hiyam janduda: His wife, Hiyam Janduda, added that donating blood is a way of saying thanks to the country that has helped so many people start new lives, according to CTV. The coordinated effort, which included cities from Halifax to Vancouver, has been declared Syrian Canadian Donation Day by the Ottawa-based non-profit Humans for Peace Institution, which also hopes to make this an annual event. We need to save lives, donor Adel Ghanam said from Calgary. Donating blood, one organizer explained, is considered a significant symbolic gesture across much of the Middle East. To give blood is to give life, Syrian refugee Mohammed Alsaleh, who helped organize Vancouver's blood drive, added. When people want to really assure you that they are going to do whatever they can for you, they always say, I'm going to sacrifice my blood for you,' said Sam Nammoura, a Syrian-Canadian who co-founded Calgary's Syrian Refugee Support Group. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

verification card: The statement said authorities determined whether they had lived in Myanmar and provided them with a national verification card, according to The Chronicle Herald. The card is a form of ID, but does not mean citizenship something Rohingya have been denied in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they've faced persecution for decades. A government statement said Saturday that five members of a family returned to western Rakhine state from the border area. It said that the family was staying temporarily with relatives in Maungdaw town, the administrative centre close to the border. Bangladesh has given Myanmar a list of more than 8,000 refugees to begin the repatriation, but it has been further delayed by a complicated verification process. The statement did not say if any more repatriations are being planned. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

