Newsline Canada

Record Level For House Sales in Toronto

http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/jan/msg00019.html

Sales of resale homes in the Toronto area hit record levels for 2002, but the year ended with a whimper, not a bang, for realtors.

According to figures released by the Toronto Real Estate Board yesterday, sales of resale homes were off 25 per cent in December, with 3,589 transactions compared with 4,762 in December of 2001.

The average price of a home also increased, 9 per cent to $275,371 at the end of 2002 from $251,508 at the end of 2001.

Canada ~ Vice-Principal of Holy Name of Mary School in Mississauga strangled by husband

http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/Jan/msg00020.html

A 56-year-old Mississauga man strangled his wife and then killed himself early this morning in what Peel Regional police are calling a murder-suicide.

The bodies of 56-year-old Emmanuel David and his 52-year-old wife Victoria David were found dead at the couple's Willowbank Trail home by police after one of their daughters called 911.

Victoria David was a highly regarded educator, in just her second year as vice-principal at Holy Name of Mary on Mississauga Rd., north of the Queen Elizabeth Way.

She had been promoted to the girls' school — so popular that student applicants are chosen by annual lottery — after a teaching career at Loyola Catholic Secondary School.

Dating Services in Canada

"My clients want to be introduced to others who are an East-West blend, because they want to maintain and express their links to language, food, religion etc., with their Western influences," explains Mark Paes of Supra International Introductions. The Toronto-based agency is one of the many transforming matchmaking from an "auntie's" pastime to a pay-for-fee service in the South Asian community.

See article at http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/Jan/msg00012.html

U.S. Government Wants Information On You

http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/Jan/msg00011.html

WASHINGTON—The U.S. government wants detailed information about every person who comes to or leaves the country by plane or boat, and for the first time will require American citizens to fill out forms detailing their comings and goings.

Rules proposed yesterday by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) seek more information from travellers than under current law and extend the requirements to U.S. citizens and others previously exempted. They also include a system to allow quicker cross-checking databases and matching records of arrivals and departures. The rule, which will require tracking data for millions of travellers, extends to all passengers and crew on all commercial airlines, cruise ships, and cargo flights and vessels, with the exception of most ferries. Commercial buses and trains are not affected, nor is private transportation, which accounts for much of the non-commercial Canada-U.S. border traffic.

On the New Kenya

http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/Jan/msg00006.html

Excerpt

Kenyans won independence from Britain nearly four decades ago, in 1963. But until this week's elections their democracy was not mature. A single establishment party held sway for that whole period.

No longer. Mwai Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition has ousted outgoing president Daniel arap Moi's long-entrenched Kenya African National Union party, in the freest, fairest and most competitive ballot ever.

Kenyans repudiated KANU by a wide 2-to-1 margin, which was led by Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of revered founding
president Jomo Kenyatta.

This marks the end of a discouraging era and the beginning of a new hope. And not just for Kenyans.

N.B.

Kibaki's children are Judy Wanjiku, first born and mother of Joy Jaimie Marie, Kibakis first grand child. Judy is followed by the 39 year old Jimi, who is married to Sheryl Anne and together they have Mwai Jnr.

Sheryl Anne Vianna(maiden name) is the daughter of Alfred Vianna of Mombasa.

The Permanent Resident Card
By Aswami K. Datt
From India Journal

The Canadian government has introduced important changes for immigrants with Bill C-11, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. One such change is the Permanent Resident Card (PR Card). The PR card is a status document that forms the proof of one's permanent resident status in Canada.

The PR card will be required as of December 31, 2003 for all permanent residents (including their children) who return to Canada from travel abroad. The PR card replaces the IMM 1000 Record of Landing Form as the status document needed by Canadian permanent residents re-entering Canada.

