favour of standing for the national anthem. I suspect the Americans of today would do the same thing, said Hilliard, a Marine veteran and one of several dignitaries and officials who presented wreaths for the fallen at a memorial over the sunken hull of USS Arizona. The anniversary is a tribute to what freedom does when it is faced with fascism, said Paul Hilliard, incoming chairman of the board of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

apostate soldiers: Bahrain is part of the anti-IS coalition, according to Brandon Sun. In the IS video, images of Bahraini fighter jets are juxtaposed to footage of an airstrike hitting an IS-held area. The appeal came in a video that also urges militants to attack the Sunni-ruled island Shiite majority, amid a wide-scale government crackdown on dissent.IS propaganda has waned as the extremists continue to lose territory in Iraq and Syria under the onslaught of a U.S.-led campaign. It also shows clips of a Bahrain-based Gulf Air flight, the King Fahd Causeway linking the island to Saudi Arabia, and other sites in the capital, Manama. Below you are the malevolent Shiites and the apostate soldiers of tyranny, one fighter says, according to a transcript provided by the U.S. jihadi-monitoring SITE Intelligence Group. Wherever the enemies of Allah are found, there is jihad. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ardian kaloshi: Wednesday night on reports of gunshots, according to The Waterloo Record. Police say they found a man with obvious injuries and he died shortly afterward. Officers were called to an unmarked building they say serves as a social club just before 10 p.m. They say the man has been identified as Ardian Kaloshi. They are looking to hear from anyone who was at the club and any businesses who may have security footage. Police say he is from north of Toronto but would not specify where. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration: Immigration Appeal Division transcripts obtained by CBC News detail lies and deceptions, including one immigrant pretending to attend university in B.C. while actually obtaining an education outside the country, according to CBC. Another fraudulently claimed to work for a fictitious B.C.-based company while in fact living in China. And the failed appeals by two women who fought to remain in Canada provide a rare glimpse into the illegal tactics used to carry out what has been labelled as the biggest immigration scam in B.C. history. The two unrelated women have been stripped of their permanent residency status for lying about their eligibility and will be unable to return to Canada for five years unless they receive permission from immigration officials to come back sooner. Wang is serving seven years in prison for immigration fraud. They were clients of Xun Sunny Wang and his now defunct companies New Can Consultants and Wellong International Investments. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mary ballard: They recently spent 10 days on the Greek island of Chios to help at the Souda camp with a Norwegian NGO called A Drop in the Ocean, according to The Chronicle Herald. Mary and I had always talked about volunteering when we were retired or semi-retired, and we thought maybe we d take some of our lifeskills and help out somewhere, he said. Mark and Mary Ballard are part of SAFE Syrian Antigonish Families Embrace one of two networks welcoming Syrian refugee families to the community. In Canada, Mary is a nurse and Mark is semi-retired from the field of air craft maintenance administration and training. After breakfast, they helped with children activities. At Souda, the Ballards handled food distribution for lunch and dinner, helping a group of Basque volunteers with meal preparation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mcmaster university: He travelled to the United States on a scholarship and, after completing his PhD in three years, he chose a professorship in Industrial Relations at McMaster University in Hamilton because it was close to his wife family in Michigan, according to Globe and Mail. He had fallen in love and married Constance after meeting her at a bus stop in Detroit. In his 20s, he worked at India President House planning investiture ceremonies with a young Indira Gandhi. He asked her to go for a coffee while they waited. They were married almost 47 years. When the bus approached, he said, Don t worry, there will always be another one. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

city: She got mad, she picked up the phone, called 911, according to Metro News. Police are at the door, and arrest the husband. He got mad. She didnt understand, he said. Sixteen years later, Baddaoui is one of the newest members of the police department in New Hampshire largest city, where he hopes to help newer refugees avoid such misunderstandings. That stuck with me. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saudi arabia: Daesh propaganda has waned as the extremists continue to lose territory in Iraq and Syria under the onslaught of a U.S.-led campaign, according to Toronto Star. Bahrain is part of the anti-Daesh coalition. The appeal came in a video that also urges militants to attack the Sunni-ruled island Shiite majority, amid a wide-scale government crackdown on dissent. In the Daesh video, images of Bahraini fighter jets are juxtaposed to footage of an airstrike hitting a Daesh-held area. Wherever the enemies of Allah are found, there is jihad. It also shows clips of a Bahrain-based Gulf Air flight, the King Fahd Causeway linking the island to Saudi Arabia, and other sites in the capital, Manama. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian children: Culture Link Nai Syrian Children Choir performed a midday show on Parliament Hill on Thursday, as a thank you to the country that has given them a second chance, according to CBC. Its members also hope that their message of peace travels back to Syria and will be heard around the world. Today, this group of Syrian children shared songs about hope and peace in the House of Commons. Chorister Aaya Mahmoud wanted Canadians to know how her young life has been changed since coming to Canada. I feel happy because Im with my friends here and Im singing. After leaving war-torn Syria, Canada beautiful and the people here are very nice to us, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

uss arizona: His remarks Wednesday at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack generated a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd, with people whistling and hooting, according to The Chronicle Herald. Thousands gathered for the event, held on a pier across the harbour from where the USS Arizona sank during the 1941 attack. Harry Harris says those who served during the attack on Pearl Harbor never failed to stand for the national anthem. You can bet that the men and women we honour today and those who died that fateful morning 75 years ago never took a knee and never failed to stand whenever they heard our national anthem being played, Harris said to nearly a minute of clapping, whistles and whoops. But today on December 7th it takes on extraordinary significance, as were joined here in this hallowed place by World War II veterans and survivors of the attacks on military bases all across Oahu, including right here at Pearl Harbor. Hearing the words the land of the free and the home of the brave means something special for every American, every day, Harris added. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

viola: Finance Minister Bill Morneau says Desmond will grace the front of the 10 bill when the next series goes into circulation in 2018, according to Huffington Post Canada. Today is about recognizing the incalculable contribution that all women have had and continue to have in shaping Canada story. Viola Desmond, often described as Canada Rosa Parks for her 1946 decision to sit in a whites-only section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre, will be the first woman to be celebrated on the face of a Canadian banknote. Viola Desmond own story reminds all of us that big change can start with moments of dignity and bravery, Morneau told a news conference in Gatineau, Que. Viola Desmond will grace the 10 bill starting in 2018. She represents courage, strength and determination qualities we should all aspire to every day. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wealth reporter: Rick Madonik / Toronto Star By Sara Mojtehedzadeh Work and Wealth reporter Wed., Dec. 7, 2016 Decent pay, according to Toronto Star. Pride. Izquierdo was hired through a landmark community benefits agreement which promotes local hiring on government infrastructure projects. Responsibility. It the goal of a now-finalized agreement, a promise made to young people, women, and minority workers living along the forthcoming Eglinton Crosstown rail line. Swagger. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

work something: But in an interview in Time magazine, Trump adopted a far more sympathetic tone toward the young immigrants known to their supporters as Dreamers, according to Metro News. Were going to work something out that going to make people happy and proud, Trump said. During the campaign Trump pledged to immediately terminate President Barack Obama executive actions on immigration, including the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, which has extended work permits and temporary deportation relief to more than 700,000 immigrants brought illegally to this country as youths. They got brought here at a very young age, theyve worked here, theyve gone to school here. Some have wonderful jobs. Some were good students. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bell canada: Demographics in the area begin to change from mostly well-to-do professionals to a mix of professionals, labourers and tradesmen, according to NOW Magazine. Early 1900s A period of rapid change begins with an influx of eastern European Jewish immigrants from the Ward near City Hall the less well-off among them settling west of Spadina.1907 Bell Canada establishes its central office at Bellevue and Oxford.1913 Tensions between Jews and Christians boil over the Canadian Jewish News reports five Orthodox Jewish men chasing a converted Christian preacher out of the neighbourhood. Stephen Church is laid, and the Denison estate is gradually subdivided and sold for homes to British and Irish immigrants.1880s A building boom follows the introduction of streetcars. Expand1927 Jewish congregations grow, and a streetscape once defined by Victorian homes acquires Jewish symbols with the completion of the Kiever Synagogue, followed three years later by the Anshei Minsk Synagogue.1930s 40s Stores open in the ground floors of homes, and the area becomes known as the Jewish Market. The Labor Lyceum on Spadina, a centre for trade unionism, holds a memorial service for Russian-born anarchist and feminist Emma Goldman, who came to Canada in 1927 and moved into a flat on Spadina after being stripped of her U.S. citizenship. 1950s 60s The postwar wave of migration to Canada sees Portuguese immigrants from the Azores become the Market predominant ethnic group. Shops close on Friday evenings and reopen after the Sabbath ends on Saturday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

calgary chamber: The group of Canada eight largest urban chambers of commerce unveiled a series of recommendations Thursday on security screening, border entry and visas, and transit connectivity, according to Guelph Mercury. We want to make sure that Canada can be a global transit hub, said Adam Legge, council chairman and president of Calgary Chamber of Commerce. In its first political foray, the Canadian Global Cities Council is pushing to make airports more internationally competitive in order to attract more tourists, enhance economic activity and improve the travelling experience. The coalition says seven of Canada busiest airports collectively contribute 59 billion of economic activity and support 272,000 jobs. While London Heathrow and Hong Kong International airports require that 95 per cent of passengers be screened within five minutes, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority estimates that on average half of passengers wait longer than 15 minutes. It is calling for enhanced use of technology, the adoption of international security screening standards and targeted checks of travellers from high-risk countries to speed up how long it takes to pass through security. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

