Welcome - Fall 2010

WelcomeT O B U R N A B Y & N E W W E S T M I N S T E R

a special magazine committed to building bridges in immigrant communities and inclusion in Canadian society

Fall

2010

ScholarshipsScholarshipsopen doors for open doors for refugeesrefugees

English English LessonsLessonsWHERE AND HOW

FreedomFreedom to to learn learn

resources for new immigrants SPECIAL

EDUCATION ISSUE

free

2 | welcome

$ 99SALE PRICE

%SAVE

Unit 118-5589 Byrne Road, BurnabyOff Marine Way on SW side of Canadian Tire

Call 604-568-5218 | www.itfcorp.ca

Best Prices on Mattresses in British Columbia with Box Spring!

MARINE WAY

BYR

NE

RO

AD

Canadian Tire

Winners

ITF Corporation

Expires November 1, 2010

12 PC Carl Weill Cookware Set5 Ply Bottom Base • 18/10 Stainless SteelLifetime Warranty • Made in Netherlands!

169Retail $2,500.00

93

FIRST TIME EVER SELLING AT COST!!!

MUST SELL 10,000 SETS!

CARL WEILL COOKWARE SALE SELLING AT COST NEVER SOLD BEFORE AT THIS PRICE

on Flatware, Stock Pots, Dishes, etc...Also Super Deals

welcome | 3

editor’s letterCONTENTS

LAW TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4IN THE NEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5LEARNING ENGLISH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8HELPING HANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10COVER STORY – FREEDOM TO LEARN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12IN SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15RESOURCE GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16CUBAN COURAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19CONNECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20A WORLD OF HOLIDAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

WelcomeEDITORpat tracy

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETINGlara graham

LAYOUThelen-louise kinton

CONTRIBUTORSalfie lau, niki hope, jason lang, julie maclellan,

jennifer moreau, theresa mcmanus, iven k.s. tse, larry wright

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGERSdebbie english, cynthia hendrix, ruth lumsden,marney macleod, cam northcott, terri rodger

PUBLISHERbrad alden

PUBLISHED BYNOW Newspapers Ltd

#201A - 3430 Brighton Ave, Burnaby B.C. V5A 3H4www.burnabynow.com www.royalcityrecord.com

COVER PHOTO: jason lang

From the fi rst wave of Ukrainian homesteaders who came to Canada in the late 1800s, through to today’s

international students from China attending SFU, there is often a common thread of belief: an education will free you from oppression and open doors to a better life.

It may be a dream or ambition fostered by parents who hope their children will have a better life and believe that education will provide a door to that life. Or it may be the child herself who knows that education is the only way to economic freedom and security.

But education, something many Canadian-born citizens take for granted, is often a cherished commodity for immigrants and refugees.

In this edition of Welcome we take a closer look at two refugees who are gaining an education through World University Service of Canada’s student refugee program at SFU. Their stories are inspiring.

Alain Ndayishimiye and Delphine Umotoni know that education is a life-saving sanctuary for them. Umutoni is originally from Rwanda. Her family fl ed to Kenya during the civil war and ended up in a refugee camp for 12 years. They then went to a Malawi refugee camp for three years. It was during her time in Malawi that Umutoni saw an ad for the student refugee program.

She was one of 256 individuals who applied and then one of 63 people chosen for an interview. Of the 15 people ultimately chosen for the program from her pool of applicants, Umutoni was one of only two women chosen.

No one has to remind her that this educational opportunity has delivered her from a very harsh existence.

We also take a closer look at English as a second language and talk to a teacher and a student.

It is no surprise that new immigrants – almost to a person – recognize that learning English is key to surviving and thriving in Canada.

It’s very challenging for someone to have to learn how to get around on public transit, fi nd housing, access government services and help their children get settled in a new school. Without a good grasp of English – it can be very stressful.

Thankfully, Burnaby and New Westminster offer multiple opportunities for new immigrants and refugees to learn English. Many of these classes and groups not only help with language skills, but also provide ways of connecting to more services.

As always, thank you for picking us up. If you have success stories and ideas to share with us, please send them to me via e-mail at [email protected]. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

Lessons learnedEducation is a cherished tool for immigrantsPAT TRACY

4 | welcome

We’re proud you have madeThe Royal City your home!

Welcome toNew Westminster

For more information on city facilities and services, please contact us:

511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster BC, V3L 1H9T 604-521-3711E [email protected] www.newwestcity.ca

W ’ d h

law talk

The wedding day has come and gone, and the honeymoon is over. Now comes the hard part – sponsoring

your overseas husband, wife, or common law partner to Canada. In the Fall 2009 issue of Welcome magazine, I have already discussed some of the requirements of being a sponsor, from fi nancial qualifi cations to status requirements. This is normally the easy part. Even if the sponsor qualifi es, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, at their overseas visa posts, will assess each application and may still refuse the application. A refusal will be made if they believe that the main purpose of the marriage is to facilitate the overseas spouse’s immigration to Canada. Overcoming this concern is the hard part. Here are some tips to avoid having this happen to your application, based on years of experience in uniting happy couples here in Canada.

Firstly, it is very important to extensively document the relationship – from its origins to the time of the application. To document contact with each other, provide evidence of communication, such as letters

with post-marked envelopes, e-mails, long distance telephone bills with the other spouse’s phone number highlighted, and even on-line chats – all of which should be placed in chronological order and translated to English. To document visits and trips, provide evidence such as passports, boarding tickets, photographs, travel itineraries, hotel receipts, and credit card statements. Again, provide these in chronological order, but also include explanatory notes describing when these happened, where they took place, who accompanied the couple, and whether these trips were for any special occasion or purpose. Photographs, in particular, should not only be just about the couple because relationships do not happen in a vacuum. Include friends, family, work colleagues and people in each other’s social circles in your photographs as much as possible, and then make explanatory notes about who these people are, and how they know you or your spouse. To document the interdependence expected of genuine couples, provide evidence of jointly held assets like bank accounts, property, or even businesses, and evidence of joint obligations such as mortgages, loans, or rent agreements in the event that they exist.

Sponsoring your spouse to CanadaIVEN K.S. TSE

PAGE 7

welcome | 5

in the news

BURNABY WELCOMES YOU!Burnaby is proud to be an ethnically

diverse community, and we are blessed with the rich cultural contributions from individuals, groups and organizations

that add to the fabric of our society.

MAYOR DEREK CORRIGAN

COUNCILLOR PIETRO CALENDINOCOUNCILLOR RICHARD CHANGCOUNCILLOR SAV DHALIWALCOUNCILLOR DAN JOHNSTON

COUNCILLOR COLLEEN JORDANCOUNCILLOR ANNE KANG

COUNCILLOR PAUL McDONELLCOUNCILLOR NICK VOLKOW

The Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table has won the prestigious fi rst WelcomeBC award, given out by the provincial government to an organization that succeeded in building partnerships, creating new solutions for services in Burnaby and helping newcomers feel welcomed in their new homes.

“I was absolutely delighted when I got the news,” said Jody Johnson of the group that has been working together since 2007. “For the province to recognize all that we’ve done is gratifying.”

The group received its award on Oct. 6, as the province proclaimed it as WelcomeBC Day.

Jeanne Fike, co-chair of the group and best known for her work with Burnaby Family Life, received the award and was elated.

“For decades, I’ve been part of Burnaby’s transformation from a bedroom community to one of Canada’s most diverse and thriving cities,” said Fike. “Recognizing Burnaby’s changing needs, dozens of local agencies took action through BIPT and the Welcoming Community initiatives. Strengthening the social and economic fabric of Burnaby has been the highlight of my career.”

On behalf of the members of the Burnaby Intercultural Planning

Table, I want to thank the province for recognizing our community development work,” said Fike. “I also personally want to acknowledge everyone who has made this possible, especially the United Way for initial funding for our work and helping us to achieve the goals we set for this initiative.”

For Johnson, the last three-plus years have been about partnerships and innovative ideas.

“One of our best projects has been Breaking Down the Barriers, where we worked with the Burnaby Board of Trade,” said Johnson.

She explained that this campaign saw Burnaby companies hosting 20 new immigrants at a time as both sides learned about the barriers facing them.

The Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table is a collaborative inter-agency effort to maximize the sharing of best practices of the community services sector in Burnaby and collaborates in joint service delivery. Creating engagement opportunities for the whole community, the group creates improved sources of information and resources, increases awareness of existing information and resources and helps to identify and resolve gaps in services for people who are new to Canada.

Group wins fi rst WelcomeBC award

JEANNE FIKE.

Dennis Chan was elected the new SUCCESS chair at the organization’s September annual general meeting.

Chan joined the SUCCESS board in 2004 and served as vice-chair from 2008 to 2009.

Professionally, Chan is a director engaged in business management and supplier relations at the Ministry of Health Services for the B.C. government.

Also announced at the September meeting was the new SUCCESS board of directors.

Joining Chan are vice-chairs Christine Brodie, Derrick Chow and Janet Tsoi; board secretary Paul Cheng; treasurer Doug Purdie; and directors Peter Kwok (ex-offi cio), Dr. Jessica Chan, Roque Hsieh, Jocelyn Hsiung, Lyall Knott, Q.C., Kenneth Kwan, Angela MacKenzie, Diana Tang, Thomas Tong, Anthony Tung, Rajeewa Wijesinghe, Clement Wong, Sing Lim Yeo and Terry Yung.

The current 20-member board has fi ve members of non-Chinese descent, including one Korean, one South Asian and three Europeans.

All members are outstanding community leaders with professional experience in education, real estate, architects, business, fi nance, legal, health, human resource and public services.

Tung Chan, outgoing chief executive offi cer of SUCCESS, said: “We are delighted that the new board has moved further to refl ect both the cultural diversity of the communities that we serve and the variety of expertise that we need.”

Dennis Chan will steer SUCCESS board

6 | welcome

in the newsCity apologizes for past actionsThe City of New Westminster has become the fi rst municipality in Canada to formally apologize for its discriminatory actions toward Chinese Canadians in past eras.

Mayor Wayne Wright read the apology on Sept. 20 in city council chambers, which was packed with media and members of various Chinese organizations. An interpreter also read the apology in Mandarin.

“The City of New Westminster formally apologizes to the Chinese community for its past actions which resulted in discrimination and exclusion, and it looks forward to working together in the spirit of friendship, community and cooperation to build strong bonds and lasting relations,” said the apology.

Research done by city staff confi rmed that city council acted in a discriminatory matter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly by restricting employment opportunities and by asking senior governments to pass discriminatory laws.

“The City of New Westminster acknowledges, based on a review of city records covering the period from 1860 to 1926, that it acted in a discriminatory manner towards its Chinese community,” said the apology. “The City of New Westminster acknowledges that the Chinese community played and continues to play an essential role in the development, growth and prosperity of New Westminster. Currently, about 4,300 people of Chinese ancestry call New Westminster their home.”

After reading the formal apology, council adjourned so people could gather for a short reception in city hall’s foyer. Many attendees, grateful for the city’s apology, posed for photos with council members.

Burnaby resident Gim Wong was among those compelled to attend Monday’s meeting, having personally faced discrimination and seen the “terrible suffering” of other Chinese Canadians. Some, he said, committed suicide because of the conditions years ago.

“Very, very unfair,” he said. “We were cheated at every move and every turn. A ragdoll was kicked around.”

Bill would expand sponsorshipsThe NDP is hoping it’s fourth time lucky for a bill that would allow Canadian residents to sponsor an extended family member from another country.

Local MPs Peter Julian and Bill Siksay joined Olivia Chow from Ontario on Oct. 13, to announce the bill that Chow introduced in the House of Commons. If passed, the bill would expand the family class parameters so Canadian citizens or permanent residents could sponsor a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, fi rst cousin, or child who is 22 years or older. People can only pick one extended family member to sponsor, so they’re calling it the “Once in a Lifetime” bill.

Now, sponsorship is limited mostly to spouses, common-law or

conjugal partners, or dependent children under the age of 22. Those who don’t qualify to be sponsored as a relative can apply under the skilled worker class.

According to Chow, half of landed immigrants used to come to Canada under the family class, but in the last 20 years, it’s dropped to a quarter.

Julian said immigration in Canada has shifted from families to temporary foreign workers.

“We’re bringing people in that are essentially indentured servants,” he said.

The bill isn’t new – the party has tried to get it passed three times before unsuccessfully.

Chow said while the Conservatives tend to reject private member’s bills, the Bloc is on side and most of the Liberals support it apart from “a batch.” If Chow can get support from the remaining Liberals, she thinks the bill would go through.

The bill was scheduled to get its second reading on Nov. 18, and the vote will likely be in December.

Burnaby top spot to settleBurnaby is back in the top spot for government-assisted refugees to settle, according to latest numbers from the Immigrant Services Society of B.C.

“The big reason was that we found increased affordable housing in Burnaby,” said Chris Friesen, the society’s director of settlement services. “Apparently our staff were able to locate some other housing they weren’t aware of previously. So we were able to (send more refugees) to Burnaby than we thought we would be able to.”

Government-assisted refugees are people approved as refugees by the United Nations before they come to Canada, as opposed to those who seek asylum after arriving. They get money and loans from the government and resettlement help from groups like Immigrant

PAGE 7

NEW WESTMINSTER MAYOR WAYNE WRIGHT SPEAKS TO GIM WONG, AFTER

APOLOGIZING FOR THE CITY’S RACISTS ACTIONS TOWARD CHINESE PEOPLE IN

PAST ERAS.

