Maybe you’ve heard of feng shui – creating balance with the natural world in one’s indoor spaces. Tied to some important Chinese cultural beliefs, this fascinating art is a few thousand years old. But how exactly does it work? Once you understand the basics, feng shui can be a little easier to grasp. This quick guide introduces its concepts and their applications.
Taoist Principles Behind Feng Shui
New York architect Anjie Cho explains feng shui’s roots. The term comes from two separate Chinese words — “feng” means wind and “shui” means water. It’s related to Tao, a principle underlying all creation and calling for harmony with its natural order.
Tao is an extensive philosophy, but some of its basics play out in feng shui. Qi, pronounced as “chi,” is a fundamental life energy flowing through the world. You may have heard of yin and yang – these refer to complementary opposite forces that must remain in balance. And then there’s Wu Xing, a cycle in which life moves through five states: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
With Wu Xing, creative or destructive effects occur based on the order in which the cycle moves. The Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia details how this works. Starting with wood, one state helps create the next. Wood can fuel a fire, which can produce ashes to create earth, and so on. But there’s also a controlling or suppressive cycle. Fire melts metal, metal cuts wood, and wood grows through earth. As this cycle continues, earth hems in water, which in turn extinguishes fire.
How the Five Elements Work
In another piece for The Spruce, Cho further describes how the five states work in feng shui. These states have physical properties, but they also represent intangible things. Earth, for instance, stands for nourishment, self-care, and boundaries. These states also have their own sets of colors:
Fire: red and orange
Earth: yellow and neutral earth tones
Metal: gray and silver
Water: black, darker gray, and navy
Wood: green and light blue tones
Shapes can also represent these element states. Fire shapes are very angular – usually triangles. Squares symbolize earth. Circles and round shapes recall the metal element. Irregular and wavy shapes point to water – like waves in a pond or lake. Tall shapes and columns represent wood, like the trunks of trees.
Thoughtful choices can help bring needed elements into your spaces. Sometimes, these choices are obvious. You could add a wooden desk and houseplants as wood elements in a home office. But sometimes, an item symbolizes one of the elements. Maybe you don’t have a brick oven in your kitchen, but your stove represents fire just the same. You shouldn’t bring a pile of dirt into your living room, but a square yellow rug can stand in for earth.
Positions in Feng Shui
Cho adds that placement makes a huge difference in feng shui. There’s the commanding position – the spot in each room located the farthest from the door. The commanding position is not in direct line with the door, but you can still see the door itself. It’s where you’d place objects that you use the most – the stove in your kitchen, your desk in a home office, and so forth.
Feng shui also uses a map to locate eight key areas in a space. This map, called a bagua, assigns each area to an aspect of life. The central southern area, for example, is red and represents one’s fame and reputation. There’s also a central area that stands for the individual – specifically, wellness and health.
More Than Interior Design
Feng shui comes from Taoist philosophies: important ideas that helped shape Chinese culture. While using feng shui can create beautiful interior spaces, the central goal is achieving balance with nature. Today’s practitioners have adapted its ancient concepts to modern interiors, building design, and lifestyles.
When you die, your debts don’t follow you beyond the grave. But that doesn’t mean that you can ignore them – at least not in Canada, anyway. Not all liabilities are the same, so you need to understand how Canadian law treats different types of debt. This vital understanding can help you make wise choices while planning for your family’s future.
Secured and Unsecured Debt
Most debt falls into one of two categories – secured or unsecured. Secured debt involves assets used as collateral, as Investopedia explains. Should the borrower default, the lender can seize the asset to help pay for the loan. Mortgages and auto loans are the two most common kinds of secured debt.
Most consumer debt, like credit cards or personal loans, is unsecured. This type doesn’t rely on collateral, so it tends to carry higher interest rates. Certain monthly expenses are also unsecured debts. Some examples include medical bills, revolving store credit, and gym memberships.
Unpaid Debts and Your Estate
Your estate contains both your assets and liabilities. Think of it this way: Anything you own is an asset, and anything you owe is a liability. Most creditors will still want repayment after you die, and they’ll hit up your estate to collect.
Secured or unsecured, your estate must pay debts before your heirs receive anything. Statistics from StatCan, HuffPost Canada, and CBC News may put things into perspective:
Nearly 68% of Canadians own their homes.
The average home price is currently $586,000.
The average Canadian owes $73,552 in debt.
The order in which debts are paid can vary. Home mortgages usually get priority, followed by auto loans and other secured debt. Unsecured debt is next on the list. Depending on how much you owe, your debts could total more than the value of your estate, in which case, under Canadian law, your estate is either declared insolvent or placed into bankruptcy. Mondaq explains that these estates must pay funeral expenses first. Estate administrative costs are next, followed by government debts and other remaining liabilities.
Debts and Your Family
Creditors can make claims against your estate, but what happens when there’s nothing left to pay? Can they come after your family for payment? Not in most cases, as Credit Canada explains. If you’re the sole borrower with no cosigners, your creditors are out of luck if your estate can’t pay them. Unscrupulous creditors may still try to collect anyway – they know the law but still want their money. Your family can file complaints with their provincial or territorial consumer affairs office. The national Office of Consumer Affairs offers tips for filing complaints.
People who cosign or jointly apply for debt are still on the hook for repayment if the primary borrower dies. Some creditors also hold supplementary cardholders responsible for payment. If you’re worried about lingering debt, you can give your heirs “living inheritances” while you’re still alive. Global News clarifies that Canada does not tax either inheritances or gifts. Capital gains taxes may apply if you’re gifting an asset and its value grows.
A Quick Word About Student Loans
Student loans are technically unsecured debt, but they’re treated a little differently. Employment and Social Development Canada explains that federal student loans are forgiven upon a borrower’s death. With private student loans, it’s a different story. Loans Canada reveals that private lenders have no legal obligation to forgive their loans after a borrower dies. While some do discharge these loans, others may make claims against your estate.
Nothing in our world is certain except death and taxes, quipped American statesman Benjamin Franklin. Understanding your debt and having a solid estate plan can prevent your family from being saddled with burdens after you’re gone.
While the majority of Canadians may not ever think about the word caste, for some people, it is a facet of life that they can’t escape even after immigrating to Canada. Caste discrimination is a form of oppression that activists in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas have fought against for decades. Unfortunately, with thousands of years of cultural normalcy, this form of discrimination is still deeply embedded in the psyches of people even after they leave their home countries. Read on to learn about how caste discrimination impacts the quality of life for Canadians.
What Is Caste Discrimination?
Caste discrimination is a form of oppression based on the perception of a person’s caste. That oppression can include violating a person’s economic, social, political, cultural, or individual rights. In the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Himalayas, people divided society into different groups based on caste, equating to a type of social order that determines what people are allowed to do for work, where they are allowed to go, and who they are allowed to interact with.
Within the traditional caste system, caste boundaries are fixed, meaning that, no matter what someone does in their life, neither they nor their descendants can escape the caste they are born into. The people who experience caste discrimination are those who others label as being of the lowest castes. In the past, some Hindus referred to this group as Untouchables. Today, activists from these groups call themselves Dalits and fight for full rights and acknowledgment under the law.
