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S PEC IAL E XC E R P T FR O M B I R DI E BY T R AC E Y LI N DB E R G
SUMMER 2015
VICTORIA BC
LEAVING LIBYA THAI MUDDER GROWING FRIENDS URBAN FARMING
GET
THE CANADIAN MOSAIC PROJECT
OUT SIDE
CAMPING
Canadian
like a
& other true stories
a l a n g u a g e & c u l t u re m a g a z i n e f o r n ewc o m e r s t o C a n a d a
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO ACTIVITIES ON PAGE 2 0
WE BUILD WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
1. Wr i te t h e n u m b er i n t h e b ox n ex t to t h e m a tch i n g wo rd t h a t d es cr i b es t h es e co m m o n g a rd e n i n g to o l s .
hedge shears
1
a pitchfork
8
a shovel
9
an edger
6
a pail
5
a wheelbarrow
3
a rake
7
a trowel
4
a sprinkler
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2 . W h i c h i t e m s a re u s e f u l w h e n c o m p o s t i n g a n d h ow a re t h ey u s e d ?
• a p a i l : to s to re k i tc h e n s c ra p s b e f o re p u t t i n g t h e m i n t h e compost • a s h ov e l o r p i tc h f o r k : to t u r n a n d a e ra t e t h e c o m p o s t • a h o s e: to ke e p t h e c o m p o s t moist
3 . Tr a c ey C o o k s a ys t h a t o n e t h i n g (n o t p i c t u re d h e re) h a s h e l p e d h e r b e c o m e a m o re p r o d u c t i ve g r owe r. W h a t d o yo u t h i n k i t i s? Tra c ey s a y s a d d i n g a g re e n h o u s e to h e r g a rd e n a l l ow e d h e r to n ot o n l y g row t h i n g s t h a t w e re c h a l l e n g i n g ( l i ke to m a to e s i n F a i r f i e l d !) b u t to g row ot h e r c ro p s ye a r ro u n d .
G R OW+ N O U N g row g row g row g row g row g row
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OUR MULTICULTURAL COMMUNIT Y V i c to r i a h a s a v i b ra nt a n d g row i n g m u l t i c u l t u ra l c o m m u n i t y! T h e s e o rg a n i za t i o n s c e l e b ra te c u l t u re a n d d i ve r s i t y w i t h a n n u a l eve nt s l i ke t h e D ra g o n Pa ra d e‚ F l a m e n c o F e s t i va l‚ G re e k fe s t‚ F e s t i va l M ex i c a n o‚ I n d i a M e l a ‚ Loy K ra to n g ‚ Af r i C a F e s t‚ a n d t h e H i g h l a n d G a m e s a n d C e l t i c F e s t i va l . T h ey a l s o o f fe r s u p p o r t a n d s e r v i c e s to t h e i r m e m b e r s a n d n ewc o m e r s ‚ i n c l u d i n g l a n g u a g e s u p p o r t‚ h e a l t h a n d we l l n e s s a c t i v i t i e s ‚ n et wo r k i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s ‚ a n d wo r k- re l a te d s k i l l d eve l o p m e nt.
V i c to r i a an d Van co u ve r I s l an d G r e e k C o mmuni t y S o ci e t y
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V ic tor ia Canada- China Fr iendship A s so ciation Fa c e b o o k : V i c t o r i a C a n a d a - C h i n a
Chin e s e C o n s o li d a t e d B e n evo l e n t A s s o ci a t io n 6 3 6 Fi s g a r d S t. V i c t o r i a B .C .
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V i c to r i a N a t i ve Fr i e n d s hip C e n t r e
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231 R e g i n a A v e n u e V i c t o r i a B .C . 2 5 0 - 3 8 4 - 3 211
U k r aini an C an a di an Cul t ur al S o ci e t y of Van co u ve r I s l an d
V ic tor ia Filipino - Canadian S enior s A s so ciation B a y a n i h a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e
4 6 4 8 E l k L a ke D r. V i c t o r i a B .C .
Fr i e n d s h i p A s s o c i a t i o n
476 B a y S t. V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C . 250 -388 -50 04
3 27 7 D o u g l a s S t. V i c t o r i a B .C .
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V i c to r i a H i ghl an d G am e s A s s o ci a t io n
L a S o ci é t é f r an co p h o n e d e V i c to r i a
5 5 5 L a m p s o n S t. V i c t o r i a B .C .
2 0 0 - 5 3 5 Ya t e s S t. V i c t o r i a B .C . 2 5 0 - 3 8 8 -73 5 0
S o n s of S cot l an d‚ 20 4 B al g ow ni e
V i c to r i an Cr o a t i an C o mmuni t y
We b: s o n s o f s c o t l a n d .c o m /a b o u t - u s /p r o v i n c i a l locations/204-balgownie
4 0 81 G o r d o n H e a d R d . V i c t o r i a B .C .
Vic toria Korean- Canadian Women’s A ssociation We b: v kc w a.w o r d p r e s s .c o m
L e o n ar d o D a V in ci C e n t r e
I n di a C an a d a Cul t ur al A s s o ci a t io n
V i c to r i a Filip in o - C an a di an A s s o ci a t io n
Fa c e b o o k : I n d i a C a n a d a C u l t u r a l A s s o c i a t i o n
Bayanihan Communit y Centre 170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t. V i c t o r i a B .C .
Victoria Filipino-Canadian Caregivers Association B a y a n i h a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e
J e w is h Fe d e r a t io n of V i c to r i a an d Van co u ve r I s l an d 3 6 3 6 S h e l b o u r n e S t.
195 B a y S t.V i c t o r i a B .C .
170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t. V i c t o r i a B .C .