PHOTO: RIC ERNST/PNG

welcome | 7

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF BURNABY, NEW WESTMINSTER, COQUITLAM AND PORT MOODY

Please contact us for assistance with issues related to Federal or Provincial Government services

Bill Siksay, MPBurnaby-Douglas

4506 Dawson StreetBurnaby, BC

V5C 4C1604-291-8863

[email protected] www.billsiksay.ca

Kathy Corrigan, MLABurnaby-Deer Lake

150 – 5172 KingswayBurnaby, BC

V5H 2E8604-775-2414

[email protected]

Dawn Black, MLANew Westminster

737 Sixth StreetNew Westminster,

BC V3L 3C6604-775-2101

[email protected]

Raj Chouhan, MLABurnaby-Edmonds

5234 Rumble StBurnaby, BC

V5J 2B6604-660-7301

[email protected]

Peter Julian, MPBurnaby-New Westminster

7615 6th StreetBurnaby, BC

V3N 3M6604-775-5707

[email protected]

Fin Donnelly, MPNew Westminster-Coquitlam

and Port Moody

1116 Austin AvenueCoquitlam, BC

V3K 3P5604-664-9229

[email protected]

Secondly, if there are any apparent gaps, or irregularities, it is very important to provide a detailed explanation for each of them. For example, if there was no engagement celebration, explain the reason, such as the lack of any cultural support for such a tradition. If important relatives are absent at the wedding celebrations, provide reasons, such as health reasons for elderly parents, or work obligations of siblings. As in the fi rst rule, if you can document these reasons with medical letters, or employer letters, this will go a long way towards alleviating an immigration offi cer’s concerns. If there were no wedding reception held, provide a detailed explanation for this absence, such as the views of parents or in-laws who fear a cultural loss of face or shame. Similarly, if a couple was introduced to each other by a matchmaker, provide a letter from that person describing his or her relationship with each spouse and why he or she made the introduction. If the sponsoring spouse has been unable to visit the overseas spouse for an extended period of time, such as year, provide an explanation and if possible, document the reasons for the absence of face to face contact. With the advent of online video contact, the urgency to visit may be alleviated, but it does not override the expectation that a genuine couple will take all

law talkopportunities to physically visit each other when possible. If there are previous marriages on either side, provide an explanation for the breakdown of that marriage. Lastly, if there are signifi cant age differences, or language or cultural barriers, explain why and how these are not obstacles to the relationship.

There are many other factors to consider in sponsoring your spouse to Canada. Love is simply not enough. Be careful, be thoughtful, and most of all, be complete.

Iven K.S. Tse is a Burnaby resident and lawyer who has a law practice specializing in immigration issues.

LAW TALK PAGE 4

Services Society.

According to the society’s latest bulletin, Burnaby was the top spot to settle, with 71 new refugees, the Tri-Cities was a close second with 64, and Surrey was third with 58 people. There were 294 government-assisted refugees settling in B.C. between July 1 and Sept. 30. They made up 127 families, and two out of fi ve were under the age of 18. They are from Iraq, Bhutan, Iran, Ethiopia, Sudan and Afghanistan.

BURNABY TOP PAGE 6

8 | welcome

educationIntroducing Yasmin JamalJENNIFER MOREAU

Q. Please introduce yourself. A. Yasmin Jamal. I’m from Kenya, East Africa. I teach ELSA 4 in the afternoon and ELSA 5 in the morning.

Q. How long have you been teaching English? A. About seven years now. Prior to that, I used to work with the federal government as an employment equity coordinator. Basically, my job was to comment on the politics that affected visible minorities and women in order to promote equality in the workforce. I’ve always worked with the immigrant community ever since I came to Canada.

Q. What’s the best way to learn a new language? A. If they come to ELSA and immerse themselves... I encourage any student to come regularly, speak as much English as possible and take risks. ... I encourage them to read (in front of the mirror), I tell them any thing we do in class, you have to read it 10 times. The mirror is your best friend.

Q. What do you see students struggling with the most? A. The production part where they have to produce the language.

Q. What tips do you have for English language learners?A. Just speak, speak, speak.

Q. How important is language when adjusting to life in a new country? A. Very important because that’s the only way they’re going to be able to access the community, resources, minimize anxiety and form friendships. If they don’t have the language, there is this huge burden of culture shock and isolation.

Q. Where’s the best place to take English classes in Burnaby? A. The Burnaby School Board. We have so many locations. That makes it so easy. ... They hired really qualifi ed, superior teachers. What I do with my class is build a community. Often they describe their classes as a second family.

Q. Do you have any favourite resources for learning English? A. Join the conversation classes, which are free at the Tommy Douglas library. It’s such a wonderful resource. They have qualifi ed teachers who augment what we do in class.

learn english at these placesThere are several places in Burnaby where people can take ELSA classes. ELSA stands for English Language Services for Adults. They are free, government-funded English classes for newcomers to Canada, 17 and older, who are permanent residents or convention refugees. For more information, go to www.elsanet.org.The Burnaby school district has ELSA classes. For more information, visit www.burnabyce.com and download the Community and Continuing

Education guide.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. also has ELSA classes at various locations in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and Coquitlam. Call 604-430-1899.

The Burnaby English Language Centre, a private language school, also has ELSA classes. They are at #209 - 6125 Sussex Ave. Call 604-433-1029 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

If you’re looking for technical and business English, British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has classes. Call 604-434-1610.

Burnaby Family Life Institute has a free English program for immigrant women. Call 604-298-5888. There’s also free child care available.

The Burnaby Multicultural Society runs English conversation classes. They are free for seniors, but $2 for everyone else. Call 604-431-4131.

YASMIN JAMAL TEACHES ENGLISH FOR ADULTS. THE BURNABY SCHOOL DISTRICT

IS ONE OF THE LOCAL PLACES OFFERING ELSA CLASSES, FREE ENGLISH

COURSES FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS.

PHOTO: JENNIFER MOREAU

welcome | 9

It’s your career.Get it right.

education

Get Career Advice. Learn the Canadian Culture. Meet a Mentor!

Host Mentoring ProgramHost Mentoring ProgramAs a newcomer, get inspiration and assistance in your efforts to enter your original fi eld of training/ [email protected] l 604.468.6064 (Burnaby-TriCities-New West areas)[email protected] l 604.279.7180 (Richmond-South Delta areas)

[email protected] l 604.430.1899 (Burnaby-TriCities-New West areas)[email protected] l 604.279.7180 (Richmond-South Delta areas)

As a newcomer, receive assistance on general settlement issues and socialize with people from different countries.

Host ProgramHost Program

This project is made possible through funding from theGovernment of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

www.success.bc.ca

Making a difference

in your community

Richard T. Lee, MLABurnaby North

Phone: 604.775.0778 Fax: 604.775.0833

[email protected]

Harry Bloy, MLABurnaby Lougheed

Phone: 604.664.0847 Fax: 604.664.0815

[email protected]

“If I don’t have English, I can’t do anything”Miho Ogawa is a student in the Burnaby School District’s English Language for Adult Learners classes. The courses are government-funded and free for newcomers to Canada.

Q. What’s your name?A. Miho Ogawa.

Q. Where are you from?A. Kyoto, Japan.

Q. What other languages do you speak? A. Just Japanese and English.

Q. Did you know any English when you came to Canada?A. Not so much. I know, ‘How are you,’ but ‘How’s it going’ I didn’t know.

Q. What’s the hardest and easiest thing about learning English? A. Remember(ing) the words. Listening is easiest I think.

Q. How important is learning the language in a new country? A. Very important. (Laughs) To live, or to make new friends or to do business – if I don’t have English, I can’t do anything.

Q. Do you have advice for other English students? A. Don’t be hesitant to speak with people who speak English because Canadian are so kind here. They are trying to listen and trying to understand.Q. Do you have any favourite resources for learning English?A. Movies, DVDs, because whenever I want, I can watch the movies. One hundred times, the same movie. My husband always says, “Again?!”

— INTERVIEW BY JENNIFER MOREAU

FROM LEFT, MIHO OGAWA OF JAPAN WITH FELLOW CLASSMATE HANNAH PARK

FROM KOREA. THE TWO ARE TAKING PART IN AN ELSA CLASS IN BURNABY. ELSA

CLASSES ARE FREE FOR NEWCOMERS TO CANADA. PHOTO: JENNIFER MOREAU

10 | welcome

helping handsSociety grows as word spreadsALFIE LAU

Look around the spacious offi ces of the Immigrant Services Society offi ce at 200-620 Royal Ave. in New

Westminster and you literally have the United Nations in front of you.

From Nepal is 23-year-old Ganga Ram Subedi, who’s taking part in the Youth Connexions program.

Beside him is Kambiz and Vivian Forouzan, a couple from Dubai using the employment services programs.

And completing the worldwide feel are Connie Tang from China and Zoya Trari-Marzuki from Russia, both in the English-as-a-second-language ELSA program.

“We have fi ve different programs out of the New Westminster offi ce,”

said Khim Tran, who helps manage the ELSA program. “We are funded by all three levels of government, and we are a non-profi t group that offers free services to new immigrants as they try to make their way as new Canadians.”

Tran said that prior to the society opening its New Westminster offi ce in 2009, new immigrants had to travel to Coquitlam or Richmond to access the society’s offerings.

Now, with SkyTrain only steps away, the society is serving more than 100 people a week.

For Subedi, who was born in Bhutan but spent the past 18 years as a refugee in Nepal before coming to Canada in 2009, Youth Connexions allows him to work on his English as he tries to get into business management classes at Langara.

“I’m very lucky to get into this program,” said Subedi. “I want to learn new things so that I can be a better Canadian.”

For Kambiz, making new friends in the Skills Connect program will allow him to fi nd a job similar to his previous job as an architect.

“There are some skills I need to upgrade,” said Kambiz. “I’m taking an auto-drafting course and some technology courses. ... I’d like to be able to get back into my fi eld as an architect.”

PAGE 11

welcome | 11

helping handsFor Vivian, a former executive assistant, Skills Connect allows her to meet new people and get her name out to prospective employers.

“We are so happy we came to Canada,” she said. “Now we have to try and make it a better country.”

Tang is steadily improving her English in the level 4 ELSA program. She hopes to get a job in the hospitality industry soon.

“I’ve had some interviews and I know my English is getting better,” she said. “I know if I keep working at this, good things will happen.”

If Tran needs to fi nd inspiration, she need look no further than husband Philip Lu, who came to Canada 10 years ago and worked his way through the system to become a hotel sales manager.

“I know that you can come to Canada and become successful because people will help you,” she said. “If you work hard, people will help you.”

Trari-Marzuki is also in the ELSA program, and she’s trying to get her English up to a level where she can resume her teaching career.

“I used to teach elementary school children,” she said. “I’d love to work with children again.”

SOCIETY PAGE 10

TOP, KHIM TRAN IS THE ISS OF B.C.

MANAGER OF ELSA PROGRAMS

WHO HAS HELPED MANY NEW

IMMIGRANTS AT THE SOCIETY’S

NEW WESTMINSTER OFFICE. RIGHT:

GANGA RAM SUBEDI HAS USED THE

SOCIETY’S YOUTH CONNEXIONS

PROGRAM TO IMPROVE HIS ENGLISH

AND MEET NEW PEOPLE.

PHOTO: LARRY WRIGHTSOCIETY PAGE 18

12 | welcome

cover story

Alain Ndayishimiye and Delphine Umutoni know how fortunate they are to be breathing the fresh air of

Burnaby Mountain.

Ndayishimiye, 21, is a third-year business student at SFU while Umutoni, 22, is a second-year health sciences student.

What makes their stories so amazing is the fact they are able to further their education through the World University Service of Canada’s student refugee program.

The program enables students to pursue their dreams of a post-secondary education by covering their costs for a minimum of one year.

In the case of Ndayishimiye and Umutoni, they each received two-year sponsorships, with Ndayishimiye having already completed his sponsorship and now supporting himself and Umutoni just entering her second year of sponsorship.

“I’m originally from Rwanda,” said Umutoni. “My family fl ed to Kenya during the civil war, and we stayed there in a refugee camp for 12 years. ... We then went to Malawi, staying in a refugee camp there for three years.”

It was during her time in Malawi that Umutoni saw an ad for the student refugee program.

“I was one of 256 individuals who applied and then one of 63 people chosen for an interview,” said Umutoni. Of the 15 people ultimately chosen for the program from her pool of applicants, Umutoni was one of only two women chosen.

“I was really shocked when I found out,” she said. “The only things I knew about B.C. were what I’d read in a book.”

When she arrived in the summer of 2009, Umutoni got her fi rst dose of culture shock

“The biggest adjustment for me was when I got on the bus and everybody was so friendly. I thought it was a bit fi shy but the more I got exposed to it, the more I saw how friendly everybody was,” she said.

Umutoni, who said she has plans to go to nursing school in the future, cherishes the opportunity to live and study in a world so far away from her homeland.

“Sure, I get a little homesick, but this has been a great opportunity for me, a great chance to get an education at SFU.”

Ndayishimiye’s story is even more inspirational. He’s a citizen of Burundi even though he wasn’t born there and has only seen the country once in his life.

“My parents moved to Rwanda in 1972 as refugees and I was born in Rwanda,” said Ndayishimiye. “Because they were refugees, I couldn’t

Freedom to learnScholarships open up

opportunities and a new

life for African refugees

ALFIE LAU

The biggest adjustment for me was when I got on the bus and everybody was so

friendly. – Delphine Umutoni

ALAIN NDAYISHIMIYE, LEFT, AND DELPHINE UMUTONI, RIGHT, HAD TO EACH BEAT OUT M

WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA’S STUDENT REFUGEE PROGRAM. NDAYISHIMIY

A SECOND-YEAR HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENT.

welcome | 13PAGE 14

quick facts This year, 67 former refugee students will be attending close to 50 Canadian universities and colleges, including Simon Fraser University, through the World University Service of Canada’s student refugee program.

