pete pantages: Built in 1907, Vancouver's Pantages theatre was vacant for nearly 20 years when it succumbed to the wrecking ball in 2011, according to Vancouver Courier. Alexander Pantages had a slew of nephews and cousins who helped him run this theatre and other Pantages theatres in his portfolio and a West Coast vaudeville circuit boasting over 70 venues. The man was Peter Pete Pantages, a Greek immigrant with showbiz in his family tree, a popular restaurant of his own, and the charm to have talked some buddies into plunging into the frigid Vancouver waters on January 1, 1920, essentially inaugurating the Polar Bear Swim.article continues below Trending Storiesrelated Polar Bear swimmers continue long, colourful tradition If the Pantages name sounds like it should be up in lights on the outside of a theatre, well, that's what it was and remains, in many North American cities . Pete's uncle Pericles Pantages who preferred to call himself Alexander, after Alexander the Great ran Vancouver's Pantages theatre, which was at 152 East Hastings Street. Pete Pantages, who was helping out with the family theatre business in Vancouver when he first moved to town, reportedly liked to swim up to three times a day in English Bay, according to writer and historian Eve Lazarus. Pantages ended up started the Polar Bear Swim Club. The Polar Bear Swimmers get ready to go in, January 1, 1939. - City of Vancouver Archives So confident you could swim in English Bay any and every day of the year, Pete convinced five or so friends to jump in with him on the first day of 1920. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

customs enforcement: Records from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement indicate Santiago Garcia entered the country illegally in 2004, The Salt Lake Tribune reported . She was first ordered to leave in 2006 but was given a delay, according to Metro News. She has tried to win a stay of deportation but was denied on Dec. 20, forcing her to leave the country. They carried signs that read No person is illegal and Keep families and communities together. Some supporters cried as Santiago Garcia make her way through the airport with her children 11, 9, 5 and 3, who are American citizens. They're afraid. Speaking through a translator, she said she was sad to leave and worried about the lack of opportunities in Guatemala and how her children would adapt to life there. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

suv spectrum: At the more affordable end of the SUV spectrum, the all-conquering Nissan Qashqai will see a number of new and refreshed rivals, including the new version of the Jeep Compass that's already doing pretty well in America, according to CTV. The Jeep is a good-looking model, but will probaby not significantly challenge the Nissan's European sales figures. Here's a look at some of 2018's most exciting SUV newcomers. Japanese brand Mitsubishi, once one of the big names in SUVs with the Shogun, has fallen way behind in recent years. It might be something of a dark horse, but its innovative styling could prove popular. In an attempt to become relevant again, the company is introducing the Eclipse Cross, a striking midsize crossover with competitive pricing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

news stories: CBC News Network's Power & Politics has combed through this year's archives to bring you some of the political highlights of 2017, from the most cringe-worthy blunders to the biggest players to watch, according to CBC. Today, we turn our attention to the top news stories of 2017. Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press An asylum-seeker surge across the Canada-U.S. border, the run-up to legalized pot and a trade relationship in flux made some of the biggest headlines in Canada in 2017. The Power Panel Counsel Public Affairs' Brad Lavigne, former Conservative cabinet minister Stockwell Day, Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove, University of Regina School of Journalism's Merelda Fiddler and Susan Smith of Bluesky Strategy Group help the CBC's David Cochrane count down the can't-miss moments of 2017. 5. Thousands of asylum seekers illegally crossed the U.S. border into Canada in 2017, most notably in Manitoba and Quebec, after President Donald Trump's clampdown on immigration triggered an exodus. Asylum-seeker surge '1119860291923', 'playlist Selector' 'container Selector' ' container3500854', 'ciid' 'caffeine14456668' ; Top 5 news stories Asylum seekers7 12 A debate in the United States over expiring temporary protected status for migrants didn't just trickle across the border to Canada, it surged. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

