exclusive
EXCERPT
MIND‚ BODY
&spirit
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VICTORIA WELCOMES THE HARMOUSH-HERBA FAMILY PREVENTATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANT WOMEN FRESH INTERNATIONAL FUSION AT TULIP CAFÉ & RICE BAR
+ beauty tips
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
WINTER 2017
Immigrant
HERE! IS THERE: OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY BUILDING
Welcome Centre
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
w w w.heremagazine.ca Publisher | Functionall Books
The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) helps individuals and organizations to connect across cultures. We provide information, support and tools to help immigrants and refugees reach their goals. By engaging people through networks, education and arts programming we create a welcoming community.
Editor in chief | Fiona Bramble Copy Editors | Christy Sebelius, Kieran Wilson Contributing Writers | Keri Greenidge‚ Nofel Sheleeg, Nadia Tapia‚ Hyeyoung Jeon, Greg Conner, Yan-Min Xu, Alex Creighton
If you are interested in learning about getting involved in the private sponsorship of refugees, ICA can help.
Design and Layout | Fiona Bramble Print and Production | Glenmore Printing
Immigrant Welcome Centre and Main Office: 930 Balmoral Road (At Quadra) Victoria BC, V8T 1A8 info@icavictoria.org Phone: 250-388-4728 Fax: 250-386-4395 Mon–Thurs: 8:30am–6:30pm Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm
Get Here! Magazine for your home or organization: subscribe@heremagazine.ca
Advertise in Here! Magazine: ads@heremagazine.ca
www.icavictoria.org Here! Magazine 160 Eberts St.‚ Victoria‚ B.C. Canada V8S 3H7
info@heremagazine.ca
250-896-0986 /heremagazinecanada @heremagazineCA /heremagazine.ca
All contents copyrighted. Written permission from the publisher is required to reproduce‚ quote‚ reprint‚ or copy any material from Here! Magazine. Ideas and opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or advertisers. The publisher neither endorses nor assumes any liability for the contents of any advertisement in this publication. We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.
Single copy price: $4.99 Yearly subscription price: $18.99 plus applicable taxes. Printed in Canada. ISSN: 2291-8582
le letter from the e ditor “ . . .t he y should t un e t heir v oice s and p o l ish t heir s t or ie s‚ b e c au s e t he w or ld is duller w i t hou t t hem — e v en m or e s o i f t he y ar r i v e d a s r e f ug e e s . B e c au s e a p er s on’s l i f e is n e v er a b ad inv e s t m en t ‚ and s o t her e ar e no c r e di t or s a t t he do or‚ no deb t t o r ep ay. No w t her e’s ju s t t he r e s t o f l i f e‚ t he s t or ie s le f t t o c r e a t e‚ all t he m e s s y‚ g r e e d y‚ ordinar y day s t ha t ar e t heir s t o s quander.”
— D ina Nay er i
Our voices It is never easy to capture all the emotional labour and reward that the Here! family experiences over the months of convening, sharing, listening, and celebrating that go into developing each new issue. I won’t lie—these past two months have been powerful, and, at times, overwhelming. Our community is no different than any other. We are imperfect; we struggle with meaningful connection; we don’t know how to move forward from the hurts and atrocities of the past, or those of the present. We’re unsure what language to use—or not use. We’re trying to make space for everything, and everyone, and sometimes, we screw up. Ask me. That was what Asiyah Robinson spoke out from the stage. “Just ask me.” Ask her about her faith. Her heritage. Her major. Whatever it is that you want to know about her. “Don’t make assumptions; just ask me.” Asiyah was a panelist at a recent immigrant and refugee youth storytelling event hosted by the Vancouver and Victoria Foundations called “Fresh Voices: Hear My Story.” It seems like such a simple thing. To ask. Perhaps it is. These warm, generous, and talented youth came to share their newcomer stories; they talked of the hard path of isolation, racism, and
uncertainty that eventually softened as they found their own way to a sense of belonging. To be heard when you have found your voice is a potent, empowering moment. I was honoured to bear witness. There is no doubt that it is messy—the asking, the telling, the listening. Here!’s last community dinner-discussion centred on racism and we each struggled to place our values, experiences, and selves in the landscape of language that included terms like “white privilege” and “white fragility.” We asked each other: “whose responsibility is it to speak against or about racism?” There were many uncomfortable moments that night in our multi-ethnocultural group, and I’m fairly certain we all went home with more questions than answers. That’s my new measure of a meaningful exchange. Discomfort. More questions. I feel that this is the light beginning to shine in our community in this moment. The “fresh voices” are polishing their stories, not just for their own empowerment or to take their equal place among all voices, but to guide and lead others through the messiness of the asking—to a way forward, together.
Fiona Bramble‚ Editor Second-generation French-Irish-Scottish-Canadian
T HE HERE ! T E A M WOUL D L IK E TO T H A NK ROYA L ROA DS UNI V ER SI T Y S T UDEN T IN T ERNS M A RCEL L A DE O C A MP O (S O CI A L MEDI A) A ND ROJIN GH A SE M Z A DEH M A H A L EH (PHOTO GR A PH Y) FOR T HEIR TA L EN T ED CON T RIBU T IONS TO T HIS IS SUE A ND TO ONG OING HERE ! COMMUNI T Y PROJEC T S . M A RCEL L A A ND ROJIN‚ T H A NK YOU FROM T HE B OT TOM OF OUR HE A R T S!
IN THIS ISSUE Volume 4‚ Issue 2
features
8 VICTORIA WELCOMES THE HARMOUSH-HERBA FAMILY
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Having arrived in Victoria B.C. in Februar y 2016‚ Shedwan‚ Lama‚ Talia‚ and AbdulAziz are building a bright future in the community they now call home.
