A Canadian Immigrant's Story

Author: Katrina

Walmart and Superstore Mini Grocery Battle 0

Shopping

Walmart and Superstore Mini Grocery Battle

If we compare Walmart and Superstore, which one will win? In this post, I will share my thoughts. As a new immigrant, one of the first questions that came to mind was: Which is the best place for grocery shopping? Honestly, the best grocery store depends on the shopper’s lifestyle, needs, and preferences. With sales and promotions, the top choice may change from time to time. As someone living alone, Costco’s cheaper but bigger portions do not work for me. As expected, Asian groceries are my go-to places for special items. But, Walmart and Superstore are my usual choices for...

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Travel

What is the Best Airline to Travel Between Canada and the Philippines? 

If you are a new immigrant to Canada from the Philippines or are planning to visit the beautiful Philippine islands, you would surely ask “What is the best airline for traveling between these two countries?”. Honestly, I don’t have the absolute answer to this question.  But, I can tell you which is the best airline I have flown with based on my personal experience in the economy category. I have only really traveled between the two countries four times, each time with a different airline.   In this post, I will share my experiences because they may help you choose the...

Arrivals Hall at YVR Airport 0

Immigration

Landing at YVR Airport as a Newcomer

You long to hear the words “Welcome to Canada!”. You already packed your bags and booked your flight.  Reality is now setting in.  What should you expect at the airport?  Arriving at your new home is both exciting and stressful. I know because I’ve been in that situation. So, in this blog, I will share the major steps that you have to go through when landing at YVR Airport as a newcomer. Customs Declaration The first major hurdle after landing in YVR is the customs declaration. After you exit the plane, follow the signs that lead to Customs & Immigration....

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines 0

Travel / Uncategorized

Going Home for the Holidays? 5 Travel Tips for Your Homecoming

Home for the holidays! What a wonderful feeling.  The reality is that we need to overcome the stressful planning and travel before we get to the fun part. In this post, I will share my observations and travel tips with Canadian residents who wish to go home for the holidays.  It’s only February but it’s never too early to prepare for your next grand vacation! Travel Tip 1: Pick the Best Travel Time. Avoid peak travel season. I usually try to arrive in the Philippines before December 20th.  This way, I can avoid the rush of people leaving Canada and...

Dress for Success Vancouver's Newcomer Package 0

Daily Life / Networking

Dress for Success Vancouver’s Newcomer Package Gives Joy To Women

I first heard about Dress for Success Vancouver’s Newcomer Package while volunteering for the Success Luncheon in November 2022. Needless to say, I was pleased upon learning about this new service. I actually wished that I was able to avail myself of it when I arrived in Canada. Like most immigrants, I came to Canada with overflowing excitement and my bare essentials. I had my regular clothes from my beloved tropical country, a few business outfits, and zero winter clothing. As I came to Canada alone, I also left behind my support system. I did everything that I could before...

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Daily Life

Moving to Canada Allowed Me to Learn These Things

Immigrating to a new country will force you to learn innumerable things. Today, I will share with you my precious learnings and reflections after moving to Canada. I hope these help you make your immigration journey more enjoyable. Traveling within Canada is expensive. Air travel is usually more expensive within Canada for flights of similar distances and services compared to the US, Europe, and Asia. The most cited reason is the lack of competition in the country and the low population density in Canada. Of course, other factors such as dates of travel come into play. But I am a...

Canada's Healthcare System Allows Its People to Live a High-Quality Life 0

Daily Life / Healthcare

What Immigrants Need to Know About Canada’s Healthcare System

Canada’s Healthcare System is a polarizing subject. Some people are impressed by it while some are frustrated because of it. I am sometimes grateful and sometimes stressed because of it. Today we will know why.  We will look at: Hopefully, this post will help new and potential immigrants manage their expectations and prepare for undesirable scenarios. Pros and Cons of Canada’s Healthcare System Universal Healthcare Everyone who meets minimum residency requirements in Canada is eligible for healthcare coverage. Universal healthcare provides medically necessary healthcare services based on the values of fairness and equity. That is, they grant services based on...

Vancouver, British Columbia 0

Career / Job Search

Eight Canadian Resume Writing Tips for Immigrants

Immigrants need to learn a gazillion things such as creating a resume tailored to the Canadian job market. Fret not. I did some research and recalled my experiences to write these eight Canadian resume-writing tips for immigrants. Font Size Multiple articles state that employers and recruiters usually scan resumes for only six to seven seconds. You need to impress them in this very short amount of time. You can only do that if they can actually read your document comfortably. To call attention to your name, experts recommend 20-24 point fonts. Section titles and headers are best with 14-16 point...

Smoked Salmon 0

Daily Life / Food / Shopping

8 Excellent Gifts from Canada to Bring Home

Imagine the excitement of going home after living in Canada for a few years. Also, imagine the chaos of looking for gifts from Canada to bring home. Fret not. Today, we will talk about Canadian gifts that will be appreciated by your loved ones back home. This way, you can focus on planning happy reunions. Maple Syrup and Maple Goodies Is it a surprise that food products top my list of best gifts from Canada to bring home? Practically everybody loves to eat! Maple syrup and maple syrup-flavored goodies are first on my list since Canada is known as the...

Companies Support Minority Groups 0

Career / Daily Life / Job Search

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Canada and What It Means to Immigrants

As a new or future immigrant, you are probably wondering how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Canada look like. You’ve done your research. You felt relieved upon finding out that Canada’s immigrant population is more than 20% of the total so you won’t stick out like a sore thumb. However, you know that adjusting to a multicultural work environment with its unique expectations, norms, and policies is a challenge. So if you are thinking: “Are there regulations or policies that can protect me as an immigrant? How should I behave so as not to encroach on other people’s rights?”, then...