arab countries: Sunday's vote in 33 countries comes two days after thousands of Lebanese voted in six Arab countries, according to CTV. The vote marks the first time that Lebanese are allowed to vote abroad. Lebanon's political system distributes power among the country's different religious communities, and the main parties are led by political dynasties that fought one another during the 1975-1990 civil war. Millions of Lebanese live abroad, but Lebanon's state-run news agency says the number of registered voters is 82,970. Australia has the largest number of registered voters, with about 12,000, followed by Canada with 11,438 and the United States with about 10,000. The voting inside Lebanon will be held next Sunday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

david hickey: The email trail reveals federal staffers grappling with the painfully slow wheels of bureaucratic red tape as they try to respond to a torrent of media requests, all the while fussing with the minutiae of wording government statements that did little to address the most burning questions, according to CTV. The Canadian Press requested all emails dealing with the subject Syrian refugees that were received and obtained by David Hickey, then-director general of communications for the federal Immigration Department, for the three days following the death of Alan Kurdi. New documents obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act provide a revealing look at the often-frantic flurry of internal government communications that erupted in the days after a heart-rending photo of the toddler's corpse rocketed around the world. The ensuing documents totalled 532 pages. Canada, which was in the throes of a federal election campaign, was linked to the boy in initial media reports that mistakenly stated his family's application to come to Canada had been rejected. On the morning of Sept. 3, 2015, the photo of Alan lying dead on the beach appeared in newspapers around the world. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

frydman-kohl: Many speakers commended emergency service personnel on their work the day of the incident, including the officer who was able to arrest the suspect without firing his gun, according to The Chronicle Herald. In Toronto, in Ontario, in Canada, we don't run away we run to help others, said Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl of the Beth Tzedec Congregation, the largest synagogue community in Canada. Religious leaders of multiple faiths led the speakers' list at the event, all of them sharing messages of support and strength in the face of the tragedy that left 10 people dead and 16 more injured. Frydman-Kohl also referenced other van attacks in cities such as Paris, Beirut and Charlottesville, Virginia. Before the vigil, thousands took part in what was billed as a walk of healing and solidarity, roughly following the route of last Monday's attack. Toronto has felt the pain of other places, and those cities now share our horror and hurt, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

heather babcock: Heather Babcock, a Windermere dance and drama teacher, told Star Metro the yearly celebration is a chance to bring together different countries' and cultures' love of dance, according to Toronto Star. A lot of these kids may struggle putting their emotions and feelings into words, she said in an interview, noting some performers are also involved with the dance competition program. Dressed in bright reds and blues, two classes totalling nearly 60 students between the ages of 14 and 18 offered a high-energy street-style performance before gathered crowd of passersby. When they're able to dance, it's stress relief. Article Continued Below The free event one of three sponsored by The Dance Centre this weekend was created by OURO Collective, who are the Dance Centre's members who blend street and contemporary dance styles. It gives them confidence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

media requests: Read more The death of Alan Kurdi It was like the sea opened its mouth and swallowed them'How Alan Kurdi's tragic death changed thousands of lives Article Continued Below Q&A Tima Kurdi opens up about her tragic struggle to bring her Syrian family to Canada The email trail reveals federal staffers grappling with the painfully slow wheels of bureaucratic red tape as they try to respond to a torrent of media requests, all the while fussing with the minutiae of wording government statements that did little to address the most burning questions, according to Toronto Star. The Canadian Press requested all emails dealing with the subject Syrian refugees that were received and obtained by David Hickey, then-director general of communications for the federal Immigration department, for the three days following the death of Alan Kurdi. react-empty 141 The ensuing documents totalled 532 pages. New documents obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act provide a revealing look at the often-frantic flurry of internal government communications that erupted in the days after a heart-rending photo of the toddler's corpse rocketed around the world. On the morning of Sept. 3, 2015, the photo of Alan lying dead on the beach appeared in newspapers around the world. I need urgent responsive lines, a staffer at the Canadian embassy in Beirut asked of the Immigration staffers immediately went into damage control. Canada, which was in the throes of a federal election campaign, was linked to the boy in initial media reports that mistakenly stated his family's application to come to Canada had been rejected. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: Since that time, Canada has welcomed more than 51,800 Syrian refugees, according to the latest government figures, according to CTV. But Kurdi, a Vancouver resident, says Canada could - and should - do more to help. The photo of Alan's tiny body washed up on a Turkish beach was a bombshell that focused global attention on the Syrian refugee crisis. I would like to see Canada to continue to open their borders and welcome refugees, not just from Syria, from anywhere where people need help, she said in an interview. In her newly released book, The Boy on the Beach, Kurdi describes the painful and tragic details that led up to the deaths of Alan, his five-year-old brother Ghalib and their mother, Rehanna on Sept. 2, 2015. Canada has the capacity to take in more and focus on those children when they come to this country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