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HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANT WOMEN Understanding cross-cultural taboos and beliefs surrounding illness‚ disease‚ and domestic violence is key to helping newcomers f ind the suppor t they need.
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14 INTERNATIONAL FUSION AT TULIP CAFÉ & RICE BAR
Inspired by their Iranian origins and world travels‚ Megan Bermand and Javat Samim open Victoria’s only Persian-influenced international fusion restaurant.
18 HOMEMADE BEAUTY TIPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
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Who needs an expensive spa day? Newcomer women share homemade skin and hair treatments from their cultures and countries of origin.
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AHMAD DANNY RAMADAN The Clothesline Swing
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NOFEL SHELEEG On Belonging
ON COVER: MEGAN BERMAND. PHOTO CREDIT: FIONA BRAMBLE
M
any of us came from somewhere el se. 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.
In our continued ef for t to Indigenize our work and to challenge the ongoing neocolonization, the Here! family wishes to express gratitude to the original stewards of the land, and to acknowledge that our work takes place on the Lk wungen territor y of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.
OUR MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY Victoria has a vibrant and growing multicultural community! These organizations celebrate culture and diversity with annual events like the Dragon Parade‚ Flamenco Festival‚ Greekfest‚ Festival Mexicano‚ India Mela‚ Loy Kratong‚ AfriCa Fest‚ and the Highland Games and Celtic Festival. They also offer support and services to their members and newcomers‚ including language support‚ health and wellness activities‚ networking opportunities‚ and work-related skill development.
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P l e a s e co n t a c t u s a t co m m u n i t y @ h e re m a g a z in e.ca i f yo u n e e d t o u p d a t e yo u r o r g a n iza t i o n’s in fo r m a t i o n o r i f yo u w o u l d li ke t o hi g h li g h t yo u r o r g an iza t i o n o r e ve n t in H e re ! M a g a z in e.
HERE!
is THERE
fresh voi c es: h e a r m y st ory STORIES OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE YOUTH OCTOBER 25‚ 2017
t has “T h is e v e n a v e ry p ro v id e d p la ce to im p o rt a n t e rs a ti o n s h a v e co n v n ce o te to le ra th a t p ro m ” g in d n ta a n d u n d e rs
re ci a te d “I re a ll y a p p ways o f th e m u lt ip le te n in g / e n g a g in g /l is w it h e x p re ss in g — l, a rt , fo o d , m u si c, p a n e n …” co n ve rs a ti o
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROJIN GHASEMZADEH MAHALEH
“ We nee d to hav e lov e in our hea r t s for eve r yon e and esp ecia lly new com ers ”
“ I wa s an a mazin exper g ience . I loved all th speec e hes. I f e el so empo were d now ”
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FROM LEFT: LAMA HARMOUSH‚ TALIA HERBA‚ SHEDWAN HERBA‚ AND ABDUL-AZIZ HERBA. PHOTOGRAPHY: ROJIN GHASEMZADEH MAHALEH
The Harmoush-Herba family fled their hometown of Idlib, in northwestern Syria, two years after the start of the war. After three difficult years in Libya, the family of four arrived in Victoria, B.C. in February 2016, having been sponsored to come to Canada by the St. Matthias and Friends Constituent Group through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Sitting down with the family in their welcoming Victoria home, Fiona Bramble and Rojin Ghasemzadeh Mahaleh are treated to the famous Syrian hospitality, and talk about the family’s long journey to safety, learning English, starting a new business, and what it means for them to be here in Canada.
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welcomes city every day, with my kids and my wife. Lama: When the kids were young [in Idlib], Shedwan could spend a lot of time with us; it was so nice, all that time together. It was a perfect two and half years. You left Syria for Libya. What happened there? Shedwan: When the war started in my country, we stayed for two years, watching what was happening. We decided to leave the country to see if we could find a different life for our kids. We went to Libya. The situation there was worse than in Syria. Lama: When the fighting started on our street, we could no longer go out. Shedwan: The bullets were coming inside our house. We were in Benghazi and the Libyan army was fighting ISIS (Islamic State). We stayed inside for four months. It was very scary for our kids. It was a very hard three years.
Can you describe your hometown? Shedwan: Our city is called the “green town”; its name is Idlib. The farms outside the city were so green. We had a big motorcycle and we used to ride around the
What was your path to Canada? Shedwan: My aunt, Raja, contacted us from Canada, and we started to prepare our [application] papers. Lama: There is no [Canadian] embassy in Libya, so it’s very hard to do the application from Libya. Shedwan: The application took a long time; we tried many, many times. After about a year and a half, we came here.
How did you feel when your applications were approved? Shedwan: We went to Turkey and we stayed there for two or three months. The [Canadian] embassy called us and we did our interview there. The [immigration] officer said to us: “I accept you.” That was very, very happy news. Lama: It was wonderful. Twenty days later, we were here. Shedwan: It gave us a big hope for our family. It was like a dream. What was your first emotion when you arrived at the airport in Victoria? Shedwan: Emotional, when I saw my brother. I hadn’t seen him in seventeen years. Lama: Maybe his tears would describe it for you. I felt happy, happy, happy. Relieved. And a little bit guilty because you are safe and your family are not. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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Who helped you the most as you settled into your new lives here? Shedwan: Brian and Nicola*, and Paul McCarthy. I can’t say all the names, but so many people helped us in different ways. Lama: Evelyn and Susan* spent lots of time with us to help the kids start school after spring break. Also, the principal at the kids’ school is wonderful; the teachers and all the staff, they are helpful and kind. Lama, Brian and Nicola mentioned that you have been awarded two scholarships to the University of Victoria. Lama: Yes! I am studying English at UVic. It’s a great program. In my first semester, my teachers told me that I was doing very good, so they [recommended] me for a scholarship. I need to study academic English because I would like to study to be an educational assistant. Shedwan, what is your training or occupation? Shedwan: I have been a painter for over 30 years, interior and exterior. I also do decorative finishing and design. I worked for a local company for a year, but have now started my own business: The Crown Custom Painting. I’m so happy. Abdul-Aziz and Talia, did you go camping this past summer? Abdul-Aziz: Yes, we went to Tofino and Sproat Lake! Talia: Every morning when we woke up, we go to the beach and see starfish, crabs, snails, and tiny fish. AbdulAziz: When we were going into the forest, my cousin saw a bear, and he wanted to get out of his car to scare it away! When I was in my uncle’s truck, I saw a baby bear. Talia: We saw a baby bear! Is there anything else you’d like to share? Shedwan: I want to thank everybody who helped my family: my aunt Raja, who is in Vancouver, our sponsors here—every single one who gave us his time—and also I want to thank the Canadian government because they helped the Syrian refugees. And I want to thank Justin Trudeau. I feel this man is like a brother. We hope to meet him one day. I wish this life for everyone in this world, for everyone. Actually, here in Victoria, it is heaven. It’s paradise.