V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
V i c to r i a A f r i c an C ar ib b e an Cul t ur al S o ci e t y
V i c to r i a N ik ke i Cul t ur al S o ci e t y
We b: v a c c s o c i e t y.c o m
Van co u ve r I s l an d T h ai A s s o ci a t io n
Fa c e b o o k : Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d T h a i A s s o c i a t i o n
Fa c e b o o k : v n c a.c a
M e x i c an C an a di an C o mmuni t y A s s o ci a t io n of V i c to r i a We b: v i c t o r i a m e x i c a n c a n a d i a n .o r g
V I C TO R I A I M M I G R A N T & R E FU G E E C E N T R E SOCIETY 9 3 0 B a l m o r a l R d . V i c t o r i a B .C. 2 5 0 - 3 8 8 - 47 2 8
6 37 B ay S t ., 3 r d F l o o r, V i c t o r i a B .C. 2 5 0 - 3 61- 9 4 3 3
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HERE! IS THERE
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY
www.heremagazine.ca Publisher | Functionall Books Editor | Fiona Bramble Copy Editor | Christy Sebelius Contributing Writers | Annie Wu‚ Erin Renwick‚ Leat Ahrony‚ Kedsanee Broome‚ Alex Creighton‚ Hyeyoung Jeon‚ Renée Layberry Contributing Photographers | Renée Layberry‚ Fiona Bramble From top left, clockwise: Dancers relaxing preperformance at the World Partnership Walk (WPW) at UVic, May 31st; Traditional Filipina Flower Dancers at the WPW; Gabriel Lopez, April Caverhill, and Eric Bramble manning the Here! tent at the WPW; Members of the Community Partnership Network (CPN) at a community
Illustrators and Designers | Josephine Aucoin‚ April Caverhill Design and Layout | Fiona Bramble Print and Production | Glenmore Printing
engagement event hosted by the Masjid Al-Iman mosque, June 9. More than 80 members of the CPN and the local Muslim community joined together to share and learn about one another and about Islam, the history of the Mosque and our Muslim neighbours (photo credit: Sid Emmanuel); On World Refugee Day
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June 20th: a hand cut-out with a participant message answering the question: “What have you learned from a refugee or immigrant?“; The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Team on World Refugee Day.
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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. Full subscription price for one year is $18.99 plus applicable taxes. Printed in Canada ISSN: 2291-8582
Letter from the editor getting out!
I’m not s u re t he re i s a mo re a ut he nt i ca l ly Ca na d i a n expe r i e nce
t ha n a B.C. ca m p g rou nd i n J u ly. O kay, pe r ha p s a n O nta r i o o r a N ova S cot i a ca m p g rou nd i n Au g u s t. Co m mo n d e no m i nato r: ca m pg rou nd! Ca m p i ng i s ce r ta i n ly not eve r yo ne’s a d ve nt u re (a lt hou g h t he a d ve nt of “g l a m p i ng”— g l a mou rou s ca m p i ng — ha s b rou g ht t ho s e p rev i ou s ly ca m p i ng a d ve r s e s l i g ht ly cl o s e r to t he g reat outd oo r s). And t he re a re s o ma ny ways to ca m p: i n you r ca r, i n a te nt, i n a t ra i l e r, i n t he ba ck cou nt r y o r j u s t out s i d e t he cit y, a l l w it h o r w it hout a me n it i e s s u c h a s f l u s h to i l et s , wa r m s howe r s , o r b ea r s . Ca m p i ng ca n b e a bout d o i ng w it hout o r j u s t d o i ng it d i f fe re nt ly— a s peci a l s hout- out to t he f u n - l ov i ng wo me n w it h t he i r b l e nd e r hook i ng u p to t he e l ect r i cit y i n t he bat h roo m s at Go rd o n B ay t h i s pa s t J u ly 1s t! N ot h i ng s ays Ca na d a D ay l i ke f roze n ma rg a r ita s b e i ng b l e nd ed i n a ca m pg rou nd b at h roo m. Ca m p i ng i s a g ateway to ou r nat u ra l wo r l d , g i v i ng u s a n o p po r t u n it y to exp l o re p l a ce s we m i g ht not ha ve a cce s s to ot he r w i s e. It a l s o he l p s u s to d eve l o p new q u a l it i e s i n ou r s e l ve s . I n “Roo k i e Ca m p e r”, Hyeyou ng Jeo n ce l eb rate s he r newco me r ca m p i ng expe r i e nce s , g ratef u l fo r t he q u a l it y t i me w it h he r hu s ba nd a nd t he tea mwo rk req u i red w he n ca m p i ng. Hyeyou ng re m i nd s u s t hat ca m p i ng tea c he s “re s i l i e nce, cou ra g e a nd t r u s t.” Ca m p i ng i s n’ t t he o n ly a cce s s po i nt to mot he r nat u re of cou r s e! Re née Layb e r r y co n nect s w it h t he g ree n t hu m b s of t he We l co me Ga rd e n s p roj ect a nd s ha re s t he i r s to r i e s of f r i e nd s h i p s p rout i ng a c ro s s g e ne rat i o n s a nd cu lt u re s . T h i s i s s u e’s wo rd me nto r, Tra cey Cook, u rba n fa r me r, he l p s u s g et a ha nd l e o n g row i ng ou r s o i l a s we l l a s ou r food a nd ou r fea r l e s s Ked s a nee B roo me g et s d ow n a nd d i r t y w it h Tou g h M u d d e r, T ha i - s t yl e! We a re a l s o ve r y l u ck y to p rof i l e T i m Va n H o r n’s Ca na d i a n M o s a i c Proj ect; t he i nt re p i d p hotog ra p he r ha s b ee n t ra ve l l i ng Ca na d a fo r t he pa s t s eve n yea r s i n h i s ca m pe r va n, ca pt u r i ng a nd ma p p i ng t he b ea ut i f u l, d i ve r s e fa ce s of Ca na d a. Anot he r s peci a l feat u re i s a n exce r pt f ro m Tra cey L i nd b e rg’s powe r f u l f i r s t nove l , Birdie — t he pe r fect book to a cco m pa ny you r ow n j ou r neys , i n s i d e o r out s i d e. Enj oy t he s e m i d - s u m me r d e l i g ht s!