Does It Happen in Canada?
Caste discrimination is illegal, but it still happens, not only in India and Nepal but also in Canada. In March 2023, a taxi driver, Manoj Bhangu, who had immigrated from Punjab, India, received a settlement order from the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal after experiencing caste discrimination at a work party. Two men, also originally from Punjab, used a caste-based slur against him, and the altercation turned physical. The Tribunal ruled that Mr. Bhangu deserved more than $9,000 in compensation and that the brothers, Inderjit and Avninder Dhillon, would have to pay up for the harm they caused.
While this case garnered national media attention, many other instances of caste discrimination in Canada continue unabated. People who come from Dalit backgrounds often get denied housing, promotions, and networking opportunities when upper-caste Hindus control those opportunities. Nor is Canada the only place where people have to face this kind of oppression. It also happens in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. In 2023, Seattle, Washington, was the first city to put a law on the books that bans caste discrimination.
How Can People Seek Justice?
Seeking justice isn’t easy for people who face caste discrimination in Canada, but one way to do so is by pursuing a case in front of a tribunal or the courts. Although caste is not an inherent social category in Canada, it can still count as a protected characteristic.
In Canada, all people have a right to freedom from discrimination. There are many characteristics that the law considers protected under this legal structure, including the following:
Race
Gender
Place of origin
Ethnicity
Religion
Disability
The list of protected characteristics is extensive, which makes it possible for people who experience discrimination to fight for justice within the legal structure. Since caste is not something that people choose but something that is forced upon them by others, it results in a protected characteristic similar to place of origin, ancestry, and race.
Canadians who experience caste discrimination are not taking it lightly. Like Mr. Bhangu, they are fighting for their right to freedom and safety in their new home.
Humans are curious and observant. We’ve been trying to make sense of our world for around 200,000 years. From this continual search for understanding, we’ve created philosophies, religions, cultures, and works of art. Feng shui is one such system, seeking to create harmony with nature for indoor spaces. As one of five elemental phases, earth plays an important role in modern feng shui practices.
A Brief Introduction to Feng Shui
Feng shui is based on traditional Chinese philosophy. Taoism contains many of its concepts, including qi – living energy that flows through everyone and everything. It also stresses the need for balance between yin and yang, opposite yet complementary forces. Since many energies exist within each space, feng shui seeks to create balance in ways that allow the positive flow of qi.
Qi plus yin and yang influence the bagua, an octagonal energy grid used in feng shui. Architect Anjie Cho explains that you superimpose this grid over your home’s floor plan to locate where certain energies lie. Many Western feng shui traditions place the top or north part of the grid at the front door. Others line it up with true north.
Earth as an Elemental Phase
Feng shui and Taoism include the concept of Wuxing – five elemental phases. How these phases interact can result in creation or destruction. Some texts refer to these as cycles of generation and overcoming. Creation happens when one elemental phase fuels the next, while destruction results from one phase overcoming another.
Earth is vital in both generation and overcoming cycles. In Taoist terms, earth comes from the fire that burns wood and leaves behind ash. Earth also helps form metal through geological processes. Yet earth can overcome water through physical barriers – banks that contain a river, or dams stopping its flow. And wood impacts earth by growing through the soil, breaking it apart and taking its nutrients.
Earth Energies and Symbolism
Feng shui associates elemental phases with colors, shapes, and directions. They also align with areas of human life – one’s career or family, for instance. Earth primarily lies in the middle of the bagua. Appropriately, the center is called “tai qi” and symbolizes one’s health and well-being. It’s also a vital area, since it touches the other eight regions in the bagua. Square and flat shapes are key. Yellow, orange, brown, and earth-toned neutral shades represent the earth elemental phase.
Earth appears in two other areas of the bagua. Gen, representing knowledge and wisdom, lies in the northeast part of the energy grid. Earth is its native element, associated with square and flat shapes plus dark-blue hues. You’ll also find earth in Kun, the love and relationships region in the bagua’s southwest corner. Pink is the key color here, along with flat and square shapes.
Bringing Earth Into Your Spaces
Feng shui focuses on attracting specific energies. That’s why colors, geometric figures, and physical elements are key to its practice. The wonderful thing is here is that you have a lot of flexibility in how you do this. If you’re working with the tai qi area, for example, you could use color – perhaps painting a wall yellow or gold. Bringing in a physical object like a stone statue or layered sand art also works. Squares are ideal for this area, so you could include a square rug in your décor.
Feng shui is gaining popularity in Canada. The idea of harmony and balanced energies appeals to many, but there are also aesthetic advantages. Earth is one of five elemental phases, complete with its own properties and associated energy. Working it into your interiors calls for creativity, flexibility, and a desire to reap its benefits.
There are a number of ways to go about putting a unique spin on your wedding. If you want to break with tradition, one of the best choices to consider is to look at the newest and most popular wedding trends. Canadian couples have been playing with a number of fascinating fads for their nuptials. To make the most out of your big day, take a moment to explore the latest and more interesting Canadian wedding trends and see if any are a good fit for how you envision your celebration.
Hosting Trends- An Eco-Friendly Event
According to recent statistics, younger couples across Canada are more concerned with sustainability than previous generations. If you’re worried about how much of an impact your wedding will have on the environment, you may find it helpful to consider an eco-friendly event. One way to achieve this is by exploring alternatives to traditional plates and flatware. Opting for biodegradable items can greatly reduce the amount of waste your wedding generates. Another worthwhile idea to consider is to skip physical invitations and utilize digital options instead, as most paper invites end up directly in the trash.
Keeping Things Small
Planning a large wedding can often prove to be a huge headache. Since bigger events can be both expensive and exhausting, more and more Canadian couples are hosting smaller gatherings. Not only can a wedding with a shorter guest list help you save money, but it also creates a more intimate experience for you and your loved ones. Instead of renting a giant venue to accommodate all of your guests, deciding to have a small wedding allows you the flexibility to host your nuptials in a more personal location such as a friend’s backyard or your favorite local restaurant.
Incorporating Retro Wedding Elements
Trends come and go rather quickly in the wedding industry. While some fads are viewed as products of their time, others boast timeless qualities that make them a perfect fit for modern affairs. One way to personalize your big day is by looking at retro wedding ideas and seeing if anything appeals to you. For example, many couples are incorporating classic elements like champagne towers into their receptions. Another simple idea to consider is placing disposable cameras around the venue and encouraging your guests to take photographs throughout the course of the night.
Ditching the Cake
A cake can seem like an essential part of a wedding. However, many couples are ditching the idea of the classic cake altogether these days. Instead, younger Canadians are exploring a wealth of more enticing options. If you prefer ice cream to cake, consider having a sundae bar at the reception. Giving guests the option of making their own creamy creations with a plethora of toppings can be far more memorable than serving a basic wedding cake. Other dessert options worth offering can include cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, and a chocolate fountain.
