Canada suspends voluntary Commonwealth funds, Sri Lanka accuses Canada of misusing voluntary funds

18 April 2014

FOREIGN Affairs Minister John Baird on Tuesday announced that Canada will suspend its voluntary contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat and reallocate the funds for the next two years.

“As host of the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and current Chair in Office, Sri Lanka has a duty to take meaningful action on human rights, political reconciliation and accountability. However, Sri Lanka has failed to realize progress on any of these issues,” said Baird. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada took a strong and principled stand in not attending the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, and today’s announcement is an extension of that leadership.

“As Prime Minister Harper has stated, Canada believes that if the Commonwealth is to remain relevant it must stand in defence of the basic principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human dignity, which are the very foundations upon which the Commonwealth was built,” said Baird. “This decision was not taken lightly. We can no longer justify providing additional funding to an organization that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, anti-democratic behaviour and religious intolerance in its member states.”

While Sri Lanka is Chair in Office, Canada’s $10-million annual voluntary Commonwealth contribution will instead go for two years toward supporting initiatives that espouse the Commonwealth’s values and help to deliver results for those who need them the most.

“Canada remains deeply concerned about the absence of accountability for alleged serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian standards in Sri Lanka,” said Baird. “We will reallocate the funds to assist in combatting the practice of child, early and forced marriage, and help Commonwealth civil society advance the promotion of human rights. Canada will continue to work with its partners to uphold the Commonwealth’s core values, which are cherished by all Canadians.”

IANS reports: The Sri Lankan government Tuesday accused the Canadian government of using its voluntary funds to the Commonwealth Secretariat as a political tool based on the dictates of electoral compulsions.

Canada earlier announced that it had decided to suspend its voluntary contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat and reallocate the funds for the next two years in protest over Sri Lanka’s human rights issue, Xinhua reported.

The relentless action pursued by Canada on Sri Lanka will only seek to undermine the delicate reconciliation process, as the bona fides of the basis of that government trajectory is questionable and not in tandem with the interests of the people of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka external affairs ministry said.

“It is the government of Sri Lanka which is best placed to continue the evolution of a home grown solution for its people in accordance with a realistic time frame,” a spokesperson of the ministry said.

The action taken by Canada is at variance with the underlying spirit of the Commonwealth as a voluntary organisation of sovereign nations, with diversity being its hallmark, the official added.

“Concern has been expressed amongst the wider Commonwealth that the countries which provide the majority of the finances seek to unduly influence the working of the organisation. This action by Canada stands in evidence of such machinations,” the official added.

Husband of slain South Asian woman charged with first-degree murder

18 April 2014

THE husband of a South Asian woman, who was found dead in her house in south Ottawa has been charged with the first-degree murder of his wife.

Bhupinderpal Gill was arrested and charged Sunday with the killing of his wife Jagtar Gill, 43, in their living room in January this year, Ottawa Citizen reported Monday.

Gurpreet Ronald, a neighbour, was charged last week with first-degree murder in the same case.

Ronald has also been said to be romantically involved with the victim’s husband although Bhupinderpal has repeatedly denied the claim.

Ronald was employed in OC Transpo, an urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, the same place where Jaktar’s husband Bhupinderpal worked as a bus driver.

Jaktar was found dead by her husband and teenage daughter, Dilpreet, when they returned home after shopping for her 17th wedding anniversary.

After the arrest of the accused Bhupinderpal, Jagtar’s brother, Satnam Mann, said: “My sister (has) justice today (Sunday). My family has a big, big relief.”

He thanked the police for the consistent probe into Jagtar’s tragic death that shocked his family and the Sikh community in the city.

During its investigation, the Ottawa police had issued a public appeal for information related to a blood-stained metal bar found in a woodland area near the couple’s house that was believed to have been used in the killing of Jagtar in January.

Sources in the police said that the motive for the murder was not yet clear, the report said. (IANS)

Field Hockey: Canadian men and women win gold at 2014 Indoor Pan Am Cup

18 April 2014

THE Canadian men’s and women’s indoor national field hockey teams have booked their tickets to Leipzig, Germany for the 2015 Indoor World Cup next February after capturing double gold at the 2014 Indoor Pan American Cup this past weekend in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The men defeated cross-border rival, the United States while the women were victorious against international hockey powerhouse Argentina.

In the all North American final, the Canadian men defeated the United States 4-2.

Just seconds into the match, Canadian veteran Ken Pereira (Unionville, Ont.) had a chance to give Canada the earlty lead going in alone but was stopped in close by American keeper Kevin Segeren.

The first half was mainly controlled by Canada. Jeewanjot Bath (Brampton, Ont.) gave the crowd its first taste of scoring in the sixth minute after a great steal, a wonderful move around an American defender and a fantastic finish by throwing a reverse flick into the net.

The States had several opportunities to respond, but they were denied by Canadian keeper Shankar Premakanthan (Scarborough, Ont.). The highlight was a diving save of a U.S. penalty corner. Premakanthan, in three games during the tournament, only let in three goals.

In the fourteenth minute, it was Periera, who was later named men’s player of the tournament, gave Canada their second goal when he took Segeren all the way to the left corner of the circle and then sent a smooth reverse ball into the backboards. Pereira had four goals in the tournament.

The United States came out firing in the second and slotted one in the twenty-first minute.

A quick pass to the top of the cirlce found Sebastian Shuerer all alone. His shot beat Premakanthan and the States cut the lead in half to 2-1.

The teams then went back and forth as Micah Teixeira (Mississauga, Ont.) pushed Canada’s lead back to two after sending a bullet in off a penalty corner in the thirty-second minute.

But the U.S. was not going to go down without a fight and replied with another goal bringing the game to 3-2. Moritz Runzi finished a nice passing play, beating Premakanthan, who had no chance, and making it a one goal game with only a few minutes to go.

But in the last minute of play with the American goalie pulled, Canada earned a penalty corner and Jonathan Roberts (Stoney Creek, Ont.), who has led Canada offensively from the first game of the tournament, made no mistake by beating the U.S. keeper for the insurance marker. Roberts was the highest scoring Canadian, with five goals in the tournament, and finished fourth overall.

The men notched a total twenty-one goals and only allowed an impressive three goals against.

“It looked like we were in control but there were some exciting moments,” said men’s head coach Louis Mendonca. “I think in competition everybody comes to compete. We had some injuries with a few key players but the rest of the guys really stepped up.”

(Field Hockey Canada)

RCMP arrest 19-year-old Western University student over Heartbleed SIN theft from CRA systems

18 April 2014

RCMP arrest 19-year-old Western University student over Heartbleed SIN theft from CRA systems

RCMP’S National Division Integrated Technological Crime Unit (ITCU) has charged a 19-year-old London, Ontario Stephen Arthuro Solis-Reyes of London, Ontario, in relation to the malicious breach of taxpayer data from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website.

The RCMP announced on Wednesday that Solis-Reyes was arrested at his residence on Tuesday without incident. The Western University computer science student faces one count of unauthorized use of computer and one count of mischief in relation to data.

They said: “It is believed that Solis-Reyes was able to extract private information held by the CRA by exploiting the security vulnerability known as the Heartbleed Bug.”

“The RCMP treated this breach of security as a high priority case and mobilized the necessary resources to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Investigators from National Division, along with our counterparts in “O” Division have been working tirelessly over the last four days analyzing data, following leads, conducting interviews, obtaining and executing legal authorizations and liaising with our partners,” said Assistant Commissioner Gilles Michaud.

A search was conducted at the suspect’s residence and computer equipment was seized.

The success of this investigation reflects the collaborative efforts of the RCMP and other government agencies as well as the London Police Service.

This investigation was conducted as part of the ITCU’s mandate to investigate pure computer crimes where the federal government and / or Canadian critical IT infrastructure are victimized.

National Division’s mandate is to focus its expertise in sensitive, high-risk investigations into significant threats to Canada’s political, economic and social integrity.

The investigation is still ongoing. The RCMP said they were committed to advising Canadians of any significant developments in this case.

CANADA Revenue Agency Commissioner Andrew Treusch had announced Monday that Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) of about 900 taxpayers were removed from CRA systems by someone exploiting the Heartbleed vulnerability.

Treusch said he informed the Privacy Commissioner of Canada of the breach on April 11 and that the RCMP are investigating.

Here is Treusch’s full statement:

AFTER learning that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) systems were vulnerable to the Heartbleed bug, the CRA acted quickly to protect taxpayer information by removing public access to its online services on April 8, 2014.

Since then, the CRA worked around the clock to implement a “patch” for the bug, vigorously test all systems to ensure they were safe and secure, and re-launch our online services late yesterday [Sunday].

Regrettably, the CRA has been notified by the Government of Canada’s lead security agencies of a malicious breach of taxpayer data that occurred over a six-hour period. Based on our analysis to date, Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) of approximately 900 taxpayers were removed from CRA systems by someone exploiting the Heartbleed vulnerability. We are currently going through the painstaking process of analyzing other fragments of data, some that may relate to businesses, that were also removed.

The CRA is one of many organizations that was vulnerable to Heartbleed, despite our robust controls. Thanks to the dedicated support of Shared Services Canada and our security partners, the Agency was able to contain the infiltration before the systems were restored yesterday. Further, analysis to date indicates no other CRA infiltrations have occurred either before or after this breach.

Beginning today, the Agency is putting in place measures to support and protect the individuals affected by the breach. Each person will receive a registered letter to inform them of the breach. A dedicated 1-800 number has also been set up to provide them with further information, including what steps to take to protect the integrity of their SIN. The Agency will not be calling or emailing individuals to inform them that they have been impacted – we want to ensure that our communications are secure and cannot be exploited by fraudsters through phishing schemes.

The CRA will also provide those who have been affected with access to credit protection services at no cost. And we will apply additional protections to their CRA accounts to prevent any unauthorized activity.
On April 11, 2014, I informed the Privacy Commissioner of Canada of the breach. The RCMP is investigating.

As the Commissioner of the CRA, I want to express regret to Canadians for this service interruption. In particular, I share the concern and dismay of those individuals whose privacy has been impacted by this malicious act.

CRA online services are safe and secure. The CRA responded aggressively to successfully protect our systems. We have augmented our monitoring and surveillance measures, so that the security of the CRA site continues to meet the highest standards.

I know that all employees of the Canada Revenue Agency join me in appreciation for the cooperation and patience of the public, businesses and representatives as we resolved this situation.

B.C. Liberals put politics before ratepayers in response to ICBC billing errors: NDP

18 April 2014

TRANSPORTATION Minister Todd Stone tried to avoid scrutiny in the legislature by hiding information about ICBC’s $110-million blunder, say New Democrats.

“Rather than immediately notifying the public about this mistake – which meant many people were overbilled for years on their auto insurance – Minister Stone hid this information until after he had finished debating his ministry’s budget in the legislature,” said New Democrat ICBC Critic Mable Elmore. “After news broke that ICBC is on the hook for $110 million in billing errors, Minister Stone responded that he was “as angry as I expect British Columbians to be.”

She added: “It’s not good enough for the minister to come out after media broke the story and claim he is angry. We want to know why he hid this important information from the public for more than a month.”
Elmore also noted that the minister served three years on the board of directors at ICBC before he was elected, including in 2013 when the billing error first became known to ICBC.

“Rates are on the rise, with a 4.9 per cent increase last year, and another increase coming this year,” said Elmore.

“Now, ratepayers are being put last again by this minister’s decision to put political damage control ahead of accountability. People deserve better from this minister, and from ICBC.”

ICBC tried to assuage angry customers by issuing a press release stating: “As part of the move to a new computer system for our insurance business, ICBC identified less than five per cent of our optional insurance customers have an incorrect description assigned to their vehicle which impacts what they pay for their optional insurance.

“Based on analysis to date, ICBC estimates on average 1.8 per cent or 40,000 optional insurance customers per year had an incorrect vehicle description which resulted in an overpayment on their optional insurance. The average overpayment per year was $21. ICBC also estimates on average 2.7 per cent or 58,000 optional insurance customers underpaid on their optional insurance per year. The average underpayment per year was $34.”

“We are going to ensure all of our customers who overpaid on their optional insurance over the last six years receive full refunds with interest,” said Mark Blucher, President and CEO. “The modernization of our systems will ensure this doesn’t happen in the future and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our customers.”

ICBC sais it is working on the five principles outlined by Transportation Minister Todd Stone including:
* the error will not result in higher premiums;
* all overpayments will be repaid with interest;
* customers who were undercharged are not to be billed retroactively;
* the problem will be fixed; and
* the board will appoint an outside auditor to review this issue.

ICBC said it is committed to having this issue resolved within 90 days.

“ICBC’s first responsibility is to our customers,” said Jatinder Rai, Chair of ICBC’s board. “The board and management have been working to identify and resolve this complex issue as a priority.”

Updates to vehicle descriptions will be made in the coming months. New technology will use the vehicle identification number (VIN) provided by the vehicle’s manufacturer to automatically capture the vehicle description (make/model/type). Today, this process is done manually.

ICBC said it is working to update vehicle descriptions for affected customers, including looking back over the last six years to July 1, 2008, to refund customers who paid too much for their optional insurance. Customers who underpaid will not be charged the difference for prior years. ICBC is going as far back as its insurance system is able to accurately recalculate historical premiums for our customers.

Stay strong and keep yourself mentally healthy in high school

18 April 2014

“Think positive to stay mentally healthy and strong.”

MENTAL health issues amongst teens is a burning topic in schools and keeping yourself positive in any way you can is always great. Going through school can be considered a tough time because of the burden of schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and sports and sometimes bullying.

As experts put it, mental health is considered the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment. However in simple words, mental health really just describes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It even affects the way that we may think, feel or act. Mental health can also help determine the way we might handle stress, make choices and relate to others. This is important throughout all the stages in life ranging from being a child to a fully grown adult. This is an extremely important issue amongst teenagers and the message should be spread that nowadays although mental health problems are common, help is available.

Keeping yourself positive is probably the hardest thing to do during a stage of mental health but there is help available out there. With help from counsellors and everyday people alike, people with mental health problems (such as anxiety disorder, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders) are able to get better and in many cases recover completely. Knowing the early warning signs of mental health is a great way to help you in the long run. Being able to recognize early signs allows for someone with mental health to cope with their difficulties a lot easier. So, if you see signs of mental health problems in your friends, let them know that you are there for them whenever they need any support. You won’t believe the difference you can make by saying this.

Something that needs to be done about the rising concern of mental health is to spread the word about the issues that concern it. Being able to spread the word about a growing issue is a great way to raise awareness about it. As people start to find out the causes and effects of mental health, it gives people a sense of appreciation and respect for each other.

In conclusion, let’s get everyone in on the big issue and get people spreading the word through different media sources such as facebook, twitter, vine, pinterest, linkedin, instagram as well as other related media sources.

So, let’s get the word on mental health out there and spread the awareness where it’s needed!

BY HARNOOR GILL
Grade 10 student
Christ The King Catholic Secondary
Georgetown, Ontario

Canadians bet large on quest for holy grail

18 April 2014

SPRING is a time of traditions. It is customary this season to see spring cleaning, exercise, yard sales, gardening, and the most lasting spring tradition of all — the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The NHL playoffs represent a two-month stretch where hockey fills the hearts and minds of Canadians. Despite intense rivalries, all Canadians will be in solidarity in their reverence for the “holy grail”.

In fact, the NHL playoffs aren’t so much a tradition as they are a series of traditions and rituals. The next eight weeks will see playoff beards, playing through pain, the post-series handshake line, Game 7s, shocking upsets, shifts in momentum and unforgettable comebacks.

Another ritual that belongs in that list is betting. A new national survey from the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) shows that Canada’s national pastime is also fertile ground for gambling. In fact, Canadians plan to wager $210 million on the grueling two-month hockey tournament with nearly two in 10 adults intending to place a bet.

Just over a thousand Canadians were asked how they plan to bet during the 2014 NHL playoffs. Nine per cent of people polled indicated they planned to participate in a hockey pool followed by six per cent who said they intended to bet with their friends. The remaining betting categories included buying sports-based lottery tickets such as PRO•LINE (5 per cent), betting online (3 per cent) and betting with a bookie (1 per cent).

Over the last year, the most popular sport to bet on was NHL hockey at 12 per cent.

NFL football came in close second place among Canadian sports gamblers as nine per cent reported placing a bet on at least one NFL game in the last 12 months. This is in stark contrast to our American neighbours where football is overwhelmingly the most popular sport to bet on.

Rounding out the Canadian findings for the last 12 months were the Sochi Winter Olympics and the CFL, both at five per cent, followed by Major League Baseball (4 per cent) and NCAA College Basketball (3 per cent).

Betting on sports is pretty common, and it’s no surprise that hockey is a favourite for Canadians. As we head into the NHL playoffs, we should all remember that it is a type of gambling, and so comes with risks. In fact, the survey found that eight per cent of Canadians know someone they think might have a problem with sports betting.

