Canadian Immigrant - October 2017

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THE BEST

CEO Maninder Dhaliwal and more immigrant entrepreneur icons share their wisdom

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the art of self-promotion Fall fairs in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario

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CONTENTS 4

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fusion

PROFILE: Young environmental champ Kehkashan Basu NEWS: Women of influence awards, Surrey NEW initiative and more …

QUOTABLE: Jagmeet Singh

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cover story

Canadian immigrants who made it big share their best tips for entrepreneurial newcomers during Small Business Month

18 CAREERS AND EDUCATION

CAREER COACH: The art of self-promotion JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: Working for a small business Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fairs

21 settlement

Author Majid Kazmi on being the “first dancer” IMMIGRATION LAW: The difficulty of being selfemployed and immigrating PARENTING: Autumn activities TIPS FOR SETTLING IN FASTER: A chat with RBC Top 25 Entrepreneur Award winner Ajay Virmani DEAR FAIZAL: How can I follow my passion, but not disappoint my family?

26 culture

Romanian-born Lucian Matis at Toronto Fashion Week

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above Get business tips from Robert Herjavec and other iconic immigrant entrepreneurs inside.

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IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT GUIDE

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MONEY AND BUSINESS

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BACK PAGE

MY TWO CENTS: Starting a home-based business — is it for you?

SMALL BUSINESS: 10 traits of a successful entrepreneur HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO MULTICULTURAL CALENDAR

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People. News. Information.

Volume 14, Issue 9 OCTOBER 2017

profile

Group Publishers Gautam Datt Sharma Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com

Kehkashan

Basu

Editorial Design Terry Lankstead, Anne Nawrocka Courtland Shakespeare Digital Media Developer Kamil Mytnik

Eco-warrior

Sr. Ad Manager Ricky (Kawaljit) Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8170

By Kaitlin Jingco

Sales, Events & Marketing Coordinator Laura Jackman ljackman@metroland.com General Inquiries: info@canadianimmigrant.ca Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com ISSN 1910-4146

Subscription rate in Canada: $47.99 plus HST for 12 issues Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher

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Toronto Circulation 50,000 copies Vancouver Circulation 30,000 copies Calgary Circulation 3,000 copies Canadian Immigrant is published monthly and distributed free throughout Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. Canadian Immigrant welcomes submissions, but is not responsiblefor unsolicited material.

Canadian Immigrant is a publication of Metroland Media Group, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

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left Young immigrant Kehkashan Basu is the passionate environmental champion behind the organization Green Hope.

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ehkashan Basu is the founder and president of youth sustainability organization Green Hope, as well as a recipient of the Turner Social Change Prize from the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, the youth ambassador of the World Future Council and a former global co-ordinator for children and youth for the United Nations Environment program.

Oh, yes, and she’s just 17.

Basu has accomplished more in her young life than many will accomplish in their whole lifetime.

And, having recently moved to Toronto from her birth country of the United Arab Emirates in order to bring her environmental organization to North America, the teenager’s work is just getting started.

Basu took a short break from working on a mangrove conservation project in India to chat with Canadian Immigrant about her journey as an immigrant and environmental champion.

Why did you move to Canada?

I thought, if I have to start my organization in North America, I want to start it in a place where I know that differences will be accepted, where I would be able to actually make a difference with people who are also interested in similar things.

How do you like it so far?

It’s absolutely amazing. And my school is awesome, like I had expected. It’s so diverse, and everyone is accepted and your differences are appreciated. I’m absolutely loving it. And my organization got registered in Canada, so it’s going really well.

Where did your passion to protect the environment come from?

I’m born on the fifth of June.

That’s World Environment Day. So, I always felt it was preordained that I should grow up to take care of mother earth and become an ecowarrior.

Tell me about your work.

I attended the Rio+ 20 Earth Summit, and I was one of the only children present there. I was 12 years old and I realized that was not supposed to be the case. You have all these adults talking about the future we want, what children want and what our future generations would want, but there were no future generations there.

