All posts by Guest Post

Community

Canada is facing the largest wave of Ukrainian immigration ever

By Yuriy Umansky, New Canadian Media, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than seven million Ukrainians were forced to leave the country when Russia invaded Ukraine  –   20 per cent  of the country’s population. And while most of the refugees are remaining in Europe, many have applied for a visa to come to Canada.

According to the Canadian government, Canada has received almost one million applications under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) and has approved more than 650,000.

Continue reading Canada is facing the largest wave of Ukrainian immigration ever →
Food, Gardening

Cortes Natural Food Co-op offers island residents limited number of garden plots

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Once again, the Cortes Natural Food Co-op is opening garden plots to residents to grow plants and crops when garden space on the island can be limited.

Up to five garden plots are available in the Cortes Island Natural Food Co-op’s community garden, according to new volunteer garden coordinator Kate Maddigan. With 35 plots in total, she says the Co-op views the space as a great resource for helping with food security and sustainability on the island, where finding an area to garden and grow produce can be difficult.

Continue reading Cortes Natural Food Co-op offers island residents limited number of garden plots →
Community

Burnaby council votes unanimously to include caste as a protected category

By Shilpashree Jagannathan, New Canadian Media, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mayor and council in Burnaby, B.C. have voted to add caste as a protected category in the city’s code of conduct. The motion, tabled by Councillor Sav Dhaliwal on Monday, was passed unanimously to include caste as a protected category in city policies.

This follows two recent steps taken by Canadian jurisdictions to ban caste-based discrimination specifically.

Continue reading Burnaby council votes unanimously to include caste as a protected category →
Energy, Indigenous Nations

Local First Nations’ loss of Montney Reserve ignites 20-year legal battle for justice

By Manavpreet SIngh, Energycity.ca, Local Journalism Initiative

The Montney Reserve, famous for oil and gas, represents a conflict that resulted in a lengthy legal battle for land and Treaty rights following a complicated history between Canada and Indigenous people.   

In 1945, the Department of Indian Affairs forced the Fort St. John Beaver Band from the Montney Reserve, and the land was given to returning veterans from the Second World War, according to the Doig River website.

Doig River First Nation members said First Nation leaders during the 1940s couldn’t read or write English — an essential factor in the loss of the Montney Reserve land. 

Continue reading Local First Nations’ loss of Montney Reserve ignites 20-year legal battle for justice →
Arts, Health, Indigenous Nations

Squamish Nation ethnobotanist touts medicinal benefits of native plants

By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, North Shore News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When headaches plague Leigh Joseph, she doesn’t immediately reach for the Tylenol bottle. When winter’s flu strikes, cough medicines and throat soothers are acquired, but not from the pharmacy or the drug store aisle of her local supermarket.

Instead, Joseph, a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) ethnobotanist, looks to the great outdoors for remedy.

The natural world, she attests, can be a great source of healing and nourishment.

Continue reading Squamish Nation ethnobotanist touts medicinal benefits of native plants →