Picking Bold Flowers
Flowers are one of the most important decorations involved in weddings. Though it was common for couples to select neutral colors for their floral arrangements in recent years, this trend is shifting dramatically. Now, it is more popular for couples to pick flowers that boast bold colors. Whether you’re looking for the perfect centerpieces or want to put together a bouquet that guests will remember for years to come, going big with the color choices of your flowers can be a great way to give your event a personal spin.
Selecting the Best Trends
There are many different ways to go about planning a wedding that feels like it is truly your own. If you want to break with tradition and find some fresh elements for your event, be sure to look at the latest Canadian wedding trends to see what appeals to you.
Outdoor weddings are quite popular amongst couples who are looking to tie the knot during the warmer months of the year. Naturally, there are a number of different ways you can go about throwing this type of event. If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors while simultaneously giving your reception a posh feel, then a classic Canadian garden wedding can be a beautiful choice. Take a moment to review these tips and see how easy it is to put together a reception that you will adore.
Select a Garden Location
The most important step when planning a garden wedding is selecting the right venue. There are some phenomenal options across Canada that work wonderfully for outdoor events. The VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia, is ideal for couples who want to wed amidst rare and beautiful flowers. Casa Loma in Toronto is another wonderful choice for garden weddings because the castle-like appearance of the venue lends itself perfectly to the aesthetic of a classy event. Another great spot to consider in Toronto is Graydon Hall Manor, which boasts a breathtaking garden.
Think About the Exact Date
After you have decided on the venue, it is a good idea to think about the exact date you plan on getting married. The time of year your event will be will greatly impact the aesthetic of your wedding. For example, throwing a garden wedding in the earlier part of spring means you will be surrounded by the first colorful blossoms that have burst from the ground and the branches. Do your research and see what flowers are most common during the time you plan on getting married. This can help you incorporate the right colors into your event’s decor.
Get Creative With Attire
While there are many reasons to consider throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding, one of the most fun is that it offers the chance to get creative with what guests will wear. At a traditional garden wedding, you are likely to see people wear more colors and patterns than at an indoor event. At more polished affairs, it is common for women and men to don large hats that block the sun and enhance their outfits. Take a look at example images on sites like Pinterest to get a better feel for how creative you can get with clothing.
Plan Ahead for Garden Problems
Though there are plenty of perks that come with an outdoor wedding, there are also a number of downsides to take into consideration. For one, gardens tend to attract a variety of pests. Guests will have to deal with mosquitoes, bees, and all manner of flying nuisances. Make their lives a bit easier by offering eco-friendly bug spray as a “welcome to the wedding” gift. Another point to keep in mind is the weather. If the temperature will be high, be sure to offer water and hand fans. You must also have a contingency plan in the event of rain.
Incorporate Unique Traditions
Another way to make the most of a garden wedding is by incorporating traditions that you would not have considered at other venues. If the venue permits, see if it is possible for you and your partner to plant something together. Whether you plant seeds for a specific flower or a sapling tree, the idea is that you can return to the location in the future and see how what you planted has grown alongside your relationship. This tradition also allows you and your partner to become a part of the history of the venue.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of nature on your big day. As long as you take your time to plan out the details, you will have no trouble throwing a colorful and enjoyable outdoor experience.
With the technology and electronics available today, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could be illiterate. Sadly, many individuals around the world do not have basic access to educational and reading materials to help them improve their lives. The International Literacy Association estimates that about 12 percent of the global population, or about 781 million people, are functionally illiterate. The United Nations considers literacy a fundamental human right that is essential to social development. Education is one of the key factors in eliminating poverty, and literacy is a big step to education.
Isn’t the Problem Overseas?
Although the literacy problem is more pronounced in third world countries, Canada has a literacy problem of its own. The Canadian Literacy and Learning Network reports that about 42 percent of adults in the country between the ages of 18 and 65 do not have high literacy skills. One study shows that many Canadians aren’t keeping pace with the literacy skills needed for today’s technology. Just a 1 percent increase in the literacy rate would increase economic growth by about $18 billion annually. Investing in literacy has a high rate of return on investment, at 241 percent.
Here in Canada, the people most affected by illiteracy are:
People who experienced abuse or neglect when they were young
People who had their schooling interrupted by poverty or discrimination
Children with undiagnosed learning disabilities
Seniors who only received an elementary education
Aboriginal individuals
Immigrants who do not speak English or French as their main language
Learning To Read Is An Essential Life Skill
Literacy reaches beyond just reading. There are aspects of literacy in practically everything we do. From finding a doctor and making healthy lifestyle choices to taking the right bus to get to work, the need for reading skills are all around us. We have to make reading a priority from childhood into old age.
There are many reasons people do not get literacy help when they get behind in their skills. It might be fear, or low self-esteem or a lack of confidence. Sometimes, it’s simply poverty and not having the time to better oneself. It might even be a lack of resources and not having books to read.
The United Nations has designated September 8 as International Literacy Day. This year marks its 50th anniversary, and the theme for 2016 is “Reading the Past, Writing the Future.” Over the past 50 years, the number of young adults who don’t have literacy skills has decreased by 25 percent. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova stated in her message for ILD, “The world has changed since 1966 – but our determination to provide every woman and man with the skills, capacities and opportunities to become everything they wish, in dignity and respect, remains as firm as ever. Literacy is a foundation to build a more sustainable future for all – this is UNESCO’s message.”
You Can Make a Difference
Multiple organizations throughout the world are working hard to bring books and other reading materials to people in areas that lack these things. Here in Canada, you can learn to be a reading tutor and help individuals learn to read or to improve their skills. As a tutor, you have to be part coach and cheerleader, teacher and friend to keep someone on the track to literacy.
Read to your children. Encourage others to read and maintain their skills. Get news through reading and not watching and listening. Partner with an organization that is bringing books to communities where there are no books. World Literacy Foundation has many ways to volunteer for literacy and education. Don’t let this year’s International Literacy Day pass by without taking some time to make a difference in the life of someone who needs to learn to read.
For hundreds of years, Christians have banded together to create organizations to help people on the margins of society, including people living in poverty and dealing with hardship. These causes often take Christians around the world as they look to uplift people who live in vastly different geographical settings. As people all over the globe face more and more severe weather events, Christians in Canada can’t help but look to the root cause, which is the climate crisis. Keep reading to learn about how Christians in Canada are rallying against climate change.
Why Is Climate Change a Christian Cause?
Most people wouldn’t immediately think of environmentalism as a Christian cause, so why is climate change suddenly on the radar of Christians in Canada? The simple answer is that Christian organizations are beginning to recognize that to make a real difference in the lives of the people they help, they need to address the root cause of suffering and hardship.
Giving money to charitable causes that raise funds for people experiencing record-shattering levels of drought and famine in Africa can only ease the symptoms of the issue, but it won’t alleviate the problem. When weather and climate conditions continue to grow more and more extreme year after year, people living in difficult situations will experience the consequences more acutely than those living in developed countries without agriculture and the natural world to survive. Christian organizations in Canada are starting to realize they need to work on these issues from a different angle and address climate change head-on.
What Are Canadian Christians Doing About Climate Change?
