CERTAIN TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS, FOREIGN STUDENT GRADUATES CAN APPLY FOR IMMIGRATION
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley on Tuesday announced the details of the Canadian Experience Class, a proposed new avenue for immigration for certain temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates with Canadian work experience. Unlike other existing programs, this proposal will allow an applicant's Canadian experience to be considered a key selection factor when immigrating to Canada. [Full Story]

FIRST TURBANED SIKH PILOT IN THE U.S. IS A WOMAN
“Two of the reasons I did this were: first, my love of flying and, second, to set a precedent for the community so they know you can be in your Sikh appearance and do anything out there; so that my younger brothers and sisters [the rising generation] will pursue their passions while practicing their Sikh faith,” Kaur said. [Full Story]

SURABHI KADAM – AN OLYMPIC STAR IN THE MAKING
Just last month Surabhi, who came to Canada from Vadodara (Baroda) in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 at the age of 10 with her parents Sunil and Sushama Kadam, won two gold medals in the U17 girls singles and doubles events and a bronze medal for the U17 mixed doubles event at the 18th Junior Pan American Games in Guatemala. [Full Story]

THE GARCHAS – WINNING PAGEANTS RUNS IN THE FAMILY
When 17-year-old Neetu Garcha was crowned the 61st Queen Val-Vedette and Miss-Congeniality in the Miss Penticton pageant on August 8 in Penticton she was not only the first such double winner in 61 years, but she was continuing what seems to have become a tradition in the Garcha family. [Full Story]

KOMAGATA MARU APOLOGY WILL NOT CHANGE REALITY OF DISCRIMINATION, ONLY DETERMINED STRUGGLE WILL
In the past few weeks, much has been written about Prime Minister Stephen Harpers’s so-called apology regarding the Komagata Maru incident which was delivered at the ‘Gadhri Babian Da Mela’ in Surrey. [Full Story]

CULTURE OF CONNECTIVITY – THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS
Our community represents the culture of connectivity. We value our human connections with our fellow beings; whether they are our relatives, neighbors, coworkers, or even strangers. The eagerness to help, to share, and to celebrate together characterizes our distinct cultural heritage. This spirit of togetherness is evident in festivities such as Vaisakhi as well during trying times such as untimely death of young men or young women due to violence. It does not take much to gather our community when a call goes out. [Full Story]

CANADA MUST NOW IMPLEMENT A REFUGEE APPEAL DIVISION
As the Parliamentary session came to a close, the Senate passed Bill C-280, legislation that would oblige the Canadian government to finally put in place the long awaited refugee appeal division. Long awaited, because legislation was passed for a refugee appeal division by Parliament back in 2001 with the passage of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, but never implemented by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. [Full Story]

FOCUS ON SURREY

#1. SCC’S RINA GILL FAVORS WARD SYSTEM IN SURREY

#2. RUDY GIULIANI HEADLINES DAY LONG SUMMIT ON SURREY’S FUTURE

#3. SURREY BUCKS TRENDS AS BUILDING PERMITS UP AGAIN

[Full Story]

REVIVING INSPIRATIONAL ACTIVISM WITHIN SIKH COMMUNITY
According to Bhai Harjinder Singh, Haloonaa Project Coordinator, “Though worldwide Sikh activities and events have effectively created an awareness of the Sikh faith, now the fifth largest religion in the world, mere awareness of Sikhi is no longer enough – active and engaged leadership is required to re-establish the Sikh spirit within our youth and throughout our nation. Haloonaa team attempted to directly address these needs with the help of Sikh Research Institute through ‘Sevadar’. [Full Story]

HOW CAN SETTLEMENT SERVICES HELP YOU?
For immigrants settling in the Surrey North Delta area, they can access services from OPTIONS: Services to the Communities Society in their Multicultural Service Program. We offer services in the following areas; employment, housing, social benefits, information on ESL classes, filling out forms and much more. These services are provided in Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin, Somali, and Korean, Vietnamese and Spanish languages by people who are from these communities. [Full Story]

IT’S TIME FOR GOVERNMENT MLA’S TO END THEIR SILENCE ON CAMPBELL’S MASSIVE PAY HIKES
I think it’s time for them to break their silence. Campbell’s MLAs should either have the courage to justify these outrageous salary increases, or they should stand up and tell their Premier that the pay hikes are wrong and should be rolled back immediately. [Full Story]