So, when I came back to Dubai, where I lived at that time, I started Green Hope with the sole objective of providing young people and children a platform to come together to learn about these environmental challenges and how to take actions to mitigate them.

Green Hope right now is in 10

countries. We have more than 10,000 members, and we celebrated our fifth anniversary last month.

We work on the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, since I’m heavily involved in the process over there.

What types of things do your members do?

We have ground-level projects, which go from beach cleanups, park cleanups, recycling campaigns, tree planting. And we have environmental workshops at conferences and academies where we talk to young people, and then we have our international projects.

How have you been able to be so successful in such a short amount of time?

I’m really passionate about what I do. And I always believed that age has nothing to do with capability.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

One was earlier this year. The band U2 came to Toronto, and they asked me to be featured in the montage as one of their incredible women. So, I was at the concert, and at the end during their song “Ultraviolet,” they had a montage of really famous women. You had Michelle Obama, Cheryl Sandberg, all the most famous women in the world, and then my face came on as well. I was like, “Oh my gosh, I canfacebook.com/canimmigrant

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not believe I am like on the same platform as all these other amazing and incredible women around the world!”

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want to make sure that every single person adopts sustainable

consumption as a way of life. It does not mean you stop living life in general, it just means you make a few changes.

Taking care of our planet is no longer a choice; it’s a responsibility.

And what I want everyone to know is that they must act now to do something for the planet.

Get important insight into Canadian immigration and tax laws

QUOTABLE A person confronted me with angry, hateful and Islamophobic comments … Despite this person’s anger and hate, I told them that we loved them, respected them and would protect their rights … Many people have commented that I could have just said I’m not Muslim. While I’m proud of who I am [Sikh], I purposely didn’t go down that road because it suggests their hate would be OK if I was Muslim … It’s important that we stand united against all forms of hate.”

— Ontario-born Jagmeet Singh, candidate for Leader of Canada’s NDP, after being confronted by an anti-Muslim protestor at a campaign event

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news

DARPAN Magazine awards South Asian excellence DARPAN Magazine hosted its eighth annual awards on September 15 at the Aria Convention Centre in Surrey, with more than 700 guests in attendance at the blacktie affair, complete with red carpet treatment, a fashion show and a special achievement wall showcasing some of the past award winners.

Ten amazing individuals from the South Asian community were recognized for their extraordinary achievements, for reflecting their

heritage in a remarkable way and for giving back to greater Canadian society. These recipients were: Ravi Singh (International Sensation), Ali Janjiana (Young Wonder), Vic Sarin (Artistic Visionary), Dr. Nemy Banthia (Industry Marvel), Sardul S. Gill (Advancing Philanthropy), Sgt. Jag Khosa (Community Crusader), Manjit Minhas (Corporate Engagement), Ken Herar (Breaking Barriers), South Asian Arts (Heritage Defender) and Eric Basran (Spirit of Sport).

Connecting newcomers and employers in Surrey A brand-new initiative in Surrey this month aims to focus on connecting newcomers and local employers. The 2017 Surrey Newcomer Employment Week (NEW), October 20-27, 2017, is a city-wide initiative organized to build better bridges between immigrants and employers.

Organized by the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), in

partnership with the Surrey Board of Trade and Immigrant Employment Council of B.C., Surrey NEW will feature a week of events hosted by close to 20 partners from business and community agencies, from career fairs, to mock interview sessions, to a newcomer lunch ‘n’ learn with a panel of employers.

“The 2017 Surrey NEW is a col-

lection of activities and connections so that we better understand the perspectives and experiences of employers and newcomers, which will result in meaningful employment, settlement, as well as economic and social integration,” says Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, and co-chair of Surrey LIP, a collaboration between more than 30 stakeholders that aims to make Surrey more welcoming and inclusive.

