culture | Bellissimo Law Group

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo in Toronto this Weekend!

Legal Team — Thu, 03 May 2018 19:31:06 +0000

If you love tacos, margaritas and more tacos, then this weekend is for you! May 5th, known as Cinco de Mayo in Spanish, is a Mexican holiday celebrated around the world. Historically, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that celebrates the day in which the Mexican army claimed victory over France during the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In the United States and Canada, however, Cinco de Mayo is a special day to commemorate Mexican culture and heritage!

Since Spring has finally sprung, and the weather has just about warmed up here in Toronto, Cinco de Mayo is the perfect excuse to gather with friends and family to enjoy the outdoors, great company and Mexican cuisine!

Here are a few great places to check out in Toronto this weekend:

El Catrin: Located in the heart of the Distillery District, this place has delicious Mexican food and a perfect patio to go with it!

El Caballito: Located on King Street West, if you love tequila, well, you are heading to the right place, known to have the best tequila options in the city.

Grand Electric: Located on Queen Street West, if you are feeling cheap tacos and loud music, Grand Electric has you covered.

La Carnita: With various locations around Toronto (one being nearby our firm at Yonge and Eglinton), this is a must try spot for great daily specials and unbelievable Mexican street-styled corn.

So get out of the house and enjoy the celebrations- you definitely won’t regret it. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

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Is Diversity Canada’s Biggest Strength?

Legal Team — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:42:52 +0000

Canada is known for opening its doors to people from different cultures and backgrounds. While Immigrants are encouraged to be proud of their heritages the topic of diversity in Canada is widely talked about and debated.

We often hear our Prime Minister say that diversity is Canada’s strength and it is because of our differences that we are able to succeed. Canada’s openness to diversity can certainly be appreciated in times when borders are being shut off and races are being discriminated against. In the wake of horrific terrorist attacks happening across the world, Canada’s willingness to build a world where diversity is celebrated creates a refreshing notion that peace is possible and that hope beats fear every time.

Sharing her take on the topic of diversity, Toronto based educator, and writer suggests that Canada’s real strength is not diversity. Instead she believes that Canada’s greatest strength is the diversity of the choices the immigrant population is able to make once they are here. In an article written for the Globe and Mail she suggests that it would be a missed opportunity for immigrants to replicate all of their cultural traditions from back home- implying that an openness and willingness to adapt to a new environment and being able to make wise decisions is the key to Canada’s success in the future.

What do you think about the topic?

For the full article, please click here.

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Come Celebrate Greek Culture at the Taste of the Danforth!

Legal Team — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 20:43:46 +0000

Are you looking for something exciting to do this weekend? You have come to the right place! What better way to enjoy Toronto’s great weather than to attend the annual Taste of the Danforth event. That’s right, running from Friday, August 5th to Sunday, August 7th, you can celebrate the taste and culture of Greece!

The Taste of the Danforth is considered Canada’s largest street festival, and welcomes approximately 1.65 million people annually. This year will mark its 23rd anniversary!

So, if you enjoy Greek food, as well as large crowds and great entertainment, the Danforth is the place to be this weekend!

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Toronto Host to Largest Sake Event in Canada!

Legal Team — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:56:02 +0000

That’s right folks, tickets for the largest Sake festival in Canada, known as Kampai, are now on sale! On June 3^rd, Toronto will be hosting its 5th Sake festival at the Fementing Cellar, located in the Distillery District. Each year, people from all over come out to experience Japanese culture. This includes over 150 different sakes, both from Japanese and North American brewers, as well as Japanese food from local restaurants and vendors.

With each passing year, the Sake festival continues to grow in popularity! Tickets this year range between $50- $100, depending on how much you feel like sampling!

So make sure to grab a ticket and come enjoy a taste of Toronto’s diversity!

The post Toronto Host to Largest Sake Event in Canada! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Scoring Big On Sports In Canada

Legal Team — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 17:37:31 +0000

Canada has always had a passion for sports. The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was one of the best attended games to date, and even when the Toronto Maple Leafs (constantly) lose, diehard fans come out in droves for home games. Beyond hockey, the Toronto Raptors, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, are also enjoying immense popularity right now; they are currently one of the best teams in the Eastern division of the National Basketball Association, and considered serious contenders to make the playoffs this year. Furthermore, Canada is getting ready for the largest sporting event it has ever hosted with the upcoming Pan and Parapan American Games next year, and we are more than ready to welcome the world (for a game, or two!).

For more tidbits on Canadian sporting culture, click here

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The Importance of Culture

Legal Team — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:44:53 +0000

As immigration professionals, we are tremendously fortunate to work with families from all over the world. One of the most fascinating and rewarding aspects of immigration law is learning about our clients’ diverse backgrounds, cultures, and unique life experiences. The nature of this work requires that we are mindful of how culture informs who we are and how we see the world. Specifically, it is of utmost importance to recognize that our own cultural frameworks can be out of place when attempting to evaluate how someone from a different culture may communicate. For example, in spousal sponsorship appeals at the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), the relevant issue is often whether or not the marital relationship is genuine or entered into primarily for the purposes of obtaining status in Canada. In preparation for these types of appeals, we assist clients in gathering documents to corroborate the genuine nature of their relationship, and we also prepare them to give testimony at their hearing. While conducting these preparation sessions it is vital to understand how culture comes into play, as not all cultures have the same way of relating. For example, clients from certain cultural backgrounds may be less comfortable openly expressing romantic feelings, as this may feel inappropriate or immodest. In such cases, it is especially important to recognize this in evaluating a client’s testimony and in developing a strategy to best prepare for their hearing.

For each of us, culture is a big part of who we are. As immigration experts, we must ensure that our legal strategies take everyone’s culture into account so that we can support and prepare our clients most effectively.

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Black History Month

blgpc_web — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:01:37 +0000

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate Black Canadians and their many accomplishments. Black History Month was designated by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. He chose the month of February to honour U.S. president Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass who were both born in that month. The motion to have Black History Month Recognized in Canada was done in 1995 by Jean Augustine the first Black woman elected into Parliament. However, Toronto has been observing Black History Month since 1979. That’s when the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) successfully petitioned the city for official recognition.

During Black History Month the Canadian Government will be focusing on two historical black communities; Africville in Halifax Nova Scotia, and Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver British Columbia. Canada Post is issuing new stamps throughout the month to honour these communities.

Prime Minister Steven Harper issued a statement with the following “This month, I encourage all Canadians to learn more about the important role that black Canadians have played, and continue to play, in building our great country and shaping our national identity, and to participate in the events and activities taking place to mark this important part of our heritage.”

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Winterlicious 2014 is almost here!

blgpc_web — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 16:04:55 +0000

Winterlicious is an annual food festival presented by the City of Toronto to showcase the diversity of cuisines Toronto is known for!

As one of the most multicultural cities on the planet, Toronto is home to people from every single country in the world, as we saw with Cosmopolis Toronto. Toronto’s cultural diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and it is through shared experiences across cultures that the entire community comes together.

So resist the urge to stay in this winter! The City of Toronto encourages all of us to go out and explore a new cuisine, a new restaurant, or an old favourite with family, friends and neighbours during Winterlicious 2014!

There are 200 of Toronto’s best restaurants participating in Winterlicious this year. Each will offer a fine dining experience with special prix-fixe menus showcasing their unique specialties. Lunches will run $15-25 and dinner $25-45 including appetizers, entrees, and desserts. For a complete list of participating restaurants click here. It is recommended to call ahead to make a reservation during the festival.

This year Winterlicious is also offering a special Culinary Event Series. There will be a variety of special events that offer indulgent food experiences and workshops that are both interactive and educational. Learn from expert chefs! Tickets for these events are on sale and going fast. Contact the event producers to purchase yours.

Winterlicious runs from January 31 – February 13, 2014.

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