show credits: He also worked at the CBC, where his list of show credits included producing roles on The Rene Simard Show, several Anne Murray specials and a variety special in the mid-80s called The First Annual Hockey Shtick, according to Brandon Sun. He also had a radio show with Alex Trebek, a writing gig for The Tommy Hunter Show and behind-the-scenes work on That Show Biz, an early variety show conceived by future Saturday Night Live mastermind Lorne Michaels. Here are a few of Thicke ties to his homeland Thicke got his start on the small screen here, hosting the game show First Impressions in Montreal in the 1970s and his own talk show, The Alan Thicke Show, in the early 80s. The CBC was the best thing that ever happened to me, he said in a 2011 interview with The Canadian Press to promote his appearance on a special episode of 22 Minutes. Thicke said the homegrown entertainment industry at the time was under-developed and he consistently championed Canadian talent. After a few years at the CBC, when I finally decided that maybe I would try my luck in the L.A. market, I was able to go down there with a portfolio of experience in a lot of different areas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sponsor someone: From those, immigration officials will randomly draw 10,000 individuals who will then be asked to submit the full application within 90 days, according to National Observer. The change comes after The Canadian Press reported earlier this year that the old first-come, first-serve system was seeing couriers charge more than 400 to guarantee applications would be at the top of the pile. Beginning January 3, Canadians will have 30 days to fill out an online form indicating their desire to sponsor someone. That raised concerns that the visas were going to those who could afford to pay the high fees or camp out for hours at the Mississauga, Ont., immigration office the only place in Canada accepting the forms. The popular parent and grandparent program routinely receives thousands more applications than there are spaces. Immigration Minister John McCallum says the new system is designed for fairness. ; Were ensuring everyone can access the application process by giving them the same chance to have their name chosen, he said in a statement. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian: Were trying to create social change, one tea at a time, Smiley says, according to National Observer. He describes the Syrian refugees he works with as being stressed out about the months ahead, as government financial support runs out. It a tea company that first began as a concept in February, and now hires Syrian refugees to package and sell premium organic teas. His company provides a pathway for some members of the first wave of Syrian refugees that arrived in Canada last year following the Trudeau government promise to welcome thousands of them to Canada. It means that the refugees need to find jobs or otherwise scrape by on provincial assistance. Many are feeling the pressure of the dreaded Month 13, when their federal government allowance comes to an end. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

thicke: He also worked at the CBC, where his list of show credits included producing roles on The Rene Simard Show, several Anne Murray specials and a variety special in the mid-80s called The First Annual Hockey Shtick, according to The Waterloo Record. He also had a radio show with Alex Trebek, a writing gig for The Tommy Hunter Show and behind-the-scenes work on That Show Biz, an early variety show conceived by future Saturday Night Live mastermind Lorne Michaels. Related Stories Publicist Actor Alan Thicke dies... Reaction to the death of actor Alan... Canadian TV personality Alan Thicke... Alan Thicke has died of a... Here are a few of Thicke ties to his homeland Thicke got his start on the small screen here, hosting the game show First Impressions in Montreal in the 1970s and his own talk show, The Alan Thicke Show, in the early 80s. The CBC was the best thing that ever happened to me, he said in a 2011 interview with The Canadian Press to promote his appearance on a special episode of 22 Minutes. Thicke said the homegrown entertainment industry at the time was under-developed and he consistently championed Canadian talent. After a few years at the CBC, when I finally decided that maybe I would try my luck in the L.A. market, I was able to go down there with a portfolio of experience in a lot of different areas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trump tower: The tech industry had multiple concerns about Candidate Trump, among them fears that he would stifle innovation, curb the hiring of computer-savvy immigrants and infringe on consumers digital privacy, according to Brandon Sun. Those worries may not have abated, but that not stopping technology leaders from heading to Trump Tower in New York to make their peace or press their case with Trump and his advisers. On Wednesday, though, many of them will come face-to-face with the president-elect for the first time since the election. The CEOs planning to attend include Apple Tim Cook, Alphabet Larry Page, Microsoft Satya Nadella, Amazon Jeff Bezos, Intel Brian Krzanich, IBM Ginni Rometty, Oracle Safra Catz and Cisco Systems Chuck Robbins. No other industry was more open in its contempt for Trump during the campaign. Facebook chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, will be on hand instead of its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who was one of many tech executives to express misgivings about Trump pledge to deport millions of immigrants.TECH VS. TRUMPIt could be a prickly meeting. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anti-bullying policy: As part of the sport new labour deal, set to be ratified by both sides Tuesday, the players union agreed not to contest it, according to CTV. The policy, obtained by The Associated Press, prohibits requiring, coercing or encouraging players from dressing up as women or wearing costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identify or other characteristic. Major League Baseball created an Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy that covers the practice. MLB Vice-President Paul Mifsud said Monday the new rules resulted partly in light of social media, which in our view sort of unfortunately publicized a lot of the dressing up of the players ... those kind of things which in our view were insensitive and potentially offensive to a number of groups. Or even more outlandish, often for late-season plane trips. There lots of pictures of baseball players dressed up as Disney princesses, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

