Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 No 24 | Page 6

 HEADLINES PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY December 16 - 31, 2017 11955 8th Avenue, Delta, BC www.lamezagrill.com 604 501 604 0963 501 0963 11955 88th Avenue, Delta, BC • 604 501 0963 • www.lamezagrill.com • lamezagrill Parents and Grandparents Program reopening in new year Potential sponsors will soon have the opportunity to express their interest to Ottawa, ON – Canadian citizens and permanent residents will soon be able to take the first step in applying to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada, when the Parents and Grandparents Program reopens in 2018. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a new process in 2017 for application intake for sponsoring parents and grandparents to make it fairer and more transparent for applicants. Now, potential sponsors must first notify IRCC that they are interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents by submitting an “Interest to Sponsor” form. Using a random selection process, IRCC will then invite potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents. Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that the “Interest to Sponsor” form will be available at noon EST on January 2, 2018. Those who wish to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents in 2018 must first fill out this online form. It will be available until noon February 1, 2018. To help ensure the efficiency of the system and to allow as many eligible sponsors as possible to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada, it is important that only those who meet the sponsorship eligibility requirements submit an “Interest to Sponsor” form. Additional questions have been added to the 2018 version of the “Interest to Sponsor” form to help potential sponsors self-assess whether they are eligible to sponsor. (cic.gc.ca) Talking overdose: Start the conversation before it’s too late SURREY – Fraser Health is launching a new guide to help people have a conversation that could save a life. When Words Matter is a thorough, four-page guide to talking to someone you care about when you think they are struggling with substance use. The initiative is part of a new campaign which also includes a video and advertisements informed by focus groups. The guide gives a detailed account of how to: for a • Prepare conversation the • Begin conversation calm and • Keep focused when a • Recover conversation doesn’t go well • Care for yourself as someone who is impacted by another’s substance use. “One of the major issues faced by people struggling with substance use problems – and those around them – is discomfort and fear about talking about addiction openly,” said Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy. “We as a society must find a way to get past the profound stigma over addiction so that every person struggling with this issue gets the care they so desperately need. I encourage you to help stop the stigma by starting a conversation with your loved one who might need support, before it’s too late.” Fraser Health consulted extensively with more than 50 people focusing on men who were in treatment, daytox or had completed treatment, as well as their support networks to inform the communications campaign. According to the BC Coroner’s Service, in British Columbia 91 per cent of illicit drug overdose deaths this year have been individuals aged 19 to 59. Of the 1,013 overdose deaths in 2017, 82 per cent have been male. Beginning today, the campaign titled Overdose is closer than you think will be displayed until mid- December in bus shelters, restaurants and bars, and on Fraser Health’s social media channels. “Starting a conversation about substance use is never easy, but approaching a person you care about to have a conversation could help save their life,” said Medical Health Officer Dr. Aamir Bharmal. “It may take time, but by checking in on a person you believe is using substances, and being open to talking about substance use in an empathetic way, you can help reduce their isolation and provide a more supportive environment for their recovery.” For more information about the campaign and the work Fraser Health does to address the overdose crisis, please visit fraserhealth.ca/ overdose. “BASURA NYO, HAHAKUTIN KO” WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM