Author Archives: Michael K. Barbour

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About Michael K. Barbour

Michael K. Barbour is the Director of Faculty Development and a Professor of Instructional Design for the College of Education and Health Sciences at Touro University California. He has been involved with K-12 online learning in a variety of countries for well over a decade as a researcher, teacher, course designer and administrator. Michael's research focuses on the effective design, delivery and support of K-12 online learning, particularly for students located in rural jurisdictions.

News and events for the Bay Area Canadian community

A newsletter from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.


In this update:

📫  Holiday greetings from the Digital Moose Lounge

🗓 Save the date: Jan 3rd for a DML New Year drop-in/social!

🏦  New Ask a Canadian blog post – how is your credit score?

🛒 #ShopSmallBayArea – Support Canadian owned/managed/affiliated small businesses this holiday

🎊 Local and virtual events
Dec 22nd join a holiday social with the SF Expat Canadian Meetup group PLUS catch a recap of McGill Alumni series: Traveling back to Canada. 

🎟 And, for your holiday (online) enjoyment, check out this listing of virtual celebrations. And, please share any that you are attending on our social media so others can join in!

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To our friends,

We know many are mourning the loss of visits “home” to Canada or to favourite vacation sanctuaries this year. Thank you for all efforts ensuring the safety and security of our local Bay Area communities – and Canadian homes visited – while we collectively take a deep breath and await vaccines and lower COVID-19 infection numbers.

With the last candles lit for Hanukkah, and the Winter Solstice coming soon to bring us more daylight, we also want to wish you a Merry Christmas next week. In the words of  Erika’s (DML Co-chairmoose) mum and dad in Vancouver:

“Traditional greetings don’t quite fit this year.
Gratitude will replace merriment at Christmas.”
Yes, we are full of gratitude for this vibrant and caring expat Canadian community. For the efforts made by our volunteers, leaders and partners before and after COVID-19 that brought us together: hockey games (remember those?!); Virtual Canada Week 2020 concerts, wine tastings, and contests; panels and discussions on all aspects of cross-border activity during this pandemic.

Watch for more community building with the Digital Moose Lounge in 2021! Exciting things are in the works.

Happy New Year to all!
Griselda & Erika
Co-chairmoose team

Save the date!
Sunday, January 3, 2021
4 to 6 p.m.

Please join the Digital Moose Lounge as we kick-off the New Year! Watch your email and follow our social channels. Overcome your zoom fatigue for two hours and join us for some casual fun and good cheer.

Ask a Canadian: How To Build
Your Credit in the United States

Our latest blog tells the story of one of our very own DML members on the challenges she faced and solutions she found moving to the US from Canada just a year ago. Read all about it here.

Sponsored by RBC Bank.
Check out our blog

We Support Canadian Small Businesses and Affiliates. #ShopSmallBayArea

With lockdowns in place we are all experiencing how hard it is to get out for holiday shopping. And yet, we are also experiencing backlogs and delays for postal service and shipping. According to DMLer and small business owner, VJ Gandhi, it is definitely getting a little late for Christmas ordering online: “…the orders are coming in this week and our distribution center is trying to send them out as quickly as possible. It’s up to the carriers like FedEx and UPS.”

If you can’t visit them in-person, or if shipping is out of the question at this point, consider gift cards. VJ suggests being OK with things arriving by or in the New Year instead, during this unprecedented holiday season.

The DML’s online Pop-up Market on our website that we launched in the summer, is a curated list of (primarily) Bay Area Canadian-owned/operated/themed shopping.

If you can’t visit them in-person, or if shipping is out of the question at this point, consider gift cards or arrange for a delivery in the New Year.

Want to join the upcoming SF Expat Canadian Meetup Group holiday event (online) coming up on Tuesday, December 22nd, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.?

Sign-up here. Ugly holiday sweaters welcome!

Did you miss this the first time?

Two part series:
Traveling back to Canada

The McGill Alumni Association of Northern California recently hosted two webinars on Traveling back to Canada.

  1. Webinar #1: “Traveling back to Canada PART 1” webinar with Connie Kaplan can be viewed here. Mme. Kaplan highlights what your options are if you wanted to temporarily move back to Canada and some of the legal aspects you need to consider.
  2. Webinar #2:  “Traveling back to Canada PART 2” webinar can be viewed here. The webinar features McGill alums, Matt Altro, BCom’00 and Pavan Dhillon, LL.B/B.C.L.’04. They share strategies and their expertise from both financial planning, and legal perspectives on how to immigrate to Canada with your family, spouse, children or parents.

From tips on thriving professionally during a pandemic to lectures from McGill’s brightest minds, check out our rich library of past virtual events. Watch our past Virtual Events or view an Alumni Webcast now.

