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WEEKS TO GO
Canadian treasures CANADA: NATURAL SOURCE OF PRIDE SINCE 1867 John Peters Humphrey (1905–1995) LEGAL SCHOLAR, JURIST AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE
Quiz TEST YOUR CANADIAN KNOWLEDGE
QUESTION 1: Who is the famous Canadian best known for creating and pro- ducing the late-night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live?
General of the United Nations, and later became the first person to hold the position of Director of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Humphrey spent twenty years working within the UN. During his time he oversaw the constitutions of dozens of countries and helped implement numerous international conventions. He was involved in issues regarding freedom of the press, the status of women and racial discrimination. After resigning from the UN in 1966, Humphrey returned to McGill where he taught law and political science for almost thirty years. During this chapter he was also involved in a number of human rights efforts and organizations. He played an instrumental role in the creation of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation (now Equi- tas), founded the Canadian chapter of Amnesty International and directed the International League for Human Rights. Humphrey also took part in many international commissions of inquiry and helped found the Canadian chapter of the International Commis- sion of Jurists. John Humphrey passed in 1995 but his memory survives in vari- ous forms, most notably through the national and international human rights awards that bear his name. Still today, the impact and scope of his work continues tomake a difference in the quality of life of millions worldwide.
In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The first draft of this globally important document was penned by NewBrunswick native John Peters Hum- phrey. In clear legal language, the UDHR asserts that every individual possesses inherent access to rights and freedoms
QUESTION 2: What natural landmark is featured in what is believed to be the first photo of Canada?
regardless of race, religion, sex or status. And while the UDHR is not legally binding, it forms the basis of numerous national con- stitutions, national laws, international laws and various treaties. The Canadian Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protect freedom of religion, of thought, of ex- pression, of the press and of peaceful assembly, are among these. Throughout his career, John Humphrey was committed to es- tablishing, defending and teaching human rights law. A difficult childhood, during which he lost both his parents to cancer in addition to having an arm amputated after a fire, may well have nurtured his compassionate and insightful nature. He studied law at McGill University and became a legal practitioner in Montreal for several years before becoming a professor. He taught first at McGill—where he founded the McGill Debating Union, one of the world’s most prominent debate societies—and later at University of Algiers. In the mid-1940s he was named Assistant Secretary-
QUESTION 3: The Canadian-built Mobile Servicing System is a sophisticated robotics suite, and one of Canada’s major con- tributions to the International Space Station. It comprises three main components: Canadarm2, the Mobile Base and what?
QUESTION 4: Which Canadian city did the NBA’s Grizzlies originally call home?
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ART, LITERATURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Where are we from? THE 52 LARGEST GROUPS IN CANADA’S MULTICULTURAL MOSAIC
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
SPORTS AND LEISURE
infO Canada THE STORIES BEHIND OUR SYMBOLS
Canada’s Sri Lankan community
Sri Lankan-Canadians make up a vibrant component of our national identity. Children’s rights activist Cheryl Perera, scientist and inventor Veerasingham Dhuruvasangary and esteemed au- thor—most notably of the critically acclaimed novel The English Patient—Michael Ondaatje are just a few who’ve enriched our cultural background.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Bird: Black-capped chickadee
In 2011 Statistics Canada reported that around 140,000 people of Sri Lankan heritage call Canada home. The majority of them live in Montreal and Toronto as well as other parts of Ontario. A vast portion of the Sri Lankan Canadian population claims Tamil ethnicity, and a smaller segment, Sinhalese ethnicity. While Canada has welcomed Sri Lankans since the 1940s, in the 1990s this population was the fifth largest source of immigrants in the country. The Sri Lankan civil war was a large factor for many who chose to leave their native country during this period.
The black-capped chickadee became NewBruns- wick’s provincial bird in 1983. This non-migratory passerine has the ability to conserve energy by lowering its body temperature up to 12° C on cold winter nights. This songbird is famed for its curiosity and the distinct vocalization for which it was named.
The Sri Lankan community has numerous organizations in place within Canada, primarily in Ontario but in many other cities across the country as well. The community also produces a number of newspapers in three languages: English, Tamil and Sinhalese.
Canada is home to the largest population of Tamil Sri Lankans outside of Sri Lanka. In Ontario, January has officially been decreed Tamil Heritage Month. During this month all Ontarians are invited to recognize the contributions of this community and observe Tamil celebrations such as Thai Pongal, a four-day harvest festival rife with traditional food and gift giving.
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T H E N EWS
The Journal Cornwall
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Wednesday, October 26, 2016
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