Many of these students have fl ed their country of origin to refugee camps in Kenya and Malawi because of political unrest and in order to escape violence and persecution.

As a result, their lives are put on hold as they have little to no employment opportunities or access to higher education.

The program enables these young men and women to resettle in Canada as permanent residents and pursue their dreams for the future by providing them with a post-secondary education. The service’s student-led local committees on campus sponsor the students and cover all their costs for a minimum of one year.

The service and its overseas partners are responsible for selecting refugee candidates, placing them at a Canadian post-secondary institution and providing training and guidance to the sponsored students and local committees throughout the sponsoring process.

For more than 30 years, the program has been helping students escape the camps and resettle in Canada. To date, more than 1,100 students have been sponsored from various refugee camps.

The World University Service of Canada is a network of individuals and post-secondary institutions that believe that all peoples are entitled to the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to a more equitable world.

Their mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training.

The service’s development projects in the Balkans, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Haiti, Malawi, Peru, Sri Lanka and Vietnam deliver meaningful results in:

• Education and health, including basic and higher education, water and sanitation, and HIV and AIDS.

• Sustainable livelihoods, including vocational training and agriculture/rural development.

• Governance, including strengthening civil society, promoting human rights and peace building.

The student refugee program is part of the service’s ongoing work on Canadian campuses.

get Rwandan citizenship. ... In 1994, we moved to Tanzania and then later, we moved to Malawi.”

When Ndayishimiye saw the notice about a possible post-secondary education abroad, he jumped at the chance, but he had to beat out 220 applicants for one of 15 available sponsorships.

“I knew about SFU because I had a friend who was going to school there,” said Ndayishimiye. “I really enjoyed my two years of being sponsored and I’m supporting myself now as I try and complete my business degree.”

Both Ndayishimiye and Umutoni agree that without the student refugee program, they would still be in Africa, dreaming instead of living out the dream.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Ndayishimiye. “For a normal African to get a visa to study abroad, it’s very hard. I feel very lucky to be able to get this opportunity.”

“It was a hard process but once you are selected, it’s been easy,” said

cover story

MORE THAN 200 OTHER APPLICANTS TO EARN TWO YEARS OF SPONSORSHIP FOR THE

E, FROM BURUNDI, IS STUDYING BUSINESS AT SFU, WHILE UMUTONI, FROM RWANDA, IS

PHOTO: LARRY WRIGHT

14 | welcome

cover storyUmutoni. “I also feel very lucky to get this opportunity.”

Ndayishimiye still feels a strong connection to Burundi even though he has only seen his homeland once.

“I do plan to go back to hopefully work in the public sector in Burundi,” he said. “Even though I was born in Rwanda, I didn’t have Rwandan citizenship because I was a refugee. And the six years I spent in Tanzania, it was as a refugee as well.

“I visited Burundi after I fi nished high school, and the reason why I feel so close to Burundi is because we spoke Burundi in our home, we danced to Burundian music, we ate Burundian food and we celebrated Burundian festivals. ... It didn’t matter where we were, Burundi is what we are.”

Umutoni agrees that her connection to her homeland is very strong.

“Africa and Rwanda gives me my identity,” she said. “I’m so grateful to Canada for everything here, but you can’t avoid being homesick.”

Umutoni said that prior to coming to SFU, she had been working in a health department clinic, treating AIDS and HIV patients, and she sees herself doing more of that if she goes back to Africa.

Living in Canada, far away from home, has been an unforgettable

experience for both Ndayishimiye and Umutoni.

“I remember, in my last year of sponsorship, I was worried about how I would support myself but with some planning, it all worked out,” said Ndayishimiye. “If I have any advice for Delphine, it’s that you shouldn’t stress yourself out. Concentrate on your school work and the rest will work itself out.”

Umutoni takes the advice with a hearty laugh.

“It’s good to know it’s OK to be a little worried,” she said. “I wasn’t too worried in my fi rst year because I went to boarding school (during high school), but now, when you have to support yourself, you have to think about everything.”

Ndayishimiye and Umutoni would love to continue talking, but class beckons, giving them just enough time to admit what their favourite uniquely Canadian foods are.

“I love maple syrup,” said Umutoni. “I remember the fi rst time seeing it on a table at breakfast and thinking it was some strange type of water and honey. ... And then I tasted it and I really love it.”

“Tim Hortons coffee, I’m addicted,” said Ndayishimiye. “I didn’t like it at fi rst, I thought it was too strong, but now I need to have it.”

Spoken like true Canadians.

FROM PAGE 13

welcome | 15

The New Westminster school district’s manager of multicultural services uses the story of an Afghan family to

describe how settlement workers in schools help new students and their families adjust to life in Canada.

There were fi ve or six children in the family – the two oldest girls had some education, but the younger children had none when they came to this country, Hargurjeet Sekhon explained.

The refugee family needed help to get their children settled in school - the youngest, who had a terminal illness, could not sit still during class. The oldest daughter had mental health issues and was in and out of hospital.

The family was living in a cramped basement suite.

Another challenge – the mother of the children had arrived in Canada before the rest of the children, so they were emotionally disconnected from her, Sekhon said.

A settlement worker helped the family access housing, medical care, school counselling and parenting classes for the mother.

That family is an extreme example of the needs that some new immigrants arrive with, but their circumstances illustrate the various ways in which settlement workers help.

The workers are a “one-stop referral” shop for school and community programs for students and their families, Sekhon explained.

“It’s a way of making them feel welcome, telling them we are there to help them. It’s not just about jobs, schools,” Sekhon said.

Settlement workers were introduced in 10 Metro Vancouver school districts in 2007. The federal government pays for the settlement workers. New Westminster receives $154,000 a year for two full-time and two part-time settlement workers.

The needs of those arriving in Canada are as vast as the countries they come from, Sekhon said.

Sekhon has fi rst-hand knowledge of the immigrant experience. She came to Canada from India in 1986. Though she had a master’s degree and spoke English, she still experienced culture shock.

“The whole system is different than what it is back home,” she said.

A helping hand for immigrantsSettlement workers help new

immigrant students and their

families adjust

education

She had a recent reminder of her immigrant status when she lost her purse. Not having a Canadian birth certifi cate – though she did have her passport – meant she had to go through more hoops and spend more money to get her ID back.

“It was a reminder to me: ‘Oh, I am an immigrant,’” she said.

Sekhon came to the New Westminster school district in 2008, a year after the settlement workers came to schools.

She was a multicultural worker in the Surrey school district for 18 years.

