Moving back HOME

Thank you Rev. Xavier for the internet tips, I am now back HOME!

May May Koen

Just almost a year of departure, May and Koen came back visiting us this summer.

By God's grace, the first year teaching in Hong Kong primary school has made a wonderful experience for May.

It's also good to know Koen is as good a learner as Jimmy.

I notice that our reunion has got a new dynamic for small kids. Our good time is their good time too.

Gabriola Island

We went to Gabriola Island last weekend with Yee Yee and Yee Cheung.

This is our third time there and it is still our favourite island.

We took the same picture at the Malaspina Galleries.

We all had fun experiencing the nature.

Da Da

Thank you Goo Goo and Pastor Ohashi, we finally got this doll "Da Da" for Kirsten's Birthday!

We like watching this NHK kids show and this "Da Da" was only on the show during year 2000-2004.

We all know Kirsten looks like "Da Da".

I kept searching on the internet and see if I can find the doll.

And I saw one but it only shipped domestically in Japan.

Goo Goo then connected Pastor Ohashi in a church at Tokyo where she did a short term missionary few years back.

Pastor Ohashi bought it on the net and he shipped it to us!

Thanks!

Kirsten is now sleeping with "Da Da" every night...

Affirmative action set for Ottawa overhaul

Time to review the employment policy in the government of Canada. I am glad that someone is more open-minded for revision.

Nick Aveling, National Post · Thursday, Jul. 22, 2010

The Conservatives have ordered a review of federal government affirmative action policies, saying the public service should hire based on merit, not race or ethnicity.

Cabinet ministers Stockwell Day and Jason Kenney announced the review of the Public Service Employment Act, along with any related practices and policies, on Thursday. “While we support diversity in the public service, we want to ensure that no Canadian is barred from opportunities in the public service based on race or ethnicity,” Mr. Day, the Treasury Board President, said in a statement.

Mr. Kenney, meanwhile, was more blunt in his calls for a meritocracy.

“I strongly agree with the objective of creating a public service that reflects the diversity of Canada, and with fair measures designed to reach that goal. But we must ensure that all Canadians have an equal opportunity to work for their government based on merit, regardless of race or ethnicity,” said the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Under the current policy, the federal government targets four “employment equity groups” identified in the Employment Equity Act as being reflective of Canada’s wider diversity: visible minorities, aboriginals, people with disabilities and women. The Public Service Commission of Canada says on its website that most positions are open to all applicants, but that “from time to time, certain positions may be limited to applicants from members of employment equity-designated groups.”

According to the commission’s latest figures, published in 2009, 18.8% of public service employees are visible minorities, 4.2% are aboriginal, 3.3% are people with disabilities and 57.1% are women. Canada-wide, according to the 2006 Statistics Canada census, 16.2% of Canadians are visible minorities, 3.8% are aboriginal and 51% are women. There were no statistics for people with disabilities.

Yesterday’s announcement prompted outrage from the Opposition Liberals.

The Liberals characterized the move as an attack on affirmative action.

“I just think it’s a shameful case of political pandering at the expense of a lot of groups, whether it’s aboriginal Canadians, new Canadians (or) Canadians with disabilities — all of whom we need in the public service,” said Human Resources critic Michael Savage. “They talk about having diversity in the public service, but they have no commitment to it.”

Mr. Day, who is also minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, dismissed Opposition concerns on Thursday.

“As usual, the Opposition is being accusatory, narrow-minded and judgmental because we’ve said we’re looking into something. They’ve gone ballistic based on their own prejudices,” he told the Post. “I can’t account for an irrational response to us doing the responsible thing.”

Mr. Day said the review, to be undertaken by the Treasury Board, was prompted by constituent complaints of discrimination.

“We’ve got competing interests here that are both Charter-based and court-based. Fundamentally, of course, people should not be discriminated against because of ethnicity. At the same time, we want to be inclusive and we want to embrace everybody,” he said.

The review is expected to proceed as quickly as possible, beginning with an investigation into how current policies are being “manifested … day-to-day” within the public service, as well a summation of court rulings related to the Employment Equity Act and related policies.

National Post
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Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Affirmative+action+overhaul/3311196/story.html#ixzz0uTg1XyhD

Mui Mui Chu is "back"

When Kirsten lost her beloved Mui Mui Chu in Toronto, she was devastated.
Good thing we had always prepared another backup one and she always called it "Big Chu Chu" since it was newer and softer.
So we told her " "Big Chu Chu" was waiting for you at home. If you touch it every day like you did with the Mui Mui Chu, it will soon become a "Mui Mui Chu". The "Mui Mui Chu" left and stayed in Toronto and she forgot to say good bye to you and that's why you are sad".
As time goes by, the "Big Chu Chu" became older and smaller.
Now she really thinks "Mui Mui Chu" came back from Toronto, what a nice story ending!

Burnaby Mountain