Stay in touch with McGill Alumni Association by updating your contact information.

Wishing you good health and Happy Holidays!

Thank you to RBC Bank for their generous support
of the Digital Moose Lounge’s events and activities in 2020!

Keep your antlers to the ground with all the latest news, updates and fun

🚧 Our website is undergoing a makeover. Please be patient!

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Digital Moose Lounge

1260 Birchwood Drive

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

📣 Just scheduled: Festive Holiday Season Online HH!

An item that may be of interest for all Canadian ex-pats in the Bay Area.


heather podruchny scheduled a new event in The San Francisco Expat Canadian Meetup Group Just now

Details

Hi all! It’s that time of year! We will update this asap with a zoom link, and plan on breakout rooms etc… Bring your ugly Christmas sweater!!

Learn more

Hosted by

heather podruchny

I have been living all over since I left Canada in 2001. Love the idea of meeting other ex-pats and enjoying where we live now, besides reminiscing!

The Fall of Hong Kong

An item from the Legion Magazine.


Front Lines
Museum exhibition tells personal stories of war

Museum exhibition tells personal stories of war

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

A new exhibition at the Canadian War Museum relates the personal stories of dozens of Canadians who had roles in the Second World War, but it is the story of Regina’s Campbell brothers that struck a particular chord with historian Tim Cook.

The twins, Pilot Officer Alexander (Grant) Campbell and Flying Officer Robert (Roy) Campbell, both navigators aboard Lancaster bombers, were killed a month apart—Grant on April 11, 1944; Roy on May 13. They were 21 years old.

READ MORE

Military Moments | The Fall of Hong Kong

Military Moments | The Fall of Hong Kong

Narrated by Stephen J. Thorne

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the American base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, invaded Malaya the next day, and marched on Hong Kong. Canada had dispatched the Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles from Quebec City to join 14,000 Allied defence troops in the Hong Kong garrison. Undertrained, poorly armed and without their transport and heavy equipment, every one of the 1,975 Canadians became a casualty of war: 290 were killed in battle, 493 were wounded, and everyone who survived the battle was taken prisoner. In the following months, 260 Canadian PoWs died of starvation, disease, overwork and brutal treatment in the 44 months they were interned.

WATCH NOW

Military Milestones
Christmas offensive

Christmas offensive

Story by Sharon Adams

When bad weather interfered with air reconnaissance on Dec. 16, 1944, the Germans took advantage to launch a surprise attack on a weak point in Allied lines in the densely forested Ardennes region in eastern Belgium and northeastern France.

The plan was for more than two dozen divisions to split the lines, take Antwerp, Belgium, squeeze shut the Allied supply line, encircle and capture the British and American armies, and force a negotiated end to the war.

READ MORE

Back Issue BLOWOUT!
This week in history
This week in history

December 18, 1950

Canada’s first fighting unit—2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry—reaches Korea.

WATCH NOW

Medipac Travel Insurance
Legion Magazine

Get you orders in before Christmas!

An item from the organization formerly known as There But Not There.


Hi, get your orders in before Christmas!

This is one of our busiest times of the year- our veterans in Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company are working hard, getting all orders out to you this festive season.
GET YOUR ORDER IN NOW

A Heartwarming Tommy Tale

Everybody has a story behind their Tommy, whether it be a personal reminder of a relative, or a show of appreciation to all of those in the Armed Forces who have given so much to us.

This is no exception for Tommy owner Sarah Green, who’s Tommies serve as a tribute to her Grandfather Sid.

Sid, born in 1908, enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1926, before meeting his future wife, Maud.
In 1931, Sid was transferred to the Army Reserves as a Driver, where he stayed until he was discharged in February 1938. However, after WW2 broke out in 1939, Sid re-enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals, and was posted on the border of Holland and Belgium. As a Sergeant, Sid was in charge of maintaining a fleet of vehicles, and was always sure to bring cigarettes back for the men when traveling over the border!
Sid’s wife, Maud was at home during the war, working as nurse, and attending scenes in an ambulance. On one particular occasion, she awoke in the night to go to the bathroom, only to narrowly avoid a concrete block that had come through the roof, through her bed, and through the floor after a V1 dropped nearby.
After the war, Sid and Maud enjoyed their lives to the fullest, with Sid attending annual reunions with his Army friends

Sarah keeps her three Tommies in her window as a reminder of her grandparents, and the amazing lives they had.

SEND US YOUR STORY BEHIND YOUR TOMMY

Get Your Orders In!

Every year, Armed Forces personnel are separated from their family over Christmas. This year, show your support by putting a Tommy in your window.

