Muluba Habanyama

Thirty-seven years old. In 2030, I will be 37 years old. In 2030, the AIDS epidemic will be eliminated. I hope. According to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or "Global Goals" that's the plan. I pray to God they're right. I can wait till 37, but if I'm being honest, I expect to be waiting much past that.

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I am a part of this country. So is my father. So is my mother. Do not erase our experiences. Do not claim that you can separate one aspect of this man from all the others. My family did not escape from under the foot of a dictator to live in a country where its leader praises and celebrates that same dictator.

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The world is changing rapidly. We have witnessed the success of the Brexit campaign in the UK, and the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. Amid the social and political turmoil, some political groups and social movements are emerging to exploit this climate of tension and fear and make political and financial gains out of it. Canada has not been immune of this.

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Quite simply, the values espoused by Donald Trump and his supporters do not align with the values that are held by the majority of Canadians -- and they certainly do not align with the values that are held by the vast majority of Vancouverites. Bottom line: there is no room for Trump in our city.

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Unchecked hatred that appears in blogs and other online venues has the potential to lead to ugly incidents. We cannot allow such darkness to destroy the social fabric of Canada. Indeed, it was this unchecked hate speech that has indoctrinated many in Pakistan to turn a blind eye to the oppression of Ahmadi Muslims and other religious minorities.

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Last week, physicians in Ontario were stunned to hear that one of their colleagues, who by all accounts was a bright vivacious woman, had died, allegedly due to domestic abuse, or Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as it's now called. She leaves behind young children, and a legacy of kindness, health care advocacy and caring.

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Unable to pinpoint a specific cause for the deaths of their last two remaining belugas, the Vancouver Aquarium was left to speculate. And speculate they did, deftly pointing their finger at the critics of whale captivity that have been an ever-present thorn in their side. Ask yourself: Are these the actions one expects from a world-class science-based conservation charity? Or are they the public relations tactics more typical of people with something to hide?

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In Canada, women remain underrepresented in the STEM fields, making up 22 per cent of the STEM workforce. Women earn nearly half of the bachelor's degrees in science but only a third of the PhDs. They are also underpaid, with a 7.5 per cent wage gap.

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A beautiful envelope has arrived at your home addressed to the family and as you open it, you realize it's a wedding invitation. Now as parents of a toddler, you may have mixed feelings about the invite. You may not be sure whether you would like to bring your toddler with you or not -- and that's perfectly natural! But if you decide to bring your little one along, keep these tips in mind.

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In 2013, when the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Haiyan, thousands of people were made homeless and to this date, still can't celebrate Christmas like they used to. But despite poverty and hard times, Filipinos always find a way to give gifts and celebrate. Many charities, like World Vision, continue to work with the people in the country to rehabilitate and rebuild.

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Imagine what could happen if, instead of frantically trying to find another place to go or another activity to do, more children and adults slowed down and started to enjoy simple, playful, age-appropriate learning activities and conversations?

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For some, the stretch of Christmas and New Year's is an endurance test of their mental health. It's too much family, too much togetherness and way too much dysfunction. They have shut down all tidings of comfort and joy in an effort to emotionally survive. As the countdown towards New Years continues, they have, more than likely, felt their grumpiness quotient ratchet up to new highs.

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I'm not a marijuana consumer -- never have been, never will be. But, I understand business planning and marketing.  Marijuana is a retail product for recreational consumers. For most users, it's not a staple item (after all, it's "recreational" remember) so, they don't always plan ahead. Impulse sales, product expertise, advice from local sales staff, and immediate fulfillment are paramount. Mail-order may be a complementary channel for some users, but it won't be the only channel. The idea it can be, is simply a non-starter.  

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It's not just the U.S. that is experiencing an increase in hate, it's been here at home -- Toronto -- for quite some time. And it's been landing on our doorsteps. It's the misogynist, racist, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim and homophobic piece of garbage that calls itself the innocuous sounding "Your Ward News."

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Based on the Auditor General's analysis, Ontario businesses are expected to send $466 million to California and Quebec under cap and trade by 2020. And by 2030, businesses will have sent about $2.2 billion. That's all money leaving the Ontario economy to achieve almost nothing. Sadly, it's just the beginning.

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In September 2015, Port Alberni mom Candice Servatius was shocked to learn that her two elementary-aged children had participated in an aboriginal smudging ceremony. The district claims that these are "cultural practices." This is true, but misses the point.

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From the time we enter high school we are told that this type of talk is harmless, good-natured joking and if we react negatively, we must lack a sense of humour. What we fail to mention is that when you dehumanize people in conversation, their needs no longer count.

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Calgarians and Albertans alike have been waiting for this announcement for a long time. After a decade of inaction, we are finally seeing progress on this file thanks to the leadership of our prime minister and my cabinet colleagues. We are moving forward on Canada's energy future.

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Volunteering gives global citizens a tangible way to contribute to education, health, governance, sustainable livelihoods, security and peace, environment, gender equality and social inclusion. It provides opportunities for everyone to play an active and meaningful part in the international effort to reduce poverty and inequality.

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Having a positive classroom environment and solid relationships with both students and parents can make any teaching professional's life so much easier. But a happy classroom, comfortable students, and supportive parents don't simply happen by themselves. Instead, they're the result of hard work and preparation.

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Every time you send out a resume, it competes with 250 other resumes. If you use a confusing or underwhelming format, you run the risk that your resume ends up in the trash. What if we told you that existing resume formats could easily do the job for you?