The La Source

The Source finds its raison d’etre in Vancouver's vibrant and rapidly growing cosmopolitan culture.  With its primary focus on the artistic and cultural events taking place within various communities, no publication informs and celebrates the city's unique cultural mosaic better than The Source. The Source is a locally published bi-weekly free newspaper with offices in the heart of Vancouver’s entertainment district.  It is the only local bilingual paper in the lower mainland.  It is a non-profit organization run by hardworking employees, all of whom come from the various communities throughout the city. The idea of the paper originated in 1999 when the founding publisher, Mamadou Gangué, decided to create a paper that would discuss and promote Vancouver’s diverse and unique cultural make-up. As a forum for diversity – the very foundation of the paper – it encourages the development of new ideas and ways of thinking.

With ease The Source plays a leadership role within Vancouver’s complex intercultural communication network, as nowhere else in the world can you find a city more inclined to experiment with the idea of multicultural harmony.  Genuine in its wish to assist communities, whose origins are often wildly different, to understand and communicate with one another, The Source actively participates and sponsors major events throughout the city. The Source not only promotes diversity, but our team itself represents the many cultures found in Vancouver. Over the last 8 years of publishing, 600-700 volunteers from all over the world have brought their histories, perceptions, experience and talent to the offices of The Source. From the founding publisher, community members, the wonderful team of volunteers and the many readers of The Source, we thank you for your continued support and readership.

“We invite all people from various walks of life to share their stories, ideas and comments”- Your local diversity newspaper that thrives on the passion of making people belong.

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Finding love with an ethnic man Print E-mail
Articles...
Written by Chhaya Jagpal   

A new course starting at Capilano University sounds like The Good Wives Guide from the 1950s. While the course title appears quite chauvinistic and suggestive that it is the female partner who must strategize, adjust and take it upon herself to ensure the success of a relationship, there's actually a lot more to it.

Dr. Faizal Sahukhan is the multicultural love doctor who runs the course and has recently published a book, both entitled Dating the Ethnic Man: Strategies for Success.
Sahukhan is a Vancouver-based sex therapist specializing in multicultural relationships. He said when it comes to love, relationships and dating, there are numerous strategies for success plus countless dos and doníts. Many of these rules are just common sense and things we have learnt over time and through experience. However, with the growth of multicultural relationships, the rules are changing and the issues are becoming increasingly complex, often defeating many couples in cross-cultural relationships from developing into something more. In fact, almost 21 per cent of relationships in Canada are multicultural, however only three per cent of these actually end up in marriages.

During a telephone interview with Dr. Sahukhan, the lack of support available to individuals who want to or need to learn more about an ethnic partner's culture and background became evident. His course and book are typically targeted at Caucasian women who are engaged in a relationship with an ethnic man.
ìMy course is aimed at opening the eyes of the Caucasian woman, this is why this image was chosen for  the front cover of my book,î explained Sahukhan. He believes he is one of the few people able to offer a unique insight into the subject of these cross-cultural relationships and more importantly the workings of the ethnic man. He offers his explanations based upon his knowledge of the contextually complex eastern culture, his research and life experiences in the western culture.

ìThe aim of the course and book is to enlighten and educate, it is not telling people they must change but instead it creates an understanding about their partnerís character and actions. Sacrificing your identity will only lead to anger and resentment, this does not make for a successful or happy relationship, he said.

This course and book are the first of its kind. Sahukhanís subject and theories can educate not just individuals in multicultural relationships. They can help and facilitate the education of anyone who is interested in learning the intricate details of an ethnic family. He gets to some of the more buried issues and difficulties ethnic people, and ethnic men in particular, encounter. He offers great insights and begins to probe and explore some of those issues in ethnic cultures that are not often discussed or brought into the forefront.

The course runs evenings, Oct. 7ñNov. 12 at Capilano U. For more see, www.multicultural romance.com.
 

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