“A big part of this initiative is to raise awareness on the benefits that immigrants bring to our economy and workforce,” says Surrey LIP coordinator Olga Shcherbyna. “We are also launching a new ‘Share Your Story’ campaign, which invites employers and immigrants to share their story of how companies benefited from hiring immigrants.”

To find a listing of all the events during Surrey New, visit surreylip. ca/event-listing.

Women with influence 2017 SURREY

N ewcomer e mploymeNt w eek

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RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant (2017) Trish Mandewo is certainly a woman with influence, and wants to do her part to support and recognize other women, too. The entrepreneur, originally from Zimbabwe, co-founded the Women’s Collaborative Hub in Coquitlam, B.C., to support and connect women through motivational networking events and workshops. She and her co-founders then decided to do more and also celebrate women’s achievements with an awards program. They launched the Women Influencers Awards for women in the Tri-Cities, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge region of B.C. The goal is to recognize the unsung heroes who make a mark in the community — women who inspire, influence, encourage or mentor others and deserve to be recognized for their efforts. “Our goal is to celebrate women from all walks of life who make a positive

above Trish Mandewo. difference to those around them, including immigrants like myself,” says Mandewo.

The first annual Women Influencers Awards will be held on November 9, 2017, 5-9 p.m. at the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club in Coquitlam. To nominate someone or to buy an event ticket, visit wchwomeninfluencersawards.ca. facebook.com/canimmigrant

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Business

WISDOM

Canadian immigrants who made it big share their best tips for entrepreneurial newcomers during Small Business Month With files from Baisakhi Roy, Margaret Jetelina and Noa Glouberman

W

ant to know what it takes to succeed in business? Who better to ask than Canadian immigrant business leaders who have overcome their own challenges as immigrant entrepreneurs to make it big? From Maninder Dhaliwal to Robert Herjavec to V. Prem Watsa and more, here’s a little advice from some of Canada’s top CEOs.

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Photo by Tiffany Cooper

Maninder Dhaliwal

CEO, Lions Gate International

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aninder Dhaliwal came to Vancouver in 1999 to study engineering at UBC. With a master’s degree in hand, she found work in her field, but something didn’t quite fit for her. She then tried her hand in the non-profit sector as executive director of Tradeworks Training Society before turning to entrepreneurship.

She co-founded Lions Gate in 2013, which today specializes in India-focused international venture projects in technology, manufacturing and innovation applications in health care. A Top 40 under 40 winner, Dhaliwal’s expertise is highly sought as a speaker and corporate director. Here’s what she has to share about the challenges she has faced and how she has overcome them.

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Biggest Challenge

“Not having access to local business networks and resources was definitely a challenge. Opportunities do not float like clouds. They are firmly attached to individuals. As a new arrival to Canada, I found it a challenge that I did not know enough people to succeed in business.”

Best Tip

“Immigrants are risk takers. We leave behind everyone and everything we know to start a life in a new country. We take such a huge risk because we believe in a better future. Yet, I find that when moving to a new country, most people stick with the familiar — they spend most of their time with people of their own ethnic group. I would recommend that newcomers move out of this comfort zone. Growth and comfort do not coexist.

Embracing Canada as a whole not only connects you in your local community, it also allows you access to all types business resources and networks that you need to succeed.” canadianimmigrant.ca October 2017

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Dimitrios “Jimmy” Antonopoulos

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Owner, Jimmy the Greek

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veryone’s favourite go-to lunch spot at the mall food court, Jimmy the Greek, was founded by Dimitrios “Jimmy” Antonopoulos, nearly 20 years after he first immigrated from Nafplio, Greece, in 1963. Arriving in Montreal, Antonopoulos learned the ins and outs of the restaurant industry, before he relocated to Toronto. In 1985, he opened the first of many Jimmy the Greek locations. Previously, he had opened two restaurants — Epikourion and Penelope — but when a food court space opened up at First Canadian Place, the restaurateur decided to transpose his Greek cuisine to the fast-food market. Rooted in family and tradition, Antonopoulos, along with his two daughters, Tina and Toula, oversees all areas of the business, which has grown from a single location into a thriving enterprise with more than 55 locations nationwide. His advice is as authentic as his cuisine.