Fiona Bramble, Editor
Second-generation Irish-Scottish Canadian
IN THIS ISSUE Volume II, Issue 2
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new 17 Victoria welcomes the Elmihob-Sheleeg
ROOKIE CAMPER
family! Having arrived from Libya in 2013,
by Hyeyoung Jeon
Jamila and her three sons are thriving at work, school, and on the soccer field.
money 18 Leat Ahrony introduces us to some banking basics for newcomers to Canada.
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rent 19 Alex Creighton of Devon Properties
THE SEEDS OF FRIENDSHIP by RenĂŠe Layberry
outlines the important steps to take when you need repairs in your rental unit.
learn 20 Word mentor and urban farmer, Tracey Cook, a.k.a. Farmer T, shares her hardearned tips for growing food in your garden and the argument for and against adding a few chickens.
read 22
Cree author and award-winning
8
academic writer Tracey Lindberg reads from her first novel,
home 23
THE
Kedsanee Broome takes us on another
CANADIAN
cross-cultural adventure as she tackles
MOSAIC PROJECT
Birdie.
the strange idea and brutal reality of Tough Mudder.
by Tim Van Horn
M
a ny of u s ca me from s omewhere el s e. Some of u s a rrived 10 0 yea r s ago; s ome of u s 10 0 days ago. Now we a re here — worki ng‚ l ivi ng‚ a nd lea rni ng together. We may have a rrived i n dif ferent ways a nd may have come for dif ferent rea s on s; we may be goi ng down dif ferent paths, but one thi ng i s the s a me: here i s home.
heremagazine.ca
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I’ve learned any good photographer needs to not just focus on composition, but rather compassion and empathy— and to be humbled by the world around us. You can’t create magic, if you know nothing about magic.
s potlight on In October 20 08, after
Tim Van Horn This vision will be realized
seventeen years of dreaming of
on Canada Day, July 1, 2017,
driving down the Trans-Canada
in Victoria, British Columbia,
Highway, I set out from my home
at Mile Zero of the Trans-
in Red Deer, Alberta in a 1999
Canada Highway. There, a
camperized GMC van, heading
forty-foot, wired-for-sound,
east on a one-year journey to
multimedia pavilion-on-
shoot a ‘day in the life’ look
wheels will launch out across
at Canada. The more people
the land on a 365 -day trans-
I met, studied, and recorded,
Canada tour, beaming out the
the more people I wanted to
beautiful story of who we are.
encounter and learn from.
The entire exterior surface of the ‘Canada pavilion’ will be
Aside from photographing
a medley of 54,0 0 0 portraits,
beautiful landscapes with
text and monitors, woven into a
people accenting them, I found
dynamic interactive multimedia
myself focusing more and more
experience—the culmination of
on the idea of a Canadian flag
my ten-year creative-tour-of-
mosaic made up of faces.
duty across Canada.
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heremagazine.ca
—Tim Van Horn
TH E
CANADIAN
MOSAIC PROJECT can adian mosaic.ca
I quietly wander across the land from Tofino, British Columbia to Cape Spear, Newfoundland, and set up my outdoor studio randomly at intersections on the sidewalk of life: at the post office, on a bridge, in neighborhoods, in nature...
Unbeknownst to those I encounter, I am challenging them right there to participate in, to believe in and to help a total stranger achieve his mission to unite Canada. heremagazine.ca
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Rookie Camper True Canadian Explorer Summer is here! Canadians enjoy
To prepare, we visited several
the sunshine with many different
stores to look at camping gear
outdoor activities. Here in
and equipment. We started with
Victoria that includes gardening,
a tent, sleeping bags, an air bed,
walking in Beacon Hill Park,
a portable BBQ grill, a cooler,
running or cycling along Dallas
outdoor chairs, and lanterns.
Road, picnicking at Willows
However, there were more things
Beach, hiking Mount Douglas, or
we needed that I hadn‘t thought
attending festivals in the Inner
of, like tarps, poles, rope and
Harbour. Summertime in Victoria
snap hooks. It took about a month
is filled with active energy!
to get the camping gear ready for our first camping trip.
When I first moved to Victoria from South Korea, a friend of
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Preparing for camping was a
mine, Jay, recommended a
learning process. We watched
book titled ‘Walk Victoria’. My
YouTube videos to learn about
husband, Bongcher, and I were
how to set up and tear down
able to explore more interesting
the tent; how to use a portable
walks in Victoria through this
charcoal BBQ grill; how to roast
book. One of our favourite spots
marshmallows; how to camp
was Mount Douglas. We went
in the rain; how to drape
there to walk and run twice or
a tarp over tent; and how
three times a week after work, as
to tie knots. Camping was
we explored and learned more
also a great conversation
about the hiking trails. We loved
starter with other people.
being in nature and being in such
Neighbours in our apartment,
quiet surroundings among the
clerks in the stores we visited,
trees, flowers, birds, and.... slugs
staff and volunteers at the James
(watch your step!). For nature
Bay Community Project (where
lovers, Canada is paradise.
I volunteer) gave me useful
Last September, we decided to
tips about campgrounds on
celebrate Bongcher‘s birthday in
Vancouver Island and where to
nature. We went camping!
buy firewood, as well as sharing their own camping experiences.
heremagazine.ca
Hyeyou
GOLD
ng & B on gcher
STR EA
M PA RK
Camping keeps me humble. During the night, I felt really small in our tent in the heavy rain.