Goa News Clips

GOA-US flight by Sept 2003: Direct flights to and from Goa to the Gulf countries, Europe and the United States of America will materialize by September 2003, with presently the charter flights being opened to all Non-Resident Indians. Tourism in the State will receive a short in the arm with the Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shahnawaz Hussain having given a not to the expansion of Dabolim airport at the cost of Rs.125 crore. Hussain also agreed to expedite the construction of Mopa International Airport. (GT)

Quiet holiday for PM: Truly keeping with his intention of spending a quiet holiday at Benaulim in Goa, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his entourage just did that during his stay at the majestic Taj Exotica. The prime minister,who is accompanied by his foster daughter, her husband, grand children and others from the Prime Minister's Office, will be on a holiday here in Goa till January 1, 2003. (H)

Goa to party on New Year despite threat
From: http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=5248

An estimated 300,000 foreign tourists have arrived in Goa so far this year, compared to last year’s figure of 270,000, said N Suryanarayana, director of tourism. The tourism industry here is looking up despite the fears of terrorists attacks during Christmas and New Year.

Goa is a haven for tourists: Goa is firmly established as a safe and friendly tourist destination and is hardly affected by the occasional outburst of bad media publicity. However, it should rope in the west's eco-tourist while it stillcan, observed Sally Maher, who has completed a three-year-degree course BSc (Hons) on International Tourism Management from the Plymouth University. (Valentino Fernandes in GT)

Beach cleaning: The exercise of collecting plastic and other waste materials from the beaches has commenced much to the relief of the tourists and shack owners. Once again the work of privatisation of beach cleaning along Goa's coastline has been awarded to different parties from 1 December on trial basis. (GT)

Sound and extortion: "The New Year and Christmas celebrations revolve around the dances that are organised both by the hotels and the scores of event managers…The festive season also becomes regrettably an occasion for extortion for the police. The billion dollar question of whether or when a dance or festivity will be stopped just when the tempo is picking up depends entirely on the personnel of the concerned police station being paid off." (Edit in Herald)

New Delhi seeks to draw participation of Goan NRIs: New Delhi is plans to host a meet of NRIs, from different parts of India from Jan 9 to 11. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the organisers, made an attempt to draw the participation of Goan expats. The meet aims to "understand the NRIs/PIO(persons of Indian origin) sentiments about India, create a policy framework for a sustained and productive interaction, and acquaint the Indian people with the achievements of the Indian diaspora and their expectations from India". It also aims to create a network of the Indian Diaspora across 110 countries globally, and "recognise the contribution" made by expats towards"improving India's relationship with the host countries". Ficci can be contacted for further details at wrc@ficci.com or ficciwrc@vsnl.net (Frederick Noronha fred@bytesforall.org on goanet)

Goa still groping to find out size and spread of its Diaspora http://www.goacom.com/news/news2002/dec/msg00067.html
By Frederick Noronha

PANAJI (Goa), DEC 28 -- Goans have been migrating overseas for generations now, but India's smallest state still lacks statistics on how many people of Goan origin are scattered across the globe.

"We don't even know how many non-resident (Goan) accounts are existing in Goa. Yet in one branch at Palolem in Canacona (a remote south Goan beach-village in an area where migration has picked up in recent decades) there are as many as 4000 nonresident accounts," said NRI Goa Facilitation Centre chairman Chandrakant Keni.

Mid-day meal scheme: The Centrally sponsored midday meal scheme is all set to be launched in a phase manner proposing to cover three talukas from January 27. It will, however, be restricted only to government primary schools, and initially cover Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari talukas.

Announcements

Panorama India is association with the Consulate General of India is celebrating India’s Republic Day.

