MAKING NEWCOMERS FEEL at HOME Concordia Experts Examine Emerging Issues Faced by Immigrants to Canada
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SPRING 2015 MAKING NEWCOMERS FEEL AT HOME Concordia experts examine emerging issues faced by immigrants to Canada UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE COUNTERING BULLIES > CONCORDIAN CANDIDATES > CULINARY ALUMNI Chart the best course for your life in the years ahead. Start with preferred insurance rates. Supporting you... On average, alumni and Concordia University. who have home and auto Your needs will change as your life and career evolve. As a Concordia University graduate insurance with us or student, you have access to the save $400.* TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program, which offers preferred insurance rates, other discounts and great protection, that is easily adapted to your changing needs. Plus, every year our program contributes to supporting your alumni association, so it’s a great way to save and show you care at the same time. Home and auto insurance program recommended by Get a quote today! Our extended business hours make it easy. 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Projet : Annonce MMI 2015 Province : Quebec Épreuve # : 1 Publication : Concordia University Magazine Client : TD Assurance Date de tombée : 11/20/2014 Format : 8.125x10.75 Dossier # : 30-MM9462-14_MMI.AL1.EN•concordia(8.125x10.75) Couleur : Quad Graphiste : Marie-Josée Proulx Hamelin-Martineau Inc. • 505, boul. de Maisonneuve O, Bureau 300 • Montréal (Québec) H3A 3C2 • T : 514 842-4416 C : [email protected] ATTENTION : MERCI DE VÉRIFIER ATTENTIVEMENT CETTE ÉPREUVE AFIN D’ÉVITER TOUTE ERREUR/PLEASE CHECK THIS PROOF FOR ERRORS 16 THROWING THEIR HATS into thE ring grEAT CONCORDIANS As Canada prepares to vote in the The university community fall, these alumni vie for their first can be proud of their House of Commons seats — and association with these aim to make a difference. four exemplary alumni. 20 By Isaac Olson VICTIMS no morE ROLoff BEnY Concordia experts FOUNDATION examine the evolving fELLowshiP in challenges of — and PHOTOGRAPhY solutions to — bullying. By Eugénie Cliche By Julie Gedeon 26 32 IMMIGRATION NATION CONCORDIA FOODIEs Canada’s population is increasingly From specialty wines to being augmented by those born American-style baked elsewhere. University researchers goodies, alumni are cooking look at the special challenges up new ways to share their created by that reality. passion for food and drink. By Beverly Akerman 34 40 By Maeve Haldane 48 facULtY sPOTLight: EnginEERING AND COMPUtER SCIEncE Engineering and Computer Science students make impressive showings at competitions. By Laurence Miall spring 2015 volume 39 number 1 concordia.ca/magazine Cover credit: Thinkstock 3 Editor’s VoicE 4 concordia nEws 14 from thE archiVEs This publication is printed on 100% recycled paper, 50 aLUmni nEws including 20% post-consumer waste. Each ton of recycled paper that displaces a ton of virgin paper reduces total 56 cLass acts energy consumption by 27%, greenhouse gas emissions by 47%, particulate emissions by 28%, wastewater by 33%, 62 words & mUsic solid waste by 54% and wood use by 100%. 64 EnoUgh said setting an example A tribute to Mom “My mother Alice is really smart. Had she had We created the Alice LeCouvie Bursary in her the opportunity, she probably would have gone name to support newly admitted students who are on to university as a much younger woman, but also single parents. circumstance dictated a different path. It was a very emotional moment when we She became a single mother when my father presented a bursary certificate to Mom at died and my brothers and I were very young. Christmas. She was moved to tears. She is so Working as a school nurse, proud and delighted that the she supported us through our bursary will help people in childhood and teenage years. situations similar to her own After my brothers left home for so many years ago. university, she decided to go back to school, too. Mom always used to say to me, ‘A woman needs Mom is naturally curious and education because you never always wants to learn more. know what’s going to happen.’ She’s adventurous and loves to She always felt greatly relieved be challenged. So she enrolled at that she never had to depend Concordia, taking night classes on anybody else. in science as a part-time student, Not only did I want to make a while she worked full time ENBERG during the day. RUT meaningful gift to my mother — who has inspired me so LINDA Remembering how hard she CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: LEISHA LECOUVIE AND much — as Concordia’s new worked — the number of HER FAMILY, EMILY, ALICE AND LILY senior director of Alumni Sundays she spent shut in her room studying — Relations, I wanted to lead by example and make a and how she was inspired by what she was gift to the university that will have a lasting impact.” learning, I decided with my daughters Emily and Lily to honour my mother, their grandmother, — Leisha LeCouvie, senior director of with a special gift. Alumni Relations, Concordia University #CUgiving Find out how to join Leisha LeCouvie in contributing to Concordia. Info: concordia.ca/giving | 54-848-2424, ext. 4856 | -888-777-3330, ext. 4856 | [email protected] Concordia Magazine - Ad - Setting an Example2.indd 1 23/04/2015 2:54:39 PM EDITOR'S VOICE A matter of trust howard BoksEr, mBa 85 t can’t be easy being a politician — I being the butt of jokes and snide remarks are among the many hazards. In a 2014 survey conducted by Ryerson University’s Jim Pattison, politics ranked ninth out of 10 professions listed when Canadians were asked, “In general, how much do you trust members of the following professions to live up to both public and professional standards in fulfilling their duties?” Only 13 per cent said they trust politicians. (Doctors ranked at the This issue features many Concordians political stripe, we can entrust them to top, with 78 per cent of Canadians making an impact in their own ways, seek the best answers to our national giving them thumbs up, while lobbyists from alumni in the food and drink in- questions. scraped the bottom.) dustry (see “Concordia foodies” on So why do so many people still strive page 40) to researchers trying to un- for public office? Clearly the pros out- derstand the immigrant experience weigh the cons for most. (“Immigration nation” on page 34) and At the federal level the money isn’t help youth who are verbally and psycho- bad, but the appeal to run for public logically abused (“Victims no more” on office clearly is more than monetary — page 26). And then we have an individ- top-level corporate jobs offer a lot more, ual — another politician — who certainly Concordia University Magazine welcomes readers’ comments. Letters should include for instance. It’s safe to say that most had an impact on our country. We cover the writer’s full name, address, school(s), candidates looking to be elected to the the lecture delivered by Jean Chrétien, degree(s) and year(s) of graduation for alumni. Letters may be edited for length and House of Commons really are trying to LLD 10, Canada’s 20th prime minister, clarity. No letter will be published without the make our country a better place. In the who entertained and informed an au- full name of the correspondent. article “Throwing their hats into the dience of 750 at Concordia on March 4 Concordia University Magazine is published three times a year for alumni and friends of ring” (page 20), five Concordia alumni (see “Concordia news” on page 6). Concordia University. Opinions expressed representing the three major parties Years ago I read that when Canadians herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the alumni association or of the university. explain why they’re taking their best were asked if they trusted life insurance Please address editorial correspondence to: shot at becoming first-time Members agents, they responded quite negatively. The Editor, Howard Bokser Concordia University Magazine of Parliament. (There are currently four Yet when asked if they trusted their life 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. sitting alumni MPs.) Journalist Jennifer insurance agent, the confidence level FB 520, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 Phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 3826 Hollett, BA 97, sums up the sentiments shot way up. I suspect the same is true email: [email protected] of the others when she says, “I got into for elected officials — we may not have For advertising information, call journalism to make a difference and faith in politicians in general, but we do 514-848-2424, ext.