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#1. THOUSANDS PARTICIPATE IN
THE THIRD ANNUAL NEW WESTMINSTER NAGAR KIRTAN
Over 10,000 Sikhs walked through the
streets of New Westminster Saturday as Khalsa Diwan Society held its third
annual Nagar Kirtan. The festivities began with a colorful parade from
Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar at 347 Wood Street to the New Westminster Community
Centre.
The congregation of thousands spread
throughout the park where numerous events and exhibitions were held
throughout the day, including music, the new building extension exhibition,
dastar and khalsa dress competitions, sports events, martial arts, discussion
groups, and, of course, lots of Punjabi and Canadian food.
This year’s event was again held to
commemorate the martyrdom of the Sikhs’ fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjun Dev
Ji. He was martyred in 1606 by the
ruling Mogul empire for defending the rights of the oppressed. Guru Arjun Dev
Ji taught all of humanity many lessons including living a peaceful, spiritual
life, yet still standing up for many freedoms that society takes for granted
today.
New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright was
impressed by the event and the large number of Sikhs who came from all over
the Lower Mainland, as well as the many non-Sikhs that were enjoying the food
and learning about Sikhism.
A special feature at this year’s parade
was the exhibition that outlined the plans for the Gurdwara Sahib building
extension. These plans have been shared with the Sangat and local community
for many months now and participants were once again given the opportunity to
give their input. Construction is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2009
and this project will add a much-needed Langar Hall and classroom space.
#2. SURREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS SET
AN EXAMPLE IN GIVING
A Newton Elementary School class led by
teacher Shelley Stark with special education assistant Bev Painter raised
$1,000 for the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. The Grade 4 students
created a quilt that generated the donation. The quilt represents the uniting
of the Aboriginal and European cultures, and showcases the common virtues and
values that are important to both. It also represents the coming together of
many cultures within the classroom.
Also, Kirkbride Elementary School in
Surrey has been recycling bottles, cans, and drink boxes in support of Surrey
Memorial Hospital Foundation. Student organizers Manseerat Randhawa, Priya
Benipal, Tonya Dhindsa, Amreena Chahal, and Priya Rehallu presented the
Foundation’s Jennifer Dmytryshyn with a $250 cheque during the last day of
school.
#3. APARNA KAPUR NAMED BEST EMERGING
CANADIAN FILMMAKER BY CANADIAN FILM CENTRE
Emily Carr University of Art and Design
graduate Aparna Kapur received the Jackson-Triggs Award for Best Emerging
Canadian Filmmaker, and a $5,000 cash prize for her film Amma, at the CFC
World Wide Short Film Festival, June 21.
“Amma truly represents Aparna's studies
at Emily Carr, where she took courses in scriptwriting, critical and cultural
studies, film production, and animation,” said Associate Professor Martin
Rose, Head, Animation. “We are thrilled that she has achieved such a high
honour, and we wish her the best with what I am sure will be a long,
successful, and meaningful career as an artist and filmmaker.”
Amma is a poetic narration of a young
girl's life and her deeply rooted relationship with her grandmother. Rendered
in rich monochromatic shades, this animated film is far from singular in the
moods and stories it evokes. One is magically transported into the
filmmaker's craft, which is that of simplicity and honesty. The film explores
the deep symbiotic relationship between the child and grandmother’s love for
one another, and how it surpasses the physical world.
http://www.worldwideshortfilmfest.com.
#4. ATTRACTIVE STREET BANNERS TO PROMOTE
VANCOUVER’S PUNJABI MARKET
With support from Vancouver Board of
Parks and Recreation Neighbourhood Matching Fund, the South Vancouver
Neighbourhood House organized a community art project partnering with Punjabi
Market Association, John Oliver High School, Sunset Community Centre, Sunset
CityPlan Committee and Langara College to develop street banners promoting
the Punjabi Market.
The banners were designed by srt students
from John Oliver High School and the Sunset Community Youth Leadership
Program under the mentorship of talented artists from Langara College’s fine
arts program. Sixteen designs were produced and two were chosen by the
community and developed into banners now proudly displayed on the lampposts
along Main Street between 49th and 51st avenues.
The two designs selected were created by
Jieun Seo (peacock feathers) and Reagan Szeto (dancing woman).
#5. DASMESH UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB HOLDS
ITS THIRD ANNUAL GIRLS TOURNAMENT
Recently, Dasmesh United Football Club
held their 3rd annual girls tournament at Memorial Park in Vancouver.
