I hope 2023 has gotten off to a good start for everyone. Scroll down to check out our interviews with former Member of Parliament Andrew Cash and archivist Gloria Romaniuk.
Be sure to also check out the JPD podcast, which features more informal chats with our guests, as well as discussions on social issues and activist causes you can get involved in.
Be sure to watch all of our published interviews and stay tuned for more!
Canada is home to millions of immigrants due to its world-class infrastructure, health care, education, and quality of life. Calgary is the largest city in Alberta. There are several reasons to live in Calgary: its beautiful landscapes and low cost of living beats other cities in the country. It has been reported that Calgary saw one of the most numbers of millionaires compared to the entirety of Canada. Besides that, it is one of the most congenial places in the world.
Calgary seems to be the best place to live as opposed to other cities like Vancouver and Toronto in Canada due to the high expenses. The lovely weather and smaller population make Calgary a comfortable city to live in. What else do we need when the cost of living is low?
Most people seek to move out of Vancouver and Toronto because of extreme climate conditions and the high cost of living. If you compare Canadian cities with Calgary, it’s rich in history and loaded with immense opportunities.
The city is the home to the most affordable residential market in Canada. The good part is that there’s just 5% GST sales tax – it seems like a dream for Vancouverites! Calgary has an overall living index of 73.95 which is one of the lowest for Canadian cities.
Calgary is economically rich, with high-quality education and a well-sound healthcare system. There are tons of job opportunities for people in every field since top company headquarters are situated in the city.
From world-class scenery to A-grade quality restaurants and excellent infrastructure, Calgary is that place you want to be! After all, crime rates are among the lowest as compared to other cities in Canada. There’s fun for everyone since it’s rich in outdoor activities and sports like hockey. Besides, it’s the perfect place to opt for permanent residency and settle down.
Here is a breakdown of the monthly cost of living in Calgary!
Transportation (monthly)
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1.66
|
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | $112.00
|
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $4.00
|
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $1.93
|
Monthy household expenses
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | $2.28
|
| Rice (white), (1kg)
Meats (1 kg) |
$3.47
$14-18 |
| Eggs (regular) (12)
Vegetables |
$3.97
Starting at $2.90 |
| Living Cost (monthly)
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
$1,527.38
|
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | $2,687.80
|
Utilities (monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | $254.81
|
Source for data: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Calgary
By Rabia Khan
The new year is upon us and what better way to start afresh than with volunteering? It doesn’t matter whether you’re a student or an employee, it takes great effort to make society a better place to live in. In the current time, we all feel a little indifferent because of various factors. Loneliness, depression, and anger can be warded off by volunteering with people. In addition to strengthening their social network, volunteers focus on others, according to Harvard Health. When life seems unmotivated, volunteering regularly can provide structure. In many communities, unpaid volunteers play an invaluable role. Making your community better through volunteering is an excellent way to connect with it. People, animals, and organizations in need can benefit from even the most minor acts of kindness.
Here are some ways you can go about volunteering:
Help people in sickness
Helping people in sickness never goes out of fashion, and it keeps our humanity intact. Many groups care for the sick and disabled, from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to community clinics to the Red Cross. You can help people regardless of your medical experience.
Clean Up Drive
Often volunteering can become fun when you join hands to help the whole community and contribute a little something that uplifts your spirits. You can extend a hand by cleaning your community which can lift the quality of life in the neighbourhood. It’s a valuable activity to clean dirty trash off the street. This can assist pets, and street animals with a clean world to wander.
Provide for the homeless
Economic crises have led many people to the streets. Like everyone else, the homeless are entitled to a peaceful and comfortable life. We all need a chance and it’s time that unhoused people receive their chance to live a better life. We must step forward and help those who cannot save themselves.
Benefits you can seek through volunteering:
Interpersonal skills
People build interpersonal skills and establish social relationships through volunteering, which helps them engage in social activities. The opportunity to volunteer can provide opportunities for individuals to connect with others and engage with their community, even if he or she is shy or introverted. Thus, interpersonal skills and communication abilities can be enhanced.
Get hired
A lot of organizations and companies encourage potential volunteers, as they’re dedicated and committed to challenges. Most of the time companies look for such opportunities to hire volunteers on the spot. The young generation has more benefits when it comes to joining unpaid work at an NGO. This can later turn into a great paid opportunity. Things could also work out through recommendations for future aspirants.
Career boost
If you want to boost your career, it’s time to start volunteering. It’s no doubt that even unpaid opportunities can bring career growth in positive ways. In addition to that, being a volunteer can help you build a skill, dive deep into new challenges, and make you a better person. You will also get recognized by companies that collaborate with NGOs.