TH E VI C TORIA I M M I G R ANT AN D RE FUG E E CE NTRE SO CI E T Y’S K E RI G RE E N I DG E WORKS WITH SOME OF VICTORIA’S MOST VULNER ABLE NE WCOMERS . KERI SHARES THE LESSONS OF NAVIGATING DIFFERENT CULTUR AL
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Read the full interview at heremagazine.ca
RESPONSES TO
*from the St. Matthias and Friends Constituent Group
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
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ILLNESS, DISE ASE, AND
Working with immigrants is a unique opportunity that I treasure. In 2016, I began working on two preventative health projects that I coordinate through the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS). The first is ‘Preventing and Responding to Domestic Abuse against Newcomer, Immigrant, Refugee, and No Status Women,’ and the second: ‘Breast Cancer Awareness within Immigrant Populations.’ These immigrant women’s projects are funded by the Department of Justice and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation respectively. In this article, I will share the cultural lessons I’ve learned from coordinating these health projects. CULTURAL TABOOS. Breast cancer and domestic violence are topics that require a culturally sensitive approach. In some cultures, there is great fear and reluctance to talk about anything that is perceived
to be directly related to death. It means that you are somehow bringing harm, shame, bad luck, or death to yourself and family. This is especially the case for cancer. In addition, some people feel that succumbing to a disease or ailment was due to another person inflicting black magic (witchcraft) on them. With regards to domestic abuse, discussing something like this could bring shame or disrespect to the family as you are sharing personal matters that should not be disclosed outside of the family. This connects to the next lesson. WHAT HAPPENS AT HOME STAYS AT HOME. Have you ever heard of the phrase: “it’s not good to air your dirty laundry in public?” This speaks perfectly to how issues of family violence and disease diagnosis are perceived as issues to be dealt with in the family unit. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
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8-1-1 8-1-1 is a free-ofcharge provincial health information and advice phone line available in British Columbia. By calling 8-1-1, you can speak to a health services navigator, who can help you f ind health information and services, or connect you directly with a registered nurse, a registered dietitian, a qualif ied exercise professional, or a pharmacist. Any one of these healthcare professionals will help
Problems are seen as family issues. For some immigrants, the definition of family is not just limited to a so - called nuclear family comprised of a husband, wife, and children. This is especially so for people who come from collective cultures, where the ex tended family has a significant role or influence within the day- to day lives of the nuclear family. Therefore, when challenging situations arise within the family, the ex tended family can inter vene to make sure that the wellbeing of the family unit is kept intact. In essence, these family members are the suppor t network that members of the nuclear family can turn to.
you get the information you need to manage your health concerns, or those of your family. 8-1-1 provides translation services on request in more than 130 languages. After dialing 8-1-1, you will be connected with an English-speaking health services n av i ga to r. To ge t s e r v i ce i n a n o t h e r l a n g u age , s i m p ly
Sadly, away from their countr y of origin, most immigrants either lose their suppor t network or the relationship shifts into a different dynamic since they can no longer interact in person. On the other hand, in some cases where there is domestic abuse, this suppor t network can work against the safety and harmony of the person who is the recipient of the abuse.
many immigrant households. The behaviours lived out by the leaders of the home set the tone of what are normal and acceptable responses within that environment. According to research, immigrant women often develop mental health concerns despite arriving in their adopted country in good health. In addition, challenges of settlement, such as social isolation; spousal or family conflict; and lack of awareness or engagement with community supports and resources also impact the overall health and wellbeing of immigrant families. Therefore, if the male partner or head of the family doesn’t fully understand the critical importance of creating a safe and healthy family environment, as well as supporting a woman’s access to services that will enhance her safety, this could eventually lead to the breakdown of the family. To break the cycle of violence and address cultural taboos around health and diseases, educating all family members in a woman’s life is vital to her safety and wellbeing.
s t a te t h e l a n g u age yo u a r e lo o k i n g f o r (f o r e x a m p le , s ay : “ P u n j a b i”), a n d a n i n te r p r e te r w i l l j o i n the call.
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Men play a significant role in being part of the solution. The inclusion of men is an important step towards supporting the safety and wellbeing of the women. Due to cultural factors, men are often the leaders of
Whether one has immigrated to Canada or was born here, at some point in time, we all encounter challenging situations in which we don’t know what to do or how to best address them.