Biggest Challenge

“As an immigrant entrepreneur, my biggest challenge was finding enough capital to fund my culinary vision. I worked hard at multiple jobs to provide for my family and save enough money to invest in my business, and after establishing some roots and friendships which provided some assistance, I was able to realize my dream of owning my own restaurant.”

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Best Tip

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“Always strive to provide the best-quality product and exemplary customer service.”

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CAREER

EDUCATION & SETTLEMENT

FAIR IMMIGRANT

CALGARY

October 28, 2017 Telus Convention Centre

EDMONTON

October 30, 2017 Shaw Conference Centre

VANCOUVER November 9, 2017 MISSISSAUGA December 8, 2017 Vancouver Convention Centre East

Living Arts Centre

What to expect at the Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fair:

Inspirational Immigrant Speakers • Resumé Clinic Tradeshow of Exhibitors • English Pronunciation Workshop Hiring Employers • New Networking Café & Much More!

Learn more and pre-register today: www.canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair

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Robert Herjavec

CEO, Herjavec Group

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obert Herjavec is one of North America’s most recognizable business leaders, best known as an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank and prior to that on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. Born in Eastern Europe, he arrived to North America on a boat with his parents after escaping communism, dreaming of success and a better life. From delivering newspapers and waiting tables, to launching a computer company from his basement, his drive to achieve has led him to the fulfillment of a better life for himself and his family.

A dynamic entrepreneur, Herjavec has built and sold several IT companies. In 2003, he founded Herjavec Group, and it quickly became one of North America’s fastest-growing technology companies. Today, Herjavec Group is a global leader in information security, ranked number 1 on the Cybersecurity 500 as the world’s most innovative cyber firm.

How did Herjavec go from the proverbial rags to riches? When asked, he’s quite modest about his achievements, attributing his success to simply being driven to succeed and getting the job done.

Biggest Challenge

“I didn’t know what I didn’t know. And while I thought that would be my biggest challenge, it ended up being my biggest asset when starting my business. I was blissfully unaware of the huge hurdles ahead of me, and it worked in my favour. All firsttime entrepreneurs should be a little naïve — if they were truly aware of all the dangers and setbacks facing them, they might forget the whole idea! You simply cannot anticipate every hidden trap between here and whatever goal you set for yourself when launching a business. The best thing you can do is believe in yourself, be resilient and remain convinced that you can handle anything this opportunity throws at you.”

Best Tip

“Know your strengths, and find a customer.

You can’t build a successful business out of thin air. It must be built on tangible differences and draw the attention of the people you want to sell to. You’ve got to solve a problem that someone has, so, number 1 make sure you are able to deliver and, number 2, find yourself a customer!

There’s a saying — burn the ships! It means go all in and risk it all, no turning back! Surprisingly, I don’t recommend that in business. I recommend entrepreneurs test the waters, find a customer and build their businesses practically.”

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Shahrzad Rafati

CEO, BroadbandTV (BBTV)

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hahrzad Rafati story began in Tehran, Iran, growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, but she had no idea that one day she’d start and lead one of the world’s most innovative technology companies. Back home, she didn’t even own a computer or have an email account! But after studying computer science at UBC in Vancouver, she founded BroadbandTV (BBTV) in 2005, a multi-channel network for online video creators. For the last 12 years, Rafati has built her business into the third-largest video property in the world in terms of unique viewers, and is continually looking for new ways to advance and redefine entertainment, from how content is produced to how it’s distributed and monetized. Is there any surprise then that she has established herself as a sought-after technology thought leader in the process?

Biggest Challenge

“Our space is rapidly evolving and as a pioneer in the market we need to make sure we stay ahead of the curve, and continuously innovate. [But] that’s one of the reasons why I love what I do, it’s always exciting!”

