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SirReal’s ‘Not Like Me’ a culmination of personal experiences brought to music, video

September 8th, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on SirReal’s ‘Not Like Me’ a culmination of personal experiences brought to music, video)

Nanaimo hip hop artist dedicates his latest video to the uniqueness present in all who have seen hardships and have the compassion to know that we are all human

picture 579Vancouver Island hip hop artist Matt Dunae—aka SirReal—has released the official music video of a single from his upcoming mixtape; both are named Not Like Me. The song, as SirReal describes it, is a micro story, a “culmination of experiences and harsh realities brought to light.”

From the depths of early childhood addiction, to the long walk down struggle street, the story follows SirReal as a young man, caring for his mother, and bringing her back from an overdose on the brink of death. The video then shows the separation that occurred between two brothers as the family they had grown up in was torn apart.

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Manjit Virk, his daughter’s death, and teaching for all

June 11th, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Manjit Virk, his daughter’s death, and teaching for all)

The Reena Virk tragedy has become teaching for all of us

manjit virkIn the years since their daughter, Reena Virk, was murdered in Victoria B.C., Suman and Manjit Virk have made their work against bullying a top priority. In November 2009 British Columbia’s Solicitor General Kash Heed presented the Virks with the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction, B.C.’s highest honour for community safety and crime prevention. (more…)

New location for Nanaimo Community Hospice

April 16th, 2014 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on New location for Nanaimo Community Hospice)

hospiceThe Nanaimo Community Hospice provides counseling and support to people with serious progressive illnesses where a cure is not expected and to their families and caregivers. Support is provided during the end of life and for family members and caregivers following the death of a loved one.

The Nanaimo hospice has recently relocated into a beautiful new building and grounds, with much more space for previously crowded programs. (more…)

Adventures to be had when you’re over 60

August 22nd, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Adventures to be had when you’re over 60)

Stories and reflections encourage and support readers in living vibrantly through wholeheartedly embracing life’s challenges

Gail Boulanger is a coach and counselor for “vibrant living” in Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island. She says that vibrant living infuses our lives with energy and enthusiasm just as sun infuses the day with light and warmth. But Gail also says that vibrant living rests on a foundation of healthy grieving. From November 2012… (more…)

Black fathers can face challenging issues

March 7th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Black fathers can face challenging issues)

But there’s next-to-no Canadian data on black fathers. The founder of the Black Daddies Club support group intends to change that with a research project.

picture 459The Black Daddies Club was founded in 2007 by Brandon Hay in response to the lack of forums and spaces for Black men to discuss parenting issues as well as the issues facing the Black Community as a whole. Brandon told Notable.ca that the Black Daddies Club “creates safe spaces for black fathers for us to speak about our challenges as well as victories as parents, also to work with the media to create an alternate, more positive image of black fathers.” (more…)

Grieving in an online world

January 24th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Grieving in an online world)

Online grieving, whether on Facebook or other social media, is becoming the new normal…but does it actually help?

After the campus shootings in the U.S. at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Northern Illinois University in 2008, hundreds of affected students turned to social media websites to share their grief and search for solace. A study of these students found that their online activities neither helped nor harmed their long-term psychological health.

The study gave a first-of-its-kind portrait of student reactions to shootings on their campuses. It also documented both the online and off-line activities they engaged in to memorialize and recover from these events. (more…)