Victoria B.C.

Fall 2014

past

pres

ent f ut ure present

When Death Divides: A Story of Grief Across CulturesLife’s Milestones Around the World

If I Write Enough by Lorna Crozier

Families & Positive Communication

& Now

{{{{

Thenthe pioneer and the student

a l a n g u a g e & c u l t u r e m a g a z i n e for newcomers to Canada

Lana Popham MLASAANICH SOUTH250-479-4154

Lana.Popham.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Carole James MLAVICTORIA – BEACON HILL

250-952-4211Carole.James.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Murray Rankin MPVICTORIA

250-363-3600Murray.Rankin@parl.gc.ca

Rob Fleming MLA VICTORIA – SWAN LAKE

250-360-2023Rob.Fleming.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Maurine Karagianis MLAESQUIMALT – ROYAL ROADS

250-479-8326Maurine.Karagianis.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Randall Garrison MPESQUIMALT – JUAN DE FUCA

250-405-6550Randall.Garrison@parl.gc.ca

Your federal and provincial representatives

Here to Help

MPs+MLAs-Here!Mag-1408.indd 1 2014-08-21 3:06 PM

suggested answers to activities on pages 10 and 11

page 10 1. Family collocat ions that could be used to descr ibe the family icons include:single -parenttwo -parenttraditionalnon- traditional extended

2. 1. grand 2. surrogate3. foster or step 4. common- law 5. foster or step 6. half - 7. great

page 111. Your spouse cal l s you f rom work to te l l you he/she w i l l be home in hal f an hour and he/she ar r i ves home an hour and a hal f la te r. Th is i s a week ly event.

You-Statement: You never come home when you say you wil l!

I-Statement: I ge t anxious when you come home la te r than you said you would because I 'm worr ied something has happened to you. I would l ike you to ca l l me i f you are going to be la te r than p lanned so tha t I don' t worr y and we can s tar t our evening toge ther in a posi t ive way.

2. Your chi ld te l l s you at 9 p.m. that she s igned you up to br ing cupcakes to school tomor row for the class par t y and you don ’ t have the t ime to get the ingredient s or make them.

I-Statement: I f ee l f rus t ra ted when you don' t t e l l me r ight away about what you have vo lunteered me for because i f I can' t do what has been promised, I fee l l ike I am le t t ing you and o ther people down. I would l ike you to te l l me as soon as you can about what you need f rom me so I can give my bes t!

3. You th ink your par tner was too har sh w i th your ch i ld a f te r he/she dropped and broke someth ing.

I-Statement: I f ee l the message you gave our chi ld wasn' t he lp fu l and may have been hur t f u l because I think i t was jus t an accident. I would l ike us bo th, as parent s, to be commit ted to teaching him how to s low down and be care fu l so tha t he can gain conf idence and avoid accident s.

GlobalVillageStore

527 Pandora(Market Square)

250-380-1530Mon-Sat: 10-5Sun: Noon-4

Beautiful fair tradegifts at fair prices

A friendly place toshop, and to volunteer

Check us out!

VOTING HELPS

Vote Nov 15, 2014

www.lisahelpsvictoria.ca

O U R M U L T I C U L T U R A L C O M M U N I T YVic tor ia has a v ibrant and growing

mult icul tural communit y! These organizat ions celebrate cul ture and divers i t y wi th annual events l ike the Dragon Parade ‚ Flamenco

Fes t ival ‚ Greek fes t‚ Fes t ival Mexicano ‚ and the Highland Games and Cel t ic Fes t ival. They also of fer suppor t and ser v ices to

their members and newcomers ‚ including language suppor t‚ heal th and wellness

ac t iv i t ies ‚ network ing oppor tuni t ies ‚ and work-related sk i l l development.

Victoria and Vancouver Island Greek Community Society

Victoria Canada-China Friendship Association

White Eagle Polish Association

Institute for Canadian Citizenship (Victoria Chapter)

Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Society of Vancouver Island

Victoria Highland Games Association

Sons of Scotland

Hungarian Society of Victoria

The Royal Commonwealth Society

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association

Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Victoria Korean-Canadian Women’s Association

Victoria Filipino-Canadian Association

Victoria Filipino-Canadian Caregivers Association

Victoria Filipino-Canadian Seniors Association

La Société francophone de Victoria

Victorian Croatian Community

Leonardo Da Vinci Centre

India Canada Cultural Association

Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island

Victoria African Caribbean Cultural Society

Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society

Vancouver Island Thai Association

Mexican Canadian Community Association of Victoria

Newcomers Connect

Please contact us at community@heremagazine.ca if you would like to highlight your organization or event in Here! Magazine.

 

ImmigrantWelcome Centre

ICA’s Settlement Services program connects individuals and organizations across cultures. To help immigrants and refugees reach their goals, ICA provides information, support, and tools to assist with housing, healthcare, education, human rights, Canadian law, family concerns, citizenship, and more.

Settlement Services

For more information or to register:Tel: 250-388-4728 Email: info@icavictoria.org

www.icavictoria.org

Since 1978, ICA has helped more than 20,000 newcomers.

www.citizenship101.ca

can help!

To learn more information:

Join us as a participant or mentor

facebook.com/citizenship101

follow us @citizenship101

youtube.com/101citizenship

250.361.9433 ext 247PHONE:

citizenship101@vircs.bc.caEMAIL:

Preparing for theCanadian

Citizenshiptest?

www.heremagazine.ca

Publisher | Functionall Books

Editor | Fiona Bramble

Copy Editors | Christy Sebelius‚ Renée Layberry

Contributing Writers | Erin Renwick‚ Kedsanee Broome‚ Alex Creighton‚ Shrikant Shenwai‚ Marli Sanchez‚ Ayne Meiklem‚ Elizabeth Gaynor‚ Heidy Lopez‚ Irama Castellanos‚ Olga Minko‚ Lorna Crozier

Illustrators and Designers | Josephine Aucoin‚ April Caverhill

Design and Layout | Fiona Bramble

Production | Black Press

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Letter from the editor“ Welcome to our fourth issue! It’s hard to believe that almost one year ago, our first issue launched itself into our vibrant community and landed in Victoria’s mailboxes and public spaces. Since then, we have been continually moved and amazed by our newcomers’ stories. Their optimism and perseverance is a model for all of us and we are grateful for the gift of diversity and broader understanding that Victoria’s newcomers bring to our community. We have also heard from many more established Canadians who are thankful for the opportunity to connect with our newcomers and the larger community through Here! Magazine. A common thread that continues to weave itself through this tapestry of sharing and learning from each other is the connectedness of our community, be it purposeful or accidental.