Best Tip

“Although this may sound easier said than done, you should fully immerse yourself into new cultures and be completely open to new experiences. It can be truly enlightening, and you’ll likely learn more about yourself in the process. It’s really important to try to learn and adopt quickly by being proactive in your approach.”

Karim Hakimi

Founder, Hakim Optical

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aving lost his father as a child, Karim Hakimi became the man of the house, helping to support his mother and his siblings in Iran. At 10 years old, he started grinding magnifying glass out of discarded windows. He developed a professional talent in lens crafting and, after immigrating to Canada in 1967, he decided to open his own business. Setting up operations on Elm Street in Toronto with old equipment from a closed-down lab, he launched the first Hakim Optical. Now, 50 years later, Hakim Optical has more than 160 showrooms and 120 factory outlets in Canada. Today, Hakimi continues to run his privately held optical operation almost full time, though he is past the traditional retirement age.

He devotes legendary work hours to his still-growing 40-year-old enterprise, one of Canada’s best-known corporate brands.

Biggest Challenge

“The biggest challenge I faced as an immigrant entrepreneur was finding my way and gaining recognition.”

Best Tip

“My best tip for other newcomers who want to start a business in Canada is to not get discouraged and to stay focused. Don’t let obstacles in your way discourage you. Mistakes are a source of education.”

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V. Prem Watsa

Chairman and CEO, Fairfax Financial Holdings

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. Prem Watsa, founder, chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings in Toronto, is known as the “Canadian Warren Buffet.”

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering, Watsa moved to Ontario and went to the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario where he earned an MBA. Little known fact? Watsa left India with only 8 rupees in his pocket; he sold furnaces and air conditioners to financially support his university education. After graduating, Watsa worked for an insurance company and, in 1984, he cofounded an investment firm called Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel.

In 1985, Watsa took over Markel Financial, a small Canadian trucking insurance company that was verging on bankruptcy, and renamed it Fairfax Financial Holdings. Watsa helped grow the company, where it reached annual revenues of $8 billion a year in 2012. From 8 rupees to $8 billion, Watsa, a member of the Order of Canada, most certainly has business wisdom to share.

Biggest Challenge

“I was a poor immigrant in Canada with very little money for even basic expenses. I used to spend only 50 cents or so on lunch, and felt that people around me, who spent $3-4, were extremely rich in comparison.

Also, I was a new immigrant, while everyone else around me were well established Canadians. I sold air conditioners and furnaces door to door to pay for my MBA. It is under these circumstances that I discovered opportunity — you tend to discover skills you never knew you had before.

You tend to work harder, because you’re at the bottom and the only way to go is up.” — As told to Chennai 36

Best Tip

“The phrase ‘what the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve’ convinced me that if you really want to be successful — in any field you might choose — then you surely will be.”

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Serge Bohec

Co-founder, La Petite Bretonne

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erge Bohec’s first job after immigrating to Laval, Quebec, from France was as a dishwasher in a pastry shop. Eventually, his talent for making madeleines, a shell-shaped tea cake, spurred him to start his own pastry business, La Petite Bretonne. In 1970, the company created its first industrial micro croissant, which quickly became the star product. Bohec moved his company to Blainville, also in Quebec, and, in 2001, expanded operations first into Ontario, then the U.S.A., the Caribbean and Mexico. Now with more than 180 employees, La Petite Bretonne creates 1.2 million micro croissants daily, for distribution throughout North America! Bon appétit!

— Noa Glouberman

Biggest Challenge

“To try to forget that I was an immigrant and to blend as much as I could with the Canadian population to gain credibility with consumers.

This was an enormous challenge in terms of product supply. For example, in France, madeleines were very popular, and not here. I had to take time to analyze the society and the culture, to offer products that consumers knew. It is only after nearly 50 years, with a strong notoriety, that madeleines are now recognized. Basically, it is important to know the population in which we are doing business and, while trying to offer a new product that consumers will love, still keep its origins.”

