A Canadian Immigrant's Story

Category: Uncategorized

Whistler, BC 0

Daily Life / Places in Canada / Things To Do in Canada / Uncategorized

Enjoying Winter in Canada

Winter in Canada was a shock to me. Imagine moving from a tropical county where 19 degrees Celsius is considered cold, arriving in Canada on the first week of fall, and having only a few weeks to acclimatize to the gloomy, rainy, and bone-chilling BC weather. Fortunately, I found ways to enjoy the special and not-so-special days of winter of Canada. If you plan to move to Canada or have just arrived in Canada, this is what winter may look like. Bundle up, enjoy the new experiences, and take care! British Columbia – A Nature Lover’s Paradise British Columbia is...

Cherry Blossoms Festival 0

Things To Do in Canada / Uncategorized

5 Things I Look Forward to This Spring in Metro Vancouver

Spring finally arrived on March 20, 2025, at 2:01 PDT! In this blog post, I will share my list of 5 things I look forward to this spring in Metro Vancouver. Cherry Blossoms Topping the list of things that I am excited about every spring is the cherry blossom season. Spring brings magic to the Greater Vancouver Area as hundreds of thousands of flowers color the horizon in various shades of pink. These elevate the beauty of the already postcard-perfect Vancouver to a higher level. There is absolutely no need to travel to Downtown Vancouver to see these irresistible blooms....

Victoria, BC Parliament Building 0

Places in Canada / Things To Do in Canada / Uncategorized

Living in Canada (Video 81 to 120)

Living in Canada as a newcomer can be an overwhelming experience. So, I created my YouTube channel to share information and entertainment about Canada, its people, its culture, and more. I hope this channel helps as many immigrants, workers, students, and even visitors to Canada as possible. Please share this with everyone interested in living in Canada. New videos are uploaded every Saturday at 9:00 am Pacific Time. Thank you! False Creek Ferries Day Tour Let’s hop on a ferry then explore False Creek and some of the most beautiful places to explore in Vancouver, BC! 2025 Big Picnic –...

Coal Harbour 0

Places in Canada / Things To Do in Canada / Travel / Uncategorized

My 10 Favorite Free Attractions in Vancouver

Vancouver is a slice of heaven on earth. This city, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, offers numerous free attractions. For travelers or newcomers who have limited time to explore, choosing the best spots would be a challenge. In this post, I will share my 10 favorite free attractions in Vancouver. My top 6 picks are featured in a virtual tour on my YouTube channel. Olympic Cauldron Topping the list of my free attractions in Vancouver is the iconic Olympic Cauldron in Jack Poole Plaza. The cauldron burned brightly when Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It is...

Summer in Beautiful Vancouver 0

Daily Life / Uncategorized

Summer in Canada: Things That I Love and Don’t Love About It

Summer in Canada brings me so much joy! The familiar warmth that envelopes me, the brightness that lifts the gloom from rainy Vancouver, and the energy that radiates from communities are exhilarating. There are things that I love and don’t love about this season. So, if you are thinking of moving or visiting Canada during the summer, this blog post is for you. Summer in Canada Tidbits Months The seasons are defined by the sun’s movement in the sky.  For the northern hemisphere, summer starts at the summer solstice when the sun is farthest north.  It ends at the autumnal...

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...

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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Daily Life / Finances / Uncategorized

Scams and Frauds in Canada and How to Avoid These

Scams and frauds happen everywhere, even in Canada.  Unfortunately, many of them prey on immigrants. This is because immigrants are less aware of how things work in their new home.  Also, they may feel more pressure to comply in fear that their actions might jeopardize their status in Canada. Immigrants come to Canada with hopes of creating a better life.  It is very heartbreaking to hear stories of shattered dreams due to scams and frauds. In this post, I will share: 10 common scams and frauds with links to reputable sources my personal experiences tips on how to avoid being...

Dress for Success Vancouver 2019 Impact Gala Poster 2

Career / Job Search / Networking / Things To Do in Canada / Uncategorized

Dress for Success Vancouver Helped Me Create A Beautiful Settlement Story

Dress for Success Vancouver (DFSV) is true to their words.  DFSV gave me dignity, inclusiveness, and hope when I was a newcomer to Canada.  They helped me clarify my personal values, enhance my skills, and create a supportive network throughout my journey. As someone who has immigrated alone, their support and services were very precious to me. I have nothing but wonderful words for Dress for Success Vancouver. Let me tell you why. Dress for Success is a global not-for-profit organization that helps women achieve economic empowerment by providing professional outfits, career services, and skills development. It was established in...

Seabus: Mode of public transportation in Metro Vancouver 0

Places in Canada / Public Transit / Things To Do in Canada / Uncategorized

Public Transit in Canada and the Joy and Challenges it Brings

Public transit in Canada can be an unexpected source of stress or adventure to immigrants.  This post includes 12 things that you need to know to make your commute safer and more enjoyable. This post is based mainly on my experiences in Metro Vancouver.  But my limited trips to Greater Toronto Area show similarities in the system used in at least these two cities. Before anything else, let’s have a look at some informational videos from Metro Vancouver’s Translink System: Trip Information Paying Your Fare Validating Your Fare Transit Tips When I arrived in Canada in 2011, I had a...