Every purchase helps to keep veterans in meaningful employment, giving our veterans a Christmas to remember.

Garden Tommy
Garden Tommy
£72.00
A perfect gift for a loved one this Christmas. Join the thousands of others showing their Tommy this Christmas.
SHOP NOW
Tommy Wooden Christmas Tree Decoration
Tommy Wooden Christmas Tree Decoration
£9.99
Is you tree missing a bit of military support? Thought so ! Buy a Tommy tree decoration to support a veteran in work over Christmas.
SHOP NOW
Tommy Lapel Pin (pack of 5)
Tommy Lapel Pin (pack of 5)
£12.00
The perfect stocking filler! Get 5 for only £12, and give one to all your family members this Christmas to show your military support.
SHOP NOW
Thank you so much for your ongoing support for RBLI over the festive season.
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Copyright © 2020 Royal British Legion Industries. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Royal British Legion Industries Ltd, Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7NL

Updated Convoy Schedule Link! Mission Matters Newsletter

An update from the Wreaths Across America organization.  Please note that US Branch #25 of the Royal Canadian Legion will be participating in the ceremony at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo.  For more information, please visit:

https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/163858/Overview/?relatedId=0


MMHeader

Hi there,

The excitement here in Maine and across the country is palpable! It’s almost National Wreaths Across America Day! The professional drivers are rolling in with their beautifully wrapped trucks and patriotism to pick up their truckloads of respect, and thousands of sponsored veterans’ wreaths are headed to their final resting place at one of our 2,525 participating locations.

These last few days, all our amazing volunteers across the country are ‘grabbing another gear’ to get the job done! We hope you will join us however you are able to this year, whether you’ve sponsored a wreath, helped plan an event, registered to volunteer to place wreaths, or helped share our stories in some way, YOU all play a part in fulfilling the mission!

Please follow us on our virtual escort this week and if you are able to help us reach our goal at Arlington, know that every $15 will place a live balsam veteran’s wreath!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart – your support of this mission is what makes this all possible.

Remember, Honor, Teach!

Karen Worcester

Volunteer Executive Director

Wreaths Across America

Sponsor a Wreath

MATCHING CHALLENGE FOR ARLINGTON

Wreaths Across America is proud to announce that Jersey Mike’s Subs has once again stepped up help WAA reach its goal of placing a live balsam veteran’s wreath on every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery. Wreath sponsorships placed through Monday, Dec. 14, 2020 at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/JerseyMikes or through our Facebook fundraiser here will be matched by the company, up to $300,000!

 

Jersey Mikes Subs
Fox News

Follow the 2020 Virtual Convoy!

Our 2020 Convoy kicks off on Tuesday December 15th and we want you along for the ride! In anticipation of the necessary changes being made throughout the country for health and safety, including at Arlington National Cemetery, Wreaths Across America has made some necessary modifications to its annual escort of wreaths to Arlington, however the public IS INVITED to join along the roadside with signs, flags and cheers to welcome the escort as it arrives to new communities. Wreaths Across America Radio will also be streaming LIVE content on local FM radio dials for drive-in style broadcast in each new town we roll into! Find the full schedule here.

You’ll also be able to join us virtually on social media! In partnership with PenFed Credit Union’s digital media content team, PenFed Digital, this year’s escort will also be shared virtually for the nation to join along from the safety of their own homes. PenFed Digital and WAA are overcoming pandemic-related challenges to ensure fallen heroes are honored safely. During the escort and leading up to its departure, viewers can follow along, learning about the mission and hearing stories from the people it impacts on Wreaths Across America’s Facebook and PenFed’s TwitterFacebook,  InstagramYouTube, and LinkedIn pages. From the professional truck drivers hauling this precious cargo to the hard-working, dedicated volunteers receiving them on the other side of the country, we are going to share their journeys too!

waaradiotruck

Tune In To Win!

Wreaths Across America Radio will be sharing live updates from the road and giving away prizes all week! Simply share a picture of the escort or a picture from a headstone in your cemetery or of a veteran you honor on the Wreaths Radio Facebook page. You could win one of our fabulous “swag bags” and qualify for our grand-prize drawing Friday night during our live FB feed from D.C.

Download our radio app now, or listen online and stay connected for more details! www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio

Featured Merchandise

Limited Edition 2020 Theme Long Sleeve T-Shirts! Supporting our heroes is one thing that should never go out of style, just like these classic t-shirts featuring the Wreaths Across America 2020 THEMED logo and sleeve print. Add one to your collection and show your support for our mission to “Remember, Honor, Teach.”

Make sure to follow Wreaths Across America official channels on social media for the most up-to-the-minute news on the mission:

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram

Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States, 877-385-9504