president: Critics contend that Macron's increasingly tough policy on migrants though wrapped in a cloak of goodwill contradicts his image as a humanist who defeated an anti-immigrant populist for the presidency, and has crossed a line passed by no other president in the land that prides itself as the cradle of human rights, according to Toronto Star. Read more France mobilizes 97,000 police, soldiers as security with fears of holiday terrorist attacks high Article Continued Below Macron's vulgar comments on jobless in France fuels his image as president of the rich'French President Emmanuel Macron sets sights on being leader of the free world From snowy Alpine passes to the borders with Spain or Germany, migrants keep making their way to France. That won't likely happen, and Macron's government is now tightening the screws ramping up expulsions, raising pressure on economic migrants and allowing divisive ID checks in emergency shelters. In Paris alone, police have evacuated around 30,000 people camping on sidewalks in the last two years. react-empty 163 No one doubts that France's system of dealing with migrants needs fixing, with a perennial housing shortage and long wait times in applying for asylum. Living in a tent. Living in the street. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rohingya muslims: It was also a year marked by tragedies around the world, according to Toronto Star. More than 620,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Burma to Bangladesh to escape a bloody campaign of ethnic cleansing. It may have kicked into high gear after the Harvey Weinstein scandal but the outrage started growing during the Bill Cosby trial and the brouhaha over the firing of Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. There were terrorist attacks from Istanbul to Mexico to Paris to Pakistan and a deadly carnage, too, from mass shootings. The world, too, mourned the passing of Hollywood idols and legendary musicians. Terrifyingly memorable among them was the killing of almost 60 and wounding of 400 at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

screws ramping: Critics contend that Macron's increasingly tough policy on migrants -- though wrapped in a cloak of goodwill -- contradicts his image as a humanist who defeated an anti-immigrant populist for the presidency, and has crossed a line passed by no other president in the land that prides itself as the cradle of human rights, according to CTV. From snowy Alpine passes to the borders with Spain or Germany, migrants keep making their way to France. That won't likely happen, and Macron's government is now tightening the screws ramping up expulsions, raising pressure on economic migrants and allowing divisive ID checks in emergency shelters. In Paris alone, police have evacuated around 30,000 people camping on sidewalks in the last two years. Living in the street. No one doubts that France's system of dealing with migrants needs fixing, with a perennial housing shortage and long wait times in applying for asylum. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pain medications: It is estimated that by the end of this year, more than 4,000 people will die of drug-induced overdose in Canada, according to NOW Magazine. And still, a public health emergency has yet to be called by either the provincial or federal government. On December 18, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that at least 1,460 people died of opioid overdose in the first half of 2017. Federally, there is still no comprehensive overdose strategy. Those of us on the front lines harm reduction workers, people who use drugs and their allies are often told by politicians that they are working around the clock to address the crisis. The Ontario government missed the mark with its action plan, focusing primarily on pain medications and not overdose deaths. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

arizona lawman: Born in Nogales, Mexico, Marco Antonio Estrada was raised just north of the U.S. border, giving him a unique perspective on issues related to it and strong opinions about treatment of immigrants, according to Metro News. Pointedly, the white-haired, 74-year-old Spanish-speaker has said he's not a fan of President Donald Trump, his proposed border wall or his hardline immigration policies. Sheriff Tony Estrada is a different kind of Arizona lawman. Estrada has become an even harsher critic during the president's first months in office as detentions of migrants away from the border have soared. As a lawman, Estrada said he opposes illegal immigration and has long ensured his deputies turn over to federal authorities those people they find to be in the country illegally. Arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose officers pick up people for deportation, surged 40 per cent from the same period a year earlier. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

donald trump: He said his order does not apply to refugees without a bona fide relationship to a person or an entity within the United States, according to Toronto Star. President Donald Trump restarted the refugee program in October with enhanced vetting capabilities. Robart ordered the federal government to process certain refugee applications. It came after the heads of three U.S. agencies sent a memo to Trump saying certain refugees must be excluded unless additional security measures are implemented. Read more about United States, Donald Trump Do you want to help shapethe Toronto Star's future Join our team of readers who are passionate about journalism and share your views. Article Continued Below It applies to the families of refugees already living in the U.S. and all refugees from 11 countries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

liberties union: Government lawyers argued that the ban is needed to protect national security, according to The Chronicle Herald. Robart ordered the federal government to process certain refugee applications. U.S. District Judge James Robart heard arguments Thursday in lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union and Jewish Family Service, which say the ban causes irreparable harm and puts some people at risk. He said his order applies to people with a bona fide relationship to a person or entity within the United States. The day before his executive order, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats sent a memo to Trump saying certain refugees must be banned unless additional security measures are implemented. President Donald Trump restarted the refugee program in October with enhanced vetting capabilities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

buddhist nation: The returns are supposed to be voluntary, according to CTV. But many members of the religious minority, now living in sprawling refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, are afraid to go back. With so many obstacles, however, and no real sign of good will, few believe that will happen. They don't trust the nationalist-led government and feel widely hated by the general population. Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million, was basking in international praise just a few years ago as it transitioned to democracy after a half-century of dictatorship. Meanwhile, the military -- which violently ousted them -- says the refugees shouldn't expect to return in large numbers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government troops: It is a matter of time before they reach our positions, he said, according to Metro News. These are the first reported violations of the cease-fire that went into effect just after midnight. Gabriel said government troops also were en route to launch another attack in the Wau area. The warring sides agreed to the cessation of hostilities on Thursday after days of internationally mediated talks in neighbouring Ethiopia. No one knows how many tens of thousands of people have been killed. South Sudan government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told The Associated Press that How can we violate the cease-fire It just went into effect. ... We can only fire back in self- defence . The East African country is entering its fifth year of civil war. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