Best Tip *IFSE Institute (IFSE) is a distance education institute wholly owned by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC).

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“Find a partner — a retired businessperson or a young, ambitious professional — who has great knowledge of the laws of the province or the country you plan on building your company in, and treat him or her like a shareholder, with or without shares.” facebook.com/canimmigrant

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Tobias Lütke CEO, Shopify

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t’s no surprise that the German-born CEO of e-commerce company Shopify was a programming prodigy. Tobias Lütke moved to Canada at age 22 and is now one of the most well-known CEOs in the world. Lütke became a programmer straight after Grade 10 completing an innovative apprenticeship program designed to produce Germany’s next generation of computer programmers. In 2004, Lütke launched Snowdevil, an online snowboard shop from his garage with his partners, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake. Soon after, the Snowdevil founders decided to shift their focus from snowboards to ecommerce and, Shopify was officially launched in 2006. The Globe and Mail named Lütke CEO of the Year in November 2014. By September 2016, more than 300,000 merchants were using Shopify and there’s been more than $20 billion worth of gross merchandise on the company’s platforms since 2006.

— Files from Toronto Star

Biggest Challenge

When asked what his biggest challenge was in building Shopify to where it is today, Lütke admits it was actually knowing what Shopify was, and what he wanted it to be. For a time, it was a solution to sell a stockpile of snowboards lined up in his garage. But at a point Lütke asked himself, was it going to be a lifestyle business with 20 employees? Or could this be a growth company that could really shake up the world of e-commerce?

Best Tip

“All of us in Canada have to be better at making a dollar count, because we have fewer dollars … You have to be a little bit more frugal, and that’s just being smart. You have to put more of a well-rounded company together to make it in Canada.”

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careers & education c a r ee r c o a c h

The art of self-promotion 5 proven ways to stand out in today’s job market

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n the age of social media, there are many more options for job candidates to stand out and make an impact other than just submitting a resumé. If you want to be successful in landing the job you want, here are a few things to consider.

1

TIP Add a little flair and a personal touch to your brand. Your interests, passions and personal skills are all part of the whole package. Most companies have a social media presence these days, so someone from the company will likely see your posts, tweets or messages. It’s a great way to establish your personality, while attracting the attention of potential hiring managers.

The social media ninja

According to many career sites, 60 per cent of employers use social networking sites to research candidates. In some industries, such as IT, up to 76 per cent of employers research job applicants online.

Stand out with a dynamic social presence. LinkedIn is still the best channel for jobseekers and recruiters to find each other. And beyond LinkedIn, from YouTube to Face-

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TIP Reach out proactively to hiring managers. Don’t be afraid to contact them if you find them on social media. Twitter is one of the best platforms to make use of this.

A better idea is to even create a short video about yourself and then tweet it to them.

The personal brand

Everything starts and falls with personal branding. To start with, make your Personal Statement on your resumé stand out.

Your elevator pitch or response to the question “Tell me about yourself” should be about 30 seconds and include a brief summary of your skills, qualifications, personal qualities and education.

Marketing yourself on social media is a great way to build your brand. And, even better, blogging is one of the best ways to stand out and establish your expertise within your industry.

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ployers or other contacts you have made at the networking events.

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book, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Pinterest, savvy candidates are using every tool out there to identify new positions, connect with potential hiring managers and take the relationship further.

TIP Build a personal website to further showcase your skills or host your portfolio. There are many free portals like Wix.com, Remote.com, Strikingly.com and others. Doing so gives you space to showcase all of your past work, your resumé and any endorsements of your skills or awards.

3

The industry expert

One way to stand out as an expert is to create and share your own content. Make sure you cater the content toward the field you are pursuing a job in, to showcase your knowledge.

Social media is an excellent way to brand yourself as an expert in your industry. Share articles that you have written or industry events you have participated in, on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Also, when some of your articles get re-shared or viewed a lot, it’ll show an employer that you truly are considered an expert in your field and

that others value your thoughts.

