Did you know that Canada’s Criminal Code (Section 176) prohibits obstructing a “clergyman or minister” from “celebrating divine service or performing any other function in connection with his calling” or disturbing “an assemblage of persons met for religious worship?” That prohibition might…
There have been a couple of interesting connections between National Geographic and Vancouver over the last month or two. Peter Ash: Under the Same Sun The June issue of National Geographic magazine featured The Perils of Pale, which stated: “For them…
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer by bringing in a very strong line-up of musicians, including the likes of Billy Bragg, Joe Henry, Shawn Colvin and Jim Kweskin. Some of our best local musicians…
A national initiative involving two local groups (REED and EVE) has launched a billboard campaign which will be in evidence around the Metro Vancouver this month. Following is the organizers’ statement. The Buying Sex is a Crime campaign is supported by a wide cross-section…
Which of the following statements is true? Canada’s national sport is hockey. Canada has a constitutional right to abortion. Canada is a secular nation with separation of church and state. Trick question. They’re all false. Mistaken beliefs about Canada abound.…
The story of Narendra Modi’s dramatic rise to power in India centres at least in part on his government’s ability to bring the success of “vibrant Gujarat” to the national level. Modi rode to victory in the 2014 election promising…
Next Tuesday (April 4), Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA) will host a Provincial Election Accountability Assembly at the Italian Cultural Centre. The MVA has invited the three provincial party leaders to address its delegates. Thus far, John Horgan, NDP, and Andrew Weaver,…
Private member’s motion M-103 on Islamophobia and religious discrimination passed in the House of Commons on March 23, 2017. M-103 condemns Islamophobia and calls for the Heritage Committee to study how to reduce or eliminate systemic racism and religious discrimination…
Canada will celebrate its 150th year as one of the world’s most blessed countries. An incredibly diverse and hard-working population has transformed our expansive geography of plentiful natural resources into one of the world’s most wealthy societies. But our forbearers…
As a Palestinian, ‘refugee’ is a familiar word and status that many of my people have known since 1948. For non-refugees, this word can represent a stigma as it is associated with encroaching instability and danger. Others wear this term…