calgary activist: We took a stand against people who claim that they are Christians, who claim that they are Conservatives, who claim they are patriots but they are anything but, according to CTV. We know what they have done in the past, we know how much hate they have inside them against Muslims, said Saima Jamal, a Calgary activist who helped organize the event. Members of the anti-racism side say the event was a good opportunity for them to take a stand against hate. Jamal says that both events were scheduled weeks ago and she wants people to know that they are protesting the views of their opponents who claim to be holding a Christian event. Muslims and Christians and Jews and every other faith in this city stay united and we celebrate each other's faith and we celebrate each other's diversity, Jamal said. We know Christians, we love Christians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language populations: When it comes to issues like planing, infrastructure and addressing social challenges, we need to cross connect all of these communities which we're not doing, according to Toronto Star. Last month, George Chahal showed the need for better communication with those who don't speak English as their first language on the council floor when he helped translate a constituent concerns and questions about the secondary suite process in Punjabi for the rest of council to hear. People are really agitated and alienated, said Atiya Ashna, an active northeast community member. Coun. It started a broader conversation about how Calgary is speaking to and engaging immigrant and English as a second language populations. Jyoti Gondek also stood and responded to the man's questions in his own language an unconventional but eye-opening first for many who follow municipal politics. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ocean liner: The well-known Titanic disaster of 1912, has much in common with the sinking of the SS Atlantic, an ocean liner that sank just outside of Halifax in April of 1873, killing more than 550 people, according to CTV. The worst Trans-Atlantic passenger ship disaster of the 19th century and the worst of the 20th century, were ships that were built in the same yard, belong to the same company, and were travelling at night, in April, and both experienced a collision, explains historian Bob Chaulk, author of the book 'SS Atlantic The White Star Line's First Disaster at Sea'. Built by White Star Line- the same company behind the Titanic- the SS Atlantic was making its way from Liverpool, England to New York City when they were diverted to Halifax. But you may not know that the largest North-Atlantic marine disaster prior to the Titanic also occurred on the shores of Nova Scotia. They ran low on coal because they had a very stormy crossing and they were afraid they wouldn't make it to New York, so they did the sensible thing and diverted to Halifax, explains Chaulk. The ship was swept about 25 km off course, and at 3 15 a.m. on April 1st, the SS Atlantic smashed full speed into the rocky shores at Lower Prospect. But the ship's captain had never sailed into Halifax and didn't take into account the strong local currents created by the Bay of Fundy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sponsor volha: While the March 20 decision simply said the application was denied because the officer wasn't satisfied the relationship was genuine, the Toronto man says the officer questioned Volha repeatedly during an interview about why the sponsorship application was filed almost two years after their wedding in May 2015, when the husband and wife last saw each other, according to Toronto Star. I was waiting for the house to be almost done before I filed the application to sponsor Volha and her son, said Oren, 49, an IT consultant. Now, after a tangled journey that involved buying a home in a pre-construction project that fell through, a new four-bedroom house is finally ready, but it's sitting empty because his spousal sponsorship for Volha and Yaheni Oren was rejected by the Canadian visa post in Poland in March. I don't want to bring somebody to Canada without a place to put them. Article Continued Below However, the occupancy of his home was delayed and Urbancorp later sold the project to another builder after filing for restructuring under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in 2016. In an interview with the Star, Oren said he paid a 75,000 deposit for a pre-built Urbancorp home near Lawrence Ave. and Black Creek Dr. in 2014, a year after he was introduced to his wife by a mutual friend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugee: The chemical attack itself is psychologically hard on us as Syrians, she said, according to CTV. Over the past seven years, we've witnessed all kinds of deaths. Yaman Al-Quadri, a Syrian refugee who fled to Canada after being detained by government of Syrian president Bashar Assad for a month shortly after the start of the uprising in March, 2011, called the experience of watching her people suffer through chemical attacks at the hands of the military an emotional rollercoaster. Sarin gas is one of the banned war weapons according to international treaties but the Assad regime has been killing people over the past seven years using all kinds of weapons. Omar Jandali Riafi said the Montreal Syrian community had been anticipating an American response since the attack. According to a White House assessment, the Syrian government used chemical weapons in Duma, Al-Quadri's hometown, on April 7, killing dozens of men, women and children and leaving hundreds of others injured. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: Sam Nammoura, with the Syrian Refugee Support Group of Calgary, helped organize a blood drive for the Syrian community back in January, according to Toronto Star. The success of the event got him and other organizers thinking that they could organize another Canada-wide. Coast to coast, Syrian refugees were showing their gratitude for a chance at a new life by donating blood to help other lives. More than 10 cities are participating. Reham Ghanam was 14 when her family fled Syria and headed to Lebanon. We really wanted to come together across the country as a Syrian community and say in one loud voice that we are here to build, participate, integrate and to appreciate the support and the help that was given to Syrians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government: Growing restrictions on U.S. immigration are also leading many talented scientists to look elsewhere for opportunities, including in Canada. ; It's easy and comforting perhaps to think that similar problems encountered under the former Harper government in Canada have been resolved since the election of the Trudeau government in 2015, according to National Observer. But while the Trudeau government has proven much more supportive of science than the former Harper government, serious systemic problems remain that endanger both the integrity and future of public science in Canada. Under U.S. president Donald Trump's administration, the dismissal and defunding of science especially, but not limited to, climate and environmental science has given new urgency to efforts to protect and promote science in the public interest. They cannot wait to be resolved by a later generation or government. While that's a marked improvement over the 90% who said the same thing in 2013, it's hardly reassuring to think that fewer than half of federal scientists are free to tell Canadians what they do for a living or what they know. According to a recent Environics survey of federal scientists commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, over half 53% of respondents continue to say they cannot speak freely about science and their research. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minister theresa: Critics swiftly accused Britain and France of playing loyal deputies to an unpredictable American leader, viewed by many in Europe with suspicion or outright scorn, according to Vancouver Courier. Some worried it could further antagonize Europe's hulking neighbour Russia at an already tense time.article continues below Trending Stories Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis Comedian Jim Gaffigan trolls rainy Vancouver Police deal with 10-car pile-up on Cypress Bowl Road Superyacht Cloudbreak anchors off Vancouver's coast British Prime Minister Theresa May was decried for not seeking parliamentary approval for Saturday's co-ordinated airstrikes. Now they need to make sure it doesn't backfire. French President Emmanuel Macron was accused of compromising the independence of a country that famously stayed out of former U.S. President George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq. Yet the co-ordinated bombings tapped into the prevailing mood among leaders of the two powers, who are united in a sense that something had to be done to stop Syrian President Bashar Assad's government from repeatedly using chemical weapons. And worst of all, Saturday's one-shot military operation may not substantially change the course of the war in Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

people: For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men, according to National Observer. He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe. ; And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. The recording was tabled into evidence by the Crown during Bissonnette's sentencing hearing. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alexandre bissonnette: And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees, according to The Chronicle Herald. For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe. He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

end poverty: Advocates have long argued that Indigenous people should have a cultural centre the German and Polish Culture Associations both do, for example and plans for a facility were eventually included in End Poverty Edmonton's five-year road map to end poverty, according to Toronto Star. The plan got city council approval back in May 2016, along with 1.3 million in funding for the design phase. In our communities when someone passes away, we like to have wakes and we need a large space and we need to be able to burn our medicines and practice our traditional ways, so it could facilitate events like that, said Carola Cunningham, a community member of the Indigenous steering committee. Public consultation for the project started Thursday at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, where organizers hoped to get feedback about what the community would like to see included. The Centre could be a showcase for showing the rest of the world different Indigenous tribal ways of being, she said. Article Continued Below Cunningham pointed out there are many different Indigenous groups in the city, and said the facility would need to be big and versatile enough to include space for all as they all have different ways of doing their ceremonies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant outcomes: Public support often aided by a diversity of prominent stakeholders in indispensable, the department told the co-ordinating committee of deputy ministers during a meeting in April 2017 to discuss immigrant outcomes, according to CTV. But there could be a tipping point that, once reached, undermines the history of relative Canadian consensus. Internal data prepared by the Immigration Department for a committee of deputy ministers suggests a majority of Canadians supports current immigration levels, but this support drops when they are informed of how many immigrants actually arrive every year. The internal departmental data was obtained by The Canadian Press through access-to-information. But most of those respondents believed the number of immigrants arriving every year was under 150,000. It includes polling data that suggests just over 50 per cent of Canadians believed the number of immigrants who come to Canada every year is about right and this number has remained steady since 2012. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

