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A Friendly Stop for New Canadian Immigrants

immigrant-service-society-of-bc-logoFor new Canadian immigrants settling in British Columbia, whether you are looking for work, trying to improve your English language skills or needing settlement assistance, be sure to check out ISS of BC.  ISS  stands for Immigrant Services Society.  ISSofBC provides a variety of services to immigrant and refugee communities in the Lower Mainland, and works with over 23,000 clients per year. ISSofBC plays an important role in the settlement, education, and integration of immigrants from the day they arrive in Canada. With a highly qualified and dedicated staff of over 200 and over 600 committed volunteers, it is a friend to newcomers, assisting with initial settlement needs and appropriate language and employment training, and helping to establish networks in their communities.

If you are an established Canadian immigrant, consider volunteering with the ISS of BC as a mentor to newcomers.

Business in Canada, Marketplace

Is there a Message on Your Head?

Is there a Message on Your Head?

“A head that turns head” is the tagline for a company called Bald Media in Toronto.  Imagine a bald head as a blank canvas or a blank billboard, where you are free to post your company logo or advertising message.  Then send this bald head to roam around high traffic areas like the mall, downtown ... ...

Business in Canada, Marketplace, MicroBusiness

Sprouting your Business

Sprouting your Business

A Canadian company has launched a social networking site called “Sprouter“  designed for entrepreneurs to connect, share ideas, experiences and exchange information in an online community.  The concept is similar to Facebook, except the Sprouter will be a social site dedicated only to entrepreneurs, thereby reducing the noise from the rest of...

Canadian Traditions, Life in Canada

A Canadian Christmas Tradition

A Canadian Christmas Tradition

Every year, Canadians filled out over 700,000 shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, personal hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, combs, etc. through the Operations Christmas Child project run by the Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse. These shoeboxes are sent to children living in poor countries in Asia, South &  Central Amer...

Canadian Traditions, Family, Life in Canada

Canadian Immigrant’s Halloween Surprise

Canadian Immigrant's Halloween Surprise

This new Canadian immigrant was delightfully surprised with the Canadian Halloween tradition. She finds the practice amusing and a little wasteful. “Coming from a third world country, I found it hard to waste a pumpkin, when it could be food. When I helped my kindergarten son carved his pumpkin, I wanted to save every pulp and every seed a...

Life in Canada, Tina's Cucina

Canadian Yam Salad with Craisins

Canadian Yam Salad with Craisins

For Canadians pressed for time, this Yam Salad with Craisins is easily a favorite for three reasons:  (1)  It is healthy and tasty.  (2)  It is easy to make, there is very little cooking.  (3)  You can have many variations which keep the recipe fresh and exciting. Ingredients list is simple: - Yam  or Sweet Potato - Green ... ...

Business in Canada, Jobs/Career, Marketplace

AFCA-BC - the little engine that could!

AFCA-BC - the little engine that could!

An organization in its infancy, AFCA-BC (Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants BC Chapter) put on a very impressive show on Oct 17, 2009 for its Second Annual Professional Development Workshop with a turn out of over 50 accountants and student accountants, seven of them from FAACPA (Filipino American Association of Certified Public Accountan...

Canadian Traditions, Family, Life in Canada

Canadian Thanksgiving 2009

Canadian Thanksgiving 2009

“Thanksgiving weekend is a time when Canadians everywhere pause for the weekend to celebrate with family, friends and communities. “Many Canadians use the long weekend to catch up with loved ones, take a break from hectic lives and take part in activities that remind them how important those around them truly are. ...

Life in Canada

Neighbour’s Tree fell on our Yard

Neighbour's Tree fell on our Yard

On one unforgettable night, I was having dinner with my son  at around 8:45 pm in the evening when we heard a thump.   I couldn’t figure what it was, but my son could see it from the window, even in the dark.  A big tree from our Korean neighbour fell sideways and landed on our ... ...

Life in Canada

The Dalai Lama at the Vancouver Peace Summit 2009

The Dalai Lama at the Vancouver Peace Summit 2009

It’s no different as when you grandparents used to tell your parents “Think of the starving children in India, or China or Vietnam..”  Instead of nagging,  the world’s celebrities came dancing, singing, and cajoling.  One after another, young people went on stage and  spoke of the power to change….Vancouver’s...