migrants: We are the bearers of horrible news, Los Angeles lawyer Nora Phillips said during a break from legal workshops for the migrants at three Tijuana locations where about 20 lawyers gave free information and advice, according to Vancouver Courier. That's what good attorneys are for. article continues below Trending Stories Police investigate possible double murder near Richmond school Introducing Cascades Casino Delta Gateway reveals development's name Criminal profile released of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen's killer Nature's Path owner agrees to fine for cutting trees The Central Americans, many travelling as families, on Sunday will test the Trump administration's tough rhetoric criticizing the caravan when the migrants begin seeking asylum by turning themselves in to border inspectors at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing, the nation's busiest. They say they want to prepare them for the worst possible outcome. President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet have been tracking the caravan, calling it a threat to the U.S. since it started March 25 in the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the Guatemala border. Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the caravan a deliberate attempt to undermine our laws and overwhelm our system, pledging to send more immigration judges to the border to resolve cases if needed. They have promised a stern, swift response. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: Popular Kits caf to make way for condo building Nature's Path owner agrees to fine for cutting trees Vancouver gas prices hit record high, but analysts disagree on cause Update Police believe double homicide in Richmond may be targeted hit Since that time, Canada has welcomed more than 51,800 Syrian refugees, according to the latest government figures, according to Vancouver Courier. But Kurdi, a Vancouver resident, says Canada could and should do more to help. The photo of Alan's tiny body washed up on a Turkish beach was a bombshell that focused global attention on the Syrian refugee crisis.article continues below Trending Stories Bye bye, Benny's. I would like to see Canada to continue to open their borders and welcome refugees, not just from Syria, from anywhere where people need help, she said in an interview. In her newly released book, The Boy on the Beach, Kurdi describes the painful and tragic details that led up to the deaths of Alan, his five-year-old brother Ghalib and their mother, Rehanna on Sept. 2, 2015. Canada has the capacity to take in more and focus on those children when they come to this country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

border: We are the bearers of horrible news, Los Angeles lawyer Nora Phillips said during a break from legal workshops for the migrants at three Tijuana locations where about 20 lawyers gave free information and advice, according to CTV. That's what good attorneys are for. They say they want to prepare them for the worst possible outcome. The Central Americans, many travelling as families, on Sunday will test the Trump administration's tough rhetoric criticizing the caravan when the migrants begin seeking asylum by turning themselves in to border inspectors at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing, the nation's busiest. They have promised a stern, swift response. President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet have been tracking the caravan, calling it a threat to the U.S. since it started March 25 in the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the Guatemala border. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

court fight: Alfie's condition left him with almost no brain function, and multiple courts ruled that keeping him alive was not in his best interests before doctors removed his ventilator five days ago, according to The Chronicle Herald. My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02 30, Evans, 21, wrote in a Facebook post decorated with a broken heart and crying emojis. Kate James and Tom Evans said their son's death overnight in Liverpool, England had left them heartbroken. As news spread in the community, dozens of people laid flowers and mementoes in a park near Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where Alfie was treated. James, 20, posted a message on social media thanking everyone who supported the family through Alfie's illness and court fight. About 1,000 people gathered 12 hours after the boy died to release blue and purple balloons in solidarity with the grieving mother and father who had struggled to come to terms with their child's terminal illness. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

emmanuel simon: Emmanuel Simon, a local musician and poet, has performed at RAW Voices a few times, according to Toronto Star. He says the reason he was drawn to it was because of the diversity of the performers and the audience members. On the last Friday of every month, the stage in the corner of Loco's Lounge turns into a haven for young, diverse artists to cultivate their craft, thanks to four 20 year olds. The people who run it are diverse. That's why I was attracted to it, because you kind of look like me, not really, but, you can understand my experience, says Simon. They're people of a visible minority. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

millie bobby: It also says that Markle hasn't even seen the place, according to Toronto Star. And, yes, she also can't really spend much time outside of Britain in the run-up to getting citizenship. Er, though the actual story inside says 16 million. You gonna nitpick or just enjoy some tasty nonsense Stranger danger Two of the Stranger Things kids are feuding because Millie Bobby Brown is making 300,000 per episode and Finn Wolfhard's only getting 250,000. Drew 10 years from now.LIFE & STYLECover The truth about Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban they have a great sex life, said an insider, a little too quickly. They'll laugh about it together with Dr. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