baggage carousel: Al-Habash refused to leave until he personally thanked and shook the hands of everyone who came to greet them, according to The Chronicle Herald. That scene would be repeated several times in Nova Scotia over the next months as we joined the rest of Canada in welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada as part of the national plan to take in 25,000 refugees who were looking to rebuild their lives in a new country. As the family made their way to the baggage carousel, Mr. As we mark the one-year anniversary of the day the first refugees touched down in Nova Scotia, it is an opportunity to pause, take stock and celebrate the positive examples of how they have become bright additions. The Al-Habash family fled Damascus in 2011, when the civil war in Syria was in its infancy, and made their way to Lebanon. It is also a time to give consideration to what still needs to be done and the obstacles which remain. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

basement apartment: Its taste is bittersweet, according to CBC. Not everyone likes it, she said. Now it sits on her kitchen stove in Fredericton, ready to serve guests with the traditional Arabian coffee. Syrian refugees fear what lies ahead as government-sponsored year runs out Everything was left behind the night Fayza Al Hariri and her family fled Syria, except her bronze coffee pot. Al Hariri family was among the first to flee the war at home, seeking refuge in Lebanon for four years until they arrived in Fredericton on Dec. 18, 2015. Viola Pruss/CBC The lucky ones There are seven of them, two adults and five children, cramped into a small, three-bedroom basement apartment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bread: In the meantime, she took courses that would allow her to work in quality assurance again, according to Hamilton Spectator. Through the yearly talent assessments at Canada Bread, Mandeep managers soon learned about her qualifications. Keen to gain work experience in Canada, she started work on the production floor of Canada Bread in Hamilton. When an opportunity came up in the quality assurance department, Mandeep was encouraged to apply and had the opportunity to bring her knowledge and experience to the quality assurance function at Canada Bread. It is inspiring to see that Mandeep was able to leverage her foreign experience and now work in a role that is helping her achieve her career goal, while helping Canada Bread grow, said Marcin E. Krzyzanowski, regional human relations manager. She is now a key asset to the organization and has been instrumental on a number of major projects, including introducing a new Oracle enterprise resource planning system at Canada Bread. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

christmas carols: Anu Seoni performed 15,000 worth of dental work on the family for free since they arrived in the area last year, according to CTV. Today Zayed Al Bechwad, his wife and their three children gathered at the dentist office and sang Christmas carols for him and his staff. Dr. They were joined by members of Reception House, a government organization that helps refugee families settle in the area. Lobe says his group is happy to have the chance to help people who really need it. Bert Lobe, a member of the group New Refuge that sponsored the family, says they needed medical care when they arrived and said Seoni made a wonderful contribution to the family by doing the dental work for free. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

doran: Start life all over again So, they really have to start life all over again, just like any young person going to school for the first time and starting a new career, Doran said Monday on CBC News Compass, according to CBC. Feeyah Abdulhey agrees that improving his English speaking skills will help him find a job. But for those who havent been as fortunate, the lack of English language skills and not having professional credentials recognized in Canada have been major roadblocks to finding a job, said Doran, refugee sponsorship co-ordinator with the Catholic Diocese of Prince Edward Island. In Syria, Abdulhey worked as a painter, but he hasnt been able to find employment on P.E.I. Abdulhey arrived on the Island with his wife and nine children four months ago. Abdulhey hopes his children continue with their school studies, eventually go to university and have a future. After fleeing Syria, the family spent time in a refugee camp in Turkey. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

employers: Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Tues., Dec. 13, 2016 Ottawa has eliminated the notorious 4-in-4-out rule that kicked out migrant workers after four years, ending what some critics call the revolving door of indentured labour to Canada, according to Toronto Star. In many ways, the four-year rule put a great deal of uncertainty and instability on both temporary workers and employers. We had the sense that it was an unnecessary burden on applicants and employers, and also on officers who process applications. We had the sense that it was an unnecessary burden on applicants and employers, and also on officers who process applications, Immigration Minister John McCallum said in a news release posted late Tuesday. The former Tory government introduced the rule in 2011 to ban migrant workers from returning to Canada for four years after they worked here for four. We believe this important recommendation . . . requires rapid action, which we are taking today. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