Newcomers have told me that making those connections and networking is one of their greatest struggles as they try to establish themselves and their families here in Canada. Victorians often talk about the “one degree of separation” that seems to link us, but these relationships are not immediately apparent to newcomers for many reasons, including language and cultural barriers.

There are local groups and organizations that can help newcomers connect and network better—Newcomers Connect, Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, Volunteer Victoria—and that amazing resource: you. The connection is there, waiting to be discovered in a small gesture or a casual suggestion. The connection might be long-established or brand-new. Be open to it.

This issue is stuffed with stories and surprises of connectedness across time and distance. Through a cross-cultural lens, we explore the inevitable and universal circle of life, family relationships and struggles, and life’s milestones around the world. Elizabeth Gaynor’s and Marli Sanchez’s immigrant portraits of then and now recall the hopeful, determined and often difficult path all immigrants travel. The Ties That Bind, a new series highlighting family stories from conflict zones, is a raw and poignant glimpse of the loss and uncertainty some of our newcomer neighbours struggle with daily. Cosmopolis Toronto’s stunning and ambitious project, led by photographer Colin Boyd Shafer, “to photograph someone born in every single country of the world who now calls Toronto home”, is a powerful testament to the Canadian mosaic. Each portrait and story remind us of how small moments can mold a future not yet imagined and how Canada can be the place where all the seemingly unconnected pieces come together.

#winningMonk Office and Here! Magazine congratulate our intrepid QR Code Contest winners—Brian, Rachelle, Robert, and Lucas! On August 19th, Simon Hird-Rutter, Manager of Monk Office’s Fort St. location, awarded our Summer Issue contest winners with an “education grab-bag” prize, brimming with awesome office and school supplies. A big thank you to Monk Office and to our enthusiastic readers!

Fiona Bramble, EditorSecond-generation Irish-Scottish Canadian

Most people in the country are descendants of immigrants. This is part of our heritage. The diversity allows for this country to not belong to a particular ethnicity or religion. This is important. Everyone should have a place in Canada. —Colin Boyd Shafer (page 20)

Monk Office Manager, Simon, with prize winners, Brian and Rachelle.

Here! Magazine's Director of Community Partnerships, Kieran Wilson, with Simon Hird-Rutter.

When Death Divides Us: A Story of Grief Across Cultures by Erin Renwick, with art by April Caverhill

Then & Now: the Pioneer and the StudentElizabath Gaynor and Marli Sanchez share their stories of very different paths to Canada.

Life’s Milestones Around the World: A Visualizationby Josephine Aucoin

6 heremagazine.ca

20 Special Photo FeatureCosmopolis Toronto w ith Colin Boyd Shafer

Cover photo: Elizabeth Gaynor at her Quick, B.C. homestead, 1955

CONTENTSVolume 1, Issue 4 Features

14

16 18Regular Columns

8 newhere Welcome Shrikant Shenwai from Nagpur, India. 733 days ago, Shrikant and his family arrived in Canada by way of Singapore. Shrikant is an engineer by training with a strong passion for technology. Find out what he loves (and thinks is strange!) about Canada.

9 renthere Alex Creighton of Devon Properties walks us through the next step in renting an apartment and reveals a few surprising facts.

10 learnhere Word mentor and family mediator Ayne Meiklem gives us some tools and positive language to communicate effectively with our loved ones as we explore the many types of Canadian families.

12 homehere Kedsanee Broome discovers some cross-cultural differences in planning for the future and imagines her distant retirement—in two countries.

13 readhere If I Write Enough‚ a new poem by Lorna Crozier.

23 hereinCanada Test your knowledge with our Citizenship Quiz #4 and read what people have been tweeting about #Canada in the summer of 2014.

New Series The Ties That Bind22 Newcomers share their personal stories of fear and uncertainty for family members living in conflict zones around the world.

heremagazine.ca 7

These Capricho slip-on shoes can be found at Himulco Shoes at 2571 Cadboro Bay Rd., Victoria, B.C., owned and operated by Gabriel and Marli Sanchez (see page 17). Colour not exactly as shown.

M any of us came from somewhere else. Some of us arrived 100 years ago‚ some of us 100 days ago. Now we are here‚ working‚ living‚ and learning together. We may

have arrived in different ways and may have come for different reasons. We may be going down different paths, but one thing is the same: here is home.

newhere 7 3 3 d a y s

Shrikant ShenwaiCEO of Wireless Broadband Alliance

reason for coming here: for our children to go to university.getting here: a 24-hour flight across the Pacific. first emotion upon arriving: thinking how beautiful and pristine it was! favorite thing to do here: head out for a walk and enjoy the beautiful trails. most helpful person here: Mark Chawla‚ whom I met through an online forum. Mark and his wife Stella were extremely helpful when we initially landed in Victoria. Later‚ many of our new friends from the local east Indian community also helped us settle down. languages spoken at home: mostly Hindi‚ but my mother tongue is Marathi‚ one of 22 key languages in India.

hometownNagpur‚ India mother tongueMarathi

My ad v ice to s omeone a bout to immig rate to Canada would be

this: inve s t in net work ing and mak ing ne w f r iends . It i s re warding and your l i fe become s a lot more f un! D on’t be shy. Canada i s a welcoming and immig rant- f r iend ly count r y.

“Being so far away f rom my ageing parents ‚ my in- laws ‚ and the res t of the ex tended family back in India is ver y di f f icul t. Besides miss ing my family‚ I miss the food and fes t ivals! V ic tor ia has a small but ver y ac t ive and f r iendly communit y of people f rom the Indian sub-cont inent. V ic tor ia Hindu Par ishad ‚ a local non-prof i t group ‚ regular ly organizes cul tural and social ac t iv i t ies. That helps us s tay connec ted wi th the Indian cul ture ‚ cus toms ‚ and many fes t ivals.

Something s t range that I ’ve not iced about Canadian cul ture is that somet imes people are too poli te to say a direc t “no”.

LISTEN TO SHRIKANT TELL US WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT VICTORIA’S REPUTATION AS A HOME FOR THE NEWLY WED AND THE NEARLY DEAD!

renthere

Alex Creighton has over 30 years experience in property management with Devon Properties and her family-run property management company.

8 heremagazine.ca

What can improve my chances of having my application accepted?Ensure you have references available for the landlord to check and make sure you have full contact information for them to make it easier. Make sure you are able to provide some form of proof of your income as well.

Will the landlord actually call my references?Most landlords do; it’s safe to assume that they will.

