minority community: Gathered in the room were people from the Rohingya community and members of the non-Rohingya community, two sides of an inter-communal conflict, which became increasingly violent almost three months ago, according to Toronto Star. The Rohingya are a minority community of Muslims who have been refused citizenship by the government of the majority Buddhist country. The way forward became apparent when he walked into a small space with a large table. Read more Article Continued Below Burma's cardinal defends Suu Kyi against very unfair' criticism over Rohingya crisis Rohingya woman who fled Burma as baby now helping others escape to BangladeshU.S. considering individual sanctions in response to Rohingya crisis Tillerson react-empty 168 The two groups spoke to each other candidly. They had done business together. Thirty years ago, people from both communities had gone to school together. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minority voices: But if you're a woman of colour, you notice, according to CBC. Since allegations surfaced against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, provoking a landslide of more high-profile perpetrators including James Toback, Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner and Louis C.K., few minority voices have come forward. We often miss what we can't see. And when they have, the response can sometimes be different. Whenever visible minorities claim that they were harassed due to their gender and race, they have to establish that they perceived the situation accurately. If you are more powerless, more vulnerable, it can hurt your job opportunities, your reputation, your chances in the job market'- Yunxiang Gao, Ryerson University professor That there are obstacles due to race and gender are still a surprise, a shock to a lot of people, says Phani Radhakrishnan, a professor of organizational behaviour and human resources at the University of Toronto. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

operation parasol: And it was be killed or be gone, Arber told reporters Saturday at the Stadacona gymnasium at CFB Halifax, according to The Chronicle Herald. After a Serbian paramilitary member shot at his father Zeqirja outside their home, the family made the difficult decision to leave their war-torn country. Before I knew it, you had an ultimatum on your head. Zeqirja and his wife Bedrije signed up for Operation Parasol, in which United Nations countries such as Canada took in thousands of ethnic Albanian refugees. The family was part of a group who were processed at the Stadacona gymnasium, which was the first step in their journey toward making Halifax their home. They and their six children were among about 5,000 airlifted by the Canadian military, half to 14 Wing Greenwood and the rest to CFB Trenton. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

service: The reality is that we would like to see more diversity on the police services board, and would like to see that diversity reflected in the service itself, said Kamran Bhatti, a director of the Muslim Association of Hamilton, according to CBC. Bhattti said the service has come a long way over the past 15 years or so in reaching out to multicultural communities. The event comes at a time when Muslim community leaders have spoken out about lack of diversity on the board that oversees the service. Despite that we still don't see many, if any, members of the sergeant rank or higher who reflect the diverse makeup of the city of Hamilton, Bhatti said. We want to represent the population we serve' Chief Eric Girt said the service thinks about diversity in three categories when recruiting officers Cultural diversity, linguistic diversity and visual diversity. Hamilton police oversight board to take 'cultural competency' training You can't isolate yourself' Hamilton Muslims open doors to mosque visitors Recruiters from the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police, Hamilton Fire Department and Hamilton paramedics will also be at the event. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

years: When the officer said to me, Congratulations, you are now officially a Canadian permanent resident,' I thought I was dreaming, said Godroy, 43, who was a midwife in the Philippines, according to Toronto Star. And I started crying, but those were tears of joy, thinking back about all these years of my sacrifices for a better future for my children. After 13 agonizing years away from her family during which her marriage broke down and her mother passed away, Godroy finally managed to put up a genuine smile earlier this month when she got her immigration papers after a final interview at the immigration office in Etobicoke. How did I survive the hardship or am I still dreaming Godroy's heart-wrenching story was featured in a Star story this summer about how an immigration backlog is keeping live-in caregivers from their families back home. However, NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said it takes 56 months up from 53 in July for the government to process these permanent residence applications and almost 30,000 caregivers are currently caught up in the backlog. Article Continued Below Under the old live-in caregiver program before its overhaul in 2014, foreign caregivers were eligible to apply for permanent residency after two years of work in Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

computer scientists: He also said some fresh sets of eyes would be helpful in tackling security issues and a new set of brains and talent is needed, according to National Observer. Schmidt also said getting good at artificial intelligence will be very important to both governments and businesses in the coming years. In a wide-ranging panel discussion, Schmidt said there are a number of technological issues on the horizon when it comes to security, from the development of quantum computing to the rise of technology that doesn't require human control. He noted there are a huge number of computer scientists coming out of the world's top universities who can provide leadership. The executive took a number of questions from a crowd filled with government representatives, academics, security analysts and journalists, many of which addressed Google's role in protecting and disseminating information. He said Canada has made early progress on the artificial intelligence file by being open to immigrants and by heavily funding research. ; They understand that in Canada, this will be a major differentiator for them, Schmidt said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cabinet ministers: It includes political and military leaders, legislators and cabinet ministers, academic and business specialists in regional economies, trade, political movements, social trends, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism, according to The Chronicle Herald. There are journalists seasoned in covering conflicts and diplomacy one, Tawakkol Karman, a Nobel peace laureate for her work on behalf of women's rights in Yemen. As usual, this is an immensely diverse gathering. Many other participants are also involved in a host of civil-society organizations engaged in humanitaritan relief, assisting refugees, protecting civil and human rights, furthering gender equality and trying to save vulnerable lives in many ways. Yes, regional wars, nuclear-weapons proliferation, the Middle East conflict, the many faces of terrorism and rapidly evolving cyber-attacks will all be dissected and discussed. Rightly, they take a sweeping view of what we must consider threats and security. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

buyers rebates: As part of the campaign, the municipal government put 15 parcels of town land up for sale and offered prospective buyers rebates of up to 90 per cent, resulting in some lots being available for as little as 500, according to CTV. Officials say hundreds of calls flooded in, some from as far afield as China and Australia, while a steady trickle of visitors also came to the community to see what it had to offer. Officials in Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., recently launched a campaign to woo newcomers to the area and help rebuild a town that had been in a financial tailspin since the closure of a local pulp and paper mill. The town land got snapped up by a single developer within the first week, and government officials say private real estate sales are starting to increase thanks to newcomers who are taken with the area. Chief Administrative Officer Luc Denault said the mix of residential and commercial lots will be made available with the same generous incentives as the first batch, adding the move is expected to continue the positive momentum generated by the initial campaign. Officials say they're so pleased with the success of the campaign that they're putting another dozen parcels of town property up for sale by the end of the month. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

diwali event: If your stomach is full you can face the world better, said Agrawal, who moved from Dubia about a year ago with her family, according to CBC. Agrawal says finding familiar ingredients was a struggle when she first moved here and it's inspired her to open the store. Diwali event celebrates culture, raises funds for QEH Charlottetown hosting 2nd annual Newcomers Welcome Reception The number of people moving to P.E.I. from India is growing and Ramila Agrawal hopes the familiar flavours at her business will make it easier for people in their new home. Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC Once they have that great food in them as they're used to, I think they can face the prospect of living in a new place, mingling with the community, the new job, the new environment. Hard time finding familiar food With her new store on St. And I think it makes the settling down process so much more comfortable. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

increase thanks: As part of the campaign, the municipal government put 15 parcels of town land up for sale and offered prospective buyers rebates of up to 90 per cent, resulting in some lots being available for as little as 500, according to Toronto Star. Read more Operating a dealership in a small town has its benefits Article Continued Below Small town charm and affordable housing Officials say hundreds of calls flooded in, some from as far afield as China and Australia, while a steady trickle of visitors also came to the community to see what it had to offer. react-empty 158 The town land got snapped up by a single developer within the first week, and government officials say private real estate sales are starting to increase thanks to newcomers who are taken with the area. Officials in Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., recently launched a campaign to woo newcomers to the area and help rebuild a town that had been in a financial tailspin since the closure of a local pulp and paper mill. Officials say they're so pleased with the success of the campaign that they're putting another dozen parcels of town property up for sale by the end of the month. The outcome to date has been extremely positive and encouraging, not only for Smooth Rock Falls, but for people and businesses looking to establish themselves, Denault said in a telephone interview. Chief administrative officer Luc Denault said the mix of residential and commercial lots will be made available with the same generous incentives as the first batch, adding the move is expected to continue the positive momentum generated by the initial campaign. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nova scotians: Like so many, their introduction to their new home was CFB Halifax, according to CBC. It's where the family was met by military personnel before moving to temporary housing, and where, nearly two decades later, they met Kosovo President Hashim Tha i. Rexhepi and her family were among 5,000 Kosovar refugees who arrived in Canada in 1999. Kosovar refugee urges Nova Scotians to accept Syrians I'm so happy, and I'm so proud of you coming and visiting us and seeing where we live, so thank you, Rexhepi told Tha i on Saturday. They had spent six long weeks at a refugee camp in Macedonia some of that time without a tent, which meant they slept in the rain. From Macedonia to Halifax The Rexhepi family came to Canada somewhat on a whim. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

police killings: A similar bulletin on white supremacists, for example, came out about the same time, according to Toronto Star. The 12-page report, issued in August, says black identity extremists are increasingly targeting law enforcement after police killings of Black men, especially since the shooting of Michael Brown roiled Ferguson, Mo., in 2014. The FBI said it doesn't target specific groups, and the report is one of many its intelligence analysts produce to make law enforcement aware of what they see as emerging trends. The report describes cases in which extremists had acted in retaliation for perceived past police brutality incidents. Black leaders and activists were outraged after Foreign Policy revealed the existence of the report last month. It warned that such violence would probably continue. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya people: Human Rights Watch accuses Myanmar military of widespread rape'Human rights nightmare' in Myanmar could spread, UN chief warns This is just based upon senseless intolerance and hatred, said Osadchey, who is also the senior rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation in southwest Calgary, according to CBC. Since August, 600,000 refugees have fled Myanmar to escape what the United Nations is calling ethnic cleansing. People are being persecuted in a way that is forcing them to flee their homeland, Shaul Osadchey, co-chair of the Calgary Interfaith Council, told CBC at a news conference on Friday. The Rohingya people, mainly Muslims, have been denied citizenship in Myanmar. Rabbi Shaul Osadchey says every voice matters in trying to end the violence against Rohingya refugees. They've ended up in makeshift camps in southern Bangladesh. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tarana burke: The stakes are higher in a lot of instances for us than they are for a lot of other women, said Tarana Burke, a black activist who founded the MeToo movement on Twitter in 2006 to raise awareness around sexual violence, according to Metro News. That creates a dynamic where you have women of colour who have to think a little bit differently about what it means for them to come forward in cases of sexual harassment. The stories of abuse have roiled the entertainment industry, politics, tech and more, raising the possibility that this could be a watershed moment to end tolerance of such behaviour . But some observers fear minority women may miss the moment, as they often are more reticent to speak up about sexual harassment. A few high-profile minority actresses have come forward. When Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o wrote in a New York Times op-ed last month that she had an unsettling encounter with the producer in 2011 at his home, Weinstein quickly denied doing anything inappropriate with Nyong'o, after days of silence following similar accusations by famous white accusers. New York authorities are investigating claims from actress Paz de la Huerta that Weinstein raped her twice in 2010; he has denied charges of non-consensual sex with any woman. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

construction work: He appears shy, diminutive, not the kind you'd expect to take on the U.S. federal government, according to Metro News. But President Donald Trump's American has put many people in unlikely places in this case, made Torres a symbol of the undocumented immigrant's fight. At 32, he's muscled from years in construction work, yet short, perhaps only 5'5 with large brown eyes and a clipped beard. My daughters are my life, Torres told me on Wednesday. Wednesday marked 30 days until Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE officials planned to deport Torres, who came to America at the age of 18 and said he was soon trafficked into farm work, his immigration papers stolen. I'm fighting to stay here, side by side with my family. function set Cookie related path / ; Related Lives of anxiety Immigrants seek sanctuary in US churches Immigrants fear loss of humanitarian program under Trump'It's more like the big four now' Alberta increasingly popular among immigrants Moments before, on the stone steps of the First Grace United Methodist Church in New Orleans surrounded by heads of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths, TV crews, supporters and his wife, Torres a leader of a local immigrant worker's rights group announced he was taking sanctuary inside the church, for his family and on behalf of millions of undocumented families. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dream act: They want to know if that means Nielsen will openly urge Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act to provide the solution that you have recognized is needed, according to Metro News. The letter also seeks to pin Nielsen down on other contentious immigration policy questions. In a letter sent Friday to Kirstjen Nielsen, the 20 lawmakers said she agreed during her confirmation hearing earlier this month on the need for legislation that would put so-called Dreamers on a path to U.S. citizenship. For example, they asked if she believes people from Central America living in the United States under temporary protected status, or TPS, should be sent back to their home countries. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill. The Senate version of the Dream Act is sponsored by Sens. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

engagement: As the world awaits a royal announcement, it's worth considering how a potential engagement and subsequent wedding would go down, according to CTV. To break it down, royal commentators Richard Berthelsen and royal commentator Victoria Arbiter answered CTVNews.ca's questions about what a future engagement and marriage may look like for the lovebirds. After their first official and affectionate public outing together at the Invictus Games in Toronto this fall, Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle have fuelled intense speculation that they will be engaged any day now. When would they announce the engagement Both Berthelsen and Arbiter agree that it's highly unlikely the Royal Family will announce Prince Harry and Markle's engagement before the Queen's platinum wedding anniversary on Nov. 20. Additionally, the Queen's family Christmas festivities and annual message to the public on Christmas Day are also important events in her calendar so it's fair to assume there wouldn't be an announcement then, Arbiter said. It's the first time a British Monarch has reached that milestone and the prince and his girlfriend would be careful not to upstage it, Arbiter explained. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

lauchlan: Conveying legal information accurately in a foreign language can be difficult, says Eliza Mac Lauchlan, according to CBC. Angela Walker/CBC It's something that touches everyone, I guess, at some point in their lives, whether or not that's because they are separating or just because they're getting married, said Mac Lauchlan. Immigrant language speaker population exploding on P.E.I. Eliza Mac Lauchlan, public legal education and information officer with the association, said 40 to 50 per cent of their clients inquire about family law, and it can sometimes be difficult to accurately convey legal information to people whose first language isn't English or French. They need to understand a bit better about what that actually means, and what the implications of that here in Canada are. The association expects to have it available in the spring. A new booklet from the association will address some of the most common questions about family law, and it will be published in seven languages Mandarin, Vietnamese, Spanish, Persian, and Arabic, as well as English and French. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

london lightning: John's Edge on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre, according to The Chronicle Herald. The Halifax team returns a strong core of veterans for the season from its team that lost in the league championship last season to the London Lightning. The Hurricanes open their regular season by hosting the St. Cliff Clinkscales, Billy White, Renaldo Dixon, CJ Washington, Tyrone Watson, Mike Poole, Ta'Quan Zimmerman and late addition Antoine Mason are the returnees. Other newcomers are fellow Canadian and Trinity Western forward Denny Mac Donald and shot-blocking big man Rhamel Brown, from Brooklyn, N.Y. Hurricanes head coach Mike Leslie was excited about what he saw in the pre-season. The Hurricanes welcome four newcomers to the team, including former Saint Mary's Huskies star guards Brian Rouse and Theon Reefer. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mary j: It debuted Friday on Netflix, according to CTV. Husband and wife Henry and Laura McAllan played by Jason Clarke and Carey Mulligan are newcomers to the ramshackle property, sharing their cramped, rundown home with Henry's racist father, Pappy Jonathan Banks who has ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Based on the novel by Hillary Jordan, the devastating ensemble film illustrates the interlaced lives of two families -- one black, one white -- sharing farmland in the 1940s Mississippi Delta. The McAllans meet sharecroppers Hap and Florence Jackson Rob Morgan and Mary J. Blige who have worked the land for generations, trying to rise above the social and racial barriers that seek to oppress them. I knew that I wanted this to be a story about two families ... and how they have this symbiotic, dysfunctional connection to the land and to each other. One of the things that I liked were these multiple points of view, said Rees, who co-wrote the screenplay with Virgil Williams. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

opening reception: Latest conditions from CBC Weather It'll be warm with rain on Saturday so much so there's a special weather statement and then cold with flurries on Sunday, according to CBC. But don't let the weather keep you inside - there's plenty to do this weekend. Where to see Santa Claus parades in Waterloo region and area He'll be making stops in the Kitchener-Waterloo parade Saturday morning, Cambridge's parade through Hespeler on Saturday evening and Guelph's parade is Sunday afternoon. Syria Film Festival 6 p.m. opening reception, Friday, Nov. 17 6 20 p.m. first film starts, Saturday, Nov. 18 6 20 p.m. first film starts, Sunday, Nov. 19 Lazaridis Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, 64 University Avenue, Waterloo The International Students Overcoming War are partnering with Kitchener organization Najda Now to bring this film festival to the region. The film Yellow on Sunday will be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Wael Saad Aldeen. The films will cover topics such as aspirations and struggles of Syrians and it will also get audiences talking about social justice, human rights and global citizenship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pope visit: During the visit starting Nov. 27, Francis will be toeing a very delicate diplomatic line, given that he has in the past strongly condemned the persecution of our Rohingya brothers, denounced their suffering and called for them to receive full rights, according to Metro News. In a videomessage to Myanmar released Friday, Francis didn't mention Rohingya or the conflict, but said he wanted to bring a message of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace to Myanmar. Cardinal Charles Bo spoke to The Associated Press ahead of Pope Francis' visit next week to Myanmar and Bangladesh, to where nearly 620,000 Rohingya have fled to escape the violence by Myanmar security forces in the poverty-wracked Rakhine state. He said that message was rooted in the Gospel, which teaches the dignity of every man and woman and compels us to open our hearts to the other, especially the poorest and neediest. He said the military had mounted a disproportionate response to attacks on Myanmar security forces by Rohingya militants. Bo said Suu Kyi certainly should have spoken out earlier against the looting, burning and killing in Rakhine. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

