Plight of Old Immigrants in big Cities

There is evidence that older immigrants are becoming disconnected from society - lonely, isolated and not one to talk to. Many experience language and cultural barriers that are unaddressed. Unlike in the old country when there is always a neighbour to talk to in many metropolitan cities, that is not the case. People just do not have time, not even your family. What to do about older immigrant population.
To find friendships and kindred spirits many older people must become mall-rats. Older immigrants go there to meet people just to talk because life gets so unbearably lonely for them at home - the walls cave in.
“If I don’t come here, I have sealed lips, nobody to talk to,” said Devendra Singh, a 79-year-old widower. Meeting beside the parking lot, the men were oblivious to their fellow mall rats, backpack-carrying teenagers swigging energy drinks.

Read more:


Invisible Immigrants, Old and Left With ‘Nobody to Talk To’ - NYTimes.com

Check out my recently published content on AC:

Public Airing of Caster Semenya's Questionable Identity Humiliating

Check out my recently published content on AC:

What's Up with the Dog Poop Mat Commercial

Coming on CBC News Television - CBC News: Winnipeg at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Beginning Monday, August 31, CBC gives you more local news... sooner.

Join Janet Stewart and meteorologist John Sauder every weeknight at 5, 5:30 and 6 and watch for the day's top stories, developing news and important updates.

Each half hour we'll provide complete coverage of the day's news at a time more convenient for you.

CBC News: Winnipeg - all the local news and weather that matters most to you.

Also available online at www.cbc.ca/manitoba.

Your city, your news, your choice!

Op-Ed Contributor - Italian Women Rise Up - NYTimes.com

LOOKING for Love - It's Free

If you are trying to find someone and do not have the cash to dish out then you might want to try a do it yourself. There are risks and benefits to this. Whatever you do proceed with caution.

Online Dating - Telegraph Kindred Spirits

INTEGRATED TASK FORCE FORMED– – –
Cases of Missing and Murdered Women to be Subject of Enhanced Scrutiny


The provincial government is issuing this news release on behalf of the RCMP,
Winnipeg Police Service and Government of Manitoba.

The province, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) have formally established a task force to review cases involving missing and murdered women.

“The province is supporting police in this vital task,” said Attorney General Dave Chomiak. “These women were mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. Many are Aboriginal. We share a common goal with the police, helping as they seek answers in these cases. The unit will help move these investigations to the next level.”

“We understand that the families and loved ones of missing persons and victims of crime are eager to have their many questions answered,” said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson. “By bringing members of the RCMP and the Winnipeg Police Service to work more closely together in one location, we aim to hasten the process of providing some answers to their many questions.”

“This initiative will enhance and integrate our abilities to share information and work more closely with our partners,” said Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill. “It is vitally important that we review every piece of evidence in these cases, to bring closure for the families and to bring offenders to justice.”

Members of the Manitoba Integrated Task Force for Missing and Murdered Women are experienced investigators. The unit includes three RCMP officers, two RCMP analysts and four officers from the WPS. The province is represented on the task force steering committee and will provide additional resources needed.

The unit’s focus will be:
· the review and investigation of unsolved homicide files involving female victims;
· the review of missing person files involving female victims where foul play is suspected; and
· analysis of those files to determine what, if any, links exist between the incidents.

The unit will have access to the combined resources of both police organizations including the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System (ViCLAS) database and the Project Disappear website. Its structure is similar to the successful Integrated Organized Crime Task Force.

Anyone with information about missing or murdered women or any other unsolved crime is encouraged to contact Winnipeg Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477) or go online to www.winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer is stepping down




WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Gary Doer is stepping down after 10 years on the job.


Looking upbeat and relaxed, Doer made the announcement Thursday at the provincial legislature with his wife Ginny at his side.


"Being premier is the pinnacle of public service and you never say never, but my plans are to move on," Doer said.


"You're going to ask me the exact date of when I'm leaving, and I'm going to do that in consultation with the party. You're going to ask me who do you think is going to replace me, and I'm not going to answer that question. And you're going to ask me what am I going to do next. Well, I'm not going to watch soaps."


