National Francophone Immigration Week is here! Francophone communities across Canada have been celebrating the annual event this week. Image source: Immigration Francophone. French is one of Canada’s two official languages. While most French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec, many dynamic Francophone communities can be found in other provinces or territories across Canada.
Low Income Monthly Pass in Calgary
Starting April 2017, the low income monthly pass are provided on a sliding scale, which is a pricing system that assesses income and assign a purchase price based on income. It means the less a resident earns, the less he/she will need to pay for a low income monthly pass. The sliding scale is based on the applicant’s income and …
Special Air Quality Statement in effect for Calgary
A smoke event will occur in western and central Alberta beginning today. Forest fires in BC are generating huge amounts of smoke over western Canada. This smoke will cross the Rockies through the day today. Due to the smoke, the AQHI will likely reach above 10, or very high risk, in parts of western and central Alberta today. There is …
Banff Day Trip for Seniors
Immigrant Services Calgary’s seniors spent a full day at Banff National Park as part of our Canada 150 celebration. They visited the Banff Park Museum where they received a guided tour and learned about Banff’s natural history and preservation efforts. They also visited Bow Falls and the historic Cave and Basin site. The seniors did a lot of walking, sightseeing …
Four Things You Need to Know this Halloween in Calgary
Halloween is celebrated in Canada on October 31st or around the time leading up to this day. The occasion has Celtic origins and according to Celtic beliefs, spirits and the dead cross over into the world of the living on this night. To celebrate, many people host costume parties, carve pumpkins, make Halloween themed treats and decorate their houses. Many …
Happy Hanukkah
Hanukkah – also known as the “Festival of Lights” or the “Festival of Dedication” – is a Jewish Festival, starting on the 25th day of Kislev, according to the Hebrew calendar. It lasts for eight days. In 2015, Hanukkah begins at sunset on Sunday, December 6, and ends on Monday, December 14. Lighting candles is one of the important Hanukkah …
Clocks go back one hour on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 2:00 am
Daylight Saving Time (DST), or summer time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 2:00 a.m. Clocks are set back one hour. The changes will affect many cities in Canada. The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time is to save energy and make better use of the natural daylight. It was first put into practice by the German government in …
October 31, 2015 Halloween
Halloween is celebrated in Canada on October 31st or around the time leading up to this day. The occasion has Celtic origins and according to Celtic beliefs, spirits and the dead cross over into the world of the living on this night. To celebrate, many people host costume parties, carve pumpkins, make Halloween themed treats and decorate their houses. Many …
Did you know? – Cultural Fact
Languages of Africa Overview: 1,250 to 3,000 languages 7 major language families: Afro Asiatic Nilo Saharan Niger Congo A Niger Congo B (Bantu) Khoisan Austronesian Indo- European *********************************************************** Nilo-Saharian languages Where: Central and Eastern Africa What: 140 languages spoken Who: 11 million people Examples: Luo, Kanuri, Songhay, Nubian, Dinka, Nuer, Maasai, Fur Niger-Congo languages Where: Two thirds of Africa …
Federal Election Trivia
On August 2, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper requested writs of election for a federal election from Governor General David Johnston. This kicked off one of the longest federal election campaigns in Canadian history, which will last 11 weeks (78 days). In normal circumstances, general elections are held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year after …