Who Needs Canada? 2017 Community Summit

Her Excellency Catherine Boura who is Greece’s permanent representative to the United Nations, framed her analysis by offering data and proposing solutions for the crisis.

Ambassador Boura underscored the crisis when she told the audience: “At the end of 2015 more than 65 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide. 21.3 million were refugees. The majority were children and women.” She reminded the audience that “In 2015, Greece received more than 800,000 refugees…”, she added: “Icannot emphasize enough the solidarity shown by local communities especially in the Greek frontline islands, where people put tremendous efforts and financial resources to rescue people in need and to receive them in a humane way at a time of very serious financial constraints.”

Catherine Boura also warned of the complexities of the refugee crisis such as the human traffickers who have amassed billions of dollars. “These criminal groups are likely to smuggle arms, to traffic people, women and girls to slavery, or sponsor terrorism because they thrive from it.” She concluded:“Efficient relocation and resettlement mechanisms must be put in place to secure orderly and legal means of movement and provide opportunities for resettlement of refugees, combating trafficking and smuggling networks.”

Finally, Nelofer Pazira offered the perspective of the refugee. Nelofer Pazira is an award-winning Afghan-Canadian director, actress, journalist and author. She grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she lived through ten years of Soviet occupation before escaping with her family to Pakistan, before immigrating to Canada. In 1996 she returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in search of a childhood friend. That journey became the basis for the critically-acclaimed film Kandahar, in which she starred.

As a refugee her poignant story and that of her family spoke to the hearts of all who attended the event. Her narrative put a face on the ubiquitous refugee. Walking from Afghanistan to Pakistan with her family is a testament to the plight of refugees.

Her father had been a pediatrician in Kabul and found himself unable to practice medicine when he arrived in Canada. Throughout his refugee trek he carried a suit, which was carefully tucked away that represented who he had been in his homeland. While in Canada, he kept the ritual of preserving that suit and pulling it out as a reminder of his previous life. This message was not lost on his creative daughter Nelofer who founded the Dyana Afghan Women’s fund, which provides education and skills training for women in Afghanistan.

The humanitarian crisis of refugees is dire. The evening of engaging with Fisk, Boura and Pazira was disturbing as well as enlightening. The dynamic among the speakers provided three unique insights into the refugee crisis and gave the audience an educational and memorable experience.

晚会由西门菲莎大学人文学院教授王健主持。温哥华美术馆亚洲馆艺术总监郑胜天与Center A创始人，艺术家Hank Bull首先回忆了从上世纪文化大革命期间业已开始的加中美术交流，并讲述了加拿大的艺术作品如何影响了中国一代艺术家。

曾获得克利福德编导奖（Clifford E. Lee choreographic Award）、Rio Tinto Alcan 表演艺术奖和Isadora编导奖等多个大奖的舞蹈家王文蔚携手两位音乐家为观众献上了舞蹈《丝绸之路》。

吴氏芭蕾舞蹈学院及青少年加拿大公司（Goh Ballet Academy & Youth Company Canada）总监，加拿大国家芭蕾舞团首席女演员吴振红女士，为现场的观众分享了她从北京到加拿大，从孩童到母亲，这一路走来的艺术体验。

最后登场的是被称为“中国最着名的外国人”、中西方文化大使大山。大山在上世纪九十年代就远赴北京留学北大中文系。他的媒体生涯从相声表演扩展到戏剧表演，再到主持与文化和外交相关的教育性或者商业性活动。近年来，大山又重返喜剧领域，在《大山侃大山》中将传统中国相声和现代个人脱口秀相结合。活动当晚，大山用幽默诙谐的方式，深刻地诠释了加中文化在表面的差异之下，其实是有同质性的。