desmond: Related Stories Viola Desmond will appear on the... Quick Facts choosing a new face for... Quick Quotes Viola Desmond on the... The hairdresser and entrepreneur opted to sit close to the front of the theatre; her poor eyesight made it difficult to see from the balcony, the section where black people were expected to sit in those days, according to Guelph Mercury. She wanted to see a movie, Wanda Robson, 89, said Thursday as she recalled the historic day in 1946 when her older sister chose to defy the rules and sit in the Nova Scotia theatre whites-only section. It had been some time since Viola Desmond last visited the cinema. Given all that followed, Robson said, Desmond would have been honoured to see herself on the 10 bill a tribute that will make its debut in 2018 when she becomes the first Canadian woman to be celebrated on the face of her country currency. She represents courage, strength and determination qualities we should all aspire to every day. Viola Desmond own story reminds all of us that big change can start with moment of dignity and bravery, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said as he unveiled the choice during a news conference in Gatineau, Que. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

homeland security: But the man chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security holds a more sombre distinction, according to The Waterloo Record. The battle-hardened veteran, who served three tours in Iraq, is the highest-ranking officer to lose a child in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. John Kelly carved out a reputation as a highly respected, but often outspoken commander who could roil debate with blunt assessments or unpopular directives on issues ranging from women in combat to the treatment of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. That status, as part of what the military calls a Gold Star family, puts him in the Cabinet of a presidential candidate who verbally attacked a Gold Star family the Khans, Muslim-American immigrants who lost a son in Iraq and had criticized Trump at the Democratic National Convention. Robert Kelly, was killed in November 2010 in Afghanistan. Kelly son, Marine 1st Lt. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

kensington bia: Along with his part-time job as coordinator of the Kensington BIA, Morrison is one of the organizers of Pedestrian Sundays he likes to call them Pedestrian Sun Days the celebration of community, culture and ecology held monthly from May to October, according to NOW Magazine. Employed by the BIA board, Morrison is the go-to guy in Kensington when problems arise. He an undeniable star of the neighbourhood. Lately, those have been about the rising cost of land, and new landlords pricing out long-time tenants. As a result, Flashback, one occupant, will have to close. Tensions boiled over this past summer when residents came together to oppose Claude Bitton, owner of CB Holdings, who bought five properties on Kensington Place in June and who tenants say tried to intimidate them into leaving by hiking their rents. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

application process: Currently, it can take about 26 months for a spouse already in Canada to receive permanent residency and an average of 18 months for those still abroad, according to The Chronicle Herald. McCallum says a 25 million cash injection, a revamp of the application process and making more room in the immigration program for spousal sponsorship are among the changes having a major impact on reducing wait times. Federal Immigration Minister John McCallum says changes being put in place by his department will see wait times drop to just 12 months. The changes mean anyone with an application currently in the system will see a decision on their case by next December at the latest, while about 80 per cent of new applications will be processed within the 12-month timeline. Source Source The Canadian Press Photo CPT106377934.jpg, Caption Immigration Minister John McCallum answers a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. In 2017, about 64,000 spouses and dependents are expected to be admitted to Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

assistance recipients: But social assistance is only a means to an end, he said, according to CBC. The long-term goal is to see people employed. About 14 families were already screened to receive financial aid under the provincial program come January, said Donald Arseneault, minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. That why we invest in training opportunities and language training and so forth to get them into the work place as quickly as we can in order to avoid more social assistance recipients, he said. Federal assistance running out When the first Syrian refugees arrived in Canada in December 2015 those without financial resources or income of their own were eligible for a monthly federal allowance. If we are successful, that means they have a job. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: We have listened to Canadians and are delivering results, according to Hamilton Spectator. Bringing families together makes for a stronger Canada. Starting immediately, most spousal sponsorship applications submitted in and outside Canada will be processed within 12 months, down from the current average of 26 months and 18 months respectively, according to an announcement to be made by Immigration Minister John McCallum on Wednesday. Canadians who marry someone from abroad shouldnt have to wait for years to have them immigrate or be left with uncertainty in terms of their ability to stay, McCallum said in a prepared statement. Complaints by Canadians and their foreign spouses and dependants over long processing times and lengthy separations had fallen on deaf ears under the previous Conservative government. What we are announcing today is a more efficient, more considerate process to reunite families. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian press: I have always felt it was wrong for the heavy hand of the Canadian state to keep people apart for two years, McCallum said in an interview with The Canadian Press, according to CTV. The changes mean anyone with an application currently in the system will see a decision on their case by December 2017 at the latest, while about 80 per cent of new applications will be processed within the 12-month timeline. Current wait times ranging from an average of 18 months for overseas applications to upwards of two years for spouses already in Canada will plunge to 12 months, Federal Immigration Minister John McCallum said. The last federal budget set aside 25 million to help get family sponsorship wait times down and that money, along with a new application process and making more room in the immigration program for spousal sponsorship, are behind the change, McCallum said. In 2016, the target for admission is 60,000 and for next year, it will be 64,000. In 2015, the target was to admit about 48,000 people but there were over 70,000 applications, the Immigration Department said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.