From my perspec tive, there is no special reason why someone could be diagnosed with cancer or experience violence. The realit y is you are probably not alone in your situation but may feel alone as you go through the process of grief and acceptance. Reaching out for help and knowing what communit y suppor ts are available are the first brave steps towards safet y and healing. Don’t let your situation defeat you, but instead empower yourself to find the communit y suppor t you need to climb out of it. As an immigrant, knowing where to find suppor t and what communit y ser vices are available is impor tant to helping you and your family thrive. Agencies like VIRCS and the InterCultural Association of Greater Vic toria are great places to star t, if you haven’t already. With the right suppor t, you can find the path towards safet y and wellbeing during the difficult times. Keri left her home country Barbados in 2007 to pursue a Master of Business
ADVICE FROM TH E E XPERT S GREG CONN ER
10 Sim p le Re sum é T ips So you think you have found the perfect job, and now you need a resumé. First of all, do not panic: you do not need a perfect resumé to get in the door. If you follow these simple tips, you will increase the chances that someone will review your resumé and call you in for an interview. Then you can show them why you are the best person for the job!
1 Keep your resumé shor t‚ no more than two pages. t of f with a Career Summar y section that includes 2-3 sentences about 2 Star you and your skills and experiences that closely match what the job is asking for. For example‚ if they are asking for customer ser vice skills and experience‚ say it right up front—do not be shy! a simple font and a reasonable font size (12 is good) and make sure it 3 Use looks clean and is nicely laid out .
4 Use bullet s or numbering to keep things in order and make your resumé easy to read and follow.
5 List your jobs in order from your current or last job and then go back in time
(but don’t go back fur ther than 10 years if you have been working for awhile).
6 For each job list a couple of accomplishment s (things that you did really
well) along with a brief summar y of your duties. For example‚ “I am a quick learner; I work ver y well with ever yone I meet; I received many customer compliment s.”
7 Remember to add your volunteer work to highlight skills and abilities you learned there as well.
8 Have a friend or family member review your resumé‚ along with the job posting‚ before you send it in.
9 Think of your resumé from the hiring manager’s perspective—make it easy for them to hire you.
10 Finally‚ this is your chance to sell yourself to a new employer‚ so make
sure your resumé matches what the job posting is asking for. Ever y new job requires you to review and change your resumé to make it ref lec t exac tly what the company is asking for. If you follow these simple tips‚ you will see more employers ac tually reading
Administration with a specialization in
your resumé and hopefully calling you in for an inter view. Preparing for a job
Services Management at the University of
inter view is a dif ferent topic for a dif ferent day‚ but having a resumé that
Victoria. Today she is a Canadian citizen, a
shows you took the time to outline how you meet the qualif ications of the
proud mother to her son Ajay, and a loving
job is a great f irst step. Good luck!
wife to her husband Alfred. In her spare time, she enjoys blogging on the Immigrant Mom Blog Facebook page.
Greg Conner is the Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Secretary at B.C. Transit. Greg is responsible for leading strategies to support BC Transit’s Human Resources Action Plan in the key areas of talent management, culture, labour relations and policies and procedures. WINTER 2017 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
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WHEN MEGAN BERMAND star ts talking about Persian food, her sparkling green eyes somehow shine even brighter. Owner of the newly - opened Tulip Café & Rice Bar on Blanshard Street, Megan is passionate about bringing the fresh, flavour ful food of her home countr y, Iran, and of the many places along her travels — t went y - t wo countries and counting — to downtown Vic toria’s vibrant restaurant scene. Originally from Shiraz, Iran, Megan, whose full Persian name is Mojgan Bahremandjooy, believes that fresh herbs, spices, rice, and vegetables should anchor the menu. These are cornerstones of the Persian made - from -
scratch tradition. But, as is her st yle, Megan has added her own unique t wists, such as Tulip’s “signature piadina*,” one of the many delicious lunchtime offerings. Megan first heard of the piadina in Australia, where she worked as a chef in a café. According to Megan, the light and crispy grilled sandwich “is originally from a part of Italy, where it is a street food, but they make it with cold cuts such as ham or salami.” Megan calls Tulip’s piadina “a fusion of Italian and Persian.” She wanted to do something different with it here in Canada, so added Persian touches —including grilled beef or chicken marinated and seasoned with Middle Eastern *[pee-uh-deen-uh]
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PHOTOGRAPHY: ROJIN GHASEMZADEH MAHALEH
E ATING WE LL
international fusion flavours, vegetables and spices — and Tulip’s own housemade yoghurt with pennyroyal dip, “to make it healthier, more Persian.” Not only do Megan and her husband, Javad Samim, make their creamy yoghurt in -house, the all-important rice is also made fresh and different ever yday. Over steaming cups of saffron tea, Megan explains the importance of rice in the Persian diet: “If Persians don’t have rice with lunch, then they haven’t had lunch.” Persian rice dishes begin with basmati rice, and Megan reveals that the rice “is evaluated on how long and how fluffy it is.” The daily rice dish at Tulip depends on what Megan “feels like when [she] wakes up in the morning.”
J u s t a s rice i s a hallm ark of Pe r sian c ui s ine, s o are t he t ra dition al s pice s an d he rb s th a t comp le me nt it an d ot he r di s he s . “ Pe r s ian s pice s are ve r y ex p e n si ve an d ve r y mil d. T he m o s t p op ul ar s pice i s s a f fron, w hich i s m ore ex p e n si ve t han diam on d s . I t i s the m ain an d b e s t s pice we ha ve w it h rice,” s a y s M e g an. Herbs such as dill, basil, parsley, and cilantro are essential as well, and Megan describes a classic Persian herb dish of parsley, basil, and radish that is the equivalent of a Canadian “side - salad.” According to Megan, one takes a little of the herb salad “ with CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 ever y bite of other fo o d.”
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
Megan has passed on her culinar y talents and restaurant experience to Javad, who now does the bulk of the cooking. She still maintains master y over the flavour and quality of Tulip’s rice dishes, and indeed many other aspects of the family- run business, including sales and marketing, and Tulip’s interior design. Megan says that her city [of Shiraz], an ancient Persian city known as the City of Poets and the City of Gardens, is also famous for its “ancient, beautiful houses,” and has added design touches to Tulip to recall the rich Persian architecture of Shiraz.
