@nformer

Congress Works to Open Eyes to
Canadian Hispanic Community

he National Conference and 10th
Annual General meeting of the
Canadian Hispanic Congress (CHC) was
_ held at Capilano College November | to
~ 3. It was the first time the conference
was held in British Columbia.

Anthropology faculty member
Bernardo Berdichewsky is the current
president of the CHC and one of the
organizers of the event, which was co-
sponsored by the ethnic and cross-
cultural program at Capilano College.

Participants were greeted on the first
evening by Vancouver East Liberal MP
Anna Terrana and Dr. Bill Gibson, vice
president of Academic Affairs at
Capilano College. They were followed
by keynote speaker, the Honourable
Ujjal Dosanjh, provincial minister
responsible for Multiculturalism.

Almost 200 people attended the three-
day event, which included several
workshops on issues relevant to the
Hispanic community. Delegates came
from most of the Canadian provinces,
with the bulk of the participants coming
from B.C.

“The weekend was very successful,”
says Bernardo, who was re-elected
president of the Congress for another
two-year term. “We were able to
accomplish all that was in the program.”

One of the main objectives of the
CHC is to coordinate the work of
Hispanic organizations in the country.
As a representative of the Spanish
community in Canada, it strives to
assure its members full participation in
the economic, social, political and
cultural life of Canada.

“Tt’s not really a tight community
because people come from so many
different countries,” Bernardo explains.
“However, as a Canadian cultural

community, they become more united.
In Canada, they run into problems
surrounding language, culture, social
identity and changes within the family
structure. These are different than the
problems they have in their home
countries.

“There are approximately 360,000
Hispanic people in Canada; many living
at the poverty level,” Bernardo says.
“Perhaps one of the most difficult
barriers they face is one of racism.
Racism and discrimination affects
employment and unemployment. For
instance, there are doctors from El
Salvador making their living cleaning
hospitals in Canada. Many people who
have professional skills work in this
country at whatever is available. Many
Hispanic people are refugees and they
arrive with nothing but their lives. It’s
really difficult for survivors of
persecution and prison to adapt.”

The Hispanic community in Canada
is a relatively new ethnocultural
community — although not the
youngest one in the country — and was
formed after the Second World War.
This community, although unified by a
common language (Spanish), a common
culture (Hispanic), and a mostly
common religion (Catholic), is
differentiated by more than 20 national
backgrounds. The Hispanic population
is mostly young or middle age, but there
are also numerous single people and a
small amount of seniors.

“What is important for us to achieve
at these conferences is the clarification
of issues facing our community,” says
Bernardo. “It is particularly important
that we follow-up on Canadian unity.
We are planning a conference next year

to specifically deal with that issue.”

College Profiled in
Vancouver Book

C=. College is featured in a
new hardbound book, Vancouver:
The Art of Living Well. Peter C.
Newman wrote the introduction to the
book, which showcases the Greater
Vancouver area through hundreds of
brilliant full-color images.

The College Relations Department
arranged a two-page profile of the
College, featuring photographs of the
campus and its people by Edna Sakata
in Media Production Services.

The book retails for $49.95. A
discounted rate is available if an order
is placed through the College Relations
Department. Contact David
DeMuynck, Program Marketing
Supervisor, at local 2794 for more
information.

Sports Physiotherapist
Available on Campus:

part ¢ of its long-term goal to provide
a a. ee medicine clinic to serve ae

@e@= Capilano
@em College

Vol. XVIII No. 9
November 15/96