This year over 60 teams participated
(about 800 players) from U6 to open. At the divisional level there were some
very competitive final matches, including the one in which West Coast
Panthers defeated the host club in a shootout in the open finals.
Dasmesh United FC thanked Akal FC,
Abbotsford United SC, GNSC, Sikh Temple, WCP, Punjab Tigers (who entered 20
teams), Pacific Eagles and CRS.
Theclub also thanked the many volunteers who put in countless hours in
planning and organizing the tournament.
Some results provided by the organizers:
Open: West Coast Panthers – 1st;
Dasmesh United FC – 2nd
U16 gold: Dasmesh United FC - 1st;
Pacific Eagles – 2nd
U14 gold: Punjab Tigers - 1st;
GNSC – 2nd
U14 silver: Pacific Eagles -1st;
GNSC – 2nd
U12 gold: Punjab Tigers – 1st;
Pacific Eagles – 2nd
#6. TWO INDO-CANADIANS CHARGED WITH MONEY
LAUNDERING AFTER TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION
On March 10, Robinderpal Rathor, 30, and
Taranjit Rathor, 21, were both charged with several counts of money
laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering after a total of
US$160,000 was seized as offence-related property by the RCMP’s Federal
Integrated Proceeds of Crime (IPOC) Unit in Vancouver.
According to Sgt. Dave Gray, the
investigation began in 2007 after police received intelligence to lead them
to target two currency exchange businesses in Langley. These two currency
exchanges were operated by two men who were allegedly laundering the proceeds
of crime through these businesses. Through the use of RCMP undercover
operators, police were able to infiltrate this criminal organization.
Investigators were able to successfully launder CDN$21,300 and over
US$550,000 through the money exchange businesses.
In May, 2008, with the assistance of
Langley RCMP detachment, several search warrants were executed and $154,500
were seized as offence-related property. The two men were arrested and
charged with many counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money
laundering. They have had several court appearances, but no plea or trial
date has been confirmed. Their next court appearance is on July 15.
“Money laundering is usually linked to
drug trafficking and people who knowingly participate in money laundering by
turning a blind eye and not asking the right questions on where the money is
coming from is contributing to help put profits into pockets of drug
traffickers. If you participate in money laundering then you are no different
then the drug traffickers themselves. The RCMP will track you, bust you and
shut down your business if you are involved,” said Inspector Wade Lymburner,
Officer-in-Charge of the Federal Integrated Proceeds of Crime unit in B.C.
The RCMP said it would like to remind
business owners to exercise due diligence in questioning where a large sum of
money is coming from before incorporating it into their own business to
ensure they are not contributing to organized crime themselves.
To assist in educating businesses about
money laundering the RCMP Federal Integrated Proceeds of Crime unit has
launched its fifth annual Merchants Against Money Laundering awareness
campaign. For the fifth year in a row, students from the University of
British Columbia work with IPOC during the summer months in delivering
presentations to businesses about money laundering and how it negatively
impacts their business and community.
This short, 45-minute personal
presentation is available upon request that will focus on and discuss:
• Why criminals launder money
• The methods money launderers use
• How to identify a suspicious
transaction
• How your business can be used to
facilitate the laundering process
• The role of FINTRAC (Financial
Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada)
The last thing a business owner wants to
do is be associated to money laundering as it negatively impacts their
business’s reputation and ultimately makes them participate in criminal
activity. For more information and to participate in this money laundering
educational opportunity, contact:
*Chris Pallai
Student - Merchants Against Money
Laundering
chris.pallai@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
(778)571-7412
*Marc Sorrie
Student - Merchants Against Money
Laundering
marc.sorrie@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
(778)571-7411
*Corporal Jan Campbell
Federal Integrated Proceeds of Crime
Investigator
Merchants Against Money Laundering
jan.campbell@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
(778)571-7453
For more information on money laundering
and what you can do to help, visit:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/poc-pdc/launder-blanchir-eng.htm
#7. HARPER: ‘OUR GOVERNMENT WILL ALWAYS
REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM AND THEIR FAMILIES’
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the
following statement on June 23 to mark the fifth annual National Day of
Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism:
Today marks a tragic anniversary for our
country. On June 23, 1985, it was
dramatically demonstrated that Canada is not immune from terrorist acts. A bomb on Air India Flight 182 killed all
three hundred and twenty nine people aboard, most of them Canadians. On this day, the 24th anniversary of the
event, we pause to remember all Canadians who have lost their lives because
of acts of terrorism.
Canadians need no reminder that the
threat of terrorism remains all too real.
Twenty-four Canadians lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001. Our hearts go out
to those who have lost loved ones to terrorist violence. It is up to all of us to do everything we
can to prevent future attacks against Canadians or our friends and allies.
Our Government has no greater
responsibility than protecting the safety and well-being of Canadians. That is why we introduced legislation to
modernize Canada’s laws, to give our police and intelligence agencies more
tools to keep Canadian families safe.
This is a major reason why the Canadian
Forces continue to serve bravely in Afghanistan, so a secure and stable
Afghan state can never again be used as a staging base by those who plan
future acts of terror.
Over the past three years, memorial sites
have been unveiled in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto to honour the Air India
victims and all Canadians who have been affected by terrorism. These memorials commemorate the innocent
lives lost, and remind us of the need for continued vigilance against threats
of all kinds. Our Government will
always remember the victims of terrorism and their families.
Even more recently, our Government
introduced legislation to allow victims of terrorism to seek redress from the
perpetrators, patrons and supporters of terrorism.
Today is a difficult and emotional day
for many Canadian families. Our
thoughts and prayers are with all who have lost loved ones to such senseless
and despicable acts. We will always
stand with you.
#8. WSO: TRIBUTE TO AIR INDIA VICTIMS –
QUEST FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
The World Sikh Organization of Canada
(WSO) on June 23 paid tribute to all victims of the Air India airplane
tragedy that claimed 329 innocent lives and caused pain and hardship to many
more. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the downing of Flight 182, off
the coast of Ireland.
“The loss of 329 lives is a loss for all
of society, and not just a loss for the victims’ families,” said Ram Raghbir
Singh Chahal, President of the World Sikh Organization. “Amongst the victims
were accomplished humanitarians, scientists, artists and community activists,
from many different faiths: Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. The incomprehensible criminal act that
resulted in the loss of their lives is an affront to all right thinking Canadians.”
Speaking about the political aftermath of
the Air India tragedy, Gian Singh Sandhu, Senior Policy Advisor for the World
Sikh Organization, stated, “Tragically, the Sikh community has been doubly
victimized from this tragedy. Not only
were there significant numbers of Sikhs amongst the victims, but the Sikh
community of Canada has lived under a cloud of suspicion ever since. Sikhs
routinely faced interrogation, harassment and intimidation, by Canadian
authorities in the first decade following the Air India tragedy. While the harassment has dissipated over
time, the wounds left in its wake have not.
Sikhs continue to face widespread public hostility, and are still
largely misunderstood due to the very successful anti-Sikh media campaign
launched against them throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
“For well over two decades, the WSO had
been calling for an Inquiry into the botched RCMP and CSIS investigation,
which left the victims, their families, and the Sikh community, with no
closure or redress. Twenty-four years
later, we continue to wait with the Air India Inquiry Report still pending;
but with no real hope that the Inquiry will be able to ever redress the wrong
that has been done to so many innocent victims, and the Canadian Sikh
community. A tragedy like this cannot
be easily forgotten, and nor should it be.
We need to continue to be vigilant as a society in order to prevent
such acts of violence, and the demonization of an entire community, from
occurring again.”
#9. SENATOR JAFFER ON NATIONAL DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE FOR VICTIMS OF TERRORISM
Senator Mobina Jaffer’s statement in
the Senate on June 23:
Honourable senators, today is Canada's
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, a day when we reflect
as a nation on the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and remember those
who had their lives cut short by terrorist violence. It is a day to mourn, a
day to extend our empathy to those who have lost loved ones and a day for us
to remember why we, as a nation, should remain resolute in opposing terrorism
in all its forms.June 23 also marks the anniversary of the single largest
mass murder in Canadian history — the bombing of Air India flight 182. It has
been 24 years since the terrible act, but its effects can still be felt in
many communities throughout Canada. Children, now adults, who have grown up
without parents; husbands and wives who have been forced to live on without
their loved ones; parents who lost children — all of them bear the scars of
that day every day. I see the scars regularly in the eyes of children,
parents and spouses in my province of British Columbia. I can never find the
right words to help heal that pain.
I know that honourable senators will join
with them in remembering, and hold in your hearts all of those Canadians who
have lost their lives or personally felt the devastating effects of terrorism
throughout the world.
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