Celebrities, Immigration

This Famous Canadian is Half Dutch-Half Chinese

This Famous Canadian is Half Dutch-Half Chinese

Half Dutch, Half Chinese, this is one of the many faces of The New Canadians.   Kristin Kreuk is a second generation child of immigrants.  She was born and raised in Canada, attended school in North Vancouver, BC and  she possesses many of the Canadian values we so cherish - down to earth, sweet, polite - ... ...

Life in Canada, MicroBusiness

Romanian-Canadian immigrant brings Kurtos Kolac to Vancouver

Romanian-Canadian immigrant brings Kurtos Kolac to Vancouver

From Transylvania, the land the gives us Count Dracula, come Kurtos Kolak. It’s been called Kurtos Kolac, Kurtos Kolacs, Kurtos Kalac, Kurtos Kolak, or Kurtus cake, Chimney cake. Originating from Eastern Europe, the Kurtos bread or cake has been traditionally sold at food fairs. Basically, it is made with a sweet bread dough rolled flat, cu...

Family, Immigration, Life in Canada

Long Lost Son Returns to China

This is the story of a adopted teenager, Christian Norris who was reunited with his biological parents after being separated for 10 years. His was an unusual case. He was the favored boy, the second son, illegal baby because of the one-child policy. He was raised by his uncle and grandmother. One day, during a bus excursion, he was lost in a cr...

PingPong's e-DEN, Tina's Cucina

Dancing Chicken - a beer chicken recipe

Dancing Chicken - a beer chicken recipe

(Contribution by PingPong) It was my parents anniversary and my mother asked me to prepare two beer chickens for the anniversary party.  Just a small party for the family, and two beer chickens should do the job. It is a very easy recipe to cook, and can be done indoors or outdoors.   In the summer time when ... ...

Cupid, Family, Life in Canada

Chinese-Canadian Modern Wedding Tea Ceremony

Chinese-Canadian Modern Wedding Tea Ceremony

The Chinese has a long history with many traditions dating back to ancient times. One of the strongest tradition is the Chinese wedding ritual of tea ceremony, where the bride and groom offers tea to the parents of both families and in return the parents offer the gift of a red envelope, containing money. ... ...

Immigration

Iron Road - A chapter in Chinese Canadian History

Iron Road - A chapter in Chinese Canadian History

Feisty and gregarious Sun Li, an actress from Shanghai, plays the role of Little Tiger, a Chinese woman who disguised herself as a boy and joined a group of Chinese migrants to Canada to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway during the late 1800. The movie “Iron Road” was based on the Iron Road Opera, a ... ...

Immigration, Jobs/Career, Life in Canada, Marketplace

The Douglas College Self employment program

This video clip is a submission by Alvin Barrera of www.mixmediaworld.com, a graduate at the Douglas College Self Employment Program Intake no. 143.  Alvin Barrerra is a Filipino-Canadian immigrant who has recently became an entrepreneur with the launching of his company called MIXED MEDIA.  He did two video clips of his graduating class, featuri...

Celebrities, Life in Canada

Jane Mclean - Who?

Jane Mclean - Who?

She was born Jane Gregorio, in Manila, Philippines in the year 1974.  At the age of 10 months, her family moved to Mississauga, Ontario where Jane was raised.  This Filipino-Canadian actress is about to be made famous with her supporting role as Charisse, best friend to Rachel McAdam’s Clare, in the movie “Time Traveller’s Wife&...

Life in Canada

How Big is Your Zucchini?

How Big is Your Zucchini?

This is a submission from our subscriber, Mary who lives in Surrey, BC.  Here is her blog. I have a little garden in my front yard which measures about 200 square feet.  It  is really tiny.  What I did was plant a few good looking tall shrubs (rhododendrum) in the front of the yard to provide ... ...

Life in Canada, Travel

Bichon Frise tried to walk on water.

Bichon Frise tried to walk on water.

Here is a photo of my dog. He is a bichon frise, with beautiful fluffy fur. He is a young puppy, and he does not understand water. We took him out on the boat this summer vacation, and he behaved perfectly fine staying on the boat. However, when we took him ashore, he got confused. First, he had fun jumping up and down on the beach, then...