japanese food: Interested in mail-ordering pet treats to a 32-year-old cat owner in Madison, Wisconsin who enjoys Japanese food, doesn't like pizza and has an anniversary coming up in the next two months Not a problem, according to CTV. Targeting ads, it turns out, is almost infinitely customizable -- sometimes in surprising ways. Trying to pitch your boutique bed and breakfast to a 44-year-old trendy mom who lives in Seattle, leans conservative and is currently travelling in the Toronto area but hasn't booked a hotel for the night yet Go right ahead. The ads you might see can be tailored to you down to the most granular details -- not just where you live and what websites you visited recently, but whether you've gotten engaged in the past six months, are interested in organic food or share characteristics with people who have recently bought a BMW, even if you've never expressed interest in doing so yourself. Even with a recent decision to stop working with outside data brokers to help advertisers target ads based on things like offline purchases or credit history, this number is expected to grow sharply this year. Facebook made 40 billion in advertising revenue last year, second only to Google when it comes to its share of the global digital advertising market. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mosque shooting: And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees, according to Toronto Star. Read more Quebec judge nixes media request to release videos of 2017 mosque shooting Article Continued Below Lawyers for Quebec mosque shooter to argue for life sentence in prison, no parole for 25 years Quebec man paralyzed in 2017 mosque shooting to receive 400,000 for new home For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men. react-empty 142 He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. The recording was tabled into evidence by the Crown during Bissonnette's sentencing hearing. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pennsylvania prison: The Philadelphia-born rapper, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, is fighting for release while appealing a two- to four-year sentence for a probation violation, according to The Chronicle Herald. A judge said his drug use, arrests and other issues while under supervision merited the jail time. Mill spoke to news anchor Lester Holt from a Pennsylvania prison in a phone interview that aired Thursday on NBC Nightly News. Mill's lawyers accuse her of a personal vendetta. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin visited Mill in prison Tuesday. Mill tells Holt when he's released, he sees himself helping minorities that come from these situations like myself. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

policy study: Vineberg's paper looks at resettlement from the Second World War onward and suggests solutions to help move the process forward and overcome a backlog of more than 30,000 refugee claims, according to Toronto Star. They're under-resourced, Vineberg said. On Thursday, the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy published a policy study by Robert Vineberg outlining the history of Canada's refugee program. I think having the initial decision made by the immigration department, which has a lot more staff and is in a lot more locations across the country, this could be done faster. Article Continued Below On average, Calgary welcomes approximately 1,100 refugees a year from around the world. The faster the process, according to Vineberg, the better it is for the individual involved and Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

