Friday May 18, 2012
 




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    By Alex McPhail
    Alex McPhail is a recent university graduate and a reporter at the Battlefords News-Optimist. He studied too many different subjects at university but ended up getting a degree in philosophy. His column covers a variety of subjects connected to North Battleford, his travels through Asia, and anything else that might interest him.

Don't expect miracles, but don't give up entirely

I wrote a column a few weeks ago about the dangers of charity – that it could potentially do...

posted: April 25,2012

Acceptance, diversity and tolerance define Canadians

Thanksgiving, Christmas, funerals, Easter – there are only a few times every year when we gather...

posted: April 18,2012

Free food great, as long as it didn’t once have a face

One of the great perks of working for a newspaper is the freebies. Sure, we’re paid a pittance, but ...

posted: April 11,2012

Cobblestones on the road to Hell

In my first year of university, I took a mandatory course on Third World issues. My second large...

posted: April 3,2012

Historical perspective stokes pride in country

During of my travels through Asia, I spent a month in Vietnam, travelling from the south of the...

posted: February 25,2012

Purely moral argument isn’t always the last word

As I wrote in last weeks News-Optimist, I was recently invited to be a judge at a debate tournament ...

posted: February 1,2012

Here’s to hunters

I’m a vegetarian, and have been for several years. I see no reason to start eating meat, but I...

posted: January 11,2012

Kitchens and Buildings: A Serbian immigrant experience, part 2

This is the second part of my interview with Sasha, a Serbian immigrant who arrived in Canada seven ...

posted: December 14,2011

Kitchens and buildings: a Serbian immigrant experience, part 1

Of all the immigrant communities I’ve encountered in the Battlefords, the Serbian immigrant...

posted: December 7,2011

Interviews with the homeless

A few weeks ago, City Hall approved a permanent homeless shelter, which is currently set to open in ...

posted: December 3,2011

The Omnibus Crime Bill, sentencing circles and justice

In my third year of university, I took a philosophy class from someone who might be one of the...

posted: November 23,2011

Iraqis say Canadian society lacks tension

This is the remainder of my interview with three recent Iraqi immigrants. For the first half of the ...

posted: November 9,2011

Iraqis have nothing but praise for Canada

My last interview with new immigrants focused on their experience in Canada and their adjustments...

posted: November 4,2011

The new immigrant experience, part 2

This is the remainder of my interview with four recent Indian immigrants. For the first part of the ...

posted: October 26,2011

The new immigrant experience, part 1

Ask most Canadians about Canadian identity and they’ll say, between sips of Tim Horton’s coffee and ...

posted: October 12,2011

Encounters with Tibetan Chickens

I was in a small town in China, Ganzi, if you’re interested in looking it up, like a surprising...

posted: September 28,2011





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