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Megan and Javad have recently branched out into catering and are excited to bring fresh international flavours to Victoria events and celebrations. As newcomers to Canada and Victoria who have “spent many years traveling to different places and exploring cultures and cuisines,” Megan and Javad want Tulip to be a welcoming space for Victorians to share in those worldly experiences and the Persianinfused dishes they inspired. BY FIONA BR AMBLE
FROM M EG A N’S K ITCH E N GREEN BE AN BASMATI RICE INGREDIENTS
•2 cups of uncooked basmati rice •6 cups of green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces •2 tablespoons of tomato paste •1/3 teaspoon of ground saffron •Olive oil or vegetable oil •Salt and pepper INSTRUCTIONS
Tulip Caf♥é & Rice Bar 1108 Blanshard St. Victoria B.C. 250-884-6665
eattulip.com
1. Place the rice in a large bowl; add lukewarm water, stir and pour off the water. Repeat a few times until water runs clear. 2. Soak rice with 2 tablespoons of salt and lukewarm water for at least two hours. 3. Crush 1/3 teaspoon of saffron, mix with 1/2 cup of hot water and set aside. 4. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. 5. Add the tomato paste and green beans and sauté for 8-10 minutes. 6. Add a 1/2 cup of water, lower the heat and let the water evaporate as the sauce thickens. 7. Add water to a large non-stick pot (until it is 3/4-full) and boil over high heat. 8. Drain the soaked rice. 9. Add rice to the boiling water and cook uncovered until rice is a little tender—about 4 minutes— stirring once or twice. Remove from the stove; drain the rice in a colander. 10. Add 6 tablespoons of oil to the non-stick pot. Place layers of rice and green bean mixture. Try to make a mound in the middle. 11. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the saffron mixture on the rice. 12. Put the lid on and cook over medium-high heat until it begins to steam (about 4-5 minutes). 13. Wrap a kitchen towel or napkin around the underside of the pot lid. 14. Reduce the heat to low and cook for approximately 30 -40 minutes. ENJOY! WINTER 2017 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
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HOMEMADE
beauty TIPS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD IR AN S T E P 1 Mi x one te a s p o on of w he a t b u d an d yo ghur t .
CHILE S T E P 1 B oil wa ter in a p ot . A d d s ome ro s e m ar y. S T E P 2 C over yo ur he a d w it h a towel an d allow the s te am to op en yo ur p ore s . S T E P 3 Rin s e yo ur fa ce w it h warm wa te r. S T E P 4 C over yo ur fa ce w it h honey an d le a ve it up to 15 minu te s . B e s t to lie dow n to ke ep the honey on yo ur fa ce. S T E P 5 Rin s e yo ur fa ce w it h co l d wa te r.
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S T E P 2 Ke e p for 3 0 minu te s a t ro om te mp e ra ture. S T E P 3 C ove r yo ur fa ce w it h t he mi x ture an d le a ve for 3 0 minu te s . S T E P 4 Rin s e yo ur fa ce w it h warm wa te r. B O N U S T hi s mi x ture co ul d b e u s e d on yo ur w hole b o d y. Yo u w ill fe e l fre s h an d reju ve n a te d.
W e a re n ewc om e rs, bu t be fore t h a t , w e a re wom e n! W e a l wa ys wa n t t o l oo k goo d , bu t som et i m es w e d o n’t h a v e t h e t i m e o r m on e y. M y fri e n ds a re fro m a l l o ve r t h e worl d , a n d h e re , I sh a re t h ei r h om e m a d e se c rets t o h a vi n g gre a t sk i n a n d k e epi n g you r h a i r bri gh t a n d sh i n y. — Nadia Tapia
T HAIL AND T i p # 1 FOR YO UR FAC E S T E P 1 Mi x honey an d tam arin d until yo u h a ve a cre amy p a s te. S T E P 2 Le a ve the mi x ture on yo ur fa ce for a t le a s t fif te en minu te s . S T E P 3 Wa s h yo ur fa ce w ith cle an wa ter and dr y it w it h a s of t towel. A f ter t hi s t re a t ment , yo ur fa ce w ill fe e l s of t and fre s h. C an al s o b e u s e d on yo ur w ho le b o d y. T i p # 2 F OR YO UR E Y E S P u t warm te a b a g s (a f ter m akin g te a) or c u c umb er s lice s aro und yo ur eye s for a t le a s t ten minu te s and t hen rin s e w ith warm wa te r.
KORE A A tip for beautiful skin i s t o w a s h yo u r f a c e with the water left after r i n s i n g yo u r d a i l y r i c e. After doing this a few t i m e s , yo u w i l l s e e yo u r face become brighter a n d w h i t e r. WINTER 2017 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
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COLOMBIA T i p # 1 F OR YO UR H A IR S T E P 1 Take t wo or t hre e alo e vera le a ve s (the q u antit y dep en d s on how mu ch h air yo u h a ve). S T E P 2 Cle an t he le a ve s un de r r unnin g wa te r. S T E P 3 S q u e eze o u t a s mu ch alo e juice a s p o s sib le into a b ow l. S T E P 4 Mi x the gel w it h a te a s p o on of honey. S T E P 5 Wa s h yo ur hair a s norm al an d towel dr y. S T E P 6 A p p l y mi x ture onl y to t he ro ot s of t he h air and le a ve on for up to 3 minu te s , dep endin g on yo ur hair’s con dition. S T E P 7 Rin s e yo ur hair w it h col d wa ter. Yo u can rep e a t thi s t re a t ment 4 time s p er we ek . T i p # 2 F OR YO UR H A IR S T E P 1 -3 Rep e a t s tep s 1, 2 an d 3 ab ove. S T E P 4 Mi x the gel w it h an e g g. S T E P 5 Wa s h yo ur hair a s norm al an d towel dr y. S T E P 6 C over the b o d y of t he hair w it h t he mi x ture, not t he ro ot s or s calp. Le a ve on for up to 3 0 minu te s , de p e ndin g on yo ur hair’s con dition. S T E P 7 Rin s e yo ur hair t horo u ghl y w it h col d wa ter. Yo u can rep e a t t hi s t re a t ment 4 time s p er we ek .