president donald: That plan has its roots in President Donald Trump's repeated pledge during the 2016 campaign to subject immigrants seeking admission to the United States to more intense ideological scrutiny or, as he put it, extreme vetting . Over the summer, DHS published a statement of objectives for a system that would use computer algorithms to scan social media and other material in order to automatically flag undesirable entrants and to continuously scan the activities of those allowed into the U.S. The goal, that document stated, was to let computers help determine whether an immigrant intends to commit criminal or terrorist acts, as well as their likelihood of becoming a positively contributing member of society, according to The Chronicle Herald. In a joint letter to DHS on Thursday, the dissenting researchers called that approach neither appropriate nor feasible. The experts, a group of more than 50 computer and data scientists, mathematicians and other specialists in automated decision-making, urged the Department of Homeland Security to abandon the project, dubbed the Extreme Vetting Initiative. BACKGROUND OF THE PLAN In the document, the office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it was seeking a contractor to automate background checks of foreigners seeking temporary or permanent entry to the U.S. It outlined plans for mining Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, academic websites and other publicly-available internet data, then using AI techniques to analyze it and to keep monitoring those sources. ICE's public presentations to interested vendors haven't been updated since August, raising the possibility that the agency might have scrapped or significantly altered the plan since then. This contractor would be expected to generate at least 10,000 investigative leads a year that would be forwarded to federal agents, according to the document. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

video message: During the visit starting Nov. 27, Francis will be toeing a very delicate diplomatic line, given that he has in the past strongly condemned the persecution of our Rohingya brothers, denounced their suffering and called for them to receive full rights, according to Toronto Star. Read more Rohingya woman who fled Burma as baby now helping others escape to Bangladesh Article Continued Below U.S. considering individual sanctions in response to Rohingya crisis TillersonUN chief raises alarm over Rohingya crisis in speech as Burma's Suu Kyi sits close by In a video message to Burma released Friday, Francis didn't mention Rohingya or the conflict, but said he wanted to bring a message of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace to Burma. Cardinal Charles Bo spoke to The Associated Press ahead of Pope Francis' visit next week to Burma and Bangladesh, to where nearly 620,000 Rohingya have fled to escape the violence by Burma security forces in the poverty-wracked Rakhine state. He said that message was rooted in the Gospel, which teaches the dignity of every man and woman and compels us to open our hearts to the other, especially the poorest and neediest. react-empty 159 Bo said Suu Kyi certainly should have spoken out earlier against the looting, burning and killing in Rakhine. But he said Aung Sung constitutionally has no voice to say anything to the military. He said the military had mounted a disproportionate response to attacks on Burma security forces by Rohingya militants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

african descent: Biko Beauttah is a tireless human rights activist, according to NOW Magazine. She's a board member for Pride Toronto and The 519. When asked what her life would be like back in Kenya were her petition denied she said I would most likely have been a successful doctor, unhappily married to a woman who deserves better, with beautiful children whose only wish for me would probably be that I was happy. She's sat on tolerance and equity panels for the Canadian Council for Refugees and the Refugee Pride Convention, and she was one of the first queer people of African descent to open the Toronto Stock Exchange. So, she came up with a solution I threw myself a job fair. And yet, with such a brilliant resume, Beauttah, like many trans women of colour who face employment discrimination, says that she can't find a job. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hungarian leader: My own personal encounter with this airbrushed fascism came in 2013 when I traveled to Budapest to do a story about Csan d Szegedi, a former vice-president of Jobbik, Hungary's far-right political party, according to National Observer. I was filming a story about the 31-year-old for 16x9, Global TV's current affairs program. Today, the new face of fascism is more sanitized and mainstream especially in Europe with parties like the National Front, UKIP and Freedom Party of Austria. Szegedi had been one of Jobbik's rising young stars, an anti-Semite who'd won a seat in the European Parliament in 2009. Jobbik is anti-Semitic, anti-immigration and anti-Roma while hero-worshipping Admiral Mikl s Horthy, the Hungarian leader who allied with Hitler until 1944. On his first day as a parliamentarian, he wore the black tunic of Jobbik's banned paramilitary organization he'd help found the Hungarian Guard. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.