Canadian Christians are getting fired up about addressing climate change, and they are taking action to make their voices heard. Organizations such as Tearfund Canada and A Rocha Canada want to make sure that they stay relevant when it comes to making a difference. These organizations understand that young people in Canada feel strongly about climate change and that it is a significant issue for youth all over the world. Taking inspiration from youth movements, these organizations want to help raise awareness about the dangers of climate change among the Canadian public.
Making climate change a central issue within these organizations’ frameworks is a significant shift. It signals that climate change is on people’s minds and that they want to see policy change and action from their governments. The fact that Christians are looking at the underlying cause and pushing for greener policies in government is a sign that public pressure on this issue will only continue to build and build.
What Do Canadian Christians Hope Will Change in the Future?
Canadian Christians are rallying against climate change in the hopes that they can catalyze their communities and push for policy change in government. There is still a long way to go to reduce carbon emissions on a global scale, and Canadian Christians aren’t satisfied staying on the sidelines and waiting for the government to move forward at its own pace.
The issue of climate change isn’t hopeless either. If governments could agree on global standards and make a pact to reduce emissions worldwide, then it would be possible to slow down the temperature changes that are gripping the Earth. However, any changes made need to be implemented permanently, which means that governments and the public have to get on board with a new vision for how to exist safely with Mother Nature.
Canadian Christian organizations such as Tearfund Canada and A Rocha Canada understand that they can’t just throw money at poor families in Oceania and hope those families can make it through the climate crisis. Making a difference is going to take a much more focused effort, and it looks like Canadian Christians are gearing up for the task.
Tying the knot is a very exciting chapter in the love story you are creating with your partner. Still, it can prove helpful to take a closer look at whether or not your event reflects current wedding trends. From the median age of a couple when they decide to get married to the traditions surrounding surnames, Canadian wedding trends fluctuate from one year to the next. Take a look at these statistics surrounding modern weddings and learn a bit more about the evolution of marriage in Canada over recent decades.
Waiting To Wed
In the 1980s, the average age for a person to get married in Canada was 23. Over the last few decades, however, people have been waiting long periods before making the decision to walk down the aisle. Some experts believe this is due to younger individuals putting a heavier focus on their careers. Others attribute the delay to the rising costs of living and how expensive it has become to start a family. Regardless of the exact reason, the median age for a person to wed in Canada has shifted to 31 as of 2022.
Breaking With Tradition
Modern couples often like to break with traditions that no longer suit them. A great example of this can be found in brides who decide to keep their own last names after getting married. In the 1970s, almost all Canadian women who tied the knot changed their surnames. According to polls taken in 2019, this number has shifted a considerable amount. Roughly 40% of women who get married nowadays opt not to fully change their names. Of this percentage, about half decide to hyphenate their last names in order to incorporate their married names.
Setting Statistics Aside
As of 2023, about 36 countries across the world have legalized same-sex marriage. While this trend highlights how accepting people around the planet have become of LGBT relationships, it is important to note that Canada was one of the first countries to make this decision. Same-sex marriage was officially legalized in Canada on July 20, 2005, after the Civil Marriage Act was passed. While this act made same-sex marriages legal nationwide, certain provinces had legalized these unions earlier. Provinces that passed marriage equality laws in 2004 include Quebec, Yukon, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland.
Opting for Winter Engagements
There is no “right” time of year to get engaged. As long as you and your partner are on the same page, the decision to get married can be a great choice. Still, some studies have shown that a majority of Canadian couples prefer to pop the question during the same period. According to a number of reports, a large chunk of couples make the decision to get engaged between December and February. While they may prefer winter engagements, most couples wind up hosting their weddings during the spring and summer.
Sharing Space First
Several decades ago, it was commonplace for couples to live separately until they officially tied the knot. This is a trend that has shifted dramatically in recent years. According to national stats, roughly 75% of couples decide to live together before making the decision to get married. Many couples opt to move in together before marriage in order to see how well their relationships fare when they’re sharing a space. If you wait until you’re married to live with your partner, you might discover that the two of you have very different ideas on cohabitation.
Ignoring Statistics & Following Your Own Path
While it can be helpful to take a look at statistics now and again, it is important to remember that your wedding does not need to follow any specific rules or trends. As long as you and your partner are happy with the decisions you have made, everything else will fall into place.
The fabric of daily life for most people in Canada has long included some spiritual elements. However, recent Pew Studies have highlighted a few key details suggesting that traditional religious beliefs are not as important as they were to previous generations. To gain some perspective on this, it can be useful to look at some of the biggest shifts that have taken place in the last few years. Review these statistics and learn the how and why of Canada’s current religious landscape.
Immigration and Population Changes
Canada has long been a nation that has welcomed immigrants from all over the world. From refugees looking for a more stable place to raise families to those simply seeking to reap the many advantages Canadian citizenship can offer, roughly 300,000 people from every corner of the globe immigrate to the country each year. As these numbers continue to grow, Canada has seen significant population increases in various religious groups. In the last decade, about 50% of immigrants to Canada come from the Middle East and Asia. For this reason, groups like Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims have grown.
However, people are also leaving Canada in consistent numbers. Reports state that about 25,000 Canadians emigrate to other countries annually. As this occurs, existing populations of those who follow different Christian beliefs have gone down. While Christianity is still the dominant religion of the country, these changes have seen the number lower significantly in a short amount of time.
Religion Has Less of an Impact
While the religious scene in Canada is becoming more diverse, the role of religion has become less important in many ways to citizens. Another study released by the Pew Research Center revealed that younger generations are not connecting to organized religion as much. Though many individuals may still identify as belonging to a particular religious group, a majority do not believe that religion has much of an influence on their routines. Younger generations are also adamant about keeping religion out of government affairs, whereas previous generations were more divided on the matter.
Personal Prayer Is More Important Than Religious Gatherings
There are a number of metrics that can be used when determining whether a person is actively involved with a religious group. However, younger Canadians are less inclined to take part in community activities. Daily or weekly worship, for example, has much less of an impact on this demographic than prayer. According to recent research, about 60% of all Canadians admit to praying on some type of regular basis. Conversely, only about 50% of the population attends worship services throughout the year.
Where You Live Dictates Your Religious Beliefs
Location has always impacted a person’s religious beliefs. However, reports from the last few years show that people of similar mindsets tend to move to certain regions of Canada. Census data has highlighted that Western Canada is populated by a large number of individuals who consider themselves non-religious. About 45% of citizens in this region consider themselves atheists, agnostics, or disinterested in the topic of religion altogether. On the other hand, cities like Quebec tend to have the strongest and most consistent population of people who identify as Roman Catholic.
People Are Fine With Other People’s Beliefs
International news is filled with plenty of stories about religious intolerance of all degrees. Though Canada is not without its fair share of incidents, studies have pointed out that the country is largely welcoming of other people’s beliefs. Though this will always vary from person to person, the country is routinely ranked as one of the best places to live for those who wish to practice their religion freely and without stigma.
Religion has always had some type of influence on life in Canada. To gain an understanding of how people will feel in the future, it can be helpful to review recent statistics and learn more about the “why” of it all.