By Rabia Khan
Canada has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with thousands of job opportunities for everyone. The pandemic also resulted in transitioning job prospects for people. Ranging from white-collar to blue-collar positions, there’s plenty of space and room for every skill set. Here are the most in-demand skills and jobs in Canada in 2022.
Customer Service Representatives
If you’re excellent at communication skills and know how to solve issues with customers no matter what medium it is, a job like a customer service representative is what you must chase. This job position is well-paying and many companies are hiring with no experience needed. Without a doubt, one of the most in-demand skill and jobs in Canada in the year 2022 has to be Customer Service Representatives!
Every company is dependent heavily on software engineers today for various reasons related to mobile/online apps or computer programs. Coders make plenty of money annually, all thanks to the most desired job position in the field of engineering. In two years, Canada now demands more engineers. It is also one of the most high-paying jobs.
Many companies are pressured to hire people to help against cyber threats such as attackers, malware, and other spyware. And with growing concerns related to security issues, there is a huge shortage of cybersecurity professionals. Your responsibility is to protect the company that you work in from all possible virtual hazards.
If you’ve practiced nursing in any country, Canada will welcome you with open arms with an expected salary of about $74,000 per year. Over the past few years, the nursing field has become quite popular for job prospects.
After the pandemic hit, the life of delivery service changed drastically and that’s when companies realized the true value of delivery drivers. They benefit firms by stocking shelves with goods once they deliver them. With constant production daily, the demand for delivery drivers across Canada has greatly increased.
In 2022, accountants and financial experts became one of the most in-demand careers in Canada. They are an important branch of the office and without them, the company cannot run smoothly. Accountants are extremely great with record keeping of numbers, and confidential data related to financial institutions. If you possess a great attention to detail, you’ll love doing this job as it pays like jewels yearly!
An administrative assistant is one job that is consistently in demand. If you love to work and having a 9-5 job, then this role fits like a glove! All assistants working in an office have to follow the rules and assist swiftly in daily tasks under strict deadlines. In addition, you have to do some on-the-spot work for your boss like filing paperwork, running some important errands, etc.
By Rabia Khan
Winter and the holiday season are all about experimenting with content; the weather forecast has somehow forced us to rely on Netflix and quit us from going outside because of unexpected blizzards and stormy winds. Movies are a great piece of our lives, that shape our perspectives and bring us near to our favourite actors. As we’ve grown in recent years, positive portrayals of disabilities in movies often struck our emotional strings in the most vulnerable ways. People with disabilities are often portrayed as feeble and weak in movies, shows, or games, but we learn how strong they are as movies and society progress further. There’s even a hero with disabilities in movies now!
Here are examples of recent multimedia content with positive portrayals of disabilities.
A Beautiful Mind is a terrific movie based on Josh Nash, a well-known mathematician. The film details his heart-wrenching journey with schizophrenia. He experienced the first signs of schizophrenia during the 1950s and despite the odds, Josh Nash made history in the mathematics world as well as game theory.
The Theory of Everything is based on the life of brilliant physicist Stephen Hawking. At age 21, the genius became a victim of a deadly Lou Gehrig disease. Hawking started documenting his life after he lost the use of his limbs. He is one of the most celebrated minds to date. The Theory of Everything is considered one of the best portrayals of real-life disability.
Atypical is a popular coming-of-age Netflix series released in the year 2017. The story is quite different from other Netflix shows. Atypical tells the tale of a young teenager with autism who manages to live the life of a typical teen. Unfortunately, After the show aired, it received a negative reception for its portrayal of autism and later, the character fell victim to extreme backlash.
Games are often considered good food for the brain. The Tovertafel games are co-designed for seniors who experience dementia and those who suffer from cognitive disabilities. The intention is to improve the life quality of elderly people. These games can benefit all age groups as they can decrease agitation.
A recent release featuring mental health advocate Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building” has not only one but two characters with disabilities. The role of the deaf Theo played by actor James Caverly has become a popular character of 2022. James is deaf in real life too. The second character is actress Ali Stroker who uses a wheelchair.
“Panic” is a high-strung show that airs on Amazon Prime. It’s fun and entertaining! Each summer, graduating seniors compete in challenging competitions that transform their lives. The story of the show unfolds when an accident during panic strikes unexpectedly, and Dayna Mason becomes paralyzed. Taking part in a challenge to avenge their sister, siblings come together to make history.
One of the most beautiful movies released in 2017, The Upside focuses on a wealthy businessman’s disabled life after a devastating paragliding incident. It sews multiple emotions at once on the screen. It’s hard to ignore teary-eyed scenes and not sob. The film features legendary actor Bryan Cranston, comedian Kevin Hart, and Hollywood star Nicole Kidman.
