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Point Pelee is located in Essex County; near Leamington. Its tip is the southernmost point in Canada, and is near the same latitude as northern California. It is only 15 km² but is visited by 400,000 people each year. Point Pelee was made a national park in 1918 at the urging of birders and hunters. Commercial fishing continued in the park until 1969. Point Pelee was the only Canadian national park to allow hunting until duck hunting was ended in 1989. This site was named “Pointe-Pelée” or “bare point” by French explorers because the eastern side was rocky and had no trees. Point Pelee is known for attracting over 380 species of birds including many songbirds. The real show is when monarchs gather here between August and October, because it’s the shortest crossing point over Lake Erie during their 3000 km journey to their winter home in the mountains of central Mexico. The Great Lakes are a significant barrier to the monarchs’ migration. As they move south, they search for shorter ways across the lake and the Pelee peninsula provides an excellent start! Point Pelee’s shape funnels the monarchs to the tip. If the weather is cold, they will roost in trees and wait for warmer temperatures and favourable winds to cross the lake. If the weather is warm, they will often go directly across the lake without stopping in the park.

Ancient Native legends have told of waves of monarch butterflies heading southward in the autumn. For thousands of years, their destination was unknown. In 1975, the monarchs’ overwintering grounds were officially discovered by Dr. Fred Urquhart of the University of Toronto. Following reports of butterflies he and others had tagged in Canada, Dr. Urquhart was led to the evergreen forests high in the volcanic mountains of central Mexico. There he discovered the monarch.

Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to transform schools into centers of justice where students learn to read, write and change the world . Teaching for Change operates from the belief that schools can provide students the skills, knowledge and inspiration to be citizens and architects of a better world – or they can fortify the status quo. By drawing direct connections to ‘real world’ issues, Teaching for Change encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens.

In 2010, they celebrate their 20th anniversary. See more here.

Bushra Hanna, Instructor and her LINC students celebrating International Women’s Day.

Story submitted by Mayada Kachich, LINC 6/7

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A tropical wonderland of exotic birds and gardens, domestic and miniature animals, flowers and plants. Situated on 35 acres, 3.5 acres which is indoors in Ruthven, Ontario, Canada, between the town of Leamington and Kingsville, Ontario Canada.

For more pictures, please visit our Photo Gallery and look for the Colasanti 2010 album here.

Our Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) is designed to meet women’s communication needs in today’s world. Beginner Level is for persons who have limited or no English knowledge. Intermediate and advanced levels are individuals who have fair to good understanding of the English language. There will be more focus on conversation, writing and pronunciation. The classes range in English proficiency level 1 to 7, on a full and part-time basis.

LINC is one of the principal areas through which WEST helps facilitate the social integration of recent immigrants to Canada. Eligible applicants for this program are permanent residents, and convention refugees .

It increasingly believed that participation in the LINC program is directly related to an expedited social integration process which, in turn, helps build an immigrant’s personal and social wellbeing – the two vital keys for success in life.

In addition to providing computer supported English language education, our students benefit from other direct and indirect program supports.

Some of the direct benefits include child-minding services for children ages 6 months to 5 years, transportation assistance (for those who qualify), school field trips, summer school program for children ages 6 to 12 years.

Some of the indirect benefits include acquiring survival skills, reducing social isolation, exchanging ideas and knowledge between individuals of diverse cultures, and enhancing self-esteem and assertiveness – the building blocks of success in a new country.

Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada