Canada

The Best Food

2019-08-21T02:59:33+00:00June 23rd, 2019|Allan Pole|

    This scene got me thinking while we stayed in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia on a family holiday.  At our campground, I saw a big, beautiful slide-out motorhome with a Jeep parked beside it. The spare tire cover on the Jeep proclaimed, “Life is good.” It struck me, “Is having a large motorhome,

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An Open Door — Allan Pole

2018-04-17T22:10:49+00:00April 17th, 2018|Allan Pole|

When a guest was received in Palestine 2,000 years ago the host performed certain courtesies.  There was the kiss of welcome.  Water was provided to wash the dust from his feet, and oil to anoint his head.  The guests would recline at the meal and there was free access for the passer-by to stop and […]

Openness Starts Between the Ears — Allan Pole

2018-02-18T10:13:37+00:00February 18th, 2018|Allan Pole, General Interest|

Marty was touring Europe just as they were breaking down the Berlin Wall.  Wanting to get some historic pieces of the Wall, he headed for Berlin.  Because he found the hotels there beyond his means, he asked a young policeman if he knew of an inexpensive place where he could stay.  The policeman told Marty […]

Seasonal, Secular, Sacred Christmas — Mary Cummins

2023-12-07T06:23:05+00:00December 20th, 2016|Christmas, ESL Classroom, ESL Tips|

  What is Christmas? In many places in the world, Christmas is the most popular holiday in the year, especially for Christians. It is very nostalgic for many people—the sights, the sounds, the smells—and time spent with family and friends. Since Canada is in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas comes in the winter season. Thus, we associate Christmas […]

Welcome One Another and Be a ‘Helper’ — Amber Wylie-Moerman

2016-09-05T09:48:18+00:00September 5th, 2016|Amber Wylie-Moerman, General Interest, Intercultural Communication|

I saw a quote recently, posted on Facebook that read, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’ (Fred Rogers).” We see a lot of scary things in the news lately […]

Soul Food Feeds Friendships—Shannon Sutherland Smith

2016-06-17T09:47:48+00:00June 17th, 2016|General Interest, Intercultural Communication, Shannon Sutherland Smith|

Last month, women from Afghanistan, Peru, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Cyprus, Brazil and many other countries squeezed into our church kitchen to season bread crumbs, peel potatoes, baste turkeys and set a table that just seemed to get longer and longer as the morning progressed and we realized just how many people we were going to […]

Middle East Expert Speaking in Calgary

2016-03-16T11:22:07+00:00March 16th, 2016|General Interest|

On April 9, 2016, Middle East expert Peter Twele (MA in Linguistics) will speak at our full-day spring training event Building Bridges: Responding to the Refugee Crisis. Peter carried out research through a number of institutions while residing in the Middle East for 11 years, and for the past 20 years has consulted for various Middle […]

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How to Help Refugees with their English—Dale Fisher

2016-01-19T10:23:49+00:00January 19th, 2016|Dale Fisher, ESL Classroom, ESL Tips, Intercultural Communication|

Many groups are responding generously to the call to sponsor Syrian refugees. This is wonderful because these people will need this support, guidance and friendship for many years. CESLM can help with this process because we have a wealth of experience and resources to offer. All refugees will be eligible for free LINC classes, unless […]

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Emigration: Through the Eyes of a Child, Part Two—Karin Kossman

2016-01-19T09:08:20+00:00January 19th, 2016|Emigration, Immigration Stories, Karin Kossman, Through the Eyes of a Newcomer|

Karin Kossman (Jorgensen) emigrated from Denmark to Canada when she was eight years old. Here, she shares part two of her story about life on the ship as they leave Copenhagen for North America. These are Karin’s own words, but they have been mildly edited for clarity. Part One can be viewed here. LIFE ON THE […]

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Syrian Refugees: How Can We Help

2015-12-01T09:17:14+00:00December 1st, 2015|General Interest, Intercultural Communication|

 The Syrian refugee crisis has been prevalent in the media lately, along with Canada’s response. Our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has committed to providing shelter for 25,000 refugees who will arrive in Canada in the coming months. Of these, approximately 2,300 will make Calgary their new home*. Last week, sixteen refugees arrived, reuniting with family they […]

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The Golden Road to Being a Canadian Citizen – Adeline Tataille-Knisely

2015-09-10T12:20:01+00:00September 10th, 2015|Adeline Tataille-Knisley, General Interest, Immigration Stories, Through the Eyes of a Newcomer|

I’m very humble and feeling blessed to be granted as a Canadian citizen. It wasn’t something that I even hoped for, but in everything God always has a plan for those who believe. Before I met my Canadian husband, I met a Canadian pastor who was willing to invest in me and supported me to […]

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The Struggles Facing Newcomers in Schools

2015-09-04T10:29:44+00:00September 4th, 2015|ESL Classroom, General Interest, Immigration Stories, Intercultural Communication, James Edel|

While many of us have a keen interest in issues facing adult newcomers in Calgary, children of immigrant parents have their own set of struggles.  In the September 2015 issue of Albertaviews, an article entitled “Language Limbo – The urgent need for more ESL instruction in school” by Marcello Di Cintio, called for more attention […]

Child of an Immigrant; Mother of an Immigrant—Dr. Roswita Dressler

2015-07-20T10:14:11+00:00July 20th, 2015|Dr. Roswita Dressler, Immigration Stories, Through the Eyes of a Newcomer|

I grew up as a first generation Canadian. My parents came from Germany, met in Canada, got married and had children. Growing up, I had experiences similar to some of my ESL students’ children. I heard two languages, but was English dominant by the time I went to school. I ate different foods at home […]

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Emigration: Through the Eyes of a Child—Karin Kossman

2015-06-17T15:31:53+00:00June 17th, 2015|Emigration, Immigration Stories, Karin Kossman, Through the Eyes of a Newcomer|

  Headline: Copenhagen News—December 1954 “MOTHER AND SIX CHILDREN SAY GOODBYE TO THE OLD COUNTRY” We will join my father who, for seven months, made enough money blacksmithing in the vast country of Canada, in America, for our departure from our homeland, Denmark. As an eight year old at the time—one of those six children—I […]

Intercultural Communication: Gestures — Dr. Roswita Dressler

2015-05-19T10:25:35+00:00May 19th, 2015|Dr. Roswita Dressler, ESL Classroom, Intercultural Communication|

Have you ever heard the saying “A smile means the same in any language”? While this statement may be true, it might be one of the few generalizations a person can make about gestures or facial expressions being universal. Gestures are given meaning by the culture in which they are used and since they have […]

Contrasting Countries—Adeline Tataille-Knisley

2015-04-01T10:05:09+00:00April 1st, 2015|Adeline Tataille-Knisley, General Interest, Immigration Stories, Through the Eyes of a Newcomer|

There is a huge difference between a developed country and a developing country or third world country. When you holistically look at a developed country like Canada you see: The people has access to potable water Access to education The people has access to work Access to health care Good infrastructure Then let’s take a […]

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Home Away From Home Part 1—Yaa Serwaa Somuah

2015-03-09T12:35:11+00:00March 9th, 2015|Immigration Stories, Through the Eyes of a Newcomer, Yaa Serwaa Somuah|

Note from the editor: Yaa Serwaa Somuah shares with us a part of her story about coming to Canada and how she learned to embrace her native language and culture amidst the Canadian one. It has been lightly edited for clarity, but the words are her own. Language is a medium of communication in humankind. Different languages are carriers […]

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