"I had planned to step down in and around this 10-year period. I hadn't planned on telling any of you ahead of time."


Doer, 62, is Canada's longest-serving current premier.


He was first elected in 1986 and joined the NDP cabinet.


He became party leader two years later following the defeat of then NDP premier Howard Pawley and Doer led the party from the opposition benches for 11 years.


In 1999, he won the first of three consecutive majority governments.


While in office Doer made it his mission to push Manitoba's renewable energy sources, including the province's wealth of hydroelectric power.


Affable and easy-going, his personal popularity has regularly scored higher in opinion polls than that of his party.


One of his biggest political assets was his ability to connect with people both at the ballpark and in the boardroom. Before politics, Doer was a guard at a youth jail in Winnipeg.


It was Doer's face, not those of local candidates, that adorned most NDP lawn signs in the last provincial election campaign.


PREMIER DOER TO PASS BATON AFTER 10 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP


Premier Gary Doer today announced he will resign this fall after a replacement is chosen. Following 10 years at the helm of the provincial government, Doer said the time is right for renewal.

“I look back with pride at all the hard work this team has done on behalf of all Manitobans, but there is still more work to be done to ensure this province is everything it can be,” Doer said. “As we mark the 10-year anniversary of our government, this is the appropriate time to pass the baton to a new leader who can carry on that important work.”

Doer was first elected to the legislative assembly in 1986 on behalf of the people of the constituency of Concordia. As a member of Howard Pawley’s government, he served as minister of urban affairs.

Doer became leader of the New Democratic Party in the middle of the 1988 provincial election. Following the 1990 election, he became leader of the official opposition. In 1999, he led his party to government and became the premier. In total, he led his party to three consecutive majorities.

“I am grateful to the people of Manitoba for giving me the chance to serve them,” Doer said. “No one should doubt that it is a great honour to sit in the legislature and work on behalf of the citizens of this province.”

Doer led a government with a mandate to invest in health care, education, justice and the economy.

“There are new hospitals, more doctors and nurses, one of the healthiest economies in Canada, a strong justice system and an education system that meets the needs of more students than ever before,” said Doer. “These are accomplishments of the entire government, not any one person. Any government must renew itself to maintain the ability to work on behalf of the people who elected it. I look forward to working with our team as a new leader is chosen in the coming months.”

CHERISE HOULE (R) AND HILLARY WILSON (L)

(SLAIN YOUNG ABORIGINAL WOMEN)



In less than a month two Aboriginal young women - Hillary Angel Wilson and Cherise Houle, were abducted and brutally killed. The Aboriginal women leaders are protesting and calling on the government and the police service to do something about this free reign in killing young Aboriginal girls.

Yesterday, the Aboriginal Women leaders held a vigil on the steps of the Legislative Building. A group of young women were the drummers and they were drumming as if they were drumming their heart out to drown their sadness.

What is really happening? Why doesn't the police appears to be alarmed at this trend.
One woman told me that the two recent victims, 17 and 18 year old girls, knew each other and they had testified against some gang members and that their death will serve as a warning to those who cannot hold their tongue. I was outraged that this would happen in Winnipeg.

According to CBC report, an unidentified informer who fears for her own life, said she was best friends with Cherisse Houle, 17, and Hillary Angel Wilson, 18, when they got involved a few years ago with a group of men who used them for sex in exchange for food, clothes and crack cocaine.
"They bought us things. They took us shopping, out to eat. They gave us everything we wanted," the young woman said about the men who supplied the drugs. "Sometimes we were so f--ked up and we didn't even know what was going on."

This is what is called trafficking in women and girls. There is also more to this story - there is the story of poverty and other social problems as a result of it, the Residential School experience and the racism that flows from all this that needs to be addressed.

The Aboriginal women believe that if it were white women being abducted and killed the police would have taken steps to halt it as soon as possible but the lives of Aboriginal girls do not worth that much. It is a sad but true commentary. We still have a way to go to bring about equity in our society.

Something needs to be done and done right now. This rampant violence against Aboriginal women cannot be allowed to continue.

There are about 75 missing Aboriginal women in Manitoba as I write this. It is unacceptable.