“
G o r d o n B a y P r o v i n c i a l P a r k , Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d
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J u a n d e F u c a M a r i n e Tr a i l , Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d
Once we had prepared as much as we could, we started looking for well-established campgrounds near Victoria for our first two-night camping trip. We chose Goldstream Provincial Park. It was a great opportunity to appreciate nature. The Park boasts massive trees—including 600-year-old Douglas fir trees—and majestic waterfalls, like Niagara Falls and Goldstream Falls. You can also climb to the top of one of the highest points in Greater Victoria—Mt. Finlayson—or walk the flatter nature trails. There is nothing like the cool fresh air and feeling part of nature in the pitch-dark of night, sitting around a campfire feeling warm and relaxed.
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If you enjoy autumn camping, Goldstream Park is also a great spot for you. Some campgrounds stay open year-round and offer winter camping but may not offer full services such as water, flush toilets, hot shower facilities, heremagazine.ca
firewood, security, or sani-stations from November to March as Goldstream does. The Goldstream Salmon Run is very popular in the fall. The salmon run is the incredible upstream journey during which salmon swim back up the Goldstream rivers where they were born to spawn in October and November. In some ways, it reminds me how far away I have been from my hometown for the last four years. Bongcher and I really enjoyed our first camping trip in Canada at Goldstream Park. Every minute we worked together—packing up, setting up camp, cooking meals, breaking camp, and putting things away at home after the trip. We loved the quality time together without TV, phones, or computers. A month later, we headed to French Beach Provincial Park, located 21 kilometres
west of Sooke on Highway 14, and just 5 kilometres east of Jordan River. This 59-hectare park offers yearround vehicle-accessible camping in a beautiful natural setting close to the ocean. It was our first camping experience braving rainstorms in the wild outdoors. What I remember of French Beach is the sounds: light rain falling gently on the tarp; ocean waves roaring from the beach; crisp, falling leaves; the crackling fire; and the sizzling sound of meat on the BBQ grill.
IT CAN BE WILD OUT THERE ! Even thoug h hu ma n encou nter s with couga r s a nd b l a ck bea r s a re ra re, the wes t coa s t of Va ncouver I s l a nd ha s the hi g hes t percenta ge of couga r at ta cks i n B.C., pa r ticu l a rly a ga i n s t you ng chi l d ren. Couga r s a re mos t a ctive at dawn a nd d u s k. Couga r s wi l l at ta ck dog s a nd cat s but a la rge, control l ed dog may be a deterrent.
cougar do’s
“
Ca m p i n g a lso tea ch e s re s i li en ce, cou ra ge, a n d tru st. C h i n a B e a c h P r o v i n c i a l P a r k , Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d
cougar dont’s
Camping keeps me humble. During the night, I felt really small in our tent in the heavy rain. Camping also teaches resilience, courage and trust, while building lifelong memories. I can still picture us laughing even through the bad weather! You will see me and my husband in one of the campsites on Vancouver Island this summer. We are looking forward to our next camping trip. Hope you have a wonderful summer and get outside and enjoy nature! Hyeyoung Jeon is a regular contributor to Here! Magazine, avid camper, and tireless volunteer. Hyeyoung immigrated to Victoria from South Korea in 2010 to join her husband, Bongcher.
• hike in groups, with small children between adults • make noise when walking • carry a walking stick • watch for cougar tracks and other signs like ”scat” (poop) and ”claw rake” (scratches on trees) • if you encounter a cougar, stay calm, pick up small children, back away slowly, maintain eye contact, and make yourself as big and threatening as possible • if attacked by a cougar, shout and fight back using sticks, rocks, and pepper spray
• do not leave small children or pets unattended • if you encounter a cougar, do not run or turn your back
black bear do’s
• carry bear bells, make noise, or sing when walking • keep children within sight • store food in air-tight containers and store in your RV or car at campsite • cook and eat well away from your tent
black bear dont’s
British Columbia has some of the most beautiful, best-located regional and provincial campgrounds in Canada. Check out these websites to find a favourite spot for your next camping trip. www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore www.gocampingbc.com
• never feed or approach a bear • if approached by a black bear, do not make eye contact or run. Move away slowly • if a black bear attacks, do not play dead More information: www.env.gov. bc.ca/bcparks/conserve/ bearsandcougars.pdf
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SOWING THE SEEDS of friendship by RENÉE LAYBERRY It is a sunny day on the cusp of spring. The crisp late-February air is a sharp contrast to the enveloping warmth found inside one of the conference rooms at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre. A table covered with bright cloth and topped with delicious refreshments imparts a joyous, friendly atmosphere. There are about twenty people present, some of them speaking different languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, and Spanish. A group of women of varying ages chat quietly to one another; a grandfatherly gentleman watches over a young child with tenderness in his eyes; a friendly university-aged woman standing near the entrance invites me to join in. When I walk in the room, I immediately feel as though
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I ’ve happened upon a family gathering—an impression made more vivid by the bright smile and enthusiastic handshake offered by Pam Devito. As volunteer coordinator with Welcome Gardens, a newcomer welcoming program offered through the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee heremagazine.ca
Centre Society (VIRCS), Pam grafts her years of gardening experience to her passion for connecting and communicating with people. This festive gathering is the first of many workshops that will take place between spring and fall. Pam, who facilitates these workshops, is here to help those who are new to Canada (and Victoria) feel more at home. “The newcomer participants come from various countries and are associated with VIRCS and other agencies assisting newcomers in settling into their new Canadian life,” she says. “Many newcomers have come from agricultural backgrounds and don’t have access to a household garden here. And many talk about how they miss having regular contact with a senior or older person in their lives.” One newcomer, Tina Wang, originally from China, lives in Victoria with her husband, father, and children. Her gardening partner is the friendly and supportive Saria Andrews, a senior who originally hails from the Maritimes. Tina grew up with