Betting on hockey is most popular for Canadians aged 18 to 34, with 27 per cent saying they plan to bet on this year’s NHL playoffs. This is important because research has consistently shown not only that sports betters tend to be younger, but also that young adults have the highest risk of developing gambling problems.

Chasing losses, or gambling more to win back what you lost, is a key sign of a gambling problem. When asked if they have ever kept betting to try to recoup what they lost almost two-in-10 (18 per cent) of the 18 to 34 year-old group said yes. This number is significantly higher than the national average of 12 per cent. For those who believe they can win back losses by betting more, the consequences can be financially and emotionally devastating.

If you or someone you know is chasing losses, it may be time to take a reality check. For information go to www.stopthechase.ca.

[Source: The Responsible Gambling Council]

Stop disclosing non-conviction information in employment-related record checks, says B.C. Privacy Commissioner

18 April 2014

GOVERNMENT and municipal police boards should immediately direct police forces to stop disclosing non-conviction information as part of employment-related records checks outside the vulnerable sector, says B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham.

The Commissioner’s recommendation, one of five, is at the heart of a wide-ranging investigation report that examined the growing use of employment-related record checks in British Columbia. The focus of the report is police information checks, one of three types of employment-related checks.

“Each year in B.C. thousands of police information checks are requested from police and used by employers or volunteer groups in the hiring process. The information in these checks can have a significant and lasting impact on an individual’s privacy, human rights, and feelings of dignity and self-worth. There is no evidence that the non-conviction information in these record checks predicts a risk of future criminal behaviour, improves the safety of citizens, or results in better hiring decisions,” said Denham.

“With the exception of those working with children and vulnerable adults, non-conviction information should be off-limits in an employment-related record check. Police information checks are the only available employment-related record check from municipal police forces in B.C. Police information checks processed in B.C. reveal more information about individuals than any other jurisdiction reviewed in the course of this investigation.”

While a criminal record check reports an individual’s prior convictions, a police information check can contain details about investigations that do not result in charges, charges that do not result in convictions, and information about an individual’s mental health.

The Commissioner expressed grave concern regarding the inclusion of mental health information in police information checks of all types. Police have the authority under Section 28 of the Mental Health Act to apprehend individuals where an individual’s safety, or the safety of others, is in question.

“Mental health information should never be included in an employment-related record check. There is no reason why this information should be disclosed to employers, who would have no right to otherwise ask about this information in the hiring process. Releasing this information threatens to further stigmatize the one in five of us who are affected by a mental health issue,” said Denham.

“It is important that the process for employment-related record checks achieves the correct balance between an individual’s right to keep information private and an employer’s desire for relevant background information about an applicant.”

MISSING JET UPDATE: More underwater vehicles to join missing jet hunt

17 April 2014

Kuala Lumpur (IANS): Malaysia will deploy more underwater vehicles in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the media reported Saturday.

Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the Deployment of Assets Committee led by Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri was considering the possibility of deploying more autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) to join the search, The Malaysian Star reported.

“His committee on assets is looking at the possibility of deploying more AUVs,” Hussein said in a Twitter post Friday.

The Bluefin-21 AUV, which was deployed in the underwater search earlier this week, completed another round in the search area, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) confirmed.

Eleven military aircraft and 12 ships have been depolyed in the latest search operation Saturday.

“Today (Saturday) the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has planned a visual search area totalling approximately 50,200 sq km, across three areas,” the JACC said in its latest update.

“Overnight Bluefin-21 AUV completed mission six in the underwater search area. Bluefin-21 has searched approximately 133 sq km to date. Data from the sixth mission is currently under analysis. No contacts of interest have been found to date,” it added.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished mysteriously about an hour after taking off for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur shortly after midnight March 8.

The Boeing 777-200ER was scheduled to land in Beijing the same day. The 227 passengers on board included five Indians, 154 Chinese and 38 Malaysians.

B.C. EVENTS

17 April 2014

OBITUARY

IT is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing away of DALJIT SINGH SIDHU, a pioneer in real estate for over 40 years in Vancouver & the Fraser Valley. He was a spiritual and community leader, a loving father, a caring husband and a family man. Daljit passed on April 12, one day after his birthday, surrounded by many who loved him. Daljit is survived by his loving wife, Kanchan Sidhu, a daughter, two sons and their families. If you knew Daljit you would certainly remember him for being a peaceful, inspiring, honest gentleman who would always do his best for someone who asked his help. Born on April 11, 1938, in Ludhiana, Punjab, he immigrated to Canada from England in 1967. He lived most of his life in North Delta and in Panorama Ridge, Surrey. Daljit had a great passion for building and supporting his community and gave wholeheartedly towards this goal throughout his lifetime. The funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 19^th at the Riverside Funeral Home at 7410 Hopcott Road, Delta.

B.C. EVENTS

(These are FREE listings. Email: [email protected])

Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar: Vaisakhi Celebration

Saturday, April 19: Parade Route: The Vaisakhi Parade is scheduled to begin at about 9:30 a.m. at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, located at 12885-85 Avenue. It will conclude there at about 4 p.m. Main Stage Timeline: * 11-11:45 a.m.: Traditional Sikh hymn singers * 11:45 .am.-12:45 p.m.: Ceremony honoring community volunteers * 12:45-1:30 p.m.: Speaker series.

For more information about the event including the parade route visit: www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca.

Annual Plant, Bake and Craft Sale

Plants in Real Time: Check out the Reality of the BC Fuchsia and Begonia Society, at the VanDusen Botanical Garden Floral Hall, 37th Ave and Oak Street, Vancouver. Saturday April 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission. Face painting for kids of all ages. China painters. Unique vendor items. Prize draws. Home baking. Refreshments. Great variety of plants. Some hardy fuchsias. Vendor tables available: call Sylvia and Derek at 604-277-2905. For information call Sandy & Ruth at 778-881-0175 Everyone welcome. Wheel chair accessible.

South Asian Seniors: Musical Chairs Game

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian senior members and non-members to participate in Musical Chairs game for fun, entertainment & get-together in two groups on April 20, 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, 8321 – 140^th Street, Surrey. The last winner in each group will receive a small gift. Tea and light snacks will be served. Call Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945 for more details.

Special: BC Victims of Homicide

Are you living with the traumatic loss of a loved one? Are you in need of support? The BC Victims of Homicide, an initiative of the BC Bereavement Helpline, is hosting an eight week traumatic loss grief support group for the South Asian community in Surrey in partnership with Valley View Funeral Home. When: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting May 7 and ending June 25. Cost: Free – but registration is required. Space is limited. Languages: Punjabi, Hindi and English. Facilitators: Jas Cheema and Manjeet Singh. To register or for more information, contact Jas Cheema by phone at 604-561-2700 or by email at: [email protected]. Please refer this group to your network or to anyone who may benefit from it.

Canada Cancer Society

Help us build our Daffodil Campaign in April in the City of Surrey and Abbotsford community. We are looking for volunteers to donate 2 to 4 hours on weekends throughout April. Please call 604-837-6837 to volunteer in Surrey, call 604-533-1816 to volunteer in Abbotsford.

Surrey Libraries: Filing Personal Tax Return

Surrey Libraries are offering free clinics for those eligible, at City Centre, Guildford and Strawberry Hill branches. A volunteer from DIVERSEcity, trained by the Canada Revenue Agency, will help prepare & electronically file (if eligible) your tax return. You must be a Surrey resident and your income falls within these guidelines: Single Person: $30,000. Single parent with child: $35,000. Each additional child: $ 2,500. Couples: $40,000. Investment income under: $ 1,000. You have a simple tax return (no self employment, no bankruptcy, no forms for deceased, no capital gains / losses and no rental income). The clinics operate on a first come, first serve basis. For details, visit the Libraries or www.surreylibraries.ca

Richmond Library: Free Income Tax Clinics

Richmond Public Library, in partnership with the Family Christian Fellowship, is offering free Income Tax Clinic to help those with a low income file their income tax returns. The clinics take place on Saturdays: April 19, and 26 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in Community Place Room at the Brighouse (Main) Branch located at 7700 Minoru Gate. If you’re a single person with a maximum income of $30,000, a couple with a maximum income of $40,000, or an adult with one child and a maximum income of $35,000, then you qualify for this free service. Sessions are 45 minutes per person and couples must sign up for one time slot each. To register, call 604-231-6413 or visit the Brighouse 2nd floor information desk. Bring all relevant documents such as T4 and T5 slips.