neighbouring bangladesh: The returns are supposed to be voluntary, according to Toronto Star. But many members of the religious minority, now living in sprawling refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, are afraid to go back. With so many obstacles, however, and no real sign of good will, few believe that will happen. They don't trust the nationalist-led government and feel widely hated by the general population. Read more Article Continued Below She gave birth in no-man's-land. Meanwhile, the military, which violently ousted them, says the refugees shouldn't expect to return in large numbers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

security robart: Government lawyers argued that the ban is needed to protect national security, according to CTV. Robart ordered the federal government to process certain refugee applications. U.S. District Judge James Robart heard arguments Thursday in lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union and Jewish Family Service, which say the ban causes irreparable harm and puts some people at risk. He said his order applies to people with a bona fide relationship to a person or entity within the United States. The day before his executive order, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats sent a memo to Trump saying certain refugees must be banned unless additional security measures are implemented. U.S. President Donald Trump restarted the refugee program in October with enhanced vetting capabilities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vetting capabilities: Robart ordered the federal government to process certain refugee applications, according to Metro News. He said his order applies to people with a bona fide relationship to a person or entity within the United States. Government lawyers argued that the ban is needed to protect national security. President Donald Trump restarted the refugee program in October with enhanced vetting capabilities. It applies to the spouses and minor children of refugees who have already settled in the U.S. and suspends the refugee program for people coming from 11 countries, nine of which are mostly Muslim. The day before his executive order, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats sent a memo to Trump saying certain refugees must be banned unless additional security measures are implemented. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nour sayem: I worked in Turkey as a cook, I'm very happy to be here with Mrs, according to CBC. Nour, very happy, said one of those women, Hanan Abdul Karim, taking her time to find the correct words in French. The women who will be cooking the delicacies and ringing up the cash register have just started rebuilding their lives in Quebec, after fleeing their homes in Syria. Karim has been taking French-language classes in Quebec City since she arrived in 2015 with her six children. Nour Sayem says the flavours of Syrian cuisine feature fresh herbs and spices, and the ingredients are all natural. A seventh is on the way. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

room: Using the example of the holy family to emphasize the dangers that attend those who have to leave their home behind, Francis noted that in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary found a city that had no room or place for the stranger from afar, and which seemed to want to build itself up by turning its back on others, according to Toronto Star. On Sunday night in St. Recalling that Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn, Francis highlighted the biblical story in a present day in which the White House has restricted travel for people from predominantly Muslim countries, the Myanmar military has carried out a vicious campaign against a stateless Rohingya minority, and wars, human trafficking and the indifference of wealthy nations have resulted in millions of families languishing in squalid refugee camps. Peter's Basilica, Francis further elevated the plight of the world's castaways, saying that their footsteps followed those trudged by Joseph and the pregnant Mary to the manger. Article Continued Below The pope, who recently turned 81, is in the fifth year of a papacy that supporters and critics have both called revolutionary. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones, he said, adding that while some seek a better life, for many others this departure can only have one name survival. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

york: The New York Times claims that it heard about the egregious remarks from two U.S. officials -- one who attended the meeting and a second who was briefed on it by another attendee, according to CTV. Both requested anonymity to discuss the meeting, the New York Times said. According to the Dec. 23 report, during a June meeting in the Oval Office on immigration, a plainly enraged Trump said recent Haitian arrivals all have AIDS and Nigerians would never go back to their huts in Africa after seeing the United States. On Saturday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders vehemently denied that Trump had uttered the two offensive statements. It's both sad and telling The New York Times would print the lies of their anonymous sources' anyway. General Kelly, General McMaster, Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Nielsen and all other senior staff actually in the meeting deny these outrageous claims, she told the newspaper, referring to four top-level White House officials who were present in the Oval Office that day. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

surprise resurgence: By 2040-41, the federal debt would top out at around 1.08 trillion before starting to fall, as compared to last year's prediction that it would reach 1.55 trillion by 2050-51, according to National Observer. The improvement is attributed to an overall boost in the fiscal outlook, particularly in the medium term, which comes after the Canadian economy mounted a surprise resurgence over the past 12 months. If such a scenario played out, the deficit would reach an annual high of 24.8 billion around 2030-31 before beginning to fall. While long-term predictions contain considerable uncertainty, Finance Minister Bill Morneau nonetheless said the projections prove the Liberal government's plan is bearing fruit. Our plan is working. We have an ambitious plan to grow Canada's economy by investing in people, growing the middle class and helping those working hard to join it, Morneau said in a statement Friday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

