A six-day conference, titled “Shades of Brown: Challenges, Myths and Promises”, focusing on the diversity of South Asians and their unique education requirements will be held July 8-12 at York University, wrote Brampton’s South Asian Focus July 4.
The maiden international education conference will look at issues faced by the community, how they can be tackled, and the manner in which academic institutions can help in this process. Topics to be discussed range from gangs, depression and alcoholism to religion and its impact in school, meditation and the laughter clubs, said the paper.
The conference is being supported by a range of organizations including Peel Multicultural Council, South Asian Teachers Organisation, All Indian Teachers for Educational Research, York University, Simon Fraser University, Peel District School Board, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, BC Teachers Federation, and Council of Agencies Serving South Asians.
The conference seeks to provide exposure for the work that South Asians are doing in the field of research; compile and distribute a South Asian resource list to support teachers who wish to introduce literature and resources that reflect their classroom; and develop and distribute a South Asian literacy resource where exercises that reflect the community's experience across the curriculum can be incorporated into any classroom.
- The South Asian International Educational Conference runs July 8 to12 at York University and was organized to help participants develop a sound understanding of the challenges, myths and promises for Canada's South Asian community, wrote the Brampton Guardian July 4. The event is organized and co-sponsored by the South Asian Teachers Organisation (SATO), All Indian Teachers for Educational Research and the Faculty of Education at York University.
Scholarship winner heads for York
Melissa Elliott, a Lower Mohawk from Ohsweken, Ont., is one of eight Aboriginal students from across Canada to receive a scholarship from the Royal Band of Canada this year, wrote the Dunnville Chronicle July 4. All winners of the 13th annual RBC Aboriginal Student Awards program receive $4,000 annually for their education expenses for a maximum of four years at university, or two years at college. Elliott has been accepted into York University's International Studies program, an area that has interested her since participating in the 2004 Elders and Youth Summit on Six Nations.
Surprise contestant enjoying her pageant
Brampton teenager Stephanie Semple never expected she would be competing in a pageant. As far as she was concerned, beauty pageants were for television, not real life, wrote the Brampton Guardian July 4. But after winning the title of Miss Petite Brampton 2007 at a regional competition held in March by Miss Canada Globe Productions, Semple's views changed. The 17-year-old decided to try out for the competition after hearing about it from her modeling agency.
The next step for Semple is to compete for the Miss Canada Petite 2007 title in August at the nationals. She is also looking forward to graduating from Mayfield Secondary School, and beginning her first year in psychology at York University. Semple hopes to win the Miss Canada Petite title but also says she would be happy either way,
On air
- Bridget Stutchbury, biology professor in York’s Faculty of Science & Engineering, spoke about disappearing songbirds on CBC Radio (St. John’s, Nfld.) July 3.