school systems: As for all other public schools and universities, the constitution assigns them, exclusively, to the provinces, according to Rabble. There is one circumstance, however, where the federal government has a key role to play in this jealously guarded provincial jurisdiction. Ottawa is responsible for education in First Nations communities, and that's it. If provinces wish to abolish constitutionally guaranteed denominational school systems -- that is, systems based on religion -- they must get the agreement of the parliament in Ottawa. Both provinces were motivated by cost and efficiency, although Quebec had an additional preoccupation. In the 1990s, Quebec and Newfoundland both sought, and received, the federal parliament's accord to get rid of their religious-based school systems and replace them with, in each case, a single, secular system. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visit home: The conversation was part of a Fakih Foundation event in partnership with Ryerson Leadership Lab, according to CTV. We didn't leave our country by choice and this time I was determined that I wanted to see my home, my family, just to breathe the air of my country, Yousafzai said in front of an audience dominated by Ryerson University students. Now 20 years old, the honorary Canadian citizen and Nobel Peace Prize laureate sat on stage in Toronto Thursday with CTV Chief Anchor Lisa LaFlamme to discuss her work and her recent trip to Pakistan -- her first visit home since that fateful Oct. 9, 2012 day. Every moment, I couldn't believe it was happening and it was the most beautiful part of my life I went to my home, I went to Swat Valley, and I saw those mountains and that beautiful river again and I met my friends from school. When I started campaigning for girls' education, I said, Well, we have to start from home,' Yousafzai explained. Through her non-profit, the Malala Fund, Yousafzai also recently opened a school in her hometown in Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bissonnette: For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men, according to Vancouver Courier. He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe.article continues below Trending Stories Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis Vancouver women recount different paths to sobriety Comedian Jim Gaffigan trolls rainy Vancouver Finding secret location of giant mastadon sculpture worth the hike And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. The recording was tabled into evidence by the Crown during Bissonnette's sentencing hearing. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration levels: But there could be a tipping point that, once reached, undermines the history of relative Canadian consensus, according to Vancouver Courier. The internal departmental data was obtained by The Canadian Press through access-to-information. Internal data prepared by the Immigration Department for a committee of deputy ministers suggests a majority of Canadians supports current immigration levels, but this support drops when they are informed of how many immigrants actually arrive every year.article continues below Trending Stories Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis Vancouver women recount different paths to sobriety Comedian Jim Gaffigan trolls rainy Vancouver Finding secret location of giant mastadon sculpture worth the hike Public support often aided by a diversity of prominent stakeholders in indispensable, the department told the co-ordinating committee of deputy ministers during a meeting in April 2017 to discuss immigrant outcomes. It includes polling data that suggests just over 50 per cent of Canadians believed the number of immigrants who come to Canada every year is about right and this number has remained steady since 2012. After they were told is has actually been 260,000 for the last few years, the number of people who then said they felt that was too many jumped from 23 to 32 per cent. But most of those respondents believed the number of immigrants arriving every year was under 150,000. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

home: They paid rent but the home remained under her mom's ownership, according to Vancouver Courier. Even one of Oviedo's grandchildren lived in the home for five years meaning five generations of family have lived in the house at various points over the years. Her grandfather, Italian immigrant Domenic Liberto, built it in 1939 and it was passed on to her mother, Mary Bosze, who lived in it until she died this past December at age 87.article continues below Trending Stories Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis Vancouver women recount different paths to sobriety Comedian Jim Gaffigan trolls rainy Vancouver Finding secret location of giant mastadon sculpture worth the hike Oviedo had moved back in with her husband and children about 20 years ago to care for her mother as she aged.A beautiful basement suite was created for Bosze, and the couple fixed up the front and back yards. Now it's just Oviedo and her husband, but much to their dismay, they're are on the verge of moving out. It was put up for sale April 11 for almost 1.7 million. Bosze willed the home to Oviedo and her five siblings, but the property is worth far too much for any of the siblings to buy it on their own. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

norah sadava: Since premieringa few years ago, the two-hander, performed by the playwrights, has racked up lots of awards both in Toronto and at Edinburgh Fringe, according to NOW Magazine. The Nightwood Theatre/Quote Unquote Collective show is sure to sell out this return engagement. But Norah Sadava and Amy Nostbakken's brilliant examination of a woman grieving her mother's death did just that when it played at a private presentation for Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison and their friends at L.A.'s Odyssey Theatre last year. Several performances feature post-show talkbacks, including one with director Patricia Rozema who's making a film adaptation of the show on April 17, and social activist Michele Landsberg, on April 18. Buddies in Bad Times. 20- 35. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, Bozon Pop-Psych Cinema Rising French filmmaker and DJ comes to town for a retro at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Through April 22. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

acadian groups: Acadian groups had asked for the removal of a provision that would allow so-called non-contiguous constituencies ridings that are not connected geographically and another that would allow a committee to determine the minimum and maximum number of electoral districts, according to Toronto Star. Read more Electoral boundaries bill deferred after objections by N.S. Acadian groups Article Continued Below The Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia is concerned Acadians could potentially be lumped into one riding and wants at minimum the restoration of the former protected ridings of Argyle, Clare and Richmond. The Liberal majority on the legislature's law amendments committee voted Thursday to proceed with the revised House of Assembly Act. The Liberals say they don't want to restrict the options of an eventual electoral boundaries commission which will look at the province's ridings. The province sought the advisory opinion on constitutional grounds following court action by the Acadian federation over the elimination of the protected ridings. The proposed legislative changes follow a Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruling released in January 2017 that found a 2012 boundary redrawing that eliminated three Acadian ridings violated the voter rights section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrants increase: Annual incomes of highly-skilled workers surpass the Canadian average soon after arrival and increase over time, according to The Chronicle Herald. In fact, earnings of all categories of immigrants increase with time. The report identified some interesting trends The longer an immigrant is in Canada, the better off they are. However, immigrants of non-economic programs and spouses and dependents of economic immigrants take longer to establish themselves economically. Economic outcomes are different depending on which program immigrants use to come to Canada. Refugees take the longest. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.