MAN: Hello. May I help you?

WOMAN: Well, I have a problem with these tickets. I got them for my birthday, and they’re for tomorrow evening, but I can’t come tomorrow. Is there any way I can exchange them?

MAN: Of course. That’ll only take a few minutes . . . On which day would you like to see the show?

WOMAN: Tuesday or Wednesday of next week would be best.

MAN: Unfortunately, the show isn’t being performed on either of those days. It plays the rest of that week and then it closes.

WOMAN: Darn, that doesn’t work for me. Too bad. My friend saw the show a few weeks ago and said it was amazing! Could I get a refund then?

MAN: I’m sorry, we have a policy of no refunds. Only exchanges.

WOMAN: Isn’t there anything you can do?

MAN: Well, let me speak to my manager. I’ll be right back.

WOMAN: Thanks.

MAN: Sorry that took so long. Unfortunately, my manager says we can’t offer you a refund. But you can exchange these tickets for another show in our season, regardless of ticket price. Would that be ok?

WOMAN: I guess so. What other shows are playing this year?

MAN: Our next play is MacBeth—

WOMAN: (hmm) A tragedy? No, I wouldn’t like that.

MAN: We also have Blithe Spirit, which is a comedy, and Beauty and the Beast, a musical.

WOMAN: I love musicals! I’d like to see that one!

MAN: On which day would you like to see the show? It runs the entire month of February.

WOMAN: I’ll need a minute—why don’t you help the next person in line.

WOMAN: Hi, I’m back! I’d like tickets for the February 4th performance.

MAN: Alright . . . Now let me turn my computer screen around so you can see . . . there. This is our online seating chart. All of the seats in green are currently available, the ones in red are taken. Unfortunately, our balcony will be closed for renovations during February.

WOMAN: Let’s see . . . I’d like those two in the fifth row in the middle — no, sorry, I mean at the end. The two at the end.

MAN: Okay . . . done! Now, just a reminder that you aren’t allowed to bring cameras into the theatre. Food and drink are also prohibited, but can be enjoyed outside in the lobby. Cell phones are allowed but must be turned off. Anything else I can do for you?

WOMAN: Actually, now that I think of it, I’d like to get a third ticket for the same performance. My daughter would love to see it.

MAN: No problem . . . that’ll be sixty-eight dollars, then.

WOMAN: Here you go.

MAN: Thanks! Enjoy the show!

MAN: Hey honey, I’m back! The wine was on sale, so I bought two bottles instead of one. How’s the pizza coming?

WOMAN: I just ruined it! I put the oven temperature way too high by accident. The crust is all black and burnt! It’s totally inedible! And Judy and Paul are supposed to arrive any minute now!

MAN: Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world! Do we have anything else to prepare for dinner? Is there any pizza dough left? Maybe we could make the pizza again.

WOMAN: I used up all the dough. There’s no more tomato sauce or cheese either. All we have is salad, and a whole frozen chicken, but that won’t thaw fast enough.

MAN: Well, we could always go out for pizza! There’s that place a few blocks down the road, Golden Pizza House.

WOMAN: Ugh, not that place. We went there before, remember? The pizza was soggy and the sauce was too salty.

MAN: Yeah, you’re right. It wasn’t very good. Well, there aren’t that many other restaurants around here, except for sushi. But we have chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Cheesecake doesn’t really go very well with sushi. Hmm . . . We still have vegetables, right?

WOMAN: Yeah, there are plenty of vegetables. Isn’t that a bit boring, though?

MAN: It’ll be fine. Judy used to be a vegetarian when I first met her in college. In fact, she taught me how to cook quite a few dishes! All I ever ate was beef pasta and canned soup before we became friends. Anyways, let’s see. We can make stuffed zucchini, and cream of mushroom soup. That will go nicely with dessert!

WOMAN: Really? You’re such a good cook now! I bet you wouldn’t have burnt the pizza. But you’re right, let’s make the best of it. Stuffed zucchini sounds yummy! And we still have the salad, too!

MAN: Exactly. And we have two bottles of wine. See? Dinner isn’t ruined. It’s going to be delicious! Let’s start on the vegetables, before Judy and Paul get here.

MAN: Hello, Juicy Apple Orchards, this is Michael speaking! How may I help you?

WOMAN: Hi there! My name is Anna Howard. I’ve been backpacking in Canada for the past three months, and I really wanted to experience working on an organic farm this summer! I met another traveler who told me about your farm and that you take volunteers. Is that right?

MAN: That’s right! We’ve been offering free accommodation and food in exchange for fruit picking for the last ten years! It’s a great way to have fun, experience what life is like in the Canadian countryside, and meet amazing people from around the world.

WOMAN: I would love to do that! How many hours a week is it, and what are the duties to be done?

MAN: We ask our volunteers to work 4 to 5 hours a day, and we schedule rotating shifts for people. As we’re primarily an orchard, every shift will involve apple picking. The early morning shift workers also feed the chickens, the noon workers also turn the compost, and the evening workers also feed the goats!

WOMAN: That sounds really fun! So how do I start?

MAN: You could start anytime! We’ve got quite a few volunteers right now. Still, there are five rooms left in our volunteer guest house! But I have to ask you first, are you over the age of 18, and are you a Canadian resident? WOMAN: I’m 23, and I’m from the States. I’m on a holiday visa. Is that acceptable, or do I need a working visa? MAN: Great! No, you don’t need a working visa to volunteer on Canadian farms as long as you don’t stay longer than four weeks. WOMAN: That works perfectly, as I’m going back home in three weeks anyways! Your farm is in Peachland, right? I’m in Castlegar right now, visiting a friend. It’s Tuesday today . . . would I be able to arrive on Friday? MAN: Yes, we’re in Peachland! Friday sounds good! We’ll prepare a room for you. See you then!

Residents living on the outskirts of Chapel Hill are being asked to put a tight lid on their garbage because of an increase in black bear sightings. Parks and Wildlife Official, Gary Hampton, explained that the recent heat wave has dried up several of the black bears’ natural food sources, such as berry bushes and fishing streams, forcing the bears to seek food near urban areas. Hampton warns residents of Chapel Hill that, “Garbage provides a variety of appetizing foods for a hungry bear and the best way to avoid problems with bears in the backyard is to keep garbage cans in the garage or the house until they can be collected by city workers.” A local resident, Sandra Nelson, complains that keeping her garbage in the house is not an acceptable solution. Yet, what smells bad to most people can be very appetizing to a hungry bear. The aroma of garbage can attract bears from far away. So, if residents must put their garbage outside, Hampton advises them to purchase animal-proof garbage cans. These cans have lids that are difficult for animals to remove. Not only do the cans keep animals away from the garbage, but they also keep the garbage smells from attracting the animals.

Multicultural societies are more prevalent around the globe than ever before. Canada is often credited for instigating this movement back in 1971 when Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, declared Canada to be a multicultural nation. Trudeau envisioned a country which recognized and respected the contribution by various ethnic groups to the cultural enrichment of Canada, and he implemented policies to safeguard that contribution.

However, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, recently declared the policy of multiculturalism a failure. There have been significant demographic changes in many countries over the last decades, unfortunately, in some nations, this has resulted in inter-cultural tensions. Thus, other European countries have also condemned multiculturalism as a passing fad that does not actually promote unity in today’s diverse societies.

Sociologist Arlene Brandon argues that these countries cannot condemn a practice that they’ve never really attempted to properly implement. Brandon’s research on the success of multiculturalism has shown a strong correlation between citizenship and multiculturalism. The nations that have most successfully adopted a policy of multiculturalism are those that have allowed immigrants to eventually become citizens, thus creating a strong sense of unity and inclusion. Presently, Canada and Australia are the most multicultural countries and, because of their policies, their demographic changes have generally occurred peacefully and positively. France, Norway, and Germany, on the other hand, have failed to truly adopt multiculturalism since they treat foreigners as temporary labour and not as future citizens. Brandon says these countries should not blame multiculturalism for their problems, but, rather, their poorly designed policies.

However, not everyone agrees that Canada’s multiculturalism has been successful. According to controversial author Nora Alkabar, present day multiculturalism, as practiced in Canada, encourages segregation and hyper political correctness. Alkabar argues that multiculturalism and diversity are not the same thing. She says that diversity refers to differences in thoughts, opinions, and viewpoints, whereas multiculturalism involves equality and mutual respect among a population’s cultural groups. She maintains that multiculturalism should mean engaging with others in a meaningful way about their assumptions and goals. Alkabar says that Canadians today are so worried about offending someone or saying the wrong thing that they don’t engage with other cultures or ask questions they may have, which she finds disrespectful. Alkabar claims that a true multicultural society is built on mutual respect and hopes that the next generations engage with each other more honestly.

What do you think, Canada? Is it time to have a frank and honest conversation about multiculturalism in our nation? We’d love to hear from you after this commercial break.