parents who gardened, and for the last five years, she has carried on the family tradition in her new home in Victoria. In addition to her love of growing vegetables, she enjoys the experience of simply being in the garden. And while she says the climate and plant varieties are not so different from those in her country of origin, she does find it colder here. Sandu and Teodora Smarandache, originally from Romania, recently came to Victoria by way of Toronto, where they enjoyed the company of a relatively larger Romanian community. Their son, Sandu Jr., lives in Victoria as well, and felt that having a garden space for them here would be encouraging and uplifting, especially considering their status as senior citizens. With this in mind, he introduced them to the Welcome Gardens program. Since the weather is quite different here than it is in Toronto, they have been curious about what can be grown in the gentle, lush, green Victorian winters. They particularly enjoy growing tomatoes and beans, but are open to trying almost all
vegetables (except brussels sprouts!). Zyta McBride, who is originally from Poland and has lived in Victoria for forty years, has generously offered Sandu and Teodora space in her garden, which solves the problem of gardening accessibility when in an apartment. Zyta also shares her extensive knowledge gained over years of working the soil. As an organic gardener, Zyta knows how to make her soil as nutrient-rich as can be and is an expert when it comes to herbs. As a passionate gardener, she adores sharing her wealth of knowledge, and in return experiences the pleasure of having company. This relationship is mutually beneficial as it provides friendship for all, and offers the Smarandaches chances to practice their growing English vocabulary. heremagazine.ca
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These are but a few examples of how Welcome Gardens offers a multicultural, multi-generational gardening group that links newcomers with one another as well as with those who have lived in Victoria for a greater length of time. While the program facilitates education and meets practical needs for those who wish to garden, its primary purpose is to help newcomers make friends, which in turn makes a new city feel more like home. An
d o cre phot
it:Re
née
Layb
workshop activities are not just about gardening knowledge and language development—they’re about hearing one another and being heard. In one workshop activity, we broke out into smaller groups to list ways in which we understand respect. In some cultures, respect is shown by deference to those in authority, either by age or professional position; in contrast, we learned that respect in Canadian culture is defined by politeness.
erry
Many newcomers have come from agricultural backgrounds and don’t have access to a household garden here. And many talk about how they miss having regular contact with a senior or older person in their lives.
D e v it
eW o & th
re w ens c
experience as fundamental as gardening provides the ideal soil in which to plant the seeds of connection. As the seeds of friendship are watered and nourished, conversations and mutual understanding flourish. The
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!
“
Pa m
rd e Ga e lc o m
Another aspect of respect and recognition was explored via the value of our identity— specifically through our names. Each participant had an opportunity to describe how they came to be named as part of an exercise to develop respectful communication. One participant shared how her name was given to her by a sibling; another was given
a name that reflected her country of origin, as was the tradition at the time of her birth; still another told us that she gave herself an entirely new name upon immigrating to Canada. The look of pleasure on people’s faces when we spoke one another’s names confirmed the importance of being seen, heard, and known. Whether it’s bok choy in China, bananas in Colombia, or kale in Victoria B.C., we all rely upon the growing of food to not only survive, but to thrive. The very earth under our feet is the foundation of our existence; we draw from it the nourishment we need. We share this foundation with everyone on this planet; it transcends language, politics, and borders, connecting us to one another, whether across the ocean or across the street. Through a program such as Welcome Gardens, we overcome the obstacles of different languages and cultures. Not only are we trading seeds, sharing new techniques, and standing together in the fresh air—we work side by side as we grow a culture of cooperation and friendship, and as the seasons unfold, we will most certainly reap an abundant harvest of healthy, happy, enriched lives. For more information on the Welcome Gardens, please visit the VIRCS website at www.vircs.bc.ca. You can also contact Pam Devito by email at pam@vircs.bc.ca, or by phone at 250.361.9433 ext. 216.
NEXT SECTION
Victoria welcomes
THE FAMILY
Elmihob-Sheleeg
Arriving with her three sons from Libya in July, 2013, high school teacher and cancer survivor, Jamila Elmihob gets a new start in Canada. Fiona Bramble catches up with the busy family at Tim Hortons on a warm July evening. f r o m l e f t t o r i g h t : N o f e l , J a m i l a , Ka s e m (n o t p i c t u r e d : H a y y a n)
Jamila, what is your background?
when you were first in Canada. As
volunteers helped me and my family,
I was a high school teacher and
a practicing Muslim, what was that
taking me to appointments and
university professor in Libya but now I
like? Nofel: It was fun! I really enjoyed
taking and picking Kasem up from
work as a student advisor.
it. My Libyan friends were shocked
school. And the nurses were so so
when I told them though. Jamila: We
kind. I will never forget the nurses.
are Muslim but I want my sons to learn
Nofel: I have to confess I hated it
about everything and to have an
here. But it all changed when I had
open mind.
my first drama class at school and
Kasem and Nofel, you are both students but what else do you like to do? Kasem: I play soccer and I like to paint. Nofel: Actually, I just graduated
then I never wanted to go back to
from high school—it meant so much
Kasem, you and your mom are leaving
to me to graduate in Canada. I also
for Libya for a holiday tomorrow! What
write poetry and short stories and
is your last memory of Libya? One
have started my first novel! I start at
of my friends asked me to bring him
UVic in the fall.
some things back from Canada, like
What is your favorite thing to do in
After a serious personal health crisis
cool sunglasses and stuff. But I haven’t
Victoria? Nofel: Going downtown
as well as experiencing political
gotten him anything!
at night to people watch and look
upheaval in Libya, how did you feel when you finally arrived in Canada to stay? Jamila: I felt safe for the first time in a long time.
Jamila, you first came to Canada for cancer treatment in 2011 Can you share a bit about that experience? At the time, I was very unhappy,
Libya. We might not have planned to come here but we now feel being here was our destiny.
at the lights. Kasem: Playing soccer on the UVic field! Jamila: Walking around and feeling free to be myself without social pressure or judgment.