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EG Y P T T i p # 1 F OR YO UR FAC E S T E P 1 Mi x c u c umb e r, yo ghur t an d honey until yo u ha ve a cre amy p a s te. S T E P 2 Le a ve t he mi x ture on yo ur fa ce for a t le a s t fif te e n minu te s . S T E P 3 Wa s h yo ur fa ce w it h cle an wa te r an d dr y it w it h a s of t towe l. T i p # 2 F OR YO UR H A IR S T E P 1 H e a t t wo te a s p o on s of oli ve oil in t he microwa ve for one minu te. S T E P 2 C ove r t he e n d s of t he hair, not t he ro ot s or s calp, an d le a ve t he oil on for up to 20 minu te s . S T E P 3 Wa s h yo ur hair a s yo u al wa y s do, an d rin s e t horo u ghl y w it h col d wa te r. Nadia arrived in Vic toria in November 2015. She has a background in Industrial Engineering and nowadays is volunteering at the Vic toria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Societ y ( VIRCS). She loves to eat ice cream and share her thoughts at her blog: w w w.nadianulan.blogspot.ca
ADVICE FROM TH E E XPERT S ALE X CREIGHTON
WE BUILD BUILD WE WELCOMING WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE AND COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES
Read y To Re n t # 9
ENDING THE TENANCY AND MOVING OUT When you decide you want to end your tenancy, you need to be sure what type of tenancy you are in before you can go ahead and give your notice to vacate. After giving notice, you have some other obligations as a departing tenant. Is your tenancy a lease‚ and if so‚ when does the lease end? If you are still within the period of your lease and you want to end the agreement‚ you will need to request permission to assign the lease to someone else. You will also need to f ind a person to take over your lease and present them to your landlord for their approval. If your lease is for longer than 6 months‚ the landlord cannot unreasonably withhold permission‚ but they do have the right to check the person out before agreeing. If your tenancy is a lease for a f ixed term that states you will move out at the
CommunityPartnership Partnership Community Network Member Network Member Masjid Police Al-Iman Mosque Saanich Department The Community Community Partnership The Partnership Network (CPN) Network (CPN)isisaagroup groupofof local agencies, agencies, businesses, local businesses and and institutions committed institutions committedtotobuilding building diverse, welcoming, diverse, welcoming and and inclusive inclusive communities in Greater communities in GreaterVictoria. Victoria. CPN members CPN memberswork worktotodevelop develop their capacity capacity by their bysharing sharingresources resources and information information aimed and aimedatatpromoting promoting and supporting supporting our and ourincreasingly increasingly diverse region. diverse region. Inter-Cultural Association The Inter-Cultural Association has of Greaterfunding Victoriafrom has received received Citizenship funding from Immigration, Refugees and Immigration Canada to lead the and Citizenship Canada toPartnership lead the CPN-Local Immigration CPN initiative. The CPN connects connects initiative. The CPN-LIP key steakholders, stakeholders, immigrants, key immigrantsand and CPN members CPN membersfrom fromaarange rangeofof sectors to sectors to create createaacomprehensive comprehensive and meaningful and meaningfulimmigration immigration settlement strategy. settlement strategy.
BECOME A MEMBER
communitypartnershipnetwork.ca icavictoria.org/community/cpn
end of the term‚ you are not required to give your landlord notice if you are leaving as of the end date of your lease. If your tenancy is month to month‚ you will need to give your landlord notice on or before the last day of the month‚ to be ef fective the last day of the following month. For example‚ on or before June 30 to be ef fective July 31. In all cases‚ your notice to vacate must be in writing to be legal‚ and should clearly state your address and the date you will be vacating. You also need to date and sign the notice‚ and be sure the landlord receives it by the due date. Under the Residential Tenancy Act‚ all vacating tenancies end at 1 p.m. on the last day of the month. You should plan around this and ensure you are completely moved out and that the premises are cleaned and ready for inspection by that time. You are required to do an outgoing inspection with your landlord‚ which should be scheduled ahead of time to ensure you are both available in person to do the walk through. You can designate another person to attend on your behalf‚ but you need to let your landlord know who that person will be. Under the Residential Tenancy Act‚ a landlord has 15 days from the time you move out and provide them with your for warding address to refund your deposit . If there is a disagreement about any charges the landlord want s to make against your deposit‚ and you did not sign the outgoing inspec tion agreeing to the deductions‚ your landlord must f ile for arbitration within 15 days. The process from the time of f iling for arbitration and an ac tual hearing date can be a long one‚ so it’s always best to tr y and come to an agreement at the time of the outgoing inspection if at all possible. Alex Creighton has over thirty years of experience in property management with Devon Properties and her family-run property management company. WINTER 2017 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
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HERE! READS
HER E ! M AG A ZINE C EL EB R AT E S E MER G IN G A ND E S TA B L I SHED I M MI G R A N T W R I T ER S‚ W R I T ER S O F CO LO UR ‚ A ND IND I G EN O US W R I T ER S AC R O S S C A N A DA .