Can the landlord discriminate against me for my age‚ race‚ children‚ or any other reason? No—absolutely not. The only time children can be denied tenancy is in a building that is designated “55+”. The landlord can limit the number of people in a suite; for example, 5 people in a 1-bedroom apartment could be deemed unreasonable and the landlord could refuse the tenancy. heremagazine.ca 9

After you have viewed a rental unit and have found the place where you want to live contact the landlord or landlady as soon as possible to confirm that you are interested. They may have other people looking at the unit and you don,t want to delay and have it rent to someone else.When you make the appointment to meet the landlord to apply for the suite, make sure you ask them what information they will need from you. Not all landlords ask for the same information, but it helps to have:

1. A list of the places you have lived for at least the past two years, including the dates you lived there.

2. Your previous landlord’s name and phone number and/or email address. If you do not have a rental history you should be prepared to supply other references; these can be personal or, if you are working, from your employer.

3. Information or documentation showing how you will pay the rent and that you have a stable source of income. If you are working, having proof of your income, such as a pay stub or copy of your T-4 slip, is a good idea. 4. Personal identification (ID); your passport or other picture identification should be sufficient.

renthere applying for a rental unit

NEXT ISSUE: Moving into a rental unit

Alex Creighton has over 30 years experience in property management with Devon Properties and her family-run property management company.

2.7% is the average

apartment

vacancy rate in

Victoria B.C.*

An approved application is the first important step but it is not necessarily a rental contract. You may still need to complete an actual tenancy agreement form.

$841 average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Victoria

$1084 average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Victoria *source: CMHC Rental Market Report 2014

This is an application to rent: _____________________________________________________________ Name: __________________________________________ Date of Birth: __________________________ Tel: ______________________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Current Address: ________________________________________ City: ___________________________ Dates of Tenancy: _______________________________________________________________________ Name of Landlord: _____________________________ Landlord Phone: ___________________________ Reason for Leaving: _____________________________________________________________________

Additional Occupants: Name: _______________________________________________________ Age: _____________________ Name: _______________________________________________________ Age: _____________________ Name: _______________________________________________________ Age: _____________________

Pets: YES NO Describe: __________________________________________________ Smoking: YES NO Describe: __________________________________________________

Employment Status & Income Verification: Occupation: _______________________________________________ Wage: _______________________ Company: ______________________________________________________________________________ How long have you worked at this company? __________________________________________________ Other income description (eg. Disability, Income Assistance, Savings): ____________________________________

Vehicle Information: Make: ___________________________ Model: _________________________ Year: ________________

References: 1. Name: _______________________________________ Phone: _______________________________

Relationship (previous landlord, employer): __________________________________________________ 2. Name: _______________________________________ Phone: _______________________________

Relationship (previous landlord, employer): __________________________________________________

I hereby state that the information contained herein is true and I authorize my References as listed above to release information regarding my employment and/or past/current tenancies. I also authorize a credit check to be conducted.

Signed: _______________________________________ Dated: ___________________________________

Rental Application

www.TenantsBC.ca

Family relationships can be described in many ways. (suggested answers can be found on the inside front cover)

Describe the family icons on this page using some of the words in the box in the bottom

left-hand corner.

Match the correct word below to its numbered circle to create a common family collocation. Use each word only once.

common-law surrogate grandstep-foster half-great

learnhere

10 heremagazine.ca

families and communication

BLENDEDSINGLE PARENTTWO-PARENTTRADITIONAL (NUCLEAR)NON-TRADITIONALEXTENDEDFOSTERADOPTIVESTEP

Canadian families com

e i n all shapes and sizes

mother

father

son

daughter

niece

nephew

7.

motherfatherbrothersistersondaughter

sondaughter

brothersister

wifehusband

motherfather

4.

2.

auntunclegrandsongranddaughter grandmother grandfather

biological

1.

6.

adopted

3.

5.

-in-law

adoptive

mother}

Good communicat ion is impor tant in keeping al l

re lat ionships heal thy. L ike Ayne ‚ many faci l i ta tor s who teach ef fec t ive communicat ion use var iat ions of the

“ I-S tatement ” model to help people share their emot ions wi th their loved ones wi th the

goal of resolv ing conf l ic t.

It does tend to be with family that we take communication short cuts—likely because there’s an inherent laziness in dialogue with those we feel “know us best” and assumptions

they can read between the lines or won’t take anything the wrong way. These assumptions, however, really get us into trouble. So, like anything else, kindness, charity, manners, and yes, even good communication need to start at home!

In her mediation sessions‚ Ayne lays out two important guidelines before anyone starts talking:

1. I ask that we avoid starting any sentences with ‘you’ because when the other person hears ‘you’, they immediately stop listening and prepare to defend a perceived attack‚ so they actually don’t hear the rest of the sentence. If we start with ‘I’ instead‚ the sentence at least gets heard.

2. It’s natural to want to jump in and make corrections according to our view when hearing someone retell events that we were present for and saw differently. I ask that we don’t do that but rather allow the other person to finish, and in your own turn, express how you saw things.

Family Justice counsellors work in Family Justice Centres located in

communities across the province to provide services to British Columbians going through separation or divorce. There is no charge for their services.

www.justicebc.ca

Word mentor Ayne Meiklem has been practicing mediation since 1996. She currently provides mediation services to couples experiencing separation and divorce. Ayne says that the emotional climate of this work is often highly charged and requires a great deal of attention to how we use language—including tone‚ intonation and

delivery— to express and clarify our thoughts.

heremagazine.ca 11

families and communication

“

I-Statement

YOUR TURN! Create your own I-S tatement ” to respond to these situations: (sugges ted responses can be found on the ins ide f ront cover )

1. Your spouse cal ls you f rom work to te l l you he/she wi l l be home in hal f an hour and he/she ar r ives home an hour and a hal f la ter. This is a week ly event.

You-Statement: You never come home when you say you wil l!

I -Statement:

2. Your chi ld te l l s you at 9 p.m. that she s igned you up to br ing cupcakes to school tomor row for the class par t y and you don ’ t have the t ime to get the ingredient s or make them.

I -Statement:

3. You think your par tner was too har sh wi th your chi ld af ter he/she dropped and broke something.

I -Statement:

when...( s ta te the

behav iour you want to s top)

because...( s ta te why you fee l the way

you do)

and would like...

( s ta te your fu ture expec ta t ions)

so that...( s ta te what

pos i t i ve re su l t w i l l occur )

I fee l ver y hur t

when you snap at me l ike that

because I have been working hard to cook this nice dinner for us

and would l ike you to share what ’s upset t ing you instead

so that we can enjoy each other ’s company and re lax.

I feel...( s ta te your fee l ings)

+

+

+

+

12 heremagazine.ca

I remember a conversation with my husband’s friend on a social night out after a year of living in Victoria.

John: How are you‚ Aoy?Me: I ’m good thanks...feeling more at home here.

John’s facial expression at that moment was clear to me. He didn’t say a word but he smiled; his smile told me that he was truly happy for me because I had managed to make a home in a new place. He knew turning a foreign place into a home takes time, courage, and effort.

However, this conversation raised questions within me: Will I feel at home here for the rest of my life? Do I see myself retiring here? What retirement plans do I have in place? I don’t actually have any answers to these questions. To me, it would be ideal if I could spend half a year in Canada and half a year in Thailand.

I remember my first experience meeting with a financial advisor who introduced me to saving for retirement. It was extraordinary to me, not because the young, energetic man gave me all the financial information I needed, but the whole idea of having a personal financial advisor was new to me. I asked my husband while waiting to see him, “What are we going to do in there?” I felt confused and excited at the same time. I did not know the necessity of consulting with a financial advisor, but I sure felt like an important person with lots of money. When I told my family in Thailand about the meeting, they asked, “What is a financial advisor?”‚ “Do you need one?”‚ “Are you investing in a business?”. They even commented, “You must have a lot of money to have a personal financial advisor”. Where I come from, people only have a personal financial advisor if they invest in a business—and not just any business, but a big one.

Since the meeting, I have learned a great deal about retirement, something I had never given much thought to before. Not because I am too young to think about or plan for it, but because I grew up in a country where people don’t normally do that. There is no pension plan deduction on a payslip in Thailand—no contribution from an employer toward an employee’s pension, either. The only plan people have for saving for their retirement, unless you work for the government, is personal savings. My dad worked in the Thai military, so he knows he will live on his pension when he retires. My mum has no job, but she invested her money in a shop rental in a market; she knows she will live on that income. They both also know that their children will look after them when they get old, another factor I must consider when thinking about where I will live in my own retirement. The senior care home business is not popular in Thailand since seniors tend to live with their children, who will take care of them.

Living here, I have learned to pay attention to my payslip more than I did in Thailand. It is because Canada tax rates are high. I have learned where the deductions go on each paycheque. It makes me wonder if the deduction toward the pension plan is enough for a happy retirement. Even though I pay higher taxes here than where I came from, I do appreciate Canada’s high standard of health care benefits and social welfare. It helps me feel secure and stress-free when thinking of my health as I start ageing. Having a sense of security about my basic needs such as safety, a nice home, good health, and a clean environment is essential to my plan for retirement. Canada has it all—and that makes me want to live and retire here.

At this point, I don’t actually have answers as to where my retirement home will be. All I know is that I will continue to work and save some money toward my RRSP for my future. To strike a balance between saving and enjoying day-to-day life in Victoria, I find activities I like in the community at affordable prices. There are also accessible places for camping, picnicking, and hiking in many parks and beaches all year round. I also love the fact that my children are growing up in a safe place where education and social benefits are superb—a place that is rich with trees, space, clean air, and has full access to outdoor activities. Maybe this is all we truly need for retirement.

How about you? What is your retirement plan? Where do you plan to live in your retirement? I ’d love to hear from you: mindingthegap@heremagazine.ca

Minding the Gap by Kedsanee Broome

Kedsanee (Aoy) Broome immigrated to Canada

from Thailand in 2004 and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical

Counsellors, specializing in cultural diversity. She is a

mother of two and wife of a Caucasian Canadian in a mixed-cultural marriage,

raising her children in two cultures.

homehere readhere

heremagazine.ca 13

What kind of relationship do “you” and “I” have?

What does the patio and garden space mean to them?

What remains constant and what changes over the year?

What does “I” hope for “you”?

Lorna Crozier was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. As a child growing up in a prairie community where the local heroes were hockey players and curlers, she “never once thought of being a writer.” She has authored 14 books of poetry, including Inventing the Hawk—winner of the 1992 Governor-General’s Award—The Blue Hour of the Day Small Mechanics, and Book of Marvels: A Compendium of Everyday Things. Her newest collection, The Wrong Cat, will be released by McClelland & Stewart in Spring 2015. Ms. Crozier was a Distinguished Professor at the University of Victoria until 2013 and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Canad ian L i t e ra t u rebooks‚ poems & stories by Canadian authors

from The Wrong Cat to be released by McClelland & Stewart in Spring 2015

thinking about the poem

Listen to Lorna Crozier’s reading of If I Write Enough

readhereP

ho

to S

ervice

s Un

iversity o

f Victo

ria

IF I WRITE ENOUGH

I f I write enough about my dyingwill I go first? You ’ l l plant the basil in the wide -mouthed pots in June‚not May‚ without debate ; on the patiolay the table for one‚ use the cutlery my father won at curling‚ tarnished because I never found the time.

Is it okay if I have you crying while you devour the whole dark chocolate bar we used to share‚while you hoe between the garlicwhere I weeded on my hands and knees? May I have you crying for a year? My words will keep the cat alive as well‚ small blue -eyed Buddha at your feet‚too calm to paw the fish that rise in the pond at the call of your fingers.

I watch you from the roof we used to climb to view the yard as if it were a master gardener ’s draf t we looked at‚ f lowers where he ’s writ ten f lowers ; a katsura where he ’s writ ten tree‚ you where I print beloved. How small everything seems from where I am. Outside myself‚

for the first few weeks‚ I bury my facein the shir ts you pin on the line—wind lif ts pillow slips of sky where my clothes would hang—I stand close enough that you reach out. You cry again. Months go by. I ’m thinner now than I want to be.

The summer af ter‚ you lay a second set ting‚ the cat ’s still there‚the evening ’s warm as flesh‚ fish candlelit—no‚ lit up like wicks soaked in kerosene‚that yellow spurt before the black smoke rises up the glass—on the tabletwo white plates without a pat tern‚the silver polished to a shine.Though I look closely at the spoons and knives‚ I cannot see my face.

“Each of us has his own rhythm of suffering.” —Roland Barthes

The day after her beloved father-in-law died‚ May* sat in the funeral home beside her husband and mother-in-law. Her father-in-law’s body had been transported from the hospital to this place‚ as is common practice‚ right after he was pronounced dead. He was now laid out behind a door somewhere in the building.

The funeral director sat across from the three of them and asked if anyone wanted to see the body. No‚ thank you‚ said her mother-in-law. No‚ said her husband.

In the Buddhist community of Bangkok where May was raised‚ death is openly talked about from the time that children are very young as a part of the natural cycle of death and rebirth. When someone in the community dies‚ their body is

brought to the temple‚ where it will rest for seven to ten days before cremation.

During this time‚ the family and community are welcomed to the temple. The body is dressed and laid in an open casket‚ with one hand outstretched. Each griever can pour a small amount of water in their loved one’s hand‚ and has one last chance to say Goodbye‚ or I forgive you‚ or I ’m sorry.

In order to provide teaching and wisdom around grief and death‚ the monk speaks every evening to the friends and family that have gathered. Grievers are helped through their sadness with prayers and wisdom‚ and they are given time to see and accept that their family members are truly no longer there.

So when the funeral director asked May if she would like to see her father-in-law‚ even though she was unsure what her family would think of her decision‚ she said that yes‚ she would. She left her husband and mother-in-law in the office‚ and she took some time to see her father-in-law‚ to tell him that she loved him—something that she was not able to do when he was alive. For May‚ this last visit was essential to her own

grieving process‚ and would allow her to move on in the coming weeks and months.

After May and her family left the funeral home‚ they no longer had access to her father-in-law’s body. There was no wake‚ and no chance to see him again before the

celebration of life and cremation. He was gone.

May’s experience is not unique‚ and it is not difficult to understand how there could be conflict or confusion between new Canadians coming from non-western cultures

When Death Divides Us A Story of Grief Across Cultures

Grievers are helped through their sadness

with prayers and wisdom, and they

are given time to see and accept that their family members are

truly no longer there.

Art by April Caverhill

14 heremagazine.ca *May's name has been changed for privacy reasons.

heremagazine.ca 15

and their Canadian friends and families.

When we look to the rituals in other places and religions around the world‚ we see that secular North Americans are unique in their hands-off approach. In traditional Jewish culture‚ for example‚ the body is laid out on the floor and covered‚ candles are lit‚ and the body is never left alone until after burial. Muslims traditionally wash and shroud the bodies of their loved ones with clean and scented water‚ and then wrap them in sheets of clean white cloth. It is also traditional Hindu custom to dress and care for family members before cremation.

North Americans have not always turned their loved ones’ bodies over to funeral homes to be embalmed‚ dressed‚ and cared for before cremation or burial.

Prior to the American Civil War‚ most North American families held wakes and funerals for their dead relatives in their own homes.

The bodies were cleaned and dressed by their closest family members‚ then laid out in front parlours for grievers to say goodbye before burial‚ and‚ interestingly‚ to make sure that the dead person actually was dead‚ and was not going to be buried while still alive (hence the word ‘wake’).

After this first grieving period‚ funerals were arranged by friends and family and held at home. In this much more rural time‚ many bodies were even buried right on the family property. This custom was private and very intimate‚ allowing families to grieve their loved ones in their own homes and with their own community. In this way‚ death truly was a part of life in the community.

During the Civil War‚ however‚ soldiers were fighting and dying a long way from home. By the time the soldiers’ bodies made it home again‚ they had already begun to decompose‚ making it nearly impossible for their loved ones to see them again.

Before long‚ leaders in both the Northern and Southern armies began to employ men who were trained as embalmers in order to preserve the bodies and ship them home. Now‚ bodies could be preserved and viewed for quite some time after their deaths—but only if they were prepared by trained professionals. This practicality was the seed that led to a multi-billion dollar industry‚ which sees most North Americans turning the bodies of their loved ones over to private companies to be embalmed and cared for prior to their funerals.

North American culture is such now that the very idea of washing‚ dressing and caring for the dead bodies of our own family members seems nothing short of radical to many people. There is‚ however‚ a growing

movement of people who advocate for home funerals‚ believing that their intimacy‚ so similar to that experienced in many non-western cultures‚ can help immensely in the healing process.

According to Heidi Boucher‚ a leading death doula in California‚ “We have done a really poor job of keeping the death ritual as part of the life cycle; when families can be involved‚ whether it’s dressing‚ or bathing or putting on the necklace she loved so much‚ these rituals really help with the grieving process in letting go.”

Growing up in a Buddhist community‚ May did experience the death ritual as a part of the life cycle. Not only that‚ but the process of letting go had always been personal‚ highly ritualized‚ deeply ingrained‚ and nearly the same for everyone. There was a script to follow‚ and everyone knew what had to be done.

Contemporary‚ secular Canadian culture‚ however‚ has no definite script‚ often making it very difficult for everyone involved to navigate‚ especially someone who is new to Canada. According to Robin

Heppell‚ owner and chief consultant at Funeral Futurist in Victoria‚ there is “more conflict between agnostic families pertaining to the different choices of services since there are so many variables and service offerings to choose from.” He goes on to say that “ethnic or cultural families usually have the benefit of the funeral customs well laid out.”

Going through the death‚ celebration of life‚ and cremation of her father-in-law could not have been more different from the “well laid out” customs that May had known. Where there would have been a weeklong wake‚ there was just a quick viewing in the funeral home. Where there would have been a funeral‚ there was a celebration of life in which friends and family told stories about her father-in-law when he was living‚ but did not talk about death‚ or grieving‚ or how to move on. Where there would have been community members present at the cremation‚ there was no one.

It was an incredibly difficult time for May as she tried to navigate these unfamiliar customs while dealing with her own grief and that of her family members. During the period after her husband’s death‚ May’s mother-in-law did not discuss how she felt‚ nor did she begin to make arrangements for how she was going to manage life without her husband. May describes seeing her mother-in-law and knowing that she was feeling deep grief‚ but being unable to help. “If she were my mother‚ I would have put my arms around her‚” she says. May’s husband didn’t discuss his grief or talk much about his father’s death either‚ and it seemed there was nothing May could do except be there beside him when he needed her. After all‚ cultural differences are not everything; every one of us‚ in some way‚ grieves our dead‚ and we all need someone to sit beside us through our grief.

North Americans have not always

turned their loved ones’ bodies over to funeral homes to be embalmed, dressed, and cared for before cremation or burial.

Contributing Writer

Erin Renwick

Entering the St. Lawrence Seaway was like entering Fairyland. Ours being the first ship to enter the St. Lawrence after the winter‚ there were still ice floes to be seen and snow on the ground in the villages we passed. Every place we came to had a white clapboard church. It was like viewing a huge Christmas card. When we arrived at the port of Montreal we were met by friends—Rose and Peter. We were dizzy on hitting dry land, but so grateful to have someone there for us. We had a couple of days to pass before the train left for the west, so our new friends took us home, made us welcome, and gave us a quick tour of Montreal. It was amazing to see the old buildings and cobbled streets. Somehow it was like going back in time. I don’t know what I had expected it to be like but in my mind’s eye it was a “new” world we were going to. This had a much older air about it than the place we’d left, as though it was trapped in the seventeenth century! We were assured

that we were heading for a much different Canada.Telkwa was where two rivers converged; the main street— consisting of a drugstore‚ a general store where everything from nuts to bolts to groceries was sold‚ and a hotel—ran alongside the river for one block. The drugstore was run by a woman everyone called Powder Puff Kate‚ a name earned during the Klondike Gold Rush‚ so she said. There was a café kitty-corner to the hotel block‚ another grocery store called “Phillips” and a John Deere tractor dealership. There were very few people‚ besides ourselves‚ wandering around the streets—not that there were many streets to wander around. No cobblestones here—just dirt roads.The first night in our new house we slept on the floor, with only our blankets to cover us. It was cold and miserable. There was no water or well on the property, so that was our first priority the next morning.