health insurance: Right now, Canadian medicare is relatively exempt from NAFTA, as it was from the original 1989 Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, according to Guelph Mercury. I say relatively exempt because some analysts argue that any government effort to expand universal public health insurance into new areas where U.S. firms are involved could incur financial penalties under NAFTA. That point was made in two separate papers commissioned by the 2002 Romanow royal commission on the future of health care. Dont be surprised if he takes a swipe at medicare. One was written by a corporate trade lawyer, the other by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. A second exempts existing provincial and local arrangements like medicare that otherwise contravene NAFTA principles. But medicare as it is now gets a pass from NAFTA. One section of the free trade pact specifically exempts anything that is a social service for a public purpose from the overall NAFTA requirement that eligible foreigners be allowed to invest freely. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

fight opponents: Dion called on the Syrian President to focus on rooting out the self-styled Islamic State jihadis instead of going after opponents who sought an end to decades of his rule and whose fight against the government turned into an insurgency, according to Globe and Mail. It time for the Assad regime to show half of the same determination they had to fight opponents of the regime to fight Daesh, Canada Foreign Minister said. Mr. Daesh is another term for Islamic State jihadis. The long-running Syrian civil war has forced 3.73 million to flee the country, according to the United Nations. Rebel resistance in Syria Aleppo ended Tuesday after years of fighting and months of bitter siege and bombardment that culminated in a bloody collapse of their defences this week, as insurgents agreed to withdraw in a ceasefire. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

health insurance: Right now, Canadian medicare is relatively exempt from NAFTA, as it was from the original 1989 Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, according to Hamilton Spectator. I say relatively exempt because some analysts argue that any government effort to expand universal public health insurance into new areas where U.S. firms are involved could incur financial penalties under NAFTA. That point was made in two separate papers commissioned by the 2002 Romanow royal commission on the future of health care. Dont be surprised if he takes a swipe at medicare. One was written by a corporate trade lawyer, the other by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. A second exempts existing provincial and local arrangements like medicare that otherwise contravene NAFTA principles. But medicare as it is now gets a pass from NAFTA. One section of the free trade pact specifically exempts anything that is a social service for a public purpose from the overall NAFTA requirement that eligible foreigners be allowed to invest freely. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

housing: This has left many hopeful home buyers priced out of the average detached home market, according to Huffington Post Canada. Even larger condo units are picking up speed in price. So the real question is, how big is small-space living Housing costs continue to soar in Canada priciest real estate markets -- in spite of provincial and federal action to slow housing activity in Toronto and Vancouver. Housing costs rising, lowrise construction falling, and the come-back of condos According to ReMax, 2016 saw the average home price across all housing types increase 13 per cent in Greater Vancouver to 1.02 million, and 17 per cent in the GTA to 725,857. Those numbers are only expected to climb in 2017. The average detached home in these markets is well over a million. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

justin trudeau: He thinks the U.S. president and Justin Trudeau will develop a productive friendship, according to Rabble. Mulroney is merely the opening act in what will be a major Canadian media campaign to normalize the president-elect and showcase his program. For Mulroney, a lifelong friend of everything American, Trump will be good for Canada. Canadians will be expected to discount what Trump has said about women, Mexicans, Muslims or immigrants, as has Brian Mulroney, and another Trump Florida neighbour, Conrad Black. Canadian coverage of the Republican soon to occupy the White House Oval Office draws back from either the mad Trump or the bad Trump take favoured by critics around the world. Big business voices will want citizens to focus on what President Trump and Canada can accomplish together. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

middle name: Justino, who said she added Cyborg as a middle name on her naturalization papers, said coming to the United States has changed her life, according to Metro News. The first time I went to America, I had the opportunity to fight here and people really appreciate my work and appreciate my sport, she said, while lining up with 2,300 citizenship applicants for the day first ceremony. The 31-year-old from Curitiba, Brazil, was among thousands who took the oath of citizenship at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It an opportunity for me to give back for the American community what they give to me. I can participate more, she said. I can vote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

obama administration: Lynch spoke at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center as law enforcement across the country confronts a spike in hate crimes targeting Muslims, according to Toronto Star. Her speech at an interfaith gathering in the waning weeks of the Obama administration was intended to reaffirm the Justice Department commitment to safeguarding civil rights and protecting racial and religious minorities. The Associated Press By Eric Tucker Associated Press Tues., Dec. 13, 2016 STERLING, VA. Hate crimes tear at the fabric of American communities and represent a stain on the country soul, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said at a mosque and Muslim community centre on Monday. But she also acknowledged concerns from minorities that divisive rhetoric and a new administration could lead to an erosion of some of the progress she said had been made in the last eight years. Overall hate crimes rose by 6 per cent last year. Recently released FBI statistics show that the number of hate crimes targeting Muslims that were reported to law enforcement rose by 67 per cent in 2015, to the largest number since the year of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