South Asian Seniors: Filing Income Tax Returns Free

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey informs South Asian seniors that during the tax filing period we can help you to file your income tax returns for the year 2013 free of cost from now to April 20 if you are living in Surrey / Delta. The eligibility criteria are as follows: 1. Single individual with annual income limit up to $30,000. 2. Couples with annual income up to $40,000. 3. Adult with one child annual income up to $35,000, add the income limit by $2,500 for each dependent child. Interest income not over $1,000 and this income will be included as total eligibility. With no investment income, no rental income and no partnership income, SIN card and photo identity will be required to prove the documents. If you are eligible then contact Surendra Handa at 604-507-9945.

Free Tax Clinic

Eligibility: Low income Permanent Residents who have been in Canada for 5 years or less. Locations: MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway; MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant Street. Service dates: April. Appointments: Have your PR number ready and call required: 604 254 9626 (Vancouver) or 604 438 8214 (Burnaby).

South Asian Women’s Networking Group

BYOBF Network 2-Year Celebration at Ginger 62, 1219 Granville Street, Vancouver on Thursday, April 24, 8-10 p.m. Tickets: $20 Early-bird, $25 Regular. Ticket includes complimentary canapes and a networking reception. For more information: http://byobfnetwork.com. The BYOBF Network is Metro Vancouver’s first South Asian women’s networking group that provides the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded professional women who also share and celebrate each other’s success.

Lyme Disease Awareness Seminar

Free Lyme Disease Awareness Seminar on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at Semiahmoo House, 15306 24^th Avenue, Surrey. Speakers: Dr. Ernie Murakami and Gwen Barlee. Symptoms, treatment and prevention of this multi-system dysfunction epidemic.

Beacon of Hope for Afghan Children Society

8^th Annual Benefit Concert on April 25 at 6 p.m. Help us bring hope to Afghan children at Bollywood Banquet Hall, Suite 201 – 8166 128^th Street, Surrey. Tickets: $25 per person. For more information, call 604-996-3364 or email [email protected].

South Asian Family Association: Mother & Daughter

South Asian Family Association (SAFA) is hosting their annual Mothers & Daughters – Part 6: on April 26 at 6 p.m. at Vancouver’s Fraserview Hall at 8240 Fraser Street. Come and honour your mother (or daughter) and share your personal story about mother & daughter relationships. Participate in our popular “Aaja Billo Nachiye” Dance Competition, Zumba lesson, Boliyaan competition, entertainment, open dance floor and exquisite food. Tickets available at Kamal’s Video Palace in Surrey and Main Video in Vancouver or call 778-688-3996 for only $20 for a fun-filled evening.

Sai Japa

All devotees are invited at Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of B.C. (3885 Albert Street, Burnaby) to participate in Sai Japa on Saturday, April 26 at 5 p.m. Remembrance of Samadhi Day of Satya Sai Baba. Program: 5:15-6:15 p.m. – Bhajans / Kirtan. 6:30-7:15 p.m. – Sai Japa. 7:30 p.m. – Priti Bhojan. Contact: Rajubhai at 604-327-8259,Vijaybhai at 604-986-5958, Kantibhai at 604-522-7989, or Mandir at 604-299-5922.

All Star Wrestling

Presents April Anarchy on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. At Alice Mckay Building, Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 6050A 176 Street, Surrey. Featuring former ECW, WWE, TNA Star, the Innovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer teaming with Moondog Manson to take on Kyle Sebastian & Collin Cutler aka Cougar Meat – and much more. Your host will be Scotty Sweatervest. Tickets are $20 front row, $15 ringside rows 2-4, $12 bleachers. Available at

www.allstar-wrestling.com or at Central City Comix, 10221 King George Highway, Surrey, Comics Scene at 8912 152 Street, Surrey. For more info, call 604-710-0872.

Punjabi Language Education Association

Punjabi Language Education Association’s 11th Annual International Mother Language Day on Sunday, April 27, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at Balti House Restaurant, 8220 – 120 Street (Scot Road), Surrey. This year’s function will be dedicated to the Komagata Maru Centenary. Presentations by Punjabi students. Representatives from municipal and provincial governments will share their views about the difficulties in having Punjabi language education classes started in elementary and secondary schools. The audience will also be given time to voice their opinions and engage in an open dialogue. PLEA invites everyone to be part of the annual celebration of Punjabi language. Free event. Refreshments. For more information, contact: Balwant Sanghera at 604-836-8976, Sadhu Binning at 604-437-9014, Parvinder Dhariwal at 778-838-1121 or Paul Binning at 778-889-8255.