It was a long, lonely day. Luckily I had brought a sewing kit along in our luggage. After all, I was a Girl Guide and trained to “be prepared”. How one could ever be prepared for what we had fallen into, I don’t know. I spent a couple of hours sewing sheets together along three sides. Then the children and I took them along to the straw stacks and stuffed them with straw. That night we were a bit more comfortable and a little warmer. We were also too exhausted to bemoan our fate, and just fell asleep in each other’s arms.

16 heremagazine.ca

“ Then

I was born an Irish exile in a one-room cottage in a Yorkshire town. I am an exile still, in a Canadian city. There are millions of Irish exiles around the world. There are too many of us to be able to return; it seems, though, that our souls are never at rest. Songs and memories take us back; the longing for something lost is ingrained in our souls. Elizabeth GaynorHalifax, Yorkshire, England

Passages have been excerpted from Elizabeth Gaynor’s memoir, The Tear and the Smile. Elizabeth now lives in Victoria B.C. and counts in her Canadian family four children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and various in-laws and out-laws. Elizabeth will be turning 90 years old this November.

Scan the QR Code for direct

audio and hear Elizabeth share the struggles of leaving extended family and a good home behind in England to conquer the wilds of Northern British Columbia.

the pioneer

t w o p a t h s t o C a n a d a

Immigrating

Scan the QR Code for direct audio and hear Marli tell the incredible story of meeting Dan, the cousin she never knew she had!

My family and I came to Vancouver for EXPO ’86, and had a beautiful trip. We drove the Coquihalla, went up to Jasper, and visited Banff, Lake Louise, and Victoria, of course. I fell in love with Canada, and had the greatest time of my life. I loved Victoria so much that, with the help of Mom and Dad, I managed to come back in 1987 to study English at the University of Victoria. I enrolled in the ELP (English Language Program). My husband, two children and I immigrated permanently in 2011, for the adventure, the opportunity for my children, and the possibilities offered by a first world country.We had booked a hotel room with a kitchenette for the first two weeks; all we knew about Victoria was that UVic was here, that the Empress Hotel was in front of the Parliament Buildings, and that the Butchart Gardens were the most beautiful gardens in the world. We needed to learn about the city, decided to buy a bus pass, and used B.C. Transit as our city guide. The whole family took the bus for several days. We took any bus, rode it until the end of the route, hopped in again and came back—with almost every route. In a matter of days we had discovered Langford to Sidney and our kids were fed up with the bus.

t w o p a t h s t o C a n a d a

Maria Marli Sanchez RussekTorreon, Coahuila, Mexico

heremagazine.ca 17

the student & Now

We struggled to find a good apartment and after many hours and days of walking and looking, we were discouraged. We had no references, no friends, and no nothing. Then we met Jeff. Jeff Wilson was the manager of the building we live in now. We rang the bell and asked about the suite available for rent. He asked a few questions and got to know us a bit, then let us rent the apartment. He gave us a chance. Jeff is the person who helped us the most when we first arrived‚ along with my cousin‚ Dan Russek; I met him by serendipity and he has been our family. The way I met Dan is an adventure itself.My education is a degree in business administration—I studied at ITESM Mexico—and I am also a trained Paramedic—I studied at the Mexican Red Cross. My husband and I could not find suitable work here that reflected our education and experience, so we opened our own business, Himulco Shoes, where we offer Mexico’s finest shoes. Outside of work, my main activity is being a wife and a mom. Canada is a great place. Maybe I had an idea of perfection—“the promised

land”— and here I discovered that it’s the attitude of the people living in a place that makes the difference. The only strange thing we’ve noticed is that some Canadians dress according to the calendar, and sometimes not exactly according to the weather!If I could give any advice to someone planning on immigrating to Canada, I would say: come with an open mind. As Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Marli lives in Victoria B.C. with her husband Gabriel and their two teenage children, who, when not in school, learn about Canada through programs like Encounters with Canada. Marli and Gabriel own and operate Himulco Shoes on Cadboro Bay Rd.

18 heremagazine.ca *Some research suggests that the finger next to the "pinky" or smallest finger is called the fourth finger in North America, and the third finger in the United Kingdom.

heremagazine.ca 19

20 heremagazine.ca

This page, from bottom right clockwise: Yvonne (Singapore), Esther (Papua New Guinea), Milan (Czech Republic), Abdel Raouf (Palestine), Mbalia (Sierra Leone). Opposite page, from bottom right clockwise: Hannes (Iceland), Mohan (Nepal), Alina (Luxembourg).

talking with colinWhat was your path to Canada?I am the first Canadian in the family and was born in Kitchener‚ Ontario. My mother was born in the United Kingdom and my father was born in the United States.

What inspired Cosmopolis Toronto?Several things: I have an interest in migration—I started a project called Everyone Has Hope‚ working with refugees in Malaysia‚ and my Master’s degree focused on the Stateless Rohingya of Burma; my longing to come back to Toronto and spend time with Grandma and do a project in Canada; and finally‚ I think we say ‘diversity’ quite often but rarely—maybe never—are there ‘real stories’ about the individuals involved.

Why did you choose this platform and medium to tell immigrants’ stories? I am a portrait photographer‚ and wanted to do a project that was large in scope. This is a medium I am comfortable with.

What is the symbolism of asking your participants to have their hands “touching something that connects [them] or is important to [their] country or nation of birth”? Have any of the chosen objects surprised you? I think it is important to recognize that we all have a past. Canada prides itself on the fact that it is not a ‘melting pot’ and instead people can retain their cultures if that is something they are interested in. I am constantly surprised by the objects chosen. My participant born in Jordan held a statue of two people doing the Argentine Tango‚ and my participant born in Cyprus held a Japanese painting. There is a diversity within the diversity.