Maybe you’ve heard of feng shui – creating balance with the natural world in one’s indoor spaces. Tied to some important Chinese cultural beliefs, this fascinating art is a few thousand years old. But how exactly does it work? Once you understand the basics, feng shui can be a little easier to grasp. This quick guide introduces its concepts and their applications.
Taoist Principles Behind Feng Shui
New York architect Anjie Cho explains feng shui’s roots. The term comes from two separate Chinese words — “feng” means wind and “shui” means water. It’s related to Tao, a principle underlying all creation and calling for harmony with its natural order.
Tao is an extensive philosophy, but some of its basics play out in feng shui. Qi, pronounced as “chi,” is a fundamental life energy flowing through the world. You may have heard of yin and yang – these refer to complementary opposite forces that must remain in balance. And then there’s Wu Xing, a cycle in which life moves through five states: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
With Wu Xing, creative or destructive effects occur based on the order in which the cycle moves. The Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia details how this works. Starting with wood, one state helps create the next. Wood can fuel a fire, which can produce ashes to create earth, and so on. But there’s also a controlling or suppressive cycle. Fire melts metal, metal cuts wood, and wood grows through earth. As this cycle continues, earth hems in water, which in turn extinguishes fire.
How the Five Elements Work
In another piece for The Spruce, Cho further describes how the five states work in feng shui. These states have physical properties, but they also represent intangible things. Earth, for instance, stands for nourishment, self-care, and boundaries. These states also have their own sets of colors:
Fire: red and orange
Earth: yellow and neutral earth tones
Metal: gray and silver
Water: black, darker gray, and navy
Wood: green and light blue tones
Shapes can also represent these element states. Fire shapes are very angular – usually triangles. Squares symbolize earth. Circles and round shapes recall the metal element. Irregular and wavy shapes point to water – like waves in a pond or lake. Tall shapes and columns represent wood, like the trunks of trees.
Thoughtful choices can help bring needed elements into your spaces. Sometimes, these choices are obvious. You could add a wooden desk and houseplants as wood elements in a home office. But sometimes, an item symbolizes one of the elements. Maybe you don’t have a brick oven in your kitchen, but your stove represents fire just the same. You shouldn’t bring a pile of dirt into your living room, but a square yellow rug can stand in for earth.
Positions in Feng Shui
Cho adds that placement makes a huge difference in feng shui. There’s the commanding position – the spot in each room located the farthest from the door. The commanding position is not in direct line with the door, but you can still see the door itself. It’s where you’d place objects that you use the most – the stove in your kitchen, your desk in a home office, and so forth.
Feng shui also uses a map to locate eight key areas in a space. This map, called a bagua, assigns each area to an aspect of life. The central southern area, for example, is red and represents one’s fame and reputation. There’s also a central area that stands for the individual – specifically, wellness and health.
More Than Interior Design
Feng shui comes from Taoist philosophies: important ideas that helped shape Chinese culture. While using feng shui can create beautiful interior spaces, the central goal is achieving balance with nature. Today’s practitioners have adapted its ancient concepts to modern interiors, building design, and lifestyles.
When you die, your debts don’t follow you beyond the grave. But that doesn’t mean that you can ignore them – at least not in Canada, anyway. Not all liabilities are the same, so you need to understand how Canadian law treats different types of debt. This vital understanding can help you make wise choices while planning for your family’s future.
Secured and Unsecured Debt
Most debt falls into one of two categories – secured or unsecured. Secured debt involves assets used as collateral, as Investopedia explains. Should the borrower default, the lender can seize the asset to help pay for the loan. Mortgages and auto loans are the two most common kinds of secured debt.
Most consumer debt, like credit cards or personal loans, is unsecured. This type doesn’t rely on collateral, so it tends to carry higher interest rates. Certain monthly expenses are also unsecured debts. Some examples include medical bills, revolving store credit, and gym memberships.
Unpaid Debts and Your Estate
Your estate contains both your assets and liabilities. Think of it this way: Anything you own is an asset, and anything you owe is a liability. Most creditors will still want repayment after you die, and they’ll hit up your estate to collect.
Secured or unsecured, your estate must pay debts before your heirs receive anything. Statistics from StatCan, HuffPost Canada, and CBC News may put things into perspective:
Nearly 68% of Canadians own their homes.
The average home price is currently $586,000.
The average Canadian owes $73,552 in debt.
The order in which debts are paid can vary. Home mortgages usually get priority, followed by auto loans and other secured debt. Unsecured debt is next on the list. Depending on how much you owe, your debts could total more than the value of your estate, in which case, under Canadian law, your estate is either declared insolvent or placed into bankruptcy. Mondaq explains that these estates must pay funeral expenses first. Estate administrative costs are next, followed by government debts and other remaining liabilities.
Debts and Your Family
Creditors can make claims against your estate, but what happens when there’s nothing left to pay? Can they come after your family for payment? Not in most cases, as Credit Canada explains. If you’re the sole borrower with no cosigners, your creditors are out of luck if your estate can’t pay them. Unscrupulous creditors may still try to collect anyway – they know the law but still want their money. Your family can file complaints with their provincial or territorial consumer affairs office. The national Office of Consumer Affairs offers tips for filing complaints.
People who cosign or jointly apply for debt are still on the hook for repayment if the primary borrower dies. Some creditors also hold supplementary cardholders responsible for payment. If you’re worried about lingering debt, you can give your heirs “living inheritances” while you’re still alive. Global News clarifies that Canada does not tax either inheritances or gifts. Capital gains taxes may apply if you’re gifting an asset and its value grows.
A Quick Word About Student Loans
Student loans are technically unsecured debt, but they’re treated a little differently. Employment and Social Development Canada explains that federal student loans are forgiven upon a borrower’s death. With private student loans, it’s a different story. Loans Canada reveals that private lenders have no legal obligation to forgive their loans after a borrower dies. While some do discharge these loans, others may make claims against your estate.
Nothing in our world is certain except death and taxes, quipped American statesman Benjamin Franklin. Understanding your debt and having a solid estate plan can prevent your family from being saddled with burdens after you’re gone.
While the majority of Canadians may not ever think about the word caste, for some people, it is a facet of life that they can’t escape even after immigrating to Canada. Caste discrimination is a form of oppression that activists in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas have fought against for decades. Unfortunately, with thousands of years of cultural normalcy, this form of discrimination is still deeply embedded in the psyches of people even after they leave their home countries. Read on to learn about how caste discrimination impacts the quality of life for Canadians.
What Is Caste Discrimination?
Caste discrimination is a form of oppression based on the perception of a person’s caste. That oppression can include violating a person’s economic, social, political, cultural, or individual rights. In the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Himalayas, people divided society into different groups based on caste, equating to a type of social order that determines what people are allowed to do for work, where they are allowed to go, and who they are allowed to interact with.
Within the traditional caste system, caste boundaries are fixed, meaning that, no matter what someone does in their life, neither they nor their descendants can escape the caste they are born into. The people who experience caste discrimination are those who others label as being of the lowest castes. In the past, some Hindus referred to this group as Untouchables. Today, activists from these groups call themselves Dalits and fight for full rights and acknowledgment under the law.