Sunday January, 26, 2003 1:00 pm to 6:00pm
At Sir John A. Mcdonald Collegiate Institute
2300- Pharmacy Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario
Ticket: $3.00 per person
Food, Costumes, Garments, Jewellery Stalls etc
Performings Artists - folk, Bhangra, and classical dancers.
Contact: M. Bhat - 416-293-9370
Information from India Journal

Events

Date	Organization	Event
Feb 8	Knights of Columbus - Christ The King Council	VALENTINE DANCE Knights of Columbus - Christ The King Council Saturday, Feb 8, 2003 6.30 p.m. - 1.00 am At Christ The King Church Hall, 3495 Confederation Pkwy, Mississauga Tickets $25/person Band: New Illusion DJ: Glen & Malcolm Contacts: Cruz Fernandes 905 712 3378 - Roy Almeida 905 273 3868
Feb 15	The Playmates	VALENTINES DAY - GALA DINNER AND DANCE Brought to you by: The Playmates Date: February 15th 2003 - 6.30 p.m. onwards Venue: Brampton Banquets Band: Blind Fold Test Tickets: Adults $35 - Children 5-12: $15 Under 5 free. Contacts: Hilary D'Souza 905 565 8236 - Tony Rodrigues 905 458 8602 Godfrey Mathias 905 814 6138 - Kenneth D'Souza 416 446 1325
Mar 1	Goan Overseas Association	Carnival Dance
June	Goan Charitable Organization	Walkathon
Sep 13	Nairobi Goan School Ex-students	Gala dance commemorating 75th anniversary

People Places and Things

Brampton's Maria Britto

From: Toronto Star.
Jan. 3, 2003. 07:28 AM

Brampton's biggest booster
Took on Toronto as board of trade's youngest president

BILL TAYLOR
STAFF REPORTER


Photo: Andrew Stawicki/Toronto Star

"I sing for weddings," she says. "My mother was a trained opera singer in India. I was born in Bangalore. And I'm classically trained."

Three decades later, Pierre Trudeau's famous comment about living next to the United States still rings true for Maria Britto ... "like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

Except Britto sees Brampton sharing a cot with Toronto. Who knows when it might roll over and take all the bedclothes?

"Toronto," she says with conscious understatement, "is always there. And some things Toronto does will always affect us."

http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/Jan/msg00007.html

Mississauga Mayor Hazel (82) Keeps Going

TheStar.com - Editorial: Don't stop, Hazel
Toronto Star Editorial: Don't stop, Hazel
Jan. 8, 2003.

Click to see Photo of Mayor at International Goan Convention Mass in 1988 http://goacom.com/community/associations/goaont/convention/photos9.htm

Mississauga's tiny, perfect dynamo is set to extend her dynasty. Hazel McCallion has made official what many had been hoping -she intends to run in November's municipal election.

Of course, don't expect to see her campaigning at bus stops or putting up lawn signs.

What's the point in a city where you're known simply as Hazel? Her certain victory will make it 10 straight elections, an impressive, well-deserved political legacy.

McCallion has always said she'll quit the day she tires of the job. Remarkably, after more than two decades as mayor, there's no hint of that happening.

Of course, political longevity isn't always a good thing. Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman is an example of a veteran politician past his prime.

Why would there be? Mississauga is thriving. Its population grows by leaps and bounds and now tops 600,000. New businesses spring up daily. The civic administration is well-run and the city is debt-free.

And while the sprawling subdivisions are not everyone's example of sound urban planning - even McCallion admits that mistakes have been made with suburban sprawl -there's no denying Toronto's western neighbour has become a big influential city in its own right under her stewardship. Not that McCallion is content to rest on this enviable record. This year she wants to make Mississauga a stand-alone city, independent of Peel Region. She's already preparing the campaign to make it happen. No Florida tans for this mayor, who rarely vacations. No chauffeur either. McCallion still drives herself.

McCallion, who is 81 going on 35, keeps a pace that would have someone half her age stumbling. Her appointment book is filled and her days typically stretch 12 hours and more.

To local politicians, especially in other 905 communities, McCallion is a lesson in how to get things done. And candidates for the Toronto mayor's seat should also take heed of how she gets things done.

To seniors, she's a shining example that life doesn't stop at 65. It doesn't even have to slow down. She makes all of us wish we had half her energy.

It's great to hear she's sticking around.