First (wet) snow in Ottawa, 1 Changes in reaching the embassy 2 Immigration 3 Sign up for Opera now 4 CAANS: Immigration in Europe and Canada: a comparison 5 25/10 Don't forget the coffee uurke 6 6/11 Zingen in je Moers taal 7 25/11 Voor in de agenda: Sinterklaas Before you read further, take a look at the following Gatineau Walk pictures on line at: http://www.dutchinottawa.ca/archive/FallWalk/2006-FallWalk/ For those who are not from Ottawa: the vista's show you the Ottawa Valley, with the Ottawa river and the fertile farmland in Ottawa and Quebec. Pictures are made by Toni Winterink (thanks Toni, now I don't have to do the walk anymore-Postbode) 1 Changes in contacting the embassy Netherlands Front Office (NFO) If you call the two embassies or one of the consulates in North America nowadays, you will notice that the phone is picked up somewhere else. The Dutch missions in Canada and in the US now have one central phone location (based at the Consulate in Chicago) that answers as many questions as possible, which used to be answered by the embassy and the consulates. It is staffed by people who have access to databases where they will find most answers for you about travelling to or through the Netherlands, passports rules, citizenship etc. If they don't know it, they will connect you through to the responsible person at the consulate or embassy nearest to you. Better even is to check the Internet first at www.mfa.nl/Canada where most answers can be found. (if you wonder where 'mfa' stands for: Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Email: nfo @ dutchhelp . com. The NFO is opened from 7 am - 7 pm Central Time and the direct number is 1 877-dutchhelp (1-877-388-2443), which is free by the way. If you want to speak to a person at the embassy or consulate, make sure you mention where he or she works, as the call centre staff is still learning who works where. Of course, our own FAQ page on the DCA website shouldn't be overlooked either; three pages of frequently asked questions that have helped a lot of people over the years: www.duchinottawa.ca 2 Immigration I copied twice an article from the Telegraaf in which it said that the government is reconsidering the child-from-Dutch-mother-before-a-certain-year case. I received a number of emails from you, in which you asked for more info. Unfortunately, this has only been discussed in parliament and it is not a law (yet). Please be advised to bookmark the following link and check regularly: http://www.minbuza.nl/nl/reizenlanden/nederlanders_in_het_buitenland,nederlanderschap(Dutch) or http://www.minbuza.nl/en/welcome/DutchCitizens,dutch_nationality (English) I keep you updated if I learn more. 3 Opera Bus Trips In juni vertrokken twee bussen vol operaliefhebbers naar Montreal om Aïda te zien en op 18 november gaat er één bus naar de uitvoering van La Traviata. Voor volgend jaar juni is het doel Mozart's Don Giovanni. Er was direct al een bus vol geboekt voor juni, maar Frans Olberg is bereid een lijst aan te leggen om te zien of er genoeg mensen zijn voor een tweede bus. De trip zal plaats vinden op zaterdag, 2 juni 2007. Vertrek vanuit Ottawa voor de matinee voorstelling in de Place des Arts in Montreal. De trips worden berekend "at cost" maar deelnemers worden gevraagd om een vrijwillige bijdrage voor Roger's House. Voor bedragen van minstens $10.00 wordt een tax receipt verstrekt. Na de trip in juni was het mogelijk een bedrag van $2,000 over te dragen!! Voor verdere inlichtingen contact opnemen met Frans Olberg 613-726-1814 of met Ria Koster 613-834-1690, e-mail ria @ psymon.com. Opera Bus Trips In June, two busses filled with opera lovers went to Montreal to see Aida and on November 18 another bus leaves to see La Traviata. The next trip is planned for June, to attend the performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni. One bus was filled shortly after the announcement earlier this summer, but Frans Olberg is prepared to take names of interested persons to see whether it will be possible to fill a second bus. The date of that trip is Saturday, June 2, 2007. Departure from Ottawa for the matinee performance in the Place des Arts in Montreal. The trips are offered at cost, but the participants are asked for a donation for Roger's House. For donations of at least $10.00 a tax receipt will be issued. In June, the total of the donations came to $2,000!! For further information please contact Frans Olberg at 613-716-1814 or Ria Koster at 613-834-1690, e-mail ria @ psymon com. 4 CAANS: Immigration in Europe and Canada: A comparison Dr. Gerry Van Kessel will address the differences between Canada's immigration policies and Europe's immigration policies (or the lack thereof). "Europe and Canada both have large numbers of immigrants. In Canada it is by design; in Europe, it is largely by default. Speaking generally, it is public policy in Europe to oppose immigration." "In Canada immigration is part of our national myth. We know that without immigration there would not have been a country called Canada. This means that immigration starts out as something that is positive. This is a starting point that Europe lacks. Europeans feel that their states are complete. To suggest to them that immigration has a role in the evolution of their societies would appear bizarre." About Gerry: Dr. Gerry Van Kessel spent his professional life dealing with immigration and refugee issues, most recently in an international position in Geneva, and for the bulk of his career with Canada's immigration and refugee program. From 2001 to 2005 he was Coordinator, Intergovernmental Consultations on Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies (IGC). IGC is an informal, non-decision making forum of "destination" countries in western Europe, North America and Australia and New Zealand. Prior to this Dr. Van Kessel was a career civil servant in Canada's immigration program. In his last assignment with Citizenship and Immigration Canada he was Director General, Refugees with responsibility for Canada's program for the overseas selection of refugees for resettlement in Canada and for the policy relating to Canada's inland refugee determination system. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada and he has an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in London, England. Where: Carleton U, Minto building, Board room (ground floor), Ottawa When: Wednesday November 1, 2006 at 7.30 pm Entrance: CAANS members free, non members 5 dollars (honour system) Information: Hans Moor 613 274 75 05 5 Hollands koffie drinken En, heeft iedereen het nu op zijn - of haar - kalender staan? Laatste woensdag van de maand koffie drinken om Nederlands te spreken of te oefenen. We komen bij elkaar op St. Laurent Shopping Centre, zijn er vanaf 10:00 en zitten bij Tim Horton's in de buurt, boven in het food court. Dit is beslist niet een koffiekransje voor dames, want er zijn van de ongeveer dertig mensen toch wel een dozijn heren bij! Als je nog nooit geweest bent, kom eens kijken. Je ziet er wellicht oude bekenden of leert er nieuwe mensen kennen: allebei leuk! Heb je inlichtingen nodig, bel dan even. Ria Koster 613-834-1690 6 Zingen in je moers taal De volgende samenkomst vindt plaats op maandag, 6 november om 7.30 p.m. Locatie: Riemke Quinney, 511 Chapel Park, Orleans. Tel. 613-824-3668 Voor verdere informatie, bel mij even. Nel Korver Tel. 613- 828-0753 7 Sinterklaas Mark your agenda's for November 25th this year, a safe date before the Christmas parties start. Regards, De Postbode