“Being a multicultural worker for so many years, I had always felt there was defi nitely a need for a settlement worker in schools, especially for the immigrant families. They had to sink or swim for themselves,” she said. “I’m seeing the

benefi t of it ... jobs, housing, references.”

The settlement workers help 650 people in New Westminster. Forty-fi ve per cent of them are students.

top-

10 co

untr

ies o

f orig

in 1. Philippines

2. China

3. India

4. Iraq

5. Korea

6. Russia

7. Afghanistan

8. Bulgaria

9. Canada (born Canadian but raised elsewhere)

10. Romania

NIKI HOPE

NEW WESTMINSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT SETTLEMENT WORKER DAISY JOHAL AND

THE DISTRICT’S MANAGER OF MULTICULTURAL SERVICES HARGURJEET SEKHON

HELPS RECENT IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SETTLE INTO THEIR

NEW SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.

PHOTO: LARRY WRIGHT

16 | welcome

resource guideNIKI HOPE

ESL Outreach Program, provides classes at the Kingsway Foursquare Church at 4601 Kingsway. Call 604-871-7145.

ESL and preschool program for African women, a course sponsored by Family Services of Greater, with government funding. The program is for African mothers with young children, at Olivet Baptist Church, 613 Queens Ave. Child care is provided. Call 604-525-9144, ext. 3655.

South Burnaby Neighbourhood House, offers ESL and English conversation classes. Call 604-431-0400.

Burnaby Welcome and Assessment Centre, offers guidance to families and their school-aged children, helping them integrate into the community and school. The centre features a language-testing centre, where students receive testing to determine placement levels for instruction. Settlement workers offer orientation into the school system, help accessing government services, workshops and councelling. Call 604-664-7230.

Burnaby Multicultural Society, offers drop-in ESL conversational classes on Mondays and Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon., for $2 (seniors free), free Internet access and more. Volunteer positions also available. Society is at 6255 Nelson Ave., across from Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre. For registration or questions, phone 604-431-4131, ext. 27.

Immigrant Services Society of B.C. provides newcomers with a range of settlement services, including settling counseling in various languages, community bridging, multicultural peer support and more. In Burnaby call 604-395-8000, in New Westminster call 604-525-9144 ext. 3662.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. provides a large number of services to newcomers in social services, employment, business and economic development, training and education and health care. Call 604-684-1628.

Burnaby Community Connections provides information about community services and resources in Burnaby and New Westminster. Call 604-299-5778.

MOSAIC Settlement Services offers a wide range of services, including counseling in more than 20 languages. Call 604-254-9626.

Social Insurance Number (SIN). To work in Canada, you need a Social Insurance Number. Most immigrants apply for this shortly after they arrive in Canady. For more information, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/sin/index.shtml.

Canada Child Tax Benefi t, a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. To be eligible, you must be a resident of Canada, and you or your spouse or common-law partner must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protect person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months. For more information, visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/cctb/menu-eng.html.

W.I.N.G.S.: Women In Need Gaining Strength, an outreach program that offers support to multicultural women who have experienced or are at-risk of being abused in intimate relationships. The group offers multicultural women emotional support and connections to safe homes, legal aid, counselling, and other outreach services. For more information, contact Roshni Vedamanikam at 604-521-1888.

ESL conversation circles, running Wednesdays at the Burnaby Public Library’s McGill branch. Some knowledge of English required; a librarian guides weekly discussion on everyday topics. No registration required. Drop in to check it out. Info: McGill, 604-299-8955.

Burnaby School District’s Welcome Centre helps new families with school-age children. Call 604-664-7230, for more information.

WelcomeY O U C A N P I C K U P Y O U R C O P Y O F WelcomeWelcomeAT A L L R E C R E AT I O N C E N T R E S , M A I N L I B R A R I E S A N D

C O M M U N I T Y C E N T R E S I N B U R N A B Y A N D N E W W E S T M I N S T E R

Great things are possible when your child has the skills to succeed on his own. Kumon Math and Reading uses a proven method to nurture achievement and help your child perform beyond expectations.

reaching heights no one ever expected.

Imagine...

FREEplacement

test!

BURNABY-DEER [email protected]

Class Times: Wed. 4-7 pm & Sat. 12-3 pm

NEW [email protected]

Class Times: Mon/Wed 3-7 pm & Tue/Thu 3-6 pm

welcome | 17

18 | welcome

helping hands

Homeownership is often the biggest investment of a lifetime. Knowing all the various costs of buying a

home and purchasing within your means are the keys to homeownership. Understanding your mortgage

options, the impact of rising interest rates and monthly payments, will help you make an informed decision.

Genworth Financial Canada provides easy to understand homebuyer information about purchasing

responsibly at

bbynow

www.HomeownershipHelp.ca/bbynow

Buying for the first time?Do your homework first.

Trari-Marzuki knows her English has to improve in order for her to get into the upgrade courses at Douglas College, which she needs to get a job in education.

“If all goes well, then I can start working in a daycare and then move up to a school,” she said.

Those stories of hope are not new to Tran, who herself was an immigrant 35 years ago.

“I came from Singapore to study at SFU,” she said. Immigrant services weren’t very prevalent at the time but in the four decades since, Tran has seen an unbelievable growth.

“I started as a volunteer with ISS, and I’ve also worked with SUCCESS and MOSAIC,” she said. “I know how much I was helped when I fi rst came to Canada, and I want to try and give back.”

Some of the other services offered at the society’s New Westminster location include a host program for refugees, employment outreach services, multilingual case management, settlement services and career services.

“We are always looking at ways to offer more, to offer services that

are current with what people need,” said Tran. “It is our belief that the faster new immigrants integrate into the community, the faster they contribute to the community.”

In mid-April, the society hosted an open house to show the community what they’re doing at the Royal Avenue offi ces.

“We have skills that are needed in Canada,” said Kambiz. “We want to be a part of the community. We want to contribute to the community.”

Perhaps the best part of people from so many different cultures working and learning together is the fact they’re

learning about uniquely Canadian things.

Tang said she was lucky enough to go see a hockey game at GM Place and now, when the local hockey team is playing, she can yell “Go, Canucks, Go” and know exactly what it means.

“We haven’t been so lucky to go to a game ourselves,” said Vivian. “But we do watch it on television.”

For more information on the services offered by the Immigrant Services Society, go to www.issbc.org or call the New Westminster offi ce at 604-522-5902.

SOCIETY PAGE 11

It is our belief that the faster new immigrants integrate into the community, the faster they contribute to the community.

welcome | 19

SETTLEMENT PROGRAMS u p p o r t . O p p o r t u n i t y . S t r e n g t h .

Free and easy access to services

in your own language.

Call a settlement worker at

604-254-9626

we are here to help!www.mosaicbc.com

ALFIE LAU

Cooking up a new lifeBlind faith in the kitchen

Imagine how hard it is to open a new restaurant, in a new city, in a new country, with no prior experience.

Now imagine doing it blind or having just recovered from throat cancer.

For Alicia and Rolf Krawinkel, opening up Delicias de Alicia, a new Cuban restaurant in the Metrotown area, has been the culmination of a three-year journey that has seen the couple survive on faith, friendship, love and hard work.

Alicia, blind since birth, does all the cooking in the cozy Imperial Street eatery while Rolf, almost two years recovered from throat cancer surgery that still leaves him with a gravelly voice, is the server, host and accountant for the restaurant that opened its doors on March 2.

Making the story even more unbelievable is that before this year, neither Alicia or Rolf had any professional restaurant experience: Alicia, trained as a physiotherapist in her Holguin, Cuba, home, discovered that her credentials weren’t recognized in Canada. Rolf worked as a geophysicist until his throat cancer scare and when he was ready to return to work, the global economic meltdown melted away his job.

“When Rolf got sick, I started cooking out of my house for some Latin community fundraisers,” said Alicia. “Word got around and I started to make a little money to help support my family.”

The last thing Alicia wanted to be was a burden to her new country and her family, as she and Rolf are raising a blended family of four sons – three of whom live with them in their Delta home.

“It’s important for me to show my sons that I can contribute to the community and that no matter what, I can still work hard and do my best,” said Alicia.

Talk to Alicia for any amount of time and you wouldn’t even know she’s blind, as she uses all of her other senses to the best of her ability.

When she cooks, she listens to make sure that things are cooked properly. And when she thinks they’re done, she gives it the smell test.

“Alicia doesn’t make any mistakes in the kitchen,” said Rolf. “She’s designed the kitchen so that she can do everything herself. When I

people

PAGE 21

ALICIA AND ROLF KRAWINKEL HAVE RECENTLY OPENED A CUBAN RESTAURANT

IN BURNABY CALLED DELICIAS DE ALICIA. ALICIA, ORIGINALLY FROM CUBA,

IS BLIND AND DOES ALL THE COOKING AT THE RESTAURANT WHILE ROLF IS

RECOVERING FROM CANCER AND WORKS THE FRONT ROOM AT THE IMPERIAL

STREET RESTAURANT.

PHOTO: ALFIE LAU

20 | welcome

connections

Burnaby Multicultural Society offers ELSA (English Language Services for Adults), classes for new immigrants or people still holding permanent resident status. Class level is literary and level 1, starting this fall. Info: 604-431-4131, ext. 27 or 29. Bring in your immigration document or PR card.

Spanish Club, open to Spanish speakers at any level or those interested in learning the language and culture, meets Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Cameron Recreation Complex in Burnaby, 604-415-3555.

Burnaby Scottish Country Dance Club, meets Mondays from September to April, 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Edmonds Community Centre, 7282 Kingsway. Classes begin Sept. 13, new members welcome, no experience or partners needed. Drop in or call Susan at 604-451-1161 or Rosemary at 604-298-6552.

North Burnaby Retired Society, for adults aged 55 and up of Chinese descent, with activities such as Chinese dancing, exercises, special events, Mandarin lessons and outings. Meets Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at Confederation Centre in Burnaby. Social dances held on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., $1 for members or $2 for non-members. Drop in. Call 604-294-1936 or 604-297-4810.

African drumming ensemble offered at Bonsor Recreation Complex, with sessions in the fall (starting Oct. 18) and winter (starting Jan. 31). Drummers learn traditional African rhythms and advanced improvization techniques on the djembe, one of the world’s oldest instruments. Play as a group through drumming songs consisting of drum calls, two- and three-part rhythms, breaks and solos. Accompaniment patterns on the dun duns, bells, shakers and bass drum are explored. Info and registration: www.burnaby.ca, through Parks, Recreation and Culture, under Find a Program.

Iranian-Canadian Association, gives Iranian seniors a chance to meet to share conversation and learn about Canadian culture and customs, Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Cameron Recreation Complex in Burnaby, 604-415-3555.

Chinese women’s groups, offered through S.U.C.C.E.S.S., including social support, employment help, family programs and more, at various locations including the Tri-Cities, Richmond, Vancouver and more. Visit www.successbc.ca and search under Women

Sakhi (Indo-Canadian Senior Women’s Group) gives women of Indo-Canadian descent a chance to meet for fun and friendship, with scheduled outings and speakers. Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at Confederation Centre. Call 604-294-1936 or 604-297-4810.

Hispanic Community Centre offers a variety of programs and services including music and dance classes, workshops, legal help and much more, designed to help newly arrived Spanish-speaking immigrants adapt to life in Canada. Visit www.vcn.bc.ca/hispanic.

Scandinavian Dancers of Vancouver, presented relaxed and friendly folk dance evenings on Wednesdays at the Scandinavian Community Centre, 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby, with one Wednesday a month devoted to live music at various locations. www.vcn.bc.ca/scandi/ for info. Beginner lessons are also offered. For registration for beginners, contact Judith Anderson at 604-526-4722 or Wendy Cutler at 604-685-7405.

Netherlands Association, speak Dutch with others and celebrate your heritage. Visit www.dutchnetwork.ca or contact Edie, [email protected] or 604-536-3394.

Burnaby/New West Newcomers and Friends Club, welcomes women who are new to the area, as well as longtime residents, giving women of all ages and cultures a chance to make new friends. Meets the second Wednesday of each month. Info: Lenore, 604-294-6913.

Host program, offered by S.U.C.C.E.S.S., helps new immigrants overcome the stress of moving to a new country and integrate into the community. New immigrants are matched with resident Canadians on a volunteer basis, and participate in organized social, educational and recreational activities to enhance their cross-cultural understanding, community participation and integration. Call Yumiko King, coordinator for Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities, at 604-430-1899.

Seniors’ South Asian Friendship Society, offers those of South Asian descent who speak Hindi or Punjabi a chance to meet for fun and friendship, with speakers,

outings, special events and tea. Men meet Mondays from 12:30 to 3 p.m., women on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. At Edmonds Centre for 55-plus – call 604-525-1671 for details.

Connecting Communities offers groups a chance to list a variety of cultural events. All multicultural groups and those offering programs for newcomers and/or immigrant communities are welcome to send listings to Julie MacLellan, [email protected].

JULIE MACLELLAN

Explore cultures in our communities

PRIEST BIDDUT BHATTACHANJEE

PERFORMS RITUALS AT THE DURGA PUJA

CELEBRATION HELD RECENTLY AT THE

VEDIC HINDU TEMPLE, 3885 ALBERT ST. IN

BURNABY. THE FESTIVAL WAS HELD BY THE

UTSAB-CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BENGAL

GROUP, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

ESTABLISHED IN 2004 TO PRACTISE,

DISCUSS AND PROMOTE BENGALI

FESTIVITIES AND CULTURE. VISIT THE

WEBSITE AT WWW.UTSAB.CA OR E-MAIL

[email protected] FOR MORE DETAILS.

