By Behshad Hastibakhsh Contributing Writer IT is impossible to deny the basic human need to belong to a particular group or community, and to recognize oneself as a part of the larger social unit. This recognition requires an under- standing of what the larger social unit is composed of and how it functions. In other words, individuals often make a conscious decision related to being associated with a group or com- munity. Such decision-making is espe- ficult for the first generation of immigrants who enter Canada with their unique set of expectations and percep- tions. First-generation immigrants are often confronted with their uncertain state of identity. Often this uncertainty results in a clash of cultures that under extreme cir- cumstances leads to disintegration of families, social isolation, polarization and ghettoization of ethnic groups. There are many examples of a contin- uing negative trend towards the breakup of various social units, which results from lacking a sense of identity. For many first-generation immi- grants, Canada is, at first glance, a multi- Cultural society where various lucrative rograms are designed to meet the Sal none of the ethnic minorities. Bven n though the concept of multicultur- alism is vaguely defined and often mis- understood, it seems to have become a part of the Canadian identity. Multiculturalism is a policy of restructuring society, and promoting individual contribution towards strengthening our communities, contin- uing the process of nation-building, and using it ag a social experiment for pro- moting diversity as a unifying force. Multiculturalism is sup- posed to be a political instrument for manag- ing ethnic and racial diversity. It is also a collective process that cannot be legislated by the state but involves individual input, contribution and active involvement. So what? some may ask. Well, as we come in contact with various ethnic communities in major Canadian cities, it becomes difficult to ignore the lack of social interaction between differ- ent ethnic groups. Our cities evolve evermore into ¢ nic ghettos where firs' grants exclude themselves from the mainstream society in fear of losing the native culture. This is largely done in the name of multiculturalism which was originally designed to unite Canada as an ethnical- ly diverse country. The fear of losing one’s native cul- ture and identity is sometimes so great that first generation immigrants show a strong resistance towards the new Canadian way of life. There is a sense of fear that by trying to become Canadian they will lose their original identity. This sense of cultural insecurity is particularly great amongst the older gen- eration of immigrants whose cultural norms and values seem incompatible with the more westernized lifes:yle of their children. Thus, they face difficulty in adapting to their new environment. The younger generation of immi- grants is of course in a much better posi- tion to become socially integrated into the so-called mainstream socicty. Nevertheless, youth face other types of problems such as finding a middle ground in the daily struggle over the clash of cultures. municipal affairs ‘grants § _ We can see that the eneration of immigrants ofien finds itself in search of an identity, Not just ina formal mannez. (The s NOL just ence to what kind reniship card we carry. It isa reference to what group We associate There are ways to deal with this social problem. First. it is essential to give the first mmigrants 2 sense of can only be realized through communicanon, poli- cy implementation measures and active nt in the social and political rst generation of immigrants can particularly benefit from the latter. Second, we must emphasize the edu- cation of newcomers in this country on how to develop a sense of identity and of Canadianism. We ought to be proud of our new country, to learn more about its unique culture, including a better understanding, of multiculturalism, and to get more involved in its socio-political and eco- nomic progress. In short, each individual is obliged to do his or her part in making Canada a second home for new immigrants. — Behshad Hastibakhsh ss a Nortis Vancouver writer. The North Shore News regularly allo- cates space for reader input on a wide range of community issues in the form of guest columns. If you have a column please send it ¢/o The Editor, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, V7M 2H4 or via e-mail to trenshaw@direct.ca. Submissions must be typewritren and should be approximately 500 words. THE following is 2 brief summary of agendas for North Shore municipali- ties and schoo! districts. North Vancouver City Council: Monday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m. 1997 annual budget strategies, Zero Tolerance of Violence Against Women poli- cy; revenue generation, recom- mendations from the chairman of the Revenue Generation . ‘Committee. For full agenda Bruce Hawkshaw at 985-7761. West Vancouver District Council: Monday, Feb. 7:45 p.m. P| ication fey licensed outdoor _ scating, Olympia Souvlaki House, 1425 Marine Dr.; tree-cutting and runoff problems, Rockcliffe development area; request for _noise bylaw exemption, filming in Lighthouse Park. For full agenda information, contact municipal clerk Margaret Warwick at 925-7005. North Vancouver Dis- trict: Monday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. For full agenda details see below. North Vancouver School District: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m. Information and proposals: referendum propos- EI /technology; Education Week; sexual /personal harass- ment policy; trustee reports. For full agenda information, contact 987-8141. West Vancouver School Board: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m. Regular meeting. Budget recommendations from the community. For full agenda information, contact 98I- 1000. Bay 6 oF nipre » bbignds. 7 ; : ; ie jae B in io oe | my n additional : 2 a a teh Jor om . 2 Mute. “A rtipe information, contact city clerk: “TJAYLORMOTIVE BRAKE SPECIALISTS Pigs: '6.C.A.A.- A.R.A.- APPROVED BRAKES = LIFETIME WARRANTY Council Meeting Agenda (on shoes orpadsy TALKING OUR 328TH YEAR . « CONSULTATION 299-9000 February 10, 1997 — 7:00 p.m. 176 PEMBERTON AVE.N.VAN. 985-7455 Lzl4isl. Fe 1.'Delegation - Ms. Mary Yuen - Burning in Fireplaces . hag | aut 2. Development Variance Permit 334.1 - 1598 Pemberton Avenue : ' o2,- 001987 BOOKCASE SALE (addition of reuractable canvas roof for Cactus Club Restaurant) 3 ft. wide to 6 ft. wide MEMBER & Name: Wlaney a Disttiet ofeNerihke vancouver. . 3. Development Variance Permit 368.0 - 3151 Woodbine Drive . (to allow. glass canopy over existing open balcony) 4. Development Variance Permit 180.0 - 360 East Windsor Road (nd storey addition to exceed height of existing house) 5. Development Variance Permit 178.0 - 629 Blueridge Avenue (renovation to exceed height of existing house) 6. Development Variance Permit 176.0 - 3802 St. Pauls Avenue (2nd storey addition to exceed height of existing house) 7. Burning in Fireplaces (environmentaV/health impacts) 8. Bylaw 6926 - Rezoning Bylaw 1067 (Murdo Frazer Neigh.) 9. Bylaw 6929 - Subdivision Control Bylaw, 1956, Amending Bylaw 54 (lot size requirements in Murdo Frazer SFZ) 10. Bylaw 6939 - Rezoning Bylaw 1072 (Norwood/Queens Neigh.) 11. Bylaw 6940 - Subdivision Control Bylaw, Amending Bylaw 56 (Norwood/Queens Neighbourhood) 12. Child Care Grants Advisory Committee Appoinment 13. Pet Stores - Treatment of Animals 14, TransAction 2002/Transport 2021 - BC Transit Service Plan 15. 1997 UBCM Convention Resolution - Preventative Health ‘te FES hi 7 oi fie hemhi Ps ATEENEL Anes — feel better, TL look Better, “7m. eating | bette ind oT even: sleep bette Natural ‘Blue Green White Burgundy unfinished 6ft. high | Fue Sft high | on 4 ft. high 3 ft. high or? * Construction “at . . es Opening Soon, : Your choice of sizes & finish <_ locally crafted. Priced from *159™ : wee by an 87 1009) G8h saBT Bb2 ra . For more information refer to our Web Page Set : Ee or call the’ Clerk's Office at 990-2211 - 435-3389. : “BBB THLE 475 8002 i sett 3 Nhat setye Mi No Mit hs hae hbe Soh