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Not your everyday books

January 27th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Not your everyday books)

Multicultural Society holds ‘living library’ of spirituality and faith to battle prejudice, promote understanding

Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society is set to host a series of events it calls a Living Library at libraries in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Designed to battle prejudice, a Living Library encourages people to probe beneath the surface and learn about living, breathing people. The activity promotes understanding of diversity and challenges prejudices and stereotypes through dialogue. The focus is on faith communities—and the ‘living books’ involved come from a variety of backgrounds. (more…)

Not criminally responsible

November 25th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Not criminally responsible)

Society’s response to those found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder

A number of Canadians have recently been found not criminally responsible for their crimes due to mental disorder. Recent high-profile—and shocking—cases include those of Vince Li in Manitoba, Rostislav Soukonnik in Alberta, Charlene Chambers and Adenir De Oliveira in Ontario, and Kimberly Ruth Noyes in B.C. Each killed while in the grip of mental illness and each was found not criminally responsible due to their mental condition at the time. (more…)

Call for transgender rights

November 18th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Call for transgender rights)

Vancouver throws its support behind a federal bill that would protect transgendered Canadians

Vancouver city councillor Ellen Woodsworth introduced a motion at the Tuesday November 16th Vancouver city council meeting, asking that the City of Vancouver support Bill C-389 [opens to PDF], a private members bill making its way through the Canadian parliament. The motion passed unanimously.

Bill C-389 proposes amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include protections for gender identity and gender expression. It was originally introduced by Bill Siksay, the NDP member of parliament for Burnaby-Douglas, and on November 3rd, 2010 the Bill was returned without amendment by the House Committee on Justice and Human Rights for report and third reading in Parliament. (more…)

Fear and othering

November 4th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Fear and othering)

Is a ‘tea party’ brewing against Nanaimo’s progressive homelessness solution?

A group of residents living in the Townsite Road area of Nanaimo are reportedly still fuming about plans to build units of housing to house homeless people in their neighbourhood. The hospital-area facility is one of five that will be built in Nanaimo [opens to PDF] after funding was received from the provincial government.

The Hospital Area Neighbourhood Association (HANA) hosted an information meeting October 21st and then appeared at a city council meeting on Monday October 25th to present a petition against the low-barrier facility planned for the area. (more…)

Anne Frank’s tree grows in Montreal

October 14th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Anne Frank’s tree grows in Montreal)

A sapling from Amsterdam embodies symbol of nature, continuity, hope in times of hate

While Anne Frank, her family, and others hid from Nazis in a secret annex in Amsterdam, the view of a giant chestnut tree near the building gave her not only an experience of hope but also a connection to a world beyond their hiding place. “Our chestnut tree is in full blossom. It is covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year,” she wrote in May 1944, not long before the group was arrested and eventually deported to concentration camps. (more…)

A personal exploration of generosity

August 5th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on A personal exploration of generosity)

Lawrence Scanlan spent a year exploring big questions about doing good

Can one person make a difference? When we write a cheque to a charity or volunteer at a food bank, we’re part of the solution—aren’t we? Author Lawrence Scanlan went looking for answers to those questions. He selected twelve different charitable organizations and spent a month in each, and what he discovered during his year-long odyssey was the new face of philanthropy—its players, its politics, its undeniable satisfactions and its fundamental perils. (more…)