news conference: Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, said he and his fellow team members would not look away from the crisis after their visit, though he warned that there are no simple solutions, according to CTV. It's very necessary to come and see everything at place here in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The diplomats, who visited the sprawling camps and border points where about 700,000 Rohingya have taken shelter, said their visit was an opportunity to see the situation firsthand. But there is no magic solution, there is no magic stick to solve all these issues, he said at a news conference at the Kutupalong refugee camp in the coastal town of Cox's Bazar. The recent spasm of violence in Myanmar began when Rohingya insurgents staged a series of attacks on Aug. 25 on about 30 security outposts and other targets. The diplomats will conclude their three-day visit to Bangladesh on Monday, when they leave for Myanmar. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

scheer: The list of topics he didn't discuss was as revealing as the ones he did, according to The Chronicle Herald. Context is important. He loves to talk about sunny ways. A speech whose aim is to rev up the troops for the coming election should not be expected to provide a rigorous and balanced statement of facts. Nevertheless, it was not surprising to hear Trudeau accuse the Conservatives of following the same policies, the same politics of fear and division as Stephen Harper . If anything, they've been emboldened by successful campaigns elsewhere in the world to divide one against the other a subtle suggestion that Scheer was somehow like Donald Trump. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has had a low profile in the news. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

windsor castle: Kensington Palace says the California-born Markle intends to take U.K. citizenship after she marries Harry on May 19 at Windsor Castle, according to CTV. In Pictures Meghan Markle over the years But Markle will soon discover that it takes more than marrying a prince to become British. All three are potential questions on a test given to those who -- like Prince Harry's fiancee -- want to become British citizens. It also requires time, money, a good memory for obscure British trivia and the ability to untangle red tape. It's very easy to make mistakes because the requirements are so very precise, he said. Immigration lawyer Colin Yeo says the road to British citizenship is insanely complex. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

interests: Alfie's condition left him with almost no brain function, and multiple courts ruled that keeping him alive was not in his best interests before doctors removed his ventilator five days ago.article continues below Trending Stories Sweets for Diwali take a month's preparation Pipeline protesters to occupy federal justice minister's office Thursday Vancouver police identify the city's eighth homicide of 2018First appearance of the super blue blood moon' since 1866 PHOTOS My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02 30, Evans, 21, wrote in a Facebook post decorated with a broken heart and crying emojis, according to Vancouver Courier. As news spread in the community, dozens of people laid flowers and mementoes in a park near Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where Alfie was treated. Kate James and Tom Evans said their son's death overnight in Liverpool, England had left them heartbroken. About 1,000 people gathered 12 hours after the boy died to release blue and purple balloons in solidarity with the grieving mother and father who had struggled to come to terms with their child's terminal illness. Alfie's case sparked a medical ethics debate that resonated far beyond Britain. James, 20, posted a message on social media thanking everyone who supported the family through Alfie's illness and court fight. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

book details: The book details a civil war in the Vancouver underworld, but its rival gangs members of a multi-ethnic smuggling ring versus a posse of protection racketeering bikers are too broadly comedic to give offense to any actual mobsters, according to Vancouver Observer. On the other hand, the protagonist, one Scott Clark, seems a tad too hauntingly familiar to be entirely made up. After all, I don't want to get killed, he shudders, nervously scanning the coffee house precincts through thick spectacles.I'm not convinced. He's a wisecracking, 30-ish, slightly plashy white boy, not altogether unlike Demers himself; a potty-mouthed polyglot, equally at home swearing and getting sworn at in Punjabi, Cantonese, Qu b cois or four-letter English a product, no doubt, of the Burquitlam upbringing that he shares with his author. But maybe that's where the similarity ends. Like Demers, he survived high school as a nerdy outcast, reliant on a threesome of fellow geeks. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

british trivia: Kensington Palace says the California-born Markle intends to take U.K. citizenship after she marries Harry on May 19 at Windsor Castle, according to The Chronicle Herald. But Markle will soon discover that it takes more than marrying a prince to become British. All three are potential questions on a test given to those who like Prince Harry's fiancee want to become British citizens. It also requires time, money, a good memory for obscure British trivia and the ability to untangle red tape. It's very easy to make mistakes because the requirements are so very precise, he said. Immigration lawyer Colin Yeo says some of the rules prospective immigrants must comply with are insanely complex. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cosby show: Before Cosby and The Cosby Show, no affluent, educated black family existed on TV. Before Cosby, few black celebrities were hired to pitch something as mainstream as Jell-O. It all made for an unmatched contribution to ethnic equality, a legacy seemingly invulnerable to claims spanning decades that America's Dad was sexually abusing women, according to The Chronicle Herald. He denied it all and, year after year, that proved good enough. Before Cosby and I Spy, no African-American man had landed the lead in a television drama series. Until it wasn't. Jurors convicted the 80-year-old comedian of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, whose 2004 experience with Cosby echoed that of so many of his accusers who emerged before last year's MeToo wave began. The collective willingness to trust in Cosby ended in a Pennsylvania courtroom Thursday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

