Jillian Kestler-D’Amours is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. She previously worked as a staff reporter at The Toronto Star and a web producer at Al Jazeera English. Follow her on Twitter, @jkdamours. https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/contributor/jillian-kestler-damours/rss en Gender-Based Violence Solutions Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:06:44 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/10/25/mauritanias-veterans-in-the-fight-against-sexual-violence https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/10/25/mauritanias-veterans-in-the-fight-against-sexual-violence Since the El Wafa center opened to help survivors of sexual violence 15 years ago, women in Mauritania are more willing to come forward, but weak legislation and cultural taboos mean many are still suffering in silence. Laws & Policy Wed, 20 Sep 2017 05:18:37 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/09/20/false-promises-real-fears-why-people-flee-the-u-s-for-canada https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/09/20/false-promises-real-fears-why-people-flee-the-u-s-for-canada Thousands of asylum seekers entered Canada from the U.S. this year based both on real concerns about deportation and false reports of an easy asylum process in Canada. We examine the role of information and misinformation in decisions to cross the U.S.-Canada border. Arctic Climate Change Solutions Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:06:07 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/07/12/arctic-nations-agree-to-work-toward-curbing-use-of-heavy-fuel-oils https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/07/12/arctic-nations-agree-to-work-toward-curbing-use-of-heavy-fuel-oils Under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, countries are looking at ways to limit the use of thick, viscous heavy fuel oils in Arctic waters. Arctic Climate Change Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:21:22 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2017/06/15/climate-change-thwarts-plans-aboard-canadian-research-icebreaker https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2017/06/15/climate-change-thwarts-plans-aboard-canadian-research-icebreaker Thick, multiyear sea ice pushed from the High Arctic to the coast of Newfoundland created havoc with fishing vessels, prompting a Canadian icebreaker to scrap some of its research plans. Integration Solutions Fri, 19 May 2017 11:04:20 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/05/19/refugee-women-bring-tastes-of-syria-to-canadas-tables-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/05/19/refugee-women-bring-tastes-of-syria-to-canadas-tables-2 Syrian refugee women in Ontario have launched their own successful catering business, Karam Kitchen. It helps them not only to support their families financially but also to improve their English and meet more people in their new home. Crisis and Conflict Solutions Fri, 19 May 2017 05:00:43 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/05/19/refugee-women-bring-tastes-of-syria-to-canadas-tables https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/05/19/refugee-women-bring-tastes-of-syria-to-canadas-tables Syrian refugee women in Ontario have launched their own successful catering business, Karam Kitchen. It helps them not only to support their families financially but also to improve their English and meet more people in their new home. Governance Northern People & Health Solutions Thu, 18 May 2017 13:13:32 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2017/05/18/arctic-council-launches-new-fund-for-indigenous-groups https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2017/05/18/arctic-council-launches-new-fund-for-indigenous-groups The Algu Fund aims to raise $30 million to help ensure that northern Indigenous groups are better able to participate in the Arctic Council’s workings, says Jim Gamble, the fund’s acting chair. Arctic Climate Change Thu, 04 May 2017 12:42:57 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2017/05/04/walruses-at-risk-of-extinction-in-canadas-north https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2017/05/04/walruses-at-risk-of-extinction-in-canadas-north These big, blubbery beasts are sensitive souls that dislike being disturbed by people. Unfortunately for them, warming Arctic temperatures are bringing more shipping and tourism to their home waters. Culture Gender-Based Violence Thu, 27 Apr 2017 05:00:24 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/04/27/graphic-novel-shares-immigrant-womens-stories-of-violence-and-hope https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/04/27/graphic-novel-shares-immigrant-womens-stories-of-violence-and-hope In Canada, dozens of immigrant women have coauthored a graphic novel about sexual violence. Since their immigration status is often linked to their relationship status, immigrant women are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence. Environment Northern People & Health Research Solutions Thu, 20 Apr 2017 11:46:53 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/04/20/introducing-an-online-encyclopedia-of-inuit-arctic-observations https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/04/20/introducing-an-online-encyclopedia-of-inuit-arctic-observations Siku, an online tool that recently won a $750,000 grant from Google, aims to pull together native knowledge about dangerously thin sea ice and other conditions in the Arctic’s fast-changing landscape. Northern People & Health Wed, 15 Mar 2017 07:29:53 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/03/15/housing-in-crisis-in-canadas-northern-inuit-territories https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/03/15/housing-in-crisis-in-canadas-northern-inuit-territories A severe housing shortage in Canada’s Inuit communities underpins many complicated social problems, as a new Senate report testifies. The problem is so costly that policymakers are tempted to ignore the seemingly intractable issue. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/02/01/indigenous-communities-reclaim-history-in-images-of-canadas-arctic-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/02/01/indigenous-communities-reclaim-history-in-images-of-canadas-arctic-2 Until recently, many Indigenous people portrayed in early photographs of the Canadian Arctic remained nameless in the federal government’s archives. Project Naming seeks to change that by tapping northern community knowledge. Environment Shipping Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:00:54 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/01/12/the-sticky-issue-of-cleaning-up-arctic-shipping https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2017/01/12/the-sticky-issue-of-cleaning-up-arctic-shipping Heavy fuel oil turns into a mayonnaise-like goop in Arctic waters and is exceedingly difficult to clean up. The U.S. and Canada have pledged to curb its use, but other Arctic nations – particularly Russia – aren’t ready to switch to pricier alternatives yet. Tue, 06 Dec 2016 11:48:49 +0000 Jillian Kestler-D’Amours https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2016/12/06/arctic-town-heads-to-canadas-supreme-court-to-battle-fuel-exploration https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2016/12/06/arctic-town-heads-to-canadas-supreme-court-to-battle-fuel-exploration Residents of Clyde River, Nunavut, hope to quash a government permit for underwater oil and gas exploration with claims that they weren’t fairly consulted on a plan to conduct seismic tests in the Canadian Arctic.