News from Temporary Foreign Worker Settlement Services
We are pleased to announce that the Temporary Foreign Worker Settlement Services team is now complete.
Mid-September, 2008 Yohannes Yirsaw and Stephanos Habashi began settlement counseling evenings and weekends.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008, Remy Lastiwka joins our team as our fulltime Temporary Foreign Worker Settlement Practitioner!
Keep an eye on the EMCN newsletter for flyers and the calendar of events for upcoming workshops, presentations and social functions.
Submitted by Terry Andriuk
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2009 AAISA Settlement Conference Survey
All staff except teachers and finance team are invited to complete this survey to gather ideas for good sessions at a provincial conference on settlement being planned for one year from now. Return the completed surveys to Jim Gurnett by October 27 (jgurnett@emcn.ab.ca or as paper to mail file at 82 Street bldg).
Do not return directly to AAISA.
2009 AAISA Settlement Conference Survey
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Will Canada’s Political Parties Engage Young Voters on October 14?
October 9, 2008 – Voter turnout in Canadian elections has been below 70 percent in the last four federal elections, a lower turnout than in any federal election since 1953.* The decline has been particularly significant among young Canadians. Young people think and talk about their civic and political engagement differently. Many now choose to opt out of traditional political participation including being active in political parties. They choose instead to work on specific issues and causes, often through advocacy and non-profit organizations, believing more substantive results can be realized.
The challenge for all Canadians, and especially for our political parties, is to find effective ways to reach out and involve young people in the formal political process before their disengagement threatens the very underpinnings of our democratic system of government. We will be watching election night to see if the political parties have successfully spoken to and engaged young Canadians: will the trend of reduced participation by young people in federal elections be reversed?
CPRN has explored youth participation in Canada’s public affairs and political processes in depth.
Lost in Translation: (Mis)Understanding Youth Engagement analyzes and expands upon six studies commissioned by CPRN following its 2005 National Youth Dialogue and Summit. The central finding is that “Generation Y” – those born after 1979 – is far from apathetic or apolitical. However, while very much tuned into small "p" political life, young Canadians are increasingly disenchanted with our formal political institutions and politics as currently practiced.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1769&l=en
Engaging Citizens…Building Public Trust, a presentation by Mary Pat MacKinnon, argues that citizens want a meaningful role in governance and that civic engagement is critical to a robust democracy. Governments need to build a new relationship with citizens and share in agenda-setting. Public input through deliberative engagement, including the use of technology, will complement expert and stakeholder consultation and strengthen representative government by creating a process of two-way governance.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1790&l=en
CPRN Youth Civic and Political Participation Research Papers
“What Do You Mean I Can’t Have a Say?” Young Canadians and Their Government by André Turcotte, School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University. The study examines generational reasons for the decline in voting by young people in Canada.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1772&l=en
The State and Potential of Civic Learning in Canada by Kristina R. Llewellyn, Sharon Cook, Joel Westheimer, Luz Alison Molina Girón and Karen Suurtamm, of the University of Ottawa. The report focuses on an assessment of the actual and potential role of education in improving civic learning for youth.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1771&l=en
Rendre compte et soutenir l’action bénévole des jeunes by André Thibault, Patrice Albertus and Julie Fortier of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. This report focuses on Quebec youth civic participation and the ability of current research tools to adequately capture the breadth and depth of new forms of individual, result-based engagement practices or participation.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1770&l=en
Indifferent or Just Different? The Political and Civic Engagement of Young People in Canada by Brenda O’Neill of the University of Calgary. This report reviews the literature addressing youth political and civic engagement in Canada and includes policy recommendations for increasing youth engagement.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1751&l=en
A Group Apart: Young Party Members in Canada by Lisa Young of the University of Calgary and William Cross of Carleton University. The authors conducted a survey of young party members on university campuses to determine why they join political parties, and compared them to other politically engaged students.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1748&l=en
The Meaning of Political Participation for Indigenous Youth by Taiaiake Alfred, of the University of Victoria, Brock Pitawanakwat of the First Nations University, and Jackie Price of the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Program.
This paper studies what political engagement means to indigenous youth today.
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1749&l=en
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* Data compiled by Elections Canada per the table available on their website at
www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pas&document=turnout&lang=e&textonly=false.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Canadian Nonprofit Library Network
There is a new website in Canada-- the Canadian Nonprofit Library Network.
This service will permit a person to search the reference libraries of the RCVO in Edmonton as well as the libraries of Volunteer Calgary and Imagine Canada for information about the not-for-profit sector. You can reach this service by going to www.rcvo.org and clicking the Library tab and going to the Online Catalogue choice.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Social Enterprise series
Interested in strengthening your organizations balance sheet, diversifying your funding, and reinforcing your mission? The Social Enterprise Fund will be offering a series of seminars on social enterprise, a hybrid of business and non-profit thinking. Topics include: An Introduction to Social Enterprise; Getting Ready for Enterprise Culture; Preparing a Business Plan; and Legal and Financing Issues for New Social Enterprises. The series is designed to take you from scratching your head to implementing your plan.
It is a fast, engaging way to see if SE is right for you.