Th e R isk of N ot Being Pre pare d W e r e c e n t l y m e t w i t h H e nr y * an d A nn a*‚ an immi g r an t f amil y f a c in g a s e r i o u s h e al t h i s s u e . T h e y di d n o t s e e t h e n e e d t o p r e p ar e f o r un e x p e c t e d s i c k n e s s w hile t h e y w e r e s t il l h e al t h y. U n f o r t un a t e l y‚ a t 5 5 ‚ H e nr y w a s dia g n o s e d w i t h s e v e r e b r ain c an c e r an d lo s t hi s c o g ni t i v e ab il i t i e s . To t ake c ar e o f him‚ A nn a s t o p p e d w o r k in g . W h e n w e m e t t h e m‚ f o ur m o n t h s a f t e r H e nr y ’s dia g n o s i s ‚ t h e f amil y w a s l i v in g o f f t h e ir s a v in g s . T h e y w an t e d t o s e n d H e nr y o u t o f t h e c o un t r y f o r b e t t e r m e di c al t r e a t m e n t ‚ b u t c o uld n o t a f f o r d i t .
D R AG O N SPR IN G S R OA D b y Janie C han g
We did a full f inancial review of their situation:
• H e nr y did n o t h a v e C r i t i c al Il l n e s s in s ur an c e n o r L o n g Te r m C ar e in s ur an c e‚ w hi c h c o uld h a v e h e l p e d p a y f o r b e t t e r m e di c al t r e a t m e n t .
• H e h a d $ 5 0‚0 0 0 o f l i f e in s ur an c e f r o m w o r k , e n o u g h f o r f in al e x p e n s e s b u t n o t e n o u g h t o s up p o r t hi s f amil y in t h e f u t ur e .
• W e r e c o mm e n d e d t h e y s e l l t h e ir 5 -b e dr o o m h o m e an d d o w n s i z e t o a 2-b e dr o o m c o n d o t o p r o f i t f r o m c ur r e n t l y hi g h r e al e s t a t e p r i c e s . D u e t o hi s m e n t al in c ap a c i t y‚ t h e r e w e r e c o mp l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e f amil y t o s e l l t h e h o m e . W e r e f e r r e d t h e m t o a l a w y e r f o r le g al g uid an c e .
• W e h e l p e d H e nr y s u c c e s s f ul l y ap p l y f o r g o v e r nm e n t di s ab il i t y b e n e f i t s (E I s i c k n e s s ‚ C P P di s ab il i t y b e n e f i t ).
H O PE H A S T W O DAU G H T ER S b y M o nia M a z ig h
• W e f a c il i t a t e d t h e l i qui d a t i o n o f t h e ir in v e s t m e n t s in t h e m o s t t a xp r e f e r r e d m ann e r. H e nr y i s n o w r e c e i v in g t r e a t m e n t f o r hi s c o n di t i o n . W hile hi s p r o g n o s i s i s s t il l g r im‚ t h e f amil y h a s b e e n ab le t o u s e t h e a s s e t s a v ail ab le t o e l imin a t e f in an c ial s t r e s s an d f o c u s o n H e nr y ’s t r e a t m e n t an d r e c o v e r y. To f ind out how f inancial planning can assist your family‚ visit w w w.exceptionalwealth.ca *The clients’ names have been revised to protect their privacy. Mutual Fund products and services are offered through Manulife Securities Investment Services Inc. Exceptional Wealth Management Canada is a trade name used to offer both mutual fund and insurance business activities. Insurance products and services are offered through Burgers‚ Bras and Booty Financial Services Inc. Banking products and services are offered by referral.
W HER E V ER I F IND MY SEL F Edi t e d b y Mir iam M a t ejo v a
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#C A Nl i t A hmad D ann y R amadan i s a Sy r ian-b o r n au t h o r‚ s t o r y t e l le r an d LG B TQ r e f u g e e ac t i v i s t w h o c al l s C anada h o m e . R amadan r e le a s e d hi s d e b u t n o v e l T h e Cl o t h e s l i n e Sw i n g in M ay 2 0 1 7 t o r av e r e v ie w s . T h e b o o k i s p o si t i v e l y r e v ie w e d b y Q uill and Q uir e ‚ Vancou v er Sun ‚ G e or g ia St r aig h t ‚ G lob e and M ail am o n g o t h e r p ub l ic a t io n s . H e al s o t r an s l a t e d R a f i B ada w i ' s 10 0 0 La s h e s : B e ca u s e I S a y W h a t I T h i n k‚ an d p ub l i sh e d t w o co l le c t io n s o f sh o r t s t o r ie s in A r abic . excerpt from p a g e s 1 74 -1 7 5
In the darkness of the night, I used to hear my parents whispering loving words. They used to tell each other stories. My mother used to write down Fairuz songs in a large blue notebook. On the balcony, my father built her a swing using old clotheslines and an abandoned pillow. Every morning, my mother sat on the pillow, listening to Fairuz, drinking her coffee, slowly swinging back and forth, enjoying the warmth of the sun as it filled Damascus with life. She used to pick me up in her arms in the early afternoon hours, sit me on the clothesline swing and push me higher. My feet never touched the ground; I imagined myself a grey dove spreading my wings across the hills around sleepy, calm, sunny Damascus. In my child’s mind, the world was limited to what I could see of Damascus from that swing, rising higher than the walls of our balcony. I could see the latest blooming jasmine flowers in our roof garden. I could see the Barada River dividing Damascus in two. I believed that I could see the edge of the world,
while I was sitting on the edge of that makeshift swing. My mother had the brilliant idea of planting seeds in the pillow of the clothesline swing, and they grew stronger with the winter rain. She sat behind her window, sipping on her Turkish coffee, listening to Fairuz and watching the jasmine tree growing from the cotton pillow, climbing the clotheslines, until it created a fairy tale swing, beautifully braided between the jasmine flowers and the clotheslines. Spring came, and she returned to using her swing in the early morning hours. As she pushed the swing higher, she felt like she could fly; she was a princess with long, smooth hair; a beautiful dame with love for the sun. The swing took her high, and she felt capable of anything. She heard the sound of cars beneath her as she playfully looked down the three-floor building. She used to fear falling from the balcony, but she didn’t care anymore.
R amadan’s w o r k in ac t i v i sm ha s sup p o r t e d br in g in g o v e r 1 8 Sy r ian qu e e r r e f u g e e s t o C anada‚ an d hi s ad v o c ac y h e l p e d shap e t h e qu e e r co mmuni t y in Van co u v e r in t o a s an c t uar y co mmuni t y f o r qu e e r r e f u g e e s . H e r un s t h e annual f un dr ai s e r “A n Ev e nin g in D ama s c u s‚” w hic h br in g s an au t h e n t ic c ul t ur al e xc han g e b e t w e e n Sy r ian s an d C anadian s . H e r ai s e d o v e r $1 0 0‚0 0 0 f o r qu e e r Sy r ian r e f u g e e s in t hr e e y e ar s . H e w a s t h e G r an d M ar shal f o r t h e Van co u v e r Pr id e P ar ad e 2 0 1 6 . H e w a s nam e d am o n g t h e To p 2 5 Immig r an t A w ar d s 2 0 1 7. H e w a s a w ar d e d t h e St an d O u t A w ar d 2 0 1 7 f o r hi s S o c ial A c t i v i sm . R amadan ha s l i v e d in Van co u v e r sin ce hi s ar r i v al in C anada in 2 0 14‚ an d c ur r e n t l y w o r k s a t t h e G r e a t e r Van co u v e r F o o d B ank . TO HEAR AHM AD DANNY R A M A D A N R E A D T H I S E XC E R P T, S C A N T H E Q R CO D E B E L O W , O R VISIT W W W.HEREM AGA ZINE .C A
TO HEAR AHM AD DANNY R A M A D A N R E A D F R O M PA G E S 1 7 0 -1 74 , S C A N T H E Q R CO D E BELOW, OR VISIT W W W.HEREM AGA ZINE .C A
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[nofɘl] “Where are you from? ” “Vic toria‚ B.C .” “Where are you really from? ” I doubt that this person will ever dare to ask this ques tion again. Oh‚ did I rage! I felt indignant and t argeted. I didn’t know why I felt that way‚ but I ac ted in a manner that projec ted my inner thought s. Later on‚ however‚ I ref lec ted upon what I consider to be my jus tif ied response. It’s no secret that I was born in Libya—a countr y I detes t as much as “White and Straight Privilege”—but whenever someone ask s‚ “Where are you from? ” I f ind myself answering‚ “Vic toria‚ B.C .” Later‚ if the conversation permit s‚ I deliberately share my s tor y of immigration: I think it’s crucial to do so in a time in which the political climate is full of rhetoric demonizing immigrant s; it’s a tribute to my mother whose life journey brought my brothers and me here; and because I know that my being born el sewhere doesn’t make me any less Canadian than a native born Canadian. Let me be clear: I speak
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P H O T O C R E D I T: S O P H I A B O R C H E R S
#MYvoi c e
Nofel is an Arabo-Anglophone writer and poet . His writing has appeared in Snapdragon Journal and Packing town Review.
English with a mains tream Canadian accent‚ so any ques tions regarding my ethnicit y are due to my beautiful Arabic name or gorgeous brown skin. “I asked because your name is exotic‚” or‚ “because you’re darker‚” I of ten hear. I’ve noticed that not only do racialized Canadians—native and foreign born—get asked this ques tion‚ but we‚ when saying that we come from here‚ get bombarded with more ques tions regarding our origins. If the answer is somehow unforeseen‚ like being a Brown Canadian whose parent s are native born Brit s‚ the ques tioner keeps dig ging deeper and deeper in an intrusive at tempt to unear th the answer for which he or she is looking. People of all colours ask me this ques tion; it’s not merely those of a European origin. Some ask it out of curiosit y; some in order to alienate me; and others to connec t with me. All are meaning one thing: where do you belong? I belong here. I belong to Canada. Don’t ask me where I come from! A sk me where I belong .
Lower your flu risk
Immunization against influenza is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Talk to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or local public health office about getting immunized against influenza.
WINTER 2017 HEREMAGAZINE.CA
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H E R E ! M AG A Z I N E
foc us gro up
2017
H E R E ! ST U D E NT I NTE R NS
marce lla de ocampo & rojin gha se m zade h mahale h “ We h ave a l way s b e e n i n te re s te d i n b e i n g i nvo lve d w i t h o u r co m m u n i t y a n d h e l p i n g o t h e r s . B o t h o f u s a re i m m i g ra n t s a n d h ave w o r ke d re a l ly h a rd to s p e a k u p a n d to h ave a vo i ce . We wa n te d to w o r k w i t h t h e H e re ! Te a m b e c a u s e t h ey s h a re t h e s a m e v i s i o n a n d go a l a s w e d o . M ov i n g to a n o t h e r co u n t r y c a n b e d i f f i c u l t a n d o f te n , w e f e e l t h at o u r vo i ce i s lo s t . N o w, w e h ave t h e p o w e r to e d u c ate o t h e r i m m i g ra n t s a b o u t C a n a d ia n c u l t u re , l i s te n to t h e i r s to r i e s , le a r n a b o u t t h e i r h o m e co u n t r i e s a n d d i f f e re n t c u l t u re s . H e re ! g i ve s n e w co m e r s a c h a n ce to h ave a vo i ce a n d w e wa n te d to b e a p a r t o f t h i s a w e s o m e p ro j e c t .”
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Social Worker and Director of Partnerships & Collaboration, Croatian- Canadian JAKELINA LISTES has served on the Here! Board of Directors for two years.
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Career Training @ Camosun Camosun offers Health Care, Trades, Business, and Computer and Engineering programs. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for all levels are available to support you in your education.
Funding available. Contact us today 250-370-3550 option 1 | admissions@camosun.ca camosun.ca/programs
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