Immigration, Citizenship, and Culture Blog

Study in Canada: it makes good sense
By Stephen Fogarty September 15, 2010

If you are a student considering attending college or university away from your home town or country, you owe it to yourself to look at Canada. Similarly, if you have a family and are considering leaving your home country on a temporary or permanent basis, you would be well advised to take into account all the advantages Canada has to offer on the education. Let us point out some important facts to help you make an informed decision. Read More


Montreal: a world-class centre for classical music
By Stephen Fogarty September 7, 2010

One of the factors in choosing to visit, study in or immigrate to another city is the vibrancy of its cultural life. If you are interested in classical music, the city of Montreal is without a doubt one of its leading centres the world over. The classical music scene is so vibrant in Montreal that on a typical Sunday afternoon during the autumn, for example, you may well have eight or ten or even more high-level concerts being performed around the city. It is our pleasure to share with you some of Montreal’s classical music treasures. Read More


Canada’s proposed 2011 Census reform: Are concerns of opposition parties and the media legitimate?
By Stephen Fogarty August 30, 2010

Background to the 2011 Census of Canada reform Political controversy is brewing in Canada following an announcement by the federal government earlier this summer to make changes to the national census next time around in 2011. The government would continue to send a short, mandatory census form to every household. However, under the proposed changes, it would no longer be obligatory for about 20% of Canadians to fill up a “long-form” census. During the last census of 2006, about 2.54 million long forms were distributed in Canada with a 93% return rate, or about 2.37 million long census forms. Read More


Canada toughens its Immigrant Investor Program: will a counterintuitive strategy succeed?
By Stephen Fogarty July 14, 2010

Using counterintuitive thinking Sometimes in life better results can be achieved by using counterintuitive thinking. For example, when playing violin, by accident I may bow on a second string in addition to the string intended. So instead of playing F# on the D string, my bow ends up touching (and playing) the G string at the same time, resulting in the wrong note. To improve my accuracy, Elizabeth Adams, my violin teacher at the McGill Conservatory, suggested I begin my practice sessions playing double stops—two strings at the same time—controlling my bow to ensure I avoid playing only one string while doing so. Then, she said, practice the pieces I am working on and it will be easier to hit the (single) notes I am supposed to be playing. I have been following this recommendation for about two weeks now and my bow strokes are definitely becoming more accurate. Who would have thought that you should practice what you are supposed to be avoiding (playing two strings at once) to get better at playing one string? Counterintuitive thinking seems to be behind new, important changes to Canada’s federal Immigrant Investor Program. Read More




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