Register now for October dates: Oct 21, 23, 28, 30 (2-4pm, Tues/Thurs)
Cost: $75 for series
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Raise your Voice for Rights
A world music concert in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Presented by the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology, University of Alberta, as part of Amnesty International Canada's small places tour
`Human rights begin in small places close to home´. - Eleanor Roosevelt, a leading human rights advocate, helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
When: Saturday, Oct 18, 8 PM
Where: Convocation Hall, University of Alberta (between Rutherford Library and Business]
Concert title: Raise your Voice for Rights: a world music concert in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Presented by the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology, University of Alberta, as part of Amnesty International Canada's small places tour, and Music for Human Rights
Featuring local performers from the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology and the Department of Music at the University of Alberta
‘Human rights begin in small places close to home’. - Eleanor Roosevelt, a leading human rights advocate, who helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
When: Saturday, Oct 18, 8 PM
Where: Convocation Hall, University of Alberta (between Rutherford Library and Business]
Performers: Kat Danser - Tendai Muparutsa Michael MacDonald - Matt Love and Rana Al Kadi - Michael Frishkopf - Kreisha Oro - Jill Younghusband, Russell Baker, Patrick Strain, and Terry Nadasdi
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Two New CFEE Websites for Teachers
TORONTO, Oct. 9 /CNW/ - CFEE has just completed work on a new web site called the Virtual Adviser. It is designed to support teachers and community service agencies working to help students and Canadians who face money- and work-related challenges and questions. The Virtual Adviser can also be used, independently, by students and agency clients.
The Virtual Adviser provides plain language answers to about 70 common questions that people have about MONEY and about 50 common questions that people have about WORK. Links to further information about many of the questions are also provided. Users can also submit suggested material for possible posting on the site.
We hope you will take a moment to check out the Virtual Adviser at www.virtualadviser.ca and let us know what you think. We would also appreciate it if you would pass this e-mail on to others who might be interested in such an on-line tool.
You can also check out CFEE's other new web site, the Building Futures Network at www.buildingfuturesnetwork.com. This site focuses on saving - in particular, the challenges of saving for post-secondary education and training. A Planning Guide is also available to help students and their families plan for these future expenses. It is available in hard copy or can be downloaded from the web site. There will soon be an interactive on-line version as well. At this time, access to a calculator enables users to help determine the cost of post-secondary education.
Finally, for those of you who may not have seen it yet, CFEE produces the Online Classroom Edition of the Globe and Mail, which provides selected articles each month along with complete lesson plans - all free and downloadable - and you can photocopy the articles for educational purposes.
You can visit the site at www.classroomedition.ca.
We hope you find these new sites useful.
For further information: Gary Rabbior, President, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, 110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 201, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A3, Phone: (416) 968-2236, Fax: (416) 968-0488, CFEE Website: www.cfee.org
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Event Invitation: A Day in the Life of a Ugandan Child
Ainembabazi Children's Project presents
A Photo Exhibit:A Day in the Life of a Ugandan Child
November 9th, 2008
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
You are cordially invited to a fundraiser showcasing the photographing talents of young Ugandan children, in an effort to raise funds for health, education and income generating projects.
Also included in the evening are authentic African arts and crafts for sale, entertainment, drinks and refreshments and a colorful atmosphere.
Please join us in having fun for a good cause!
Tickets are only $10
Available through TIX ON THE SQUARE
- Purchase online at www.tixonsquare.ca
- Phone 780.420.1757
Please be aware there is no denim allowed in the club or ATM on site.
For more information, please visit www.ainembabazi.org or email ug.fundraiser@gmail.com
Renee Vaugeois
Executive Director, John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights T. 780.453.2638 E. renee@jhcentre.org
Submitted by Ariela Cerna
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October 18th is the National Day of Action
Rally at Churchill Square at 1:00 p.m.
Canada Out of Afghanistan!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
AFGHANISTAN: THE WAR THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
WHY NEITHER OF CANADA’S MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN:
Both major parties support the Bush Doctrine. Harper and Dion have formed a Pact to support the US-led War in Afghanistan – against the wishes of most Canadians.
More Canadians than ever oppose the War - (see CBC/Environics Poll, September 7, 2008). Well over half the population wants Canada to withdraw its troops.
Escalating costs of the war – The total cost of the war could rise to $22 billion according to a senior security analyst David Perry (National Post, September 17, 2008). Until now, Canadians have been kept in the dark regarding the costs of the war. For most Canadians, these costs represent lost opportunities for public investments in housing, healthcare, childcare and the environment. But for a favored few corporations and contractors in the weapons and arms industries, these public costs represent huge private profits.
War Profiteering – Canada is now the sixth largest supplier of military equipment in the world . Between 1997 and 2002, Canada’s military exports rose from $23 million to $678 million. Much of this equipment is exported to NATO countries. Canadian companies which profit from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan include SNC- Lavalin, CAE, DRS Technologies Canada and General Dynamics of Canada. Tory government ministers – such as Gordon O’Connor (former Minister of National Defence) – have been lobbyists for some of these firms
Civilian Casualties - More civilians than ever are being killed by US/NATO forces – Civilian deaths from US/NATO air strikes tripled from 2006 to 2007 (see Human Rights Watch Report, “Troops in Contact”, September 8, 2008)
Canadian Casualties – 97 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan up to September 2008, with an unrecorded number of soldiers with catastrophic battlefield injuries.
Failure of the Military “Mission” – even the top British Army commander in Afghanistan (Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith) and the UK Ambassador in Kabul have recently stated that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. The only progress will be through peace talks (See Sunday Times October 5, 2008).
War Crimes – Besides civilian casualties in US/NATO air strikes, NATO forces continue to transfer detainees to Afghan authorities for certain torture, abuse and human rights violations (see Amnesty International, Report on Afghanistan, 2008). The Military Police Complaints Commission continues its investigation into Canadian complicity in torture – against the wishes of the Harper government.
IT’S TIME TO COME CLEAN ABOUT THE WAR - BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Join us on Saturday, October 14. Rally at 1:00 p.m. at Churchill Square followed by a panel discussion at 2:15 p.m. in the Edmonton Public Library, Organized by the Edmonton Coalition Against War & Racism. at www.ecawar.org.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Promoting Cultures of Peace in a Troubled World - An Interfaith and Interdisciplinary Perspective
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5th Annual Clothing Give-Away