halifax stanfield: How they treated me, I didn't feel like someone who is an important client, she said in a phone interview, according to CTV. I feel, like, rejected and given a lack of consideration, you know. Jeanne Lehman, a community activist and officer with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said she is seeing a psychologist for mental trauma she endured boarding a plane at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. This is a shame for me. Her trouble began when a rash appeared on the right side of her face during a trip to Halifax last week. Lehman is a black, French-speaking woman who calls the treatment systemic racism. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

i volunteer: The former Afghan college dean walked across the B.C. border from Blaine, Wash. himself just 10 months ago, according to Toronto Star. So when he heard the Parliament of his new country, Canada, was debating whether people like him should be called illegals on Wednesday, it's personal. He knows what that's like. I crossed around 9 p.m., the police came and got me, and after two days in a holding centre my claim was accepted without a hearing, he told Star Metro. Now I volunteer for them. Then I came to Inland Refugee Society, and they helped me find housing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

summit friday: And, judging from his summit Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, it appears he wants to stay that way, according to The Chronicle Herald. In a deliberate show of confidence almost bravado Kim literally strolled across the military demarcation line that has divided the Koreas for three generations, sat as an equal at the negotiating table with Moon and then joined him at an intricately arranged banquet before riding his black Mercedes limousine back into the land he rules absolutely. He's meeting them as the proud leader of a nuclear power. The optics were largely the same as his first summit, when he ended six years of self-imposed isolation in the North and met Chinese President Xi Jinping last month in Beijing. But any real promise regarding the future of all those missiles and nuclear weapons was missing. There were lots of feel-good moments, enthusiastic smiles and big handshakes for carefully staged photo ops emotionally charged visuals that will play just as well abroad as they will strum the ethnic and national pride of his domestic audience. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

multicultural nature: Posters and sticky notes expressing love, anguish, resilience and then even more love covered the rest of the wall, according to Toronto Star. Most remarkably, or perhaps unremarkably for Toronto, the notes people left on communal sheets of Bristol board were written in more than a dozen languages. There, just south of the Yonge St. and Finch Ave. intersection where the deadly van rampage began the day before, a makeshift memorial had been created with bouquets of flowers laid a dozen deep and hundreds of candles that defiantly remained lit in the rain. Sometimes the multicultural nature of Toronto seems like a slogan or an ad campaign more than an everyday lived experience but here, in the rain and darkness, the Toronto of our hopes and aspirations was on full display. Incomplete sentence fix The flowers continued to arrive. The park was quiet but for the traffic which had returned to Yonge and four young men who stood off to the side singing the old gospel hymn, There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus, their a cappella voices carrying softly over the crowd of mourners and the bright television news tents set up along the sidewalk. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

shelter system: Mayor John Tory says the number of refugee claimants in the city's shelters has grown from an average of 459 per night in 2016, to an average of more than 23 hundred per night this month, according to CTV. Federal spokeswoman Beatrice Fenelon says the department will continue to work with the city and province on the issue Toronto has issued an urgent appeal to the federal and provincial governments for help dealing with the growing number of refugee claimants in its shelter system. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vancouver author: Alan was 27 months when he drowned with his mother, Rehanna, and older brother, Ghalib, while crossing in a rickety dinghy to safe haven on the Greek island of Gos, four km away; father and husband Abdullah was the sole survivor, according to Toronto Star. This heartfelt memoir takes us deep into the large Kurdi family, before and since Alan's death. The Boy on the Beach, Tima Kurdi The Vancouver author is the aunt of Alan Kurdi, the toddler whose body was photographed on a Turkish shore and became a flashpoint in the effort to help millions of dislocated Syrians. Article Continued Below The Map of Salt and Stars, Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar In their home in Manhattan, Baba captivated his daughter, Nour, with the story of Rawiya, a girl in the 12th century who disguised herself as a boy and became an apprentice to the Muslim mapmaker il-Idrisi; together, they charted the length and breadth of the ancient world. But life in Homs soon turns deadly and they must pull up stakes and relocate once more. When her father dies in 2011, Nour, her mother and sister return to their Syrian homeland. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

years: We're here just to get that little spark, according to CTV. The one that might be hesitant, saying 'You know what, I'm not sure if it's right for me,' said SQ officer Gabriel l'Heureux. The goal, they said, is diversity. The visit itself wasn't a surprise, but rather the language they spoke. Chablo said this is the first time he's seen the SQ's recruitment pitch done in English. Six, seven years ago, this was unheard of, said Paul Chablo, a former Montreal police officer who has been working in the police technology program at John Abbott College for 20 years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.