carl tobias: Hawaii, which is suing to stop the ban, has argued that it will be harmful because families will be separated and university recruitment will be hampered, according to CTV. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court lifted temporary lower court orders that had prevented the latest ban from taking effect. The 77-page ruling released late Friday says Trump's proclamation makes no finding whatsoever that simply being from one of the countries cited in the ban makes someone a security risk. The status quo was maintained when the 9th Circuit stayed its decision, said Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. Given the shockingly rapid volley of executive actions and court decisions, this is surely just the latest in a long series of battles to come. The ruling was unusual, but it's a unique case, he said, noting the Supreme Court has not set argument dates because it has not yet decided to grant an appeal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

berlin wall: Such was the case for Detlef Wiedenhoft, who, as a young boy, got stuck behind the Berlin Wall in East Germany and could not join his mother in Canada for 24 years, according to Metro News. Hannelore Marcus had immigrated to Canada in 1957, leaving her infant son with his grandparents in East Germany. Sometimes, not being together is actually best. The border was open at the time and Marcus and Detlaf's stepfather planned on sending for the boy once they were established in Canada. It became almost impossible for him to join his mom. That took longer than expected the couple struggled to maintain employment and when East Germany began walling off its border in 1961, Wiedenhoft was trapped inside. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

edward moyo: Now huddled in five sprawling camps in Ethiopia, the refugees face ration cuts in the coming months unless more international support arrives, according to CTV. Their plight is often overlooked in a region where hunger and conflict in Somalia and South Sudan put millions at risk. But the problems for more than 200,000 Somali refugees are far from over. The projection we have is that our already reduced aid handout for these Somali refugees is sustainable only up to March 2018, Edward Moyo with the World Food Program told The Associated Press during a visit to one of the camps. And yet the number of new arrivals from Somalia continues to grow, at a rate of as high as 1,000 a day. How are we going to explain to a pregnant mother who has a number of other children that we are going to cut her ration beyond what she's already going through In nutrition centres across the camp that is home to nearly 40,000 refugees, health workers say they are seeing a growing number of Somali children with malnutrition. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jingle bells: Christmas exists in two worlds sacred and secular, according to Toronto Star. Even Father Christmas is seen more as secular Santa Claus than sacred St. Happy Holidays. Nicholas. Their favourite Christmas carols were Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman rather than O Holy Night. Having taught in the public school system for 25 years in a community where the majority of the students were of Christian heritage, Christmas meant Santa Claus, gift-giving, family get-togethers, special food, two-week holidays and very little mention of Jesus Christ. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

state trooper: Ahmed Aminamin El-Mofty fired at a Harrisburg police officer on Friday afternoon and later at a state trooper, wounding her before pursuing her, Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said, according to The Chronicle Herald. He fired several shots at a Capitol police officer and at a Pennsylvania state police trooper in marked vehicles, Marsico told reporters, flanked by state police, Capitol police and FBI officials. There's no doubt a gunman who fired at police in several locations in the state capital, wounding one of them before they shot and killed him, was targeting police officers, a prosecutor said. The gunfire began shortly after 4 p.m. About 20 or 30 minutes later, he fired several shots at the state trooper, striking her with one of those shots. Friday, when the man fired several shots at a state capitol officer in downtown Harrisburg, striking his car several times and sending one shot that went very close to hitting him, Marsico said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

policy adviser: But so many foreigners had flooded into the country since January, he vented to his national security team, that it was making a mockery of his pledge, according to Toronto Star. Friends were calling to say he looked like a fool, Trump said. Five months before, Trump had dispatched federal officers to U.S. airports to stop travellers from several Muslim countries from entering the United States in a dramatic demonstration of how he would deliver on his campaign promise to fortify U.S. borders. According to six officials who attended or were briefed about the meeting, Trump then began reading aloud from the document, which his domestic policy adviser, Stephen Miller, had given him just before the meeting. Read more Article Continued Below Supreme Court's temporary OK for Trump's travel ban puts focus on Wednesday hearing in Seattle Under Trump, U.S. deportation arrests soar 40 per cent compared to year before More than 2,500 were from Afghanistan, a terrorist haven, the president complained. react-empty 168 Haiti had sent 15,000 people. The document listed how many immigrants had received visas to enter the United States in 2017. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.