police officer: Sunday morning, according to CTV. He was driving by community mail boxes when he noticed that several boxes were open and two people appeared to be digging through mail. An off-duty police officer was driving through the area of Superior Road and Harley Road around 2 30 a.m. As the cop came closer, the suspects hopped into a vehicle and took off. Officers discovered a large amount of unopened mail and a variety of tools used to break into mailboxes. He reported the incident and followed the suspect vehicle, which was then stopped around Jingle Pot Road. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: The EU has watched on because it desperately needs Turkey to manage the bloc refugee emergency and is wary of angering him, according to Hamilton Spectator. The EU has offered Turkey fast-track membership talks, visa free travel for its citizens and billions of euros for Syrian refugees in the country for Ankara to stop tens of thousands of migrants trying to reach Europe. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the detention of tens of thousands of people and forced many more from public service jobs in recent months. But Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said his country will say that it impossible to open new chapters for the accession process, as EU foreign and European affairs ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss the bloc expansion. But on membership, he said, it difficult to go further with such a situation in Turkey. Reynders said it is important to co-operate with Turkey to fight terrorism, exchange information about foreign fighters from Europe travelling to Syria and Iraq and to manage the refugee crisis. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

toronto fc: Williams will likely be looked upon to fill a hole on the right side of a leaky Vancouver defence that gave up 52 goals in 2016 compared to just 36 the previous year, according to The Chronicle Herald. The Whitecaps traded Steven Beitashour to Toronto FC prior to last season, hoping that newcomers Jordan Smith or Fraser Aird would step up as replacements. The deal for the 26-year-old hinges on the receipt of his international transfer certificate and Canadian work permit. But both failed to impress, and neither will be back in 2017. Those 22 assists are the fourth most by a defender during that period. Williams a Boston native whose first name is pronounced Shane-en has started 172 of 179 appearances with Houston and the Philadelphia Union since joining Major League Soccer in 2010, scoring seven goals to go along with 22 assists. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tourist visa: The 30-year-old Mexican national has taken care of horses at the Hastings Racecourse since 2007, her husband since 2006, according to Metro News. But because they didn t get a police records check translated from Spanish, their paperwork was delayed and B.C. advised her to return on a tourist visa in order to meet the deadline to enrol her children in school. After Metro broke the story of the five- and seven-year-old Monday, their mother Nayeli Orozco Diaz has agreed to go on-record, hoping to shine a light on a barrier affecting other families like hers with precarious status here. Instead, she was asked to pull the confused kids from their classrooms hours into their first day. These guidelines are based on the provincial guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education for the registration of students. Related stories It just seems unfair Langley kids booted from school over mom in citizenship limbo Vancouver family reunited after Honduran dad three-year deportation Thousands of Lost Canadians still live in grey zone without citizenship I cannot comment on specific families or situations, Langley School District spokesman Ken Hoff wrote in an email Monday, but I can assure you that if the proper documentation is provided based on our guidelines, we are able to register students. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

manslaughter counts: He was convicted of multiple manslaughter counts, according to Brandon Sun. His Syrian crewmate, Mahmud Bikhit, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 9 million euros for facilitating illegal immigration. The Tunisian captain, Mohammad Ali Malek, was sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined 9 million euros. Prosecutors had accused Malek of inadvertently ramming the overloaded fishing boat he was captaining into a cargo ship that had come to its rescue on April 18, 2015. Only 28 survived. The boat flipped after passengers rushed to one side, trying to get off. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

middle name: Justino, who said she added Cyborg as a middle name on her naturalization papers, said coming to the United States has changed her life, according to The Waterloo Record. The first time I went to America, I had the opportunity to fight here and people really appreciate my work and appreciate my sport, she said, while lining up with 2,300 citizenship applicants for the day first ceremony. The 31-year-old from Curitiba, Brazil, was among thousands who took the oath of citizenship at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It an opportunity for me to give back for the American community what they give to me. I can participate more, she said. I can vote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

people: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the detention of tens of thousands of people and forced many more from public service jobs in recent months, according to Brandon Sun. On Tuesday, Turkey Interior Ministry said 568 people had been detained across 28 cities in the last two days due to their alleged affiliation with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The EU has watched on because it desperately wants Turkey help and is wary of angering Erdogan. At talks in Brussels, EU foreign and European affairs ministers decided that no new sections of Turkey accession negotiations should be started an attempt to balance their concerns about the crackdown against their need for Ankara to manage Europe refugee crisis. The EU has offered Turkey fast-track membership talks, visa free travel for its citizens and billions to help the Syrian refugees now in Turkey to persuade Ankara to stop tens of thousands of migrants from trying to reach Europe. Attacks on human rights and public freedoms, journalists, university goers, parliamentarians are imprisoned, said France European affairs minister Harlem Desir. Turkey is drifting today. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.