Does It Happen in Canada?
Caste discrimination is illegal, but it still happens, not only in India and Nepal but also in Canada. In March 2023, a taxi driver, Manoj Bhangu, who had immigrated from Punjab, India, received a settlement order from the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal after experiencing caste discrimination at a work party. Two men, also originally from Punjab, used a caste-based slur against him, and the altercation turned physical. The Tribunal ruled that Mr. Bhangu deserved more than $9,000 in compensation and that the brothers, Inderjit and Avninder Dhillon, would have to pay up for the harm they caused.
While this case garnered national media attention, many other instances of caste discrimination in Canada continue unabated. People who come from Dalit backgrounds often get denied housing, promotions, and networking opportunities when upper-caste Hindus control those opportunities. Nor is Canada the only place where people have to face this kind of oppression. It also happens in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. In 2023, Seattle, Washington, was the first city to put a law on the books that bans caste discrimination.
How Can People Seek Justice?
Seeking justice isn’t easy for people who face caste discrimination in Canada, but one way to do so is by pursuing a case in front of a tribunal or the courts. Although caste is not an inherent social category in Canada, it can still count as a protected characteristic.
In Canada, all people have a right to freedom from discrimination. There are many characteristics that the law considers protected under this legal structure, including the following:
Race
Gender
Place of origin
Ethnicity
Religion
Disability
The list of protected characteristics is extensive, which makes it possible for people who experience discrimination to fight for justice within the legal structure. Since caste is not something that people choose but something that is forced upon them by others, it results in a protected characteristic similar to place of origin, ancestry, and race.
Canadians who experience caste discrimination are not taking it lightly. Like Mr. Bhangu, they are fighting for their right to freedom and safety in their new home.
Humans are curious and observant. We’ve been trying to make sense of our world for around 200,000 years. From this continual search for understanding, we’ve created philosophies, religions, cultures, and works of art. Feng shui is one such system, seeking to create harmony with nature for indoor spaces. As one of five elemental phases, earth plays an important role in modern feng shui practices.
A Brief Introduction to Feng Shui
Feng shui is based on traditional Chinese philosophy. Taoism contains many of its concepts, including qi – living energy that flows through everyone and everything. It also stresses the need for balance between yin and yang, opposite yet complementary forces. Since many energies exist within each space, feng shui seeks to create balance in ways that allow the positive flow of qi.
Qi plus yin and yang influence the bagua, an octagonal energy grid used in feng shui. Architect Anjie Cho explains that you superimpose this grid over your home’s floor plan to locate where certain energies lie. Many Western feng shui traditions place the top or north part of the grid at the front door. Others line it up with true north.
Earth as an Elemental Phase
Feng shui and Taoism include the concept of Wuxing – five elemental phases. How these phases interact can result in creation or destruction. Some texts refer to these as cycles of generation and overcoming. Creation happens when one elemental phase fuels the next, while destruction results from one phase overcoming another.
Earth is vital in both generation and overcoming cycles. In Taoist terms, earth comes from the fire that burns wood and leaves behind ash. Earth also helps form metal through geological processes. Yet earth can overcome water through physical barriers – banks that contain a river, or dams stopping its flow. And wood impacts earth by growing through the soil, breaking it apart and taking its nutrients.
Earth Energies and Symbolism
Feng shui associates elemental phases with colors, shapes, and directions. They also align with areas of human life – one’s career or family, for instance. Earth primarily lies in the middle of the bagua. Appropriately, the center is called “tai qi” and symbolizes one’s health and well-being. It’s also a vital area, since it touches the other eight regions in the bagua. Square and flat shapes are key. Yellow, orange, brown, and earth-toned neutral shades represent the earth elemental phase.
Earth appears in two other areas of the bagua. Gen, representing knowledge and wisdom, lies in the northeast part of the energy grid. Earth is its native element, associated with square and flat shapes plus dark-blue hues. You’ll also find earth in Kun, the love and relationships region in the bagua’s southwest corner. Pink is the key color here, along with flat and square shapes.
Bringing Earth Into Your Spaces
Feng shui focuses on attracting specific energies. That’s why colors, geometric figures, and physical elements are key to its practice. The wonderful thing is here is that you have a lot of flexibility in how you do this. If you’re working with the tai qi area, for example, you could use color – perhaps painting a wall yellow or gold. Bringing in a physical object like a stone statue or layered sand art also works. Squares are ideal for this area, so you could include a square rug in your décor.
Feng shui is gaining popularity in Canada. The idea of harmony and balanced energies appeals to many, but there are also aesthetic advantages. Earth is one of five elemental phases, complete with its own properties and associated energy. Working it into your interiors calls for creativity, flexibility, and a desire to reap its benefits.
There are a number of ways to go about putting a unique spin on your wedding. If you want to break with tradition, one of the best choices to consider is to look at the newest and most popular wedding trends. Canadian couples have been playing with a number of fascinating fads for their nuptials. To make the most out of your big day, take a moment to explore the latest and more interesting Canadian wedding trends and see if any are a good fit for how you envision your celebration.
Hosting Trends- An Eco-Friendly Event
According to recent statistics, younger couples across Canada are more concerned with sustainability than previous generations. If you’re worried about how much of an impact your wedding will have on the environment, you may find it helpful to consider an eco-friendly event. One way to achieve this is by exploring alternatives to traditional plates and flatware. Opting for biodegradable items can greatly reduce the amount of waste your wedding generates. Another worthwhile idea to consider is to skip physical invitations and utilize digital options instead, as most paper invites end up directly in the trash.
Keeping Things Small
Planning a large wedding can often prove to be a huge headache. Since bigger events can be both expensive and exhausting, more and more Canadian couples are hosting smaller gatherings. Not only can a wedding with a shorter guest list help you save money, but it also creates a more intimate experience for you and your loved ones. Instead of renting a giant venue to accommodate all of your guests, deciding to have a small wedding allows you the flexibility to host your nuptials in a more personal location such as a friend’s backyard or your favorite local restaurant.
Incorporating Retro Wedding Elements
Trends come and go rather quickly in the wedding industry. While some fads are viewed as products of their time, others boast timeless qualities that make them a perfect fit for modern affairs. One way to personalize your big day is by looking at retro wedding ideas and seeing if anything appeals to you. For example, many couples are incorporating classic elements like champagne towers into their receptions. Another simple idea to consider is placing disposable cameras around the venue and encouraging your guests to take photographs throughout the course of the night.
Ditching the Cake
A cake can seem like an essential part of a wedding. However, many couples are ditching the idea of the classic cake altogether these days. Instead, younger Canadians are exploring a wealth of more enticing options. If you prefer ice cream to cake, consider having a sundae bar at the reception. Giving guests the option of making their own creamy creations with a plethora of toppings can be far more memorable than serving a basic wedding cake. Other dessert options worth offering can include cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, and a chocolate fountain.
Picking Bold Flowers
Flowers are one of the most important decorations involved in weddings. Though it was common for couples to select neutral colors for their floral arrangements in recent years, this trend is shifting dramatically. Now, it is more popular for couples to pick flowers that boast bold colors. Whether you’re looking for the perfect centerpieces or want to put together a bouquet that guests will remember for years to come, going big with the color choices of your flowers can be a great way to give your event a personal spin.
Selecting the Best Trends
There are many different ways to go about planning a wedding that feels like it is truly your own. If you want to break with tradition and find some fresh elements for your event, be sure to look at the latest Canadian wedding trends to see what appeals to you.
Outdoor weddings are quite popular amongst couples who are looking to tie the knot during the warmer months of the year. Naturally, there are a number of different ways you can go about throwing this type of event. If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors while simultaneously giving your reception a posh feel, then a classic Canadian garden wedding can be a beautiful choice. Take a moment to review these tips and see how easy it is to put together a reception that you will adore.
Select a Garden Location
The most important step when planning a garden wedding is selecting the right venue. There are some phenomenal options across Canada that work wonderfully for outdoor events. The VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia, is ideal for couples who want to wed amidst rare and beautiful flowers. Casa Loma in Toronto is another wonderful choice for garden weddings because the castle-like appearance of the venue lends itself perfectly to the aesthetic of a classy event. Another great spot to consider in Toronto is Graydon Hall Manor, which boasts a breathtaking garden.
Think About the Exact Date
After you have decided on the venue, it is a good idea to think about the exact date you plan on getting married. The time of year your event will be will greatly impact the aesthetic of your wedding. For example, throwing a garden wedding in the earlier part of spring means you will be surrounded by the first colorful blossoms that have burst from the ground and the branches. Do your research and see what flowers are most common during the time you plan on getting married. This can help you incorporate the right colors into your event’s decor.
Get Creative With Attire
While there are many reasons to consider throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding, one of the most fun is that it offers the chance to get creative with what guests will wear. At a traditional garden wedding, you are likely to see people wear more colors and patterns than at an indoor event. At more polished affairs, it is common for women and men to don large hats that block the sun and enhance their outfits. Take a look at example images on sites like Pinterest to get a better feel for how creative you can get with clothing.
Plan Ahead for Garden Problems
Though there are plenty of perks that come with an outdoor wedding, there are also a number of downsides to take into consideration. For one, gardens tend to attract a variety of pests. Guests will have to deal with mosquitoes, bees, and all manner of flying nuisances. Make their lives a bit easier by offering eco-friendly bug spray as a “welcome to the wedding” gift. Another point to keep in mind is the weather. If the temperature will be high, be sure to offer water and hand fans. You must also have a contingency plan in the event of rain.
Incorporate Unique Traditions
Another way to make the most of a garden wedding is by incorporating traditions that you would not have considered at other venues. If the venue permits, see if it is possible for you and your partner to plant something together. Whether you plant seeds for a specific flower or a sapling tree, the idea is that you can return to the location in the future and see how what you planted has grown alongside your relationship. This tradition also allows you and your partner to become a part of the history of the venue.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of nature on your big day. As long as you take your time to plan out the details, you will have no trouble throwing a colorful and enjoyable outdoor experience.
With the technology and electronics available today, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could be illiterate. Sadly, many individuals around the world do not have basic access to educational and reading materials to help them improve their lives. The International Literacy Association estimates that about 12 percent of the global population, or about 781 million people, are functionally illiterate. The United Nations considers literacy a fundamental human right that is essential to social development. Education is one of the key factors in eliminating poverty, and literacy is a big step to education.
Isn’t the Problem Overseas?
Although the literacy problem is more pronounced in third world countries, Canada has a literacy problem of its own. The Canadian Literacy and Learning Network reports that about 42 percent of adults in the country between the ages of 18 and 65 do not have high literacy skills. One study shows that many Canadians aren’t keeping pace with the literacy skills needed for today’s technology. Just a 1 percent increase in the literacy rate would increase economic growth by about $18 billion annually. Investing in literacy has a high rate of return on investment, at 241 percent.
Here in Canada, the people most affected by illiteracy are:
People who experienced abuse or neglect when they were young
People who had their schooling interrupted by poverty or discrimination
Children with undiagnosed learning disabilities
Seniors who only received an elementary education
Aboriginal individuals
Immigrants who do not speak English or French as their main language
Learning To Read Is An Essential Life Skill
Literacy reaches beyond just reading. There are aspects of literacy in practically everything we do. From finding a doctor and making healthy lifestyle choices to taking the right bus to get to work, the need for reading skills are all around us. We have to make reading a priority from childhood into old age.
There are many reasons people do not get literacy help when they get behind in their skills. It might be fear, or low self-esteem or a lack of confidence. Sometimes, it’s simply poverty and not having the time to better oneself. It might even be a lack of resources and not having books to read.
The United Nations has designated September 8 as International Literacy Day. This year marks its 50th anniversary, and the theme for 2016 is “Reading the Past, Writing the Future.” Over the past 50 years, the number of young adults who don’t have literacy skills has decreased by 25 percent. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova stated in her message for ILD, “The world has changed since 1966 – but our determination to provide every woman and man with the skills, capacities and opportunities to become everything they wish, in dignity and respect, remains as firm as ever. Literacy is a foundation to build a more sustainable future for all – this is UNESCO’s message.”
You Can Make a Difference
Multiple organizations throughout the world are working hard to bring books and other reading materials to people in areas that lack these things. Here in Canada, you can learn to be a reading tutor and help individuals learn to read or to improve their skills. As a tutor, you have to be part coach and cheerleader, teacher and friend to keep someone on the track to literacy.
Read to your children. Encourage others to read and maintain their skills. Get news through reading and not watching and listening. Partner with an organization that is bringing books to communities where there are no books. World Literacy Foundation has many ways to volunteer for literacy and education. Don’t let this year’s International Literacy Day pass by without taking some time to make a difference in the life of someone who needs to learn to read.
For hundreds of years, Christians have banded together to create organizations to help people on the margins of society, including people living in poverty and dealing with hardship. These causes often take Christians around the world as they look to uplift people who live in vastly different geographical settings. As people all over the globe face more and more severe weather events, Christians in Canada can’t help but look to the root cause, which is the climate crisis. Keep reading to learn about how Christians in Canada are rallying against climate change.
Why Is Climate Change a Christian Cause?
Most people wouldn’t immediately think of environmentalism as a Christian cause, so why is climate change suddenly on the radar of Christians in Canada? The simple answer is that Christian organizations are beginning to recognize that to make a real difference in the lives of the people they help, they need to address the root cause of suffering and hardship.
Giving money to charitable causes that raise funds for people experiencing record-shattering levels of drought and famine in Africa can only ease the symptoms of the issue, but it won’t alleviate the problem. When weather and climate conditions continue to grow more and more extreme year after year, people living in difficult situations will experience the consequences more acutely than those living in developed countries without agriculture and the natural world to survive. Christian organizations in Canada are starting to realize they need to work on these issues from a different angle and address climate change head-on.
What Are Canadian Christians Doing About Climate Change?