Daniel Johnston Britains Got Talent | Danyl Johnson Videos | The X Factor | Simon Cowell Standing Ovation | American Superstar Magazine

Working Online Could Pay Big

While not all work-at-home schemes are legitimate, I think we can trust Google. If you are looking for alternative income perhaps you might want to look into this idea. I am not endorsing anything but I found this article and thought I would share it. I might check it out myself but if you pursue this and find success or no success, would you drop a line and share your experience with me.
Thanks


Is Working Online At Home The Next Gold Rush?

Britain got talent
When Simon says this is the best audition he has ever seen bar none, well you've got to listen. Danyl is fantastic, fabulous and a natural performer. He reminds me of what's his face - the runner up in American Idol's competition this year. You know who I am talking about - the gay guy. But Daniel has that XX factor which just blows you away. Listen to this:



YouTube - The X Factor 2009 - Danyl Johnson - Auditions 1 (itv.com/xfactor)

Something to think about!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves..

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.



My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Multicultural Women's Beauty a force to reckon with at Beauty Pageants

Miss Venezuelan - Miss Universe 2009 Winner

Rachel Christie, First Black Miss England

Gone are the days when blue-eyed, blonde hogged the beauty titles. As our world becomes more multicultural and unified in a way things are changing for the better. Those beautiful "exotic to white folks" beauties are strutting their stuff and winning big.
Of course we've always known that beauty does not come in one race or colour but is everywhere in nature, if we look with an open mind.

For the first time in the history of British pageant, the title went to a young black Rachel Christie and last evening's Miss universe again went to Miss Venezuela -18 year old Stefania Fernandez the second consecutive win for Venezuela. Most Venezuelans are a cultural mix of European, African and Amerindians descents )even though they may not want to admit it) and many of these women take the best of each cultural groups to their advantage that makes a winning combination. The runner up this year was from the Dominican Republic.

It is refreshing to see that unearned benefits and privileges are becoming less and less in our modern diverse universe where every girl stands a chance of winning based on her qualifications and qualities and specific beauty.

Miss Dominican Republic

A nice ethnic recipe from Diabetic KitcheJerk Beef and Plantain Kabobs

Nutritional Info (Per serving):
Calories: 258, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 271mg, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Total Fat: 7g, Carbs: 31g, Cholesterol: 52mg, Protein: 20g
Exchanges: Vegetable: 1.5, Starch: 1.5, Lean Meat: 2
Carb Choices: 2
Recipe Source:

Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 37 mins
Ingredients
12 ounce(s) beef, top loin steak
2 tablespoon vinegar, red wine
1 tablespoon oil, cooking
1 tablespoon Jamaican jerk seasoning
2 plantains
1 medium onion(s), red lettuce, mixed greens lime(s)

Preparation
1. Trim fat from meat. Cut into 1-inch pieces. In a small bowl, stir together red wine vinegar, oil, and jerk seasoning. Toss meat cubes with half of the vinegar mixture. On long skewers,* alternately thread meat, plantain chunks, and onion wedges, leaving a 1/4-inch space between pieces. Brush plantains and onion wedges with remaining vinegar mixture.

2. Place skewers on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 12 to 15 minutes or until meat is desired doneness, turning occasionally. If desired, serve with salad greens and lime wedge.
(This meal is diabetes friendly)
Caution, I noted the sodium content is on the high side especially if you are hypertensive. You can always modify your seasoning to adjust the amount of salt.

NICCOM Members strut their stuff.












Nigeria Canada Congress of Manitoba Inc. is a new organization founded by members of the Nigerian community. The organization's mandate includes settlement, recreation, empowering, networking and making integration better for the Nigerian community.

On June 24th NICCOM joined with the Manitoba Multiculturalism Day Committee to showcase its head ware and a bit of the Nigerian culture. They were spectacular in terms of colour, style and the way they carried themselves on and off the stage.

Below is an imagery NICCOM wrote to give people the idea:
Imagine sitting comfortably among dignitaries at a Lagos wedding ceremony on a late June afternoon. Looking around, you can see various colors and shades - yellow, blue, red, green, orange, pink, grey, violet, indigo, black; and different shapes and sizes of Headgear (Gele) - satellite dish, flying saucer, face-your-hubby, 'keep-them-talking, 'show-stopper', and 'traffic-hold up' among others on beautiful women with elegant steps. In their faces, you can see radiance, confidence, joy unlimited, contagious smiles, and beautiful exchanges of pleasantries like hugs and back slaps. Then you hear a solid vibrating African Rock music. Before you could blink your eyelids, these women with the crowning glory on their heads are on the dance floor, responding with elegant dance steps to the rhythm of the music, showcasing their culture, fashion, beauty, dancing skills and dexterity, and confirming a very healthy living. Then you see disarming smiles, 'high-fives', hand shakes, and individual appreciation of the rhythm. Suddenly, you see the bride and groom join the ladies on the dance floor. The bride's "gele" is very colorful, elegant, flashy - it speaks volumes in culture. Before you could think, the air of camaraderie and joy become too attractive to ignore, and you become part and parcel of the celebration on the dance floor, hidden deep and covered among the beauty of the clashing but colorful symbols of the crowning glory of African Womanhood..... Doesn't that make you want to weep with joy!

The Beauty of Prairie Sky

I love being on the Prairies and to watch the changing landscape of the sky. Have you ever watched the sky? Why don't you try it and discover the wonderful mystery of clouds and shapes. It can become addictive

Free Food is Good

SEED Winnipeg is using Winnipeggers taste buds as their research to determined what are the preferred tastes for their new initiative Diversity Food Services Inc. Partnered with the University of Winnipeg's Renewal Corporation, the restaurant will reflect the city's growing diversity. Foods will be multi-cultural and nutritious and hopefully affordable to students. Diversity Food Services, Inc. a social enterprise project will be housed at the university campus

As part of its training process, Diversity Food Services is hosting a series of meals from August 19 to 21, 2009, to allow people to sample the foods. Of course you cannot just show up and ask for food. There is a process. You have to be invited and then go on line to fill out forms with names of those invited and then tickets will be sent promptly. When you get your ticket you can eat as often as possible during the time frame with your one ticket.

The invitation comes from SEED Winnipeg and I think it is a fabulous idea.

These training meals play a very important role in the development of this project, and we are very happy to share this opportunity with you.

Meals will be served in Riddell Hall at the University of Winnipeg, entrance on Spence street between Portage Avenue

SEED Winnipeg, in partnership with the University of Winnipeg's Community Renewal Corporation, has launched Diversity Food Services Inc. located at the University of Winnipeg. This social enterprise provides education and training, plus employment and potential ownership opportunities, along with nutritious multi-cultural meals to students, staff and the surrounding community.



As part of its training process, Diversity Food Services is hosting a series of meals from August 19 to 21, 2009, to provide us with an opportunity to sample a number of their menu items. SEED Winnipeg extends an invitation to you, our valued supporter, to be our guest at one of these training meals, and to bring up to four guests with you. Please pass this email on to your fellow staff and/or board members if you are part of an organization.



These training meals play a very important role in the development of this project, and we are very happy to share this opportunity with you. Once you complete the registration process, if you find that you are not able to attend, we ask that you either edit your registration information or contact Susan at 927-9934 right away so that we can make your seat(s) available to others.



Meals will be served in Riddell Hall at the University of Winnipeg, entrance on Spence street between Portage Avenue

<strong>Lord Roberts School Ground Needs Tending<

Recently, after-school users of the school facilities have been leaving their mess behind on the school property including slurpy cups, coffee cups and I even saw a beer can. This is unacceptable.

If something is not done immediately to correct the situation, it will be a slippery slope downhill. Those who value the use of the facility should make every effort to see that it is used properly so that everyone can enjoy the resource. It takes one bad apply to spoil the barrel. If you see that bad apple make sure you report it to the authorities. Take a photo of such person leaving their mess behind. It is not fair to the rest of the community or for the school children to be picking up after others. There are enough bins around to put your trash.

I will be passing by and keep an eye out myself. I value LR school grounds for children to play. It has always been kept neat and clean and something the neighbourhood can be proud of. Let us keep it that way.