Nofel, I understand you went to a
understandably, and I hated being
Click or tap to hear Nofel's advice for
private Christian school for awhile
here. But now I tell people how the
newcomers to Canada, in English and
hometown Tripoli, Libya mother tongue Arabic
Arabic!
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17
B a n ki n g ba s ics
money HERE
Finance. Economy. Banking. These are the three words we often disengage ourselves from. Dealing with our finances is sometimes not fun, but it is important to get familiar and comfortable with some basic terms you will encounter as a newcomer to Canada. When I first came to Canada as an international student, I had to get used to online banking, which seemed to be
T h i s i s p ro b a b l y t h e f i r s t a c c o u nt yo u o p e n , a n d i t ’s t h e a c c o u nt yo u g e n e ra l l y u s e to ta ke m o n ey o u t e i t h e r o n l i n e, a t t h e b a n k b ra n c h , o r a t a n AT M . M a ke s u re yo u ta ke m o n ey o u t O N LY t h ro u g h t h i s a c c o u nt, b e c a u s e b a n k s te n d to c h a rg e i f yo u ta ke m o n ey o u t of yo u r s a v i n g s a c c o u nt.
SAVI N G S ACCO U NTS
more popular and efficient than in my
Thi s i s the account you want to be
home country. Nevertheless, my online
put ting 10 -2 0% of your income in.
bank statements were very confusing.
It earns low interest but it i s bet ter
There was some self-educating I needed
than nothing. A great tip i s to look
to do.
at it a s an emergency account. I
I cannot emphasize enough that you ask questions and do your research because the last thing you want is to apply for or sign onto something you don’t fully understand. Here, I introduce some personal finance and banking basics that were confusing for me when I first arrived in Canada. This four-series column will explore different stages of the financial learning cycle. By the end, you will hopefully make more informed decisions because only YOU are in control of your money and you need to keep track of where your money is going!
Leat was raised in Taiwan and received a North American and international education. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Sustainable Business and Community Engagement from UVic’s Business program. She understands the challenges of being a minority and continues to promote her enthusiasm and passion for a global community, cultural diversity, and writing. Oh, and she loves gardening!
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CH EQUING ACCOUNTS
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tr y not to touch my saving s account unles s I really need to. As a newcomer to Canada, it i s impor tant to establi s h a good financial record, so star t s a v i n g.
D EBIT CA R DS I h a d h e a rd of ‘ d e b i t c a rd s ’ b efo re, b u t d i d n ot h a ve t h e m i n my h o m e c o u nt r y. W h e n yo u o p e n a n a c c o u nt i n C a n a d a , t h i s i s t h e f i r s t t h i n g t h ey i s s u e yo u. T h e p l a s t i c c a rd l o o k s l i ke a c re d i t c a rd , b u t w h e n yo u p a y fo r s o m et h i n g , i t a u to m a t i c a l l y ta ke s a wa y m o n ey f ro m yo u r c h e q u i n g a c c o u nt, s o m a ke s u re yo u re p l e n i s h t h a t a c c o u nt.
BI LLS & C R EDIT I t i s ve r y i m p o r ta nt to c h e c k yo u r b a n k s ta te m e nt s re g u l a r l y a n d m a ke s u re yo u p a y yo u r b i l l s o n t i m e. T h e s e a re i m p o r ta nt s te p s w h e n s ta r t i n g to e s ta b l i s h a c re d i t h i s to r y. A n ot h e r s u r p r i s e fo r m e c o n c e r n i n g c re d i t wa s t h a t I h a d to p u t a d e p o s i t d ow n i n o rd e r to a p p l y fo r a c re d i t c a rd b e c a u s e I wa s a n i nte r n a t i o n a l s t u d e nt! For extra tips: https://www.financialliteracy101.org/student_resources.cfm
Wh en you n eed repa irs W h e n s o m et h i n g i n yo u r p l a c e n e e d s re p a i r i n g , t h e f i r s t t h i n g to d o i s l et yo u r l a n d l o rd k n ow. I t i s i m p o r ta nt to d o t h i s s o t h e p ro b l e m d o e s n ot g et wo r s e. S o m e re p a i r s yo u r l a n d l o rd i s re s p o n s i b l e fo r i n c l u d e: the the the the the the the
heat e l e ct r i c a l s e r v i c e locks plumbing i nte rc o m ro of e l eva to r
rent HERE What if my landlord doesn't do the repairs I have requested and that he or she is responsible for? If you have requested a repair and your landlord does not have it done, you should write to them asking for it to be done. Provide a reasonable deadline for them to have it completed and keep a copy of the letter. If the landlord still does not have the repair done, you can apply for Dispute Resolution to the Residential Tenancy Branch.
T h e l a n d l o rd i s a l s o re s p o n s i b l e to m a i nta i n t h e i t e m s i n p l a ce w h e n yo u to o k t h e u n i t, l i ke: the fridge t h e s tove t h e l a u n d r y fa c i l i t i e s
What happens if the landlord and I have to go to Dispute Resolution? The landlord may also be responsible for other items depending on the type of unit you are renting. Pest control is another issue the landlord is really responsible for.
E M E R G ENCY R EPAI R S I n some s ituations , a tena nt i s a llowed to have repa ir s done
on a n emergency ba s i s. Thes e s ituations would involve major leaks , blocked s ewer pipes , major leaks in the roof, non functiona l heating systems , a nd some other i s s ues a llowed under the Res identia l Tena ncy Act. You mu st tr y a nd contact the la ndlord or their repres entative at lea st t wice before you take it upon your s elf to under take a ny repa ir s. It i s impor ta nt to keep record s of your at tempt s to contact the la ndlord or their repres entative. You mu st a l so be s ure the repa ir s are truly an emergency or you may not be reimbursed for any work you have paid to have done.done.
Visit www.heremagazine.ca for links to rental resources and to view or download previous Rent Here articles: Looking for a Place to Rent‚ Viewing Rental Units‚ Applying for a Rental Unit‚ and Moving into Your New Home.
NE X T ISSUE:
Most common problems
You will be required to submit proof of the need for the repairs, including photographs, and/or testimony from witnesses to the problem. A dispute resolution officer can order the landlord to do the repairs. They can also order the landlord to reduce your rent until the repairs are done, or they can allow you to have the repairs done and deduct the cost from your rent. They can also have you pay your rent to the Residential Tenancy Branch, instead of your landlord, until the repairs are done. Alex Creighton has over 30 years experience in property management with Devon Properties and her familyrun property management company.
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19
learn
HERE digging in 1. Wr i t e t h e n u m b e r i n t h e b ox n ex t t o t h e m a t c h i n g wo rd that describes these c o m m o n g a rd e n i n g tools.
hedge shears a pitchfork a shovel an edger a pail a wheelbarrow a rake a trowel a sprinkler 2. Which items a re u s e f u l w h e n c o m p o s t i n g a n d h ow a re t h ey u s e d ? 3 . Tr a c ey C o o k s a ys t h a t o n e t h i n g (n o t p i c t u r e d h e r e) h a s helped her become a m o re p r o d u c t i ve g r owe r. W h a t d o yo u t h i n k i t i s? answers on inside front cover
Wasabi?!
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G row i n g i s g o o d — f o r p l a n t s a n d f o r p e o p l e ! I n E n g l i s h , we u s e t h e wo rd “ g row ” i n m a ny ex p re s s i o n s n ot c o n n ect e d t o g a rd e n i n g o r f a r m i n g . I n t h e g re e n l e a ve s b e l ow, wr i t e n o u n s we u s e w i t h t h e ve r b “ g row ”. D e s c r i b e a s i t u a t i o n w h e n yo u g rew s o m et h i n g besides plants!
gr w
KNOWLEDGE
Far mers on Vancouver Island g row ever ything f rom car rots and potatoes to ber r ies and g rapes. A nd we're the 3rd largest producer of cranber r ies in the world! In recent years, some more exot ic crops have made an appearance: lemons, olives, and yes, WA S A BI! heremagazine.ca
TRACEY'S READING LIST: West Coast Seeds Newsletter;
on the urban farm COMPOST TIPS 1 PA RT B ROW N TO 1 -2 PA RTS G R E E N WI L L C R E AT E T H E I D E A L 3 0 CA R B O N TO 1 N IT RO G E N (3 0:1) B L E N D I N YO U R CO M P OST
B ROW N COV E R
G R EE N
—Tracey Cook
( N IT RO G E N)
it s crap s • fru ve g le s crap s • ri n setab • g rasesdceligpgpisnhgeslls • manure from • vegetarian animals
B ROW N
B ROW N
Small spaces are of ten perceived as a bar r ier to g row ing food. I ’ve spent 18 years g row ing on my little patch of land. I star ted w ith ma ybe t wo heads of lett uce but now I have become a producer instead of a consumer just by blunder ing through and persever ing. T here is a simple beaut y in vegetables: the elegance of a bed of leeks; a smiling pumpkin to cheer you each morning; the steady generosit y of a zucchini. To me, a vegetable garden beats a manicured rose garden hands down, so make way for food!
K EEP M OIST A ER ATE O F TEN K EEP COV ER ED
G R EEN
“
(a.k.a. “Farmer T ”)
U R B A N FA R M E R
(CA R B O N)
IN ’ TRACEY S GARDEN
aves • dwerieeddslewit • co rn sta lksh o u t s e e d s • stray, h ay • stick or sawdust • cardboard •
G R EE N
ESSENTIAL TOOLS?
2 "- 4 "
Compost. Feed your garden as much as it feeds you; add compost, manure, leaf mulch, and seaweed! A gardening journal. Record what you planted and where, what worked and what didn't.
B ROW N
STICKS
WEIG HT OF YOU R 2013 FOOD HARVEST IN POU NDS?
ON BOTTOM 4 "- 6"
growin g you r soil, growin g your food BBQ ASH ES/COALS, COOKED FOOD, INVASIVE WEEDS (MORNING G LORY, BUTTERCU P), DAIRY, DOG OR CAT FECES, FATS, G REASE, OILS, FISH, M EAT, BON ES, CAT LITTER WHAT IF MY COM POST ISN ’ T LAYERED LIKE THIS? I J UST “ADD-AS-I- GO ”. WILL IT STILL WORK? Yes, if you maintain the 30:1 ratio as much as possible and turn it frequently. It will just take longer to compost, around 3- 8 months.
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FALL PLANTING? Garlic and spinach
WORDS TO LIVE BY? There’s always next season!
Roosters and chickens and raccoons, oh my! From her backyard garden on a sunny June afternoon, Tracey shares the challenges of adding animals to your urban farm. Click or tap to hear the funny/sad story of Sunny the Rooster and his hen friends. Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon; The Zero Mile Diet by Carolyn Herriot; Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter
WHAT'S NEXT? Meet me on the FoodGarden Tour, September 12th from 10-4! facebook.com/victoriaurbanfoodgardens
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read
HERE Click or tap to hear Tracey Lindberg’s exclusive reading from Birdie.
thinking about the excerpt What does “in their cups” mean? Who is Bernice? How does Bernice feel about Freda? How does Bernice feel about Maggie and Auntie Val?
