| New aboriginal resource centre opens
A new Aboriginal Resource Centre (ARC), that will house a number of different social service agencies, has opened up in the Beltline.
The centre, located at 1603 10 Avenue S.W., will offer parenting programs, an early education program for kids age 3 to 5 and a community resource centre that will refer clients to other social service agencies for help.
Connie Boisvert, executive director of the ARC, says ARC used to rent a building in an industrial area in the N.E., but it was hard for clients to get to. She says the new building will be much easier for people to come to and, because ARC owns the building, it will be able to offer leases to other social service agencies that help aboriginal people for reduced rates.
"The new centre offers a one-stop shop approach to early intervention and prevention services. The whole idea behind it is there are a number of service providers all housed in one location," she says.
Public input wanted on K-Country park plans
The provincial government is asking for public feedback on draft management plans for Sheep River and Bluerock wildland provincial parks.
In order to get a copy of the plans call 403-678-5508 and ask to have them mailed to you or you can find them online at www.cd.gov.ab.ca/parks/kananaskis. The government is accepting feedback until September 30.
The provincial wildland parks are located about 80 kilometres southwest of Calgary in the foothills area of the Sheep River watershed.
The federal government’s apology and promise of financial compensation to Chinese Canadians who experienced racist immigration policy is being praised
A group of Calgarians that has been fighting for redress for Chinese Canadians who suffered from racist immigration policy is praising the federal government for its recent apology and promise of financial compensation, but they say families should still receive compensation even if those directly affected are dead.
Teresa Woo-Paw, a spokesperson for the Calgary Chinese Head Tax Redress Co-ordinating Committee, says the apology and compensation were a long time coming and most Chinese Canadians who experienced the racist treatment have already died.
Starting in 1885 the federal government began charging a head tax, which eventually rose to $500, for every Chinese person who came to Canada. The federal government made $23 million from 80,000 Chinese immigrants from the head tax. Then in 1923 the federal government passed legislation that almost completely banned Chinese immigration to Canada. Between 1923 and 1947, when the legislation was repealed, only 50 Chinese people were allowed into the country.
Prime minister Stephen Harper recently apologized for the policies and promised that all survivors, or their spouses if they have already died, would receive $20,000 in compensation.
"Most of the people in the community are very, very pleased with the apology. It took some courage and a great deal of sensitivity for a leader of a country to deliver that apology and I think people really appreciate that," says Woo-Paw.
However, Woo-Paw says her organization would like to see the children of those who had to pay the head tax receive financial compensation if their parents died before the compensation was announced.
"I think it’s important we recognize the direct impact on the first generation of children," she says, explaining that many families remained separated for many years due to the immigration policies. |
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