PHOTO: KEVIN HILL

welcome | 21

people

Commissionaires makes the process easy with our competitive prices and friendly, reliable service.

Visit us at our convenient processing locations:

> Surrey at 1650–13401 108th Avenue (Gateway Station)> Surrey at 205–12725 80th Avenue> Vancouver at 801–595 Howe Street> Vancouver at 8157 Main Street

or call 604 646 3351 today!www.commissionaires.bc.ca/fi ngerprinting

DIGITAL FINGERPRINTING

INK & ROLL FINGERPRINTING

POLICE CLEARANCES (CPIC)

PARDONS

SECURITY LICENSING

move something, that’s when I hear about it.”

Alicia even does her own dishes, using her touch to knowingly separate all the clean dishes from the used ones coming back from the dining room.

For Rolf, running a restaurant wasn’t something he had in mind three years ago when he was diagnosed with throat cancer.

“I couldn’t work and I didn’t even know if I would live,” said Rolf. “I think it’s because of our tremendous faith in God that both of us have come through this.”

Even when Rolf took some geophysicist contracts in Mexico and the United States, Alicia had a better plan.

“I told Rolf that in the time that we had been together, we hadn’t worked together,” she said. “I told him it was time that we did something together, for love, not money.”

And that’s how Delicias de Alicia was born.

The couple scoured the Internet for a suitable location, almost signing a lease in Vancouver until they saw how old the building was.

They found their 4854 Imperial St. location shortly thereafter and have slowly built the business up.

“I keep a ledger of all our customers,” said Rolf, pointing out the 300-strong list of diners who’ve come to enjoy the rich fl avoured, but not spicy hot, Cuban cuisine that Alicia creates herself.

Rolf is almost apologetic when he notes that a recent take-out order for four was for one of the city’s most powerful men.

“I took the order and a nice man and his wife came to pick it up,” he said. “One of my other customers told me that’s the mayor of Burnaby (Derek Corrigan). He lives in the area.”

For every 10 meals a customer has at Delicias, they get a free meal.

“We have one neighbour who’s already been here 26 times, plus her two free dinners,” said Rolf. “I guess she doesn’t like to cook herself.”

Ivania and Eduardo Olivares got to the know the couple through Latino Soy, an FM multicultural radio station.

When the radio station needed food cooked up for a fundraiser, they were referred to Alicia.

“She cooked 80 to 90 portions and everybody who had it absolutely loved it,” said Ivania. “She cooks very elaborate food, with a lot of fl avour and you would never know she’s blind.”

Delicias de Alicia is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 604-569-1575.

COOKING PAGE 19

22 | welcome

sharing

We offer services to helpyou settle into your new life

FREE

Welcome to Burnaby Public Library!

Phone 604-436-5400for more information

�

�

�

�

�

�

Information on local services,schools and government agencies

Computer training

English as a second languagematerials and conversation circlesto help you practice your English

Job search tours & resources

Citizenship test information andstudy guides

Children’s programs

Burnaby Public Librarywww.bpl.bc.ca

NovemberNovember 11

Remembrance Day: Marking the end of the First World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, Remembrance Day is observed by people of all faiths and cultures – usually with ceremonies held at local cenotaphs, and two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. In B.C., it is a statutory holiday.

November 12

Birth of Baha’u’llah: For those of the Baha’i faith, this day celebrates the birth of the faith’s founder, in 1817.

November 15

Shichigosan: This Shinto festival is held to give thanks for children. It’s often celebrated on the Sunday nearest to the 15th to allow working parents to take part in the celebrations.

November 16

Eid al Adha: This Muslim Festival of Sacrifi ce Eid al-Adha is an important feast of Islam. It marks the conclusion of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The three-day festival marks Abraham’s willingness to sacrifi ce his son in obedience to Allah.

November 21

Birthday of Guru Nanak: For those of the Sikh faith, this day marks the birthday of Guru Nanak, the fi rst Sikh teacher, who lived from 1469 to 1539. (This is the date according to the lunar calendar. It can also be celebrated by some on the date according to the Nanakshahi calendar, April 14.)

November 23

Niinamesei: This Shinto holiday is Labour Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday in Japan and originally a harvest festival.

November 26

Day of the Covenant: This Baha’i festival celebrates the covenant of Baha’u’llah given in his last will and testament. Baha’is also mark the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Baha’u’llah.

November 28

First Sunday of Advent: For Western Christians, this marks the beginning of the new church year - always on the Sunday closest to Nov. 30. It marks the beginning of Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, which always includes four Sundays. It is considered a time of preparation for welcoming the birth of Jesus Christ. (For Christians of Eastern faiths, the Advent season is longer, beginning in mid-November.)

DecemberDecember 2 to 9

Hanukkah: This is the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorating the Maccabean recapture and rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165-164 BCE. Celebrations include readings and songs celebrating liberty, as well as the lighting of the menorah.

December 7

Hijira: This is a Muslim celebration, marking the Islamic New Year. It commemorates the migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina.

Information above has been compiled from www.bbc.co.uk and www.interfaithcalendar.org. If you have any amendments or suggestions for future World of Holidays, send to Julie MacLellan, [email protected].

A world of holidays

Free Safe Harbour Workshops for Burnaby Businesses

Building welcoming communities starts with an understanding of diversity.

Did you know that more than 50% of Burnaby residents speak English as a Second Language and that Burnaby is one of the most diverse cities in all of Canada?

Burnaby Family Life and South Burnaby Neighbourhood House will deliver free (2 hour), Diversity Training workshops for smart, forward-looking businesses and organizations in Burnaby that are standing up for diversity and creating a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone, irrespective of their differences.

If your company or organization would like to provide your employees with an opportunity to increase their cross cultural understanding and win new customer loyalty, give us a call and we’ll organize a Safe Harbour workshop for you!

Call Sam at Burnaby Family Life –604 659 2244

Call Kimberly at South Burnaby Neighbourhood House – 604 431 0400

24 | welcome

• SMALL CLASS SIZES • MONTHLY INTAKES • FINANCIAL OPTIONS• CAREER FOCUSED PROGRAMS • FREE LIFETIME UPGRADING • JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE

We look forward to meeting you!

520-3900(604)Call our New WestminsterCampus

www.sprottshaw.com

We Believe in We Believe in You.You.Sprott-Shaw Community College has been training students in BC for over 107 years.We want you to be a success story too!

Small class sizes for individual attention Monthly intakes to get you working faster Career focused programs to keep you in demand Financial options tailored to individual needs Qualified and dedicated instructors FREE lifetime upgrading and refresher courses Job placement assistance/skills warranty Monthly career fairs to keep you current

- Practical Nursing- Health Care Assistant (Formerly Resident Care Attendant)- Medical Office Assistant- Social Services / Assisted Living- Pharmacy Assistant- Early Childhood Education- Business Management / BBA Degree- Tourism & Hospitality Management And More…

We look forward to meeting you!