Another image. One hot Alberta summer when her mom and her Auntie Val were in their cups, she heard them become
from the book jacket
loud louder loudest after a night of drinking. She didn’t really
Bernice Meetoos will not be broken. A big, beautiful Cree woman with a dark secret in her past, Bernice (Birdie) has left her home in northern Alberta to travel to Gibsons B.C. She is on something of a vision quest, looking for family, for home, for understanding. She is also driven by the leftover teenaged desire to meet Pat John—Jesse from The Beachcombers— because he is, as she says, a working, healthy Indian man. Birdie heads for Molly’s Reach to find answers, but they are not the ones she expected.
understand the link between the booze and the joy that was coming from the kitchen and pictured the two sisters sitting close and laughing like best friends over their near-empty glasses. The Canadian Club bottle, she had imagined, would be sitting between them as they by turns laughed and swung their long black hair over their shoulders, and curled over in their chairs with laughter. They were so pure in their appreciation of and love for one another that she felt lightheaded. That night, she had thought about waking Freda up to see this joy, but that girl slept like her conscience was clear. Which it shouldn’t be,
Tracey Lindberg is a citizen of As’in’i’wa’chi Ni’yaw Nation Rocky Mountain Cree and hails from the Kelly Lake Cree Nation community. She is an award-winning academic writer and teacher of Indigenous studies and Indigenous law at two universities in Canada. She sings the blues loudly, talks quietly and is next in a long line of argumentative Cree women. This is her first novel.
Bernice reminds herself. Listening to the sounds from the kitchen, she had imagined them braiding each other’s hair and whispering secrets to one another whenever the room got silent. She pressed her ear to the wall separating the kitchen from her tiny bedroom and heard: Her auntie saying, with pure emotion, “Sister, promise me when I get old that you will pluck my chin.” Maggie responding, with all of the seriousness of a bride at the altar, “I will, sister, I will.”
photo credit: Stacy Swanson
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From this evening, she learned two things. First, she was likely to have a facial hair problem when she grew up. It was okay, she had a sister (well, Skinny Freda anyhow) too. Also, she would have to learn to do anything for one other person in her life. She would find a person with whom she could exchange a solemn vow when they were in their cups. And they too would be alive in her memory. Excerpt from: Birdie by Tracey Lindberg © 2015. Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
When I told my Thai friends about doing the Tough Mudder ! R E Race, this is how H T MO T O UG H they responded: “Tough mother?”; “What is it?”; “What do you have to do?”. After explaining the hardcore, ten- to twelve-mile obstacle mud-run, they thought I was crazy. I felt the same. Who on “Asian-born” earth at the age of 42 would do such a crazy thing like this? Definitely not a scrawny Thai woman who has never once had proper workout training. It was last spring when I first heard of the race from a girlfriend who plays soccer with me. She told me about running through electric shocks, diving in ice-water pools, and climbing high walls. She described the electric shocks as therapeutic shocks for the body and I was sold! I signed up for the race—my first one ever—to take place at Whistler. I don’t like running. I had never run or worked out prior to signing up for Tough Mudder. But that wasn’t going to stop me. The training part was hard for me. Not because I couldn’t do it but I had to motivate myself to run and do my workouts in the typical west coast climate. Where I grew up, children were not encouraged to play outside when it rained. Running in the rain or snow, especially, was out of my element. As it is never grey, cold, and wet for several consecutive days in Thailand, I was used to waiting until the sun came out to play outside. But—surprise!—that is not an option here in Canada. However, I was motivated to play soccer with other soccer mums and to swing on the monkey bars with my children at play parks. These two activities kept me in shape. They also brought back the fond memory of playing soccer in bare feet with my cousins and climbing trees in my grandparents’ orchard in Thailand.
home HERE
On the weekend of the race, my teammates were excited and nervous about the obstacles that had been placed for the Tough Mudder Whistler 2015. I, on the other hand, was concerned about how my skin would look after racing in the mud and sun for five hours. They looked confused when I asked them about skin products for anti-aging spots caused by the sun. “I am Asian and I like to have white skin without any black spots” I told them. We also all laughed while I was sewing my friend’s sport bra so it would fit my chest and not make my breasts look too flat. There were more than twenty thousand participants on race day. Many of them looked very athletic and were bigger than me. I was nervous, but told myself: “You gave birth twice! You can do it!”. And I did it! My small build actually made it easy to climb up the rope and crawl through tunnels. Having no fear of heights or small dark spaces also helped me get through obstacles. At the finish line I was cold and tired but I was really proud of myself. It was not because I proved that I am strong, but because I once again tried something new, something that was unfamiliar and unheard of in my cultural background. If you have moved to a new country, you have already tried something new once—time to do it again! 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-culture marriage, raising her children in two cultures.
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PLAYING TOGETHER new citizens, sports & belonging
THE NEW CITIZEN FAN
THE NEW CITIZEN PARTICIPANT
We 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.
Similar 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.
INTEREST IN CANADA’S PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
46%
FOOTBALL
SOME INTEREST
NEW CITIZENS ARE NOT NEW CANADIANS A 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.
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.
IN CANADA BEFORE CANADA
54%
NO INTEREST
BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION GOOD NEWS! We’re not dealing with systemic cultural issues. Barriers are mainly structural challenges that can be solved. THE TOP 3 BARRIERS ARE FAMILIAR to almost all Canadians
BARRIERS UNIQUE TO NEW CITIZENS
38% OTHER PRIORITIES
TIME
65%
56%
More meaningful social interactions occur in the stands and on the field than at work
BR
EAKI
NG THE
I CE
COST
NO ONE TO PLAY WITH
54%
69%
of newcomers who play sports within the first 3 years believe it helps them learn about Canadian culture
BR
EAKI
NEW CITIZENS LOVE TEAM CANADA!
35%
NG THE
I CE
51%
NO OPPORTUNITIES
87%
feel more connected to their community watching their kids play or volunteering with the team
BR
EAKI
WATCH THE WINTER OLYMPICS
NG THE
24% NO APPROPRIATE SKILL LEVEL
24% NO INTEREST
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
I CE
54%
WATCH THE SUMMER OLYMPICS
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STUDY & READ THE FULL REPORT visit icc-icc.ca/en/insights
19% DID NOT FEEL WELCOME