Who or what is next for you?I hope the project can be exhibited Canada-wide. This will eventually be a book and hopefully educators can further incorporate this into their classrooms. I have a few other portrait projects on my mind....stay tuned!

s p o t l i g h t: colin boyd shafer | photographer co smop o l i s t o ron to

s p o t l i g h t: colin boyd shafer | photographer co smop o l i s t o ron to

I ’m not ent irely sure what home means. Some people have one home and others

have mult iple. One of my par t ic ipants, Fat ima, who was bor n in Pak istan, said ‘ ho me i s n ot pe r fec t ’ and that real ly resonated with me. Toronto is not a per fect dream-like place, but it i s a place where most people can f ind comfor t—so I think comfor t is a big par t of feeling at ‘ home’.

“

About Cosmopolis Toronto

The Big Idea • The Cosmopolis team aimed to photograph the whole world, one Torontonian at a time.

• The goal was to create an accurate picture of diversity through the unique individuals that make up Toronto today.

• The team hoped to share compelling personal stories and create engaging and positive opportunities for dialogue among people from various cultural and social backgrounds.

The Portrait• Participants were found through word of mouth, media coverage and on social media platforms like Facebook.

• The first photograph taken is of a participant where he or she feels most comfortable or “at home” in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the second is of a participant holding something or someone that connects them to their past.

• The portrait shows the very place the person feels at home in the city. This is incredibly important, and it provides visual evidence of the varied spaces where people find comfort in the city. The spaces are often beautiful surprises and express each person’s individuality.

Visit cosmopolistoronto.com to use the interactive map‚ see more portraits, and discover the places and stories behind the people. Catch a glimpse of the man behind the camera at colinshafer.com.

heremagazine.ca 21

07-17-2014 My name is Olga. I live in beautiful Victoria‚ on Vancouver Island‚ Canada. What about you? What thoughts did you wake up with today? When you talked to your family members‚ what were the meaningful things you said to them?

Today I was talking to my dad‚ who is the strongest man I know‚ the man who can conquer the world for his family‚ and it was the first time I saw him scared and helpless. Mom and I could see him on Skype and he was not the same. As we were talking‚ he kept turning his head to the window. As we were trying to ask him if he packed his bags and if he is ready to leave and come to Canada‚ he said‚ “There are gunshots outside‚ it’s starting again”. All I can think is that he has to get from the apartment (where there is an internet connection) to the house—a 7-10 minute drive—meaning he has to go out where the gunshots are. We could clearly hear them. And for some reason I catch myself thinking they are fireworks; they can’t be gunshots. How strange is that? Every time there was a neighbourhood celebration in the same yard‚ some young adults would start using fireworks. We used to joke that they were “shooting again”.

This time is different. In the last few weeks our conversations are not about: “How are you? What did you do today? Did you finish building the fence around the house? How was the trip to the lake?” Conversations we have now: “Are you safe? Are the family and friends alive?” He used to tell stories how he met with his friends or was busy with housework. Now he’s telling us how many houses were destroyed and how many people were found dead on the ground.

It’s 2014. I live in beautiful Victoria and my hometown is being leveled to the ground; there’re a lot of conflicting emotions. Do I enjoy the view of the mountains or embrace the grief that Ukraine will never ever be the same?

I was born in beautiful Lugansk‚ city of chestnuts and roses‚ located two hours from the Russian border in Eastern Ukraine. My roots are both Russian and Ukrainian; I always thought that I had the best of both cultures and have never

divided them because once you grow up with two they become part of you. What is going on? Who is responsible for what’s happening? I don’t know. All I want to know is when it will stop.

the ties that bind While immigrating to a new country can be a fresh and exciting start‚ it often means leaving extended family behind—a bittersweet experience. If the home country is in conflict‚ the normal sadness of separation can develop into fear and anxiety for those who have left; many feel powerless to protect and help their loved ones ‘back home’. In the first of a series‚ Victoria’s newcomers share their personal stories of fear and uncertainty for family members living in conflict zones around the world.

Ukraine

In the last few weeks, our conversations

are not about: ‘How are you? What did you do today? Did you finish building the fence around the house? How was the trip to the lake?’ Conversations we have now: ‘Are you safe? Are the family and friends alive?’

“Venezuela

22 heremagazine.ca

08-06-2014 Heidy: The situation in Venezuela is touching every Venezuelan in some way. Some people have suffered the loss of a loved one just because a

thief wants to get his or her cellphone‚ or something else; then after getting what he wants‚ the thief just kills them with his pistol. It’s as simple as that! In the time I am telling my story‚ there probably has been at least one murder related to robbery.

Other people have lost relatives just because when they needed medical attention‚ there was no medicine available‚ or there was no room available at the hospital‚ or perhaps they went to the hospital for something simple like a cold but ended up with a serious infection because the hospital was unsanitary.

Food is another issue. Milk‚ coffee‚ corn flour (a Venezuelan staple), and meat cannot be found every day and shopping for groceries is not an easy task. Long lines and long hours outside grocery stores has been the day-to-day of most Venezuelans for some years and the situation is just becoming worse.

Irama: You can find people fighting over chickens or corn flour in the grocery store—if you are lucky enough to get inside the grocery store and have something to fight for!

The hospitals do not have the basics to treat people or operate. A scarcity of medicine to treat cancer‚ HIV‚ or heart conditions as well as a shortage of antibiotics‚ syringes‚ antiseptics‚ and even adhesive bandages is something normal nowadays.

A high level of violence and lack of personal security is killing Venezuelans.

We live in fear everyday. We know when we leave our homes to go to work‚ we may not ever return home.

Heidy: I feel fear for my family and all Venezuelans; I cannot sleep just thinking about my family there. I feel sad and frustrated because it is so difficult to help them. It is so difficult even to travel to or from Venezuela. Access to money has been restricted and airlines are closing their operations. I would love to visit my family again in December but there is a risk that I can’t make it back to Canada. Who knows what the situation will be by the end of the year?

Heidy Lopez, now l iv ing in Vic tor ia, is pic tured here wi th her mother, I rama Caste l lanos. I rama has jus t re turned to Venezuela af te r a summer v is i t wi th her daughter.

We live in fear everyday. We know when we leave our homes to go to work, we may not ever return home.

“

SO YOU WANT TO BE A C NADIAN CITIZEN, EH? TEST

1. From where does the name “Canada” come?

a. From the Inuit word meaning country.b. From the French word meaning joining.c. From the Métis word meaning rivers.d. From “kanata”‚ the Huron-Iroquois word for village.

2. Give an example of where English and French have equal status in Canada.

a. In schools.b. In the workplace.c. In the Parliament of Canada.d. At City Hall.

3. How many Canadians have been awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.)‚ the highest honour available to Canadians?

a. 56.b. 96.c. 1‚024.d. 42.

4. Name three additional rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

a. Freedom of speech‚ right to own land‚ and right to a fair trial.b. Mobility rights‚ multiculturalism‚ and Aboriginal Peoples’ rights.c. Right to ski anywhere in Canada‚ moving rights‚ and right to public assembly.d. Right to vote‚ right to speak publicly‚ and security rights.

5. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Canada’s system of government?

a. A federal state.b. Parliamentary democracy.c. Constitutional monarchy.d. Dictatorship.

6. Which was the last province to join Canada?

a. Newfoundland.b. Alberta.c. Saskatchewan.d. British Columbia.

hereinCanada

Read our curated Canada-themed tweets at our Storify page: storify.com/HereMagazine and follow and share with us on Twitter: @heremagazineCA and Facebook: heremagazine.ca

Newcomer or not‚ answering some of these questions is a challenge! Taken from the Richmond Public Library’s online Practice Citizenship Test‚ the questions are samples of what newcomers need to know before they take that all-important next step of becoming a Canadian citizen. See how well YOU do! answers below

#Canada

more practice at: www.yourlibrary.ca/citizenship

heremagazine.ca 23

answers:1. d - From "kanata" the Huron-Iroquois word for village.2. c - In the Parliament of Canada.3. b - 96.4. b - Mobility rights Multiculturalism and Aboriginal Peoples, rights.5. d - Dictatorship. 6. a - Newfoundland.

In Canada‚ most people‚ especially as they get older‚ intend to write a will to protect their families—but few actually make the time to write out these plans.

Plus‚ a will is just one part of a complete estate plan—naming a power of attorney‚ writing a living will‚ purchasing life insurance and making tax-deferred investments are all important elements you should start thinking about now‚ regardless of your age. Your financial planning expert is a great resource to help you sort through these options and build an estate plan according to your values and wishes.

What your plan looks like today will depend entirely on your family‚ your friendships and the groups you donate to—so the thought you put into it will ensure that the people and causes closest to you will be taken care of in the future.

How many of these steps in your estate plan have you taken?

A WILLA legal declaration of how a person wishes his or her proper ty to be distr ibuted af ter death. This document should be reviewed and updated af ter major life events (when grandchildren are born or when you buy a second proper ty, for example) to ensure that ever y family member and asset is accounted for. Without a will, your family could face unnecessar y expenses or delays in set tling your estate.

POWER OF ATTORNEYThis document gives the person of your choice the power to manage your finances if you become incapable of managing them yourself, including paying bills , f iling tax returns , opening mail, banking , talking with accountants and lawyers , looking af ter pets and voting. Without a power of at torney in place, your spouse or child has no legal r ight to do any of these tasks on your behalf if you become disabled.

A LIVING WILLThis document gives healthcare/mental power of at torney to a person of your choice. He or she will have the power to implement the medical treatment you wish to receive if you become unable to communicate your wishes. The document tells doctors , family members and the cour ts your wishes for life-suppor t and medical procedures.

LIFE INSURANCEThis t ype of insurance is meant to provide your family with shor t-term securit y in the event of your death, making up for the loss of income if you were still working. Proceeds from a life insurance policy can also be used to pay any taxes your estate owes and cover of f funeral bills and legal costs.

moneyhere

Bobby Schafer Island Savings, Jubilee Branch

26 heremagazine.ca

estate planning

Can I make a will or living will without a lawyer?Yes. A notary public can help you create your will. For more complex wills, such as those which include care of children, a lawyer is recommended. Can I get life insurance if I am not a Canadian citizen? Permanent Residents and some non-residents can get life insurance in Canada, but there are more complex considerations in these cases. It’s best to talk to a life insurance expert to determine what your options are based on your individual circumstances.

56% of Canadian adults

do not have a signed will.

29% of Canadian adults

say they do not have a will because they either do not know

how to get s tar ted or believe they cannot

af ford one.

source:w w w. lawpro.ca

estate planning

Market Square welcome s you !

your logo here!

your logo here!

your logo here!

your logo here!

your logo here!

school days gone by

31 heremagazine.ca

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newcitizen

THE NEW CITIZEN PARTICIPANTSimilar to the rest of the country, new citizens are more attracted to activities classified as “active leisure” than organized sports; they’re easy to do alone or with family, and are relatively inexpensive. This chart compares the sports new citizens played before coming to Canada with what they play now.

A national study that explores how new citizens participate in Canada’s sporting culture, and how sports can help new citizens successfully integrate. Playing together captures firsthand accounts from 4,000 new Canadian citizens across the country — a group that has chosen Canada and simply wants an invitation to play.

NEW CITIZENS ARE NOT NEW CANADIANSA minor distinction, with major implications: new citizens are immigrants who have been in Canada for at least three years (usually five to six) and have attained Canadian citizenship. They’re at a different stage of their Canadian journey.

PLAYINGTOGETHERnew citizens, sports

& belonging

69% of newcomers who

play sports within the first 3 years believe it helps them learn

about Canadian culture

87% feel more connected to their community watching their kids play or volunteering

with the team

NEW CITIZENS LOVE TEAM CANADA! 51% 54%WATCH

THE WINTER OLYMPICS

WATCH THE SUMMER OLYMPICS

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STUDY & READ THE FULL REPORT visit icc-icc.ca/en/insights

Sports can teach elements of Canadian culture not learned in books or online: • jargon and slang• humour • how to handle conflict • acceptable behaviours

or gestures

More meaningful social interactions

occur in the stands and on the field than at work

BREAKING THE ICE BREAKING THE ICE BREAKING THE ICE

BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATIONGOOD NEWS! We’re not dealing with systemic cultural issues. Barriers are mainly structural challenges that can be solved.

BARRIERS UNIQUE TO NEW CITIZENS THE TOP 3 BARRIERS ARE FAMILIARto almost all Canadians

OTHER PRIORITIES65%

TIME56%

NO ONE TO PLAY WITH

NO OPPORTUNITIES

NO APPROPRIATESKILL LEVEL

NO INTEREST

DID NOT FEEL WELCOME

38%

COST54%

35% 24% 24% 19%

THE NEW CITIZEN FANWe asked about interest in Canada’s professional sports. Not surprisingly, soccer is the overwhelming favourite, followed by hockey — a sport new citizens identify as being a key part of Canadian culture; only 34% have never watched a hockey game on TV. Focus group participants joked about “scoring points” with Canadians by knowing something about hockey.

INTEREST IN CANADA’S PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

SOME INTEREST NO INTEREST

46% 54%FOOTBALL

IN CANADABEFORE CANADA

flashback!

learnhere

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Thailand

Gaza Central African Republic

Israel Syria

What we can do to help:

heremagazine.ca 25

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A t t h e J u n c t i o n o f F o r t S t r e e t a n d P a n d o r a A v e n u e

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