Canadian Christians are getting fired up about addressing climate change, and they are taking action to make their voices heard. Organizations such as Tearfund Canada and A Rocha Canada want to make sure that they stay relevant when it comes to making a difference. These organizations understand that young people in Canada feel strongly about climate change and that it is a significant issue for youth all over the world. Taking inspiration from youth movements, these organizations want to help raise awareness about the dangers of climate change among the Canadian public.
Making climate change a central issue within these organizations’ frameworks is a significant shift. It signals that climate change is on people’s minds and that they want to see policy change and action from their governments. The fact that Christians are looking at the underlying cause and pushing for greener policies in government is a sign that public pressure on this issue will only continue to build and build.
What Do Canadian Christians Hope Will Change in the Future?
Canadian Christians are rallying against climate change in the hopes that they can catalyze their communities and push for policy change in government. There is still a long way to go to reduce carbon emissions on a global scale, and Canadian Christians aren’t satisfied staying on the sidelines and waiting for the government to move forward at its own pace.
The issue of climate change isn’t hopeless either. If governments could agree on global standards and make a pact to reduce emissions worldwide, then it would be possible to slow down the temperature changes that are gripping the Earth. However, any changes made need to be implemented permanently, which means that governments and the public have to get on board with a new vision for how to exist safely with Mother Nature.
Canadian Christian organizations such as Tearfund Canada and A Rocha Canada understand that they can’t just throw money at poor families in Oceania and hope those families can make it through the climate crisis. Making a difference is going to take a much more focused effort, and it looks like Canadian Christians are gearing up for the task.
Tying the knot is a very exciting chapter in the love story you are creating with your partner. Still, it can prove helpful to take a closer look at whether or not your event reflects current wedding trends. From the median age of a couple when they decide to get married to the traditions surrounding surnames, Canadian wedding trends fluctuate from one year to the next. Take a look at these statistics surrounding modern weddings and learn a bit more about the evolution of marriage in Canada over recent decades.
Waiting To Wed
In the 1980s, the average age for a person to get married in Canada was 23. Over the last few decades, however, people have been waiting long periods before making the decision to walk down the aisle. Some experts believe this is due to younger individuals putting a heavier focus on their careers. Others attribute the delay to the rising costs of living and how expensive it has become to start a family. Regardless of the exact reason, the median age for a person to wed in Canada has shifted to 31 as of 2022.
Breaking With Tradition
Modern couples often like to break with traditions that no longer suit them. A great example of this can be found in brides who decide to keep their own last names after getting married. In the 1970s, almost all Canadian women who tied the knot changed their surnames. According to polls taken in 2019, this number has shifted a considerable amount. Roughly 40% of women who get married nowadays opt not to fully change their names. Of this percentage, about half decide to hyphenate their last names in order to incorporate their married names.
Setting Statistics Aside
As of 2023, about 36 countries across the world have legalized same-sex marriage. While this trend highlights how accepting people around the planet have become of LGBT relationships, it is important to note that Canada was one of the first countries to make this decision. Same-sex marriage was officially legalized in Canada on July 20, 2005, after the Civil Marriage Act was passed. While this act made same-sex marriages legal nationwide, certain provinces had legalized these unions earlier. Provinces that passed marriage equality laws in 2004 include Quebec, Yukon, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland.
Opting for Winter Engagements
There is no “right” time of year to get engaged. As long as you and your partner are on the same page, the decision to get married can be a great choice. Still, some studies have shown that a majority of Canadian couples prefer to pop the question during the same period. According to a number of reports, a large chunk of couples make the decision to get engaged between December and February. While they may prefer winter engagements, most couples wind up hosting their weddings during the spring and summer.
Sharing Space First
Several decades ago, it was commonplace for couples to live separately until they officially tied the knot. This is a trend that has shifted dramatically in recent years. According to national stats, roughly 75% of couples decide to live together before making the decision to get married. Many couples opt to move in together before marriage in order to see how well their relationships fare when they’re sharing a space. If you wait until you’re married to live with your partner, you might discover that the two of you have very different ideas on cohabitation.
Ignoring Statistics & Following Your Own Path
While it can be helpful to take a look at statistics now and again, it is important to remember that your wedding does not need to follow any specific rules or trends. As long as you and your partner are happy with the decisions you have made, everything else will fall into place.
The fabric of daily life for most people in Canada has long included some spiritual elements. However, recent Pew Studies have highlighted a few key details suggesting that traditional religious beliefs are not as important as they were to previous generations. To gain some perspective on this, it can be useful to look at some of the biggest shifts that have taken place in the last few years. Review these statistics and learn the how and why of Canada’s current religious landscape.
Immigration and Population Changes
Canada has long been a nation that has welcomed immigrants from all over the world. From refugees looking for a more stable place to raise families to those simply seeking to reap the many advantages Canadian citizenship can offer, roughly 300,000 people from every corner of the globe immigrate to the country each year. As these numbers continue to grow, Canada has seen significant population increases in various religious groups. In the last decade, about 50% of immigrants to Canada come from the Middle East and Asia. For this reason, groups like Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims have grown.
However, people are also leaving Canada in consistent numbers. Reports state that about 25,000 Canadians emigrate to other countries annually. As this occurs, existing populations of those who follow different Christian beliefs have gone down. While Christianity is still the dominant religion of the country, these changes have seen the number lower significantly in a short amount of time.
Religion Has Less of an Impact
While the religious scene in Canada is becoming more diverse, the role of religion has become less important in many ways to citizens. Another study released by the Pew Research Center revealed that younger generations are not connecting to organized religion as much. Though many individuals may still identify as belonging to a particular religious group, a majority do not believe that religion has much of an influence on their routines. Younger generations are also adamant about keeping religion out of government affairs, whereas previous generations were more divided on the matter.
Personal Prayer Is More Important Than Religious Gatherings
There are a number of metrics that can be used when determining whether a person is actively involved with a religious group. However, younger Canadians are less inclined to take part in community activities. Daily or weekly worship, for example, has much less of an impact on this demographic than prayer. According to recent research, about 60% of all Canadians admit to praying on some type of regular basis. Conversely, only about 50% of the population attends worship services throughout the year.
Where You Live Dictates Your Religious Beliefs
Location has always impacted a person’s religious beliefs. However, reports from the last few years show that people of similar mindsets tend to move to certain regions of Canada. Census data has highlighted that Western Canada is populated by a large number of individuals who consider themselves non-religious. About 45% of citizens in this region consider themselves atheists, agnostics, or disinterested in the topic of religion altogether. On the other hand, cities like Quebec tend to have the strongest and most consistent population of people who identify as Roman Catholic.
People Are Fine With Other People’s Beliefs
International news is filled with plenty of stories about religious intolerance of all degrees. Though Canada is not without its fair share of incidents, studies have pointed out that the country is largely welcoming of other people’s beliefs. Though this will always vary from person to person, the country is routinely ranked as one of the best places to live for those who wish to practice their religion freely and without stigma.
Religion has always had some type of influence on life in Canada. To gain an understanding of how people will feel in the future, it can be helpful to review recent statistics and learn more about the “why” of it all.