By Rabia Khan
If you ever ask a teenager what drives them to play video games, it’s definitely the entertainment factor. Contrary to the past, games have become a part of our daily life because of the learning they bring. Playing games not only leaves you having fun but boosts skill building and learning new real-life skills. One can challenge themselves to a certain extent. It’s one of the most soothing ways to detox our minds and cope with several mental health issues. Here are examples of video games that help you learn real-life skills.
Minecraft
The renowned game, which debuted in 2011, is still thriving today. As slaying enemies and completing missions is entertaining, Minecraft can train you in technology and programming while you explore more. There’s no doubt that passionate gamers have constructed fantastic objects.
The educational version of Minecraft includes a plethora of courses, objectives, and syllabuses for use in the classroom. Yes, a video game is now being utilized to assist children in subjects that require analytical thinking.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a game that you must play. This aesthetic farming stimulator is cute in every possible way. There’s so much to learn while you play this game; it teaches you everything from farming techniques to valuing hygienic surroundings.
The game also helps you adapt to a pure way of life from nurturing livestock, to leveraging cooking skills, to even fishing. Besides, creating a healthy bond with your neighbours is a real-life skill in itself that this game teaches you!
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail first appeared in the 1970s and has endured several revisions. Youth have spent countless afternoons attempting to navigate their digital wagon over 2,000 kilometres far from civilization. If you go, you must choose a career (each with a distinct set of rewards), identify your partners, and buy types of equipment.
Somewhere on the route, your troop may confront disease, choked streams, freeway robbers, food scarcity, as well as other time-related obstacles. Despite the intense nature of the scenarios, players quickly understand the importance of preparing ahead of time and take judgments with said foreseeable future in the heart.
Nancy Drew Interactive Mysteries
Nancy Drew games have been always helpful in solving mysteries. You can solve cases virtually by being a detective. There’s more to things than what meets the eye! Riddles will make your brain work hard as you collect clues to solve the pieces of a mysterious puzzle. The game is packed with punchy timelines that are more than just entertainment!
One is bound to find treasures and that in itself can make your nerves crack. Nancy Drew Interactive Mysteries is something you should give a shot since such games can assist you in life-long situations.
The Sims 4
The Sims 4 has been one of the most successful games ever established and has transformed many lives. It’s a virtual reality and one that requires you to use your logic. This wonderful game train people in skills that are needed in real-life. This game will help young minds to save, invest and work towards their goal.
First, you have to design a personal avatar and select a career. You’re sent to work and generate a salary. Later you’re struck by bigger responsibilities that require investment. It’s possible to buy a house, establish a family, raise a child, or set up a company. Such games provide a significant economic perspective and teach valuable financial skills.
By Rabia Khan
The pandemic hit all of us differently, and for working-class women, it hit even harder. The issue of inequality between men and women has always existed throughout the ages. Gender pay differences have been making headlines ever since women started getting recognized for their work. During the pandemic, the reality of inequality between genders was seriously addressed. Several studies predicted that women were vulnerable even before Covid hit the employment sector.
Women workers and gender equality in the workplace have been studied by researchers at Simon Fraser University and the University of Saskatchewan in relation to the pandemic’s commercial issues. Due to the persistent pay gap between men and women, including imbalance in the most affected sections, women lost a greater number of employment opportunities during the pandemic. This should be enough to wake up young women who are pursuing to make it big in their jobs.
Pay pain points between men and women highlighted during the pandemic
According to Statistics Canada data from the Labour Force Survey, women workers in the city of Ontario took home earnings of $0.89 for every $1.00 men earned in 2021. The survey proves that the gender gap has narrowed. Due to many reasons, women have also worked fewer hours than men.
Women lose their sense of seniority because of caregiving roles they’re forced upon and are likely to work part-time rather than full-time because of expectations to run a household. Women struggle to overcome the gender gap and disparity even if they’re highly qualified. Alberta and British Columbia saw the highest gender wage gap over the past few years. Women indulge in unpaid work as opposed to men.
According to Pearson Global Learner Survey 2021, the future shines bright for women who belong to the ‘Gen Z’ category. The survey revealed that Gen Z women predicted that gender equality at work would improve by 36%, whereas millennials predicted it would improve by 25% and Baby Boomers predicted it by 29%.
It is also revealed that when it comes to negotiating salary, men demand more than what is expected out of them, while women shy away from demanding for more. The female-to-male contribution rate decreased from 0.61 to 0.63 during the pandemic and the low percentage shows women are facing worst gender inequality. Lawmakers have not acted as they should to address the gender ratio disparity because it all boils down to spending money.
What can be done
The overall findings make it quite evident that anything that advances women’s rights helps the country and civilization across the world to grow. The virus outbreak brings that into clearer focus and presents some extremely difficult decisions. It’s time that industries and government take action to improve the lives of women.
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