Earth Day Pilgrimage to Burns Bog

On April 27. The annual pilgrimage engages several ethnic and religious people in a spiritual journey to connect with the environment and to celebrate the sacred ground of Burns Bog – the largest dome-peat-bog on the west coast of North America and the largest wilderness area in the urban setting of North America also. It is a home of hundreds of species of plants and animals. Join us in protecting it. All are welcome. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the entrance to the Delta Nature Reserve (beside Planet Ice Delta) with a gathering followed by pilgrimage. For further information, call Dara at 604-572-0373, Rob Dainow at 604-523-0123 or Acharya Dwivedi at 604-507-3099.

Vancouver Satsang Cultural Society

2014 South Asian Heritage Musical Celebration. Come and celebrate the struggle and successes of Indians from Canada, Guyana, Trinidad, Surinam, Mauritius and Fiji on Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m. at 2215 Pender Street East in Vancouver. Free admission. Dinner included. Contact Chamaylee at 604-945-9510 for complementary tickets.

Documentary on Sri Lankan Civil War

South Asian Film Education Society (SAFES) & South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD) present “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields Of Sri Lanka” (2014), a 49-minute documentaryin English by director Callum Macrae on Sunday, May 4, 2-6 p.m., in Room 1800, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. The documentary is on the last days of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009 and is a devastating indictment of the human rights violations by the Sri Lankan army. Admission is free. RSVP Chin Banerjee: [email protected]

Shakti Dance

Presents “Five Faces’ – a montage of five unique Bharata Natyam dance performances by Anusha Fernando and Sujit Vaidya. Written and narrated by Anusha Fernando.Visual art by Sue Leibik. On Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Norman Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver. Tickets: $20 / $15 for children, seniors and arts workers. Tickets available at Banyen Books (604) 737-8858 and Gaia’s Fair Trade (604) 886-7117. For information, contact [email protected] or (604) 733-3439.

Indo-Africa Charitable Society Charity Event

For the past seven years, Indo-Africa Society has been raising funds to provide free essential services to the poor in rural Gujarat, India, and rural Uganda such as medical camps, medication, water wells, meals and other amenities that we in the west take for granted. Free meals are also offered on a monthly basis to the homeless in Vancouver. On Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m. at Riverside Banquet Hall, 14500 River Road, Richmond. Tickets: Adults – $25. Children under 12 – $10. Table of 10 – $225. Keynote address by Dr. Banthia and Dr. Bhanji, Gujarati-style meal, entertainment by Vancouver singers Sheila Siekham, Pravin Narottam, and Anzoom Nathani accompanied by DJ Sham, cash bar. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call Vasant Lakhani at 604-987-1925 or email: [email protected] or visit www.vasantlakhani.com.

Quran Memorization Competition

Muslim Association of Canada is holding the 12^th Annual BC Quran Memorization Competition: * Preliminaries: Saturday, May 17 * Finals: Saturday, May 24. At MAC Masjid & Community Centre at 2122 Kingsway, Vancouver. The competition is open to participants of all ages, males and females, from all parts of the province. Participants may register for both memorization and recitation. Sponsors needed for the Quran Competition Awards – call 604-434-7526 or email: [email protected]. Registration deadline: May 10 at 11:59 p.m. Information and registration: quran.islamicinfocenter.org.

Surrey International Children’s Festival

The Surrey International Children’s Festival is celebrating their 10th Anniversary. Festival dates: May 22-24. Thursday / Friday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Surrey Art’s Centre box office. The Arts Centre Box Office can be contacted at 604-501-5566.

7th Uganda Medical Mission

Indo-Africa Charitable Society (Canada). Venue: Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited – Lugazi: medical, dental & eye camp from August 4-15 to provide primary examinations and treatments to needy Ugandans. Donation: US$650 (non-refundable) or equivalent in other currencies per person. Register by May 31 by contacting Vasant Lakhaniv(H) (604) 987-1925, [email protected], www.indoafricacharity.com,www.vasantlakhani.com. All participants arrive by August 3 committed fully till the end of the mission.

Canada India Education Council

Presents “The Business of Education” dinner event at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, on Friday, June 6, 5-9 p.m. Learn about BC’s new education quality assurance standards (EQA) and examine the confluence of ‘business’ with education. How do we measure ‘ROI’? BC is committed to increasing international students by 50% by 2016. Interesting in attending / sponsoring? To view the agenda / speaker profiles, visit: http://canadaindiaeducation.com/bc/