Aboriginals being shafted again?



I heard on the news this morning that the First Nations people are protesting that the hydroelectric development project in northern Manitoba because it is not honouring their obligation to hire more local Aboriginal people to work here.

As an immigrant person living in Winnipeg, I am grateful to be here but I am disgusted at the way my First Nations brothers and sisters are being treated. This is their home and for many it's the only home they will ever know - they are not going to migrate to another country to live so I do not understand why more effort is not being put into training First Nations people for the jobs that are available within their own communities. I do not think it is fair to overlook First Nations. There should be First Nations staff positions at all levels of the project.

This project did not happen overnight, it took planning. Part of that plan should have been to ensure First Nations people are trained and ready to work on the project. It's about time First Nations should be treated as first class and not third world citizens.

Blockades and disruptions are what happens when people believe they are being overlooked and mistreated. I think the people responsible should do the responsible thing and honour the people who live in these areas with work so that they can provide decent housing and opportunities for their families.

I hope the First Nations people recognize the age old strategy of Divide and conquer and not to allow this to taint relationships between First Nations peoples over who gets work. I am sure there is enough work to go around.

Come on man, it's Aboriginal time to shine.

The Story of the Shrinking Cheese

Watch the cheese disappear - Forks Market

Men and their Cars

How many times in the summer do men have to air their cars out and close down street. Last Saturday the traffic down town was closed off so that this event could happen and it will happen several more times over the summer.

I wonder if women were asking the city to close off streets to discuss missing women or some issues of importance to women whether the city would have been so quick to grant it.

I'm tired of seeing old cars on display. They have a certain charm but they're not that important to inconvenience people. It is still a man's world.

UGANDA's Shame Becomes its Fame

The horrendous civil war that took place in Uganda is now enshrined in comic books for generations to see. It is written in a language and medium that children will be able to understand. Check out the article below


Civil War in Uganda, the Stuff of Vertigo’s Unknown Soldier Comic - NYTimes.com

Week One Folklorama is over and it has been a blast. I am sure all the Pavilions would have done very well.








Folk Arts Council has brought down more rules again this year. For the first time they are saying that volunteering is like working and since you cannot drink on the job volunteers are not allowed to drink alcohol at their respective posts.

I think Folk Arts Council should lay off volunteers a bit - without volunteers none of this would be possible and having a drink on the job does not mean you are going to get drunk and misbehave - that has never happened to my knowledge. It just seems to be that Folk Arts Council is taking on the a overly dictatorial role which will tick volunteers off. I would not want to see this festival fizzle out.

Part of the fun of being a part of the festival is to have fun while you work. If work becomes a drudgery - feels like work - then that might have some negative consequences.

Chill out.

Dear Members of the African Community,

As you all know, the School year will be starting soon; and for many newcomers youth, the first years of education in the Canadian system can be challenging and very difficult for some students. The education system in Canada is surely very different from many African education systems, which causes a barrier faced by newcomer youth and their parents.
Conscientious of this challenge, the International African Child Relief is organizing a Workshop on preparing newcomer youth for the school year. This workshop provides important information on the Canadian secondary school system as well as offers details that will help student when choosing courses and making an education plan that can greatly affect students' opportunities for success in school and their careers.
I would like to invite members of the African community the following:

1. Please invite any newcomer youth that you may know to this very important workshop:
2. If you are directly involved with the school system (High School), and would like to share with our newcomer youth group about the Winnipeg school system from an African perspective, and what the newcomer youth can expect from the school, we need your help.
This session is focused on preparing the newcomer youth for their educational development.
The workshop will be on August 22nd, from 11:00 to 2:30 pm, at 249 Notre dame Room 200.
For more information, please call us at 947-5770

PICTORIAL OF FOLKLORAMA 2009
Opening ceremony at the Forks - Saturday July 25, 2009


Folklorama Emcees did a fabulous job keeping the energy high


Metis Group from St. Boniface

Mexican Babydoll dance (my name)

Mexican Wedding dance

Korean fan dance


Korean Dancer



The British


More than 13 thousand people of all blends of colour and culture converged at the Forks Market. It was a glorious day - clear blue skies.