TIP Keep your finger on the pulse.

Keep up-to-date with any developments in your industry to ensure your knowledge is always relevant.

Read industry publications, influential blogs and websites. You will also find that they can provide valuable discussion points when it comes to the interview stage.

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The smooth connector

Network constantly with other professionals at every given opportunity. Attend various business and social networking events to increase your profile. You can also contribute actively to these platforms by sharing your success stories, interesting case studies or market insights that you have gathered throughout your career.

Be aware of market and industry trends so that you can build your strengths in the areas that are in high demand, or discuss issues intelligently with potential em-

Everyone’s best friend

One of the most powerful ways to promote yourself is by sharing testimonials and referrals.

There’s nothing more authentic than having someone else endorse your personality, capabilities and performance. What makes testimonials so believable is that you are no longer promoting yourself, but others are willingly doing it for you.

TIP Start saving emails and messages from your colleagues, superiors, clients, customers and business partners that compliment your efficiency, skills and professionalism.

Business networking events are the most ideal platform for referral-building as they will often provide you with targeted contacts, leads and other opportunities.

Standing out Today’s business climate is more competitive than ever and there are many people out there competing for the best jobs available.

That’s why it is important to be your own best salesperson and ensure that you stand out to potential employers.

Murali Murthy is an acclaimed public speaker, life coach and best-selling author of The ACE Principle, The ACE Awakening, The ACE Abundance and You Are HIRED! He is also chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. Learn more at aceworldfoundation.com. facebook.com/canimmigrant

9/28/17 3:35 PM

careers & education j o b s e a r c h s t r at e g i e s

Work local Finding a job with a small business If you love working with a sense of community and purpose, a job with a small business may be for you. They tend to be more informal and inclusive and see you as a whole individual and not just another “employee.”

Other advantages may include more flexibility for work arrangements, such as working part time, from home or at odd hours.

There are, however, some disadvantages. Benefits packages and training may be restricted, and opportunities to relocate may be non-existent. Small businesses can become inflexible and demanding if it has a bad business culture

or unhealthy family dynamics.

Also, new businesses tend to fail more than big companies, and have diminished or no capacity for severance packages or pension plans.

Finding jobs in small businesses Many small businesses will hire through word of mouth, so the best way to find a job in a small business is getting to know the community where you live and its existing businesses. Network through religious or social community hubs, attend local events and visit the local chamber of commerce.

Argentinian-born Silvia Di Blasio is a certified career counsellor and life coach with a passion for sustainability, food security and resilient communities. She works as a case manager helping immigrants to get back to their pre-landing occupations at the Career Paths Program at ISSofBC.

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hen immigrants move to Canada, one of their main needs is looking for a way to earn a living, which usually translates into a job search.

Many jobseekers target big companies because they are more visible, thinking that they may provide more stability, benefits and potential for professional growth. However, this is not always the case: big companies typically have profit and cost reduction as their main priority — not workers or local communities. Working for a small business is a viable alternative and can provide you with a job that has meaningful connections to your community and its people.

Facts about small business Small businesses are defined as having one to 50 paid employees.

They are a huge part of Canada’s economy, making up 98 per cent of all employer businesses, according to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

More than half of Canada’s small employer businesses are twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, while Western Canada has a robust and growing small business community led by B.C. Among the Atlantic Provinces, Nova Scotia is home to the greatest number of small businesses.

Small businesses tend to be local and many are family owned, which makes local economies and communities more resilient and sustainable. Well-established small businesses are quite stable when global markets change, but new small businesses may fail at a bigger rate than big companies.

What to expect as an employee Work roles in small businesses tend to be less specialized, allowing you to wear many hats, using and learning different skills, which gives you more long-term resilience to move into other jobs in the future. It is also easier to advance in a small organization because your role is more visible (and important) than in a big corporation where you may be competing or obscured by dozens of other employees. canadianimmigrant.ca October 2017

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careers & education

Four cities, four fