A Canadian Immigrant's Story

Author: Katrina

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...

A Taste of Life in Whitehorse 0

Places in Canada

Life in Whitehorse from a Visitor’s Perspective

How is life in Whitehorse? Future immigrants might be interested to learn about how life is in smaller cities. Those who are living in Canada may be interested in moving to other cities in search of other opportunities, a better quality of life, or more affordable housing. I visited Whitehorse recently and here are some thoughts about life in Whitehorse from the eyes of a Metro Vancouver resident: People are friendly. We all know that Canadians are generally nice and friendly. But, I feel that Yukoners are more generous with their smiles, greetings, and compliments even to strangers. There is...

S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, Whitehorse, Yukon 2

Places in Canada / Things To Do in Canada

My Whitehorse, Yukon Getaway

Whitehorse, Yukon is not on everyone’s travel bucket list. But, the city’s spectacular scenery, relaxing vibe, and outdoor adventures create a charm that’s uniquely its own. I went to Whitehorse for the first time in July 2022. When people learned where I was going for a quick vacation, they asked me, “Why Whitehorse?”. Hopefully, this post will make you think, “Why not Whitehorse?” The Wilderness City Whitehorse was established as Yukon’s capital in 1953. Though it has the status of a city, it has maintained its pristine beauty. In fact, the World Health Organization recognized Whitehorse for having the cleanest...

Mercy's Story 0

Business / Finances / Immigrant Stories

Mercy’s Story (and 10 Business and Financial Tips for Canadians)

Moving to a new country at 19 years of age is a formidable feat in itself. But that is only the start of Mercy’s inspiring immigration story. Mercy came to Canada from the Philippines with bright hopes of creating a rosy future. However, life sent her on a tortuous path toward her dream life. A month after landing in Canada, she found out that she was pregnant. As a pregnant teenager who was new to the country, she badly needed support. Unfortunately, she barely got any because her relationship with her baby’s father ended shortly after they learned about the...

Erika doing story time during her last visit to the artisan community in Cusco, Peru 0

Business / Career / Immigrant Stories

Erika’s Story: Going Down Memory Lane from Peru to Canada

Don’t we all have those moments that when we look back, we realize how much they changed our lives? Mine is emigrating from Peru to Canada. Hola, mi nombre es Erika (my name is Erika). My drive to lead a life full of meaning and adventure is born from my hometown experiences and Peruvian roots. You might think that my life back in my home country was hard and that was why I emigrated to Canada to look for a brighter future. Well, the truth is, I had a beautiful life in Lima, Peru, where I’m originally from. I lacked...

Green Timbers Urban Forest Park 0

Places in Canada / Things To Do in Canada / Uncategorized

The City of Surrey: A Popular Immigrant Destination in Canada

When I arrived in Canada around 10 years ago, I was told that Surrey was the fastest-growing city in Canada. The unbelievable home prices and other issues have slowed the trend. However, it is still one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Today, let’s talk about the City of Surrey and look at photos from my personal collection. Location Surrey is one of the member municipalities of British Columbia’s Metro Vancouver regional district. It is located south of the Fraser River and north of the Canada-United States border. It is only 28 kilometres east of the Vancouver International Airport,...

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Places in Canada / Things To Do in Canada

Bowen Island: A Serene Sanctuary 20 Minutes Away From the City

Bowen Island is a relaxing, charming, and serene sanctuary 20 minutes away from Metro Vancouver. It is an ideal refuge for city dwellers looking for respite. Population In 2021, the population of Bowen Island was 4,256, equivalent to a 15.7% increase from 2016. In contrast, the average population increase in the province of BC is 7.6%, and 5.2% in the entire country. The land area of Bowen Island is 50.12 square kilometers and the population density was 84.9 people per square kilometer for the same time period. Starting Your Adventure Bowen Island’s tourism website is right – there is no...

Seizing Opportunities in Canada 0

Application / Career / Immigrant Stories

Alwyn’s Story: Seizing Opportunities in Canada

Alwyn’s story is about successfully reinventing himself and seizing opportunities in Canada. I first met Alwyn two decades ago when we started working for the Livestock Division of a well-known pet company in the Philippines. I worked in research and compliance while he worked in sales. Back then, he was passionate about animal health and husbandry. His passion, knowledge, and experiences brought him to Manitoba, Canada. However, his courage to reinvent himself has opened up opportunities for a better life for him and his family. Here is Alwyn’s story in his own words. Experiencing The Joys and Struggles of a...

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Application / Immigrant Stories / Networking

Lola’s Story: Creating Fun and Inclusive Spaces for Immigrants in Canada

Like most immigrants, she left a great life with the goal of experiencing better living standards. She accomplished her goal and more. Now, Lola aims to help immigrants in Canada and create fun spaces for them through her @afroedmontonian Instagram page.  Lola Oduwole shares her Canadian immigrant story. Dreaming of Better Living Standards When I reflect on my life before Canada, three things come to mind: a community of friends, a familiar culture, and a job in Marketing that I loved doing. You’d then wonder why I hauled my bags across the world from a +30 degrees country to a...

A Unique Canadian Workplace 0

Career

5 Canadian Workplace Observations to Help Immigrants Integrate

Each workplace has its own unique characteristics that are influenced by regulations, societal expectations, and corporate policies. For immigrants, successfully integrating into a new job then requires adjusting to Canadian workplace norms. Here are 5 things that you should know about the Canadian workplace: Employees refer to each other by their first names regardless of their rank. It took me a while to adjust to calling the highest-ranking executive by their first name. In my home country, this is regarded as disrespectful to senior employees. But, most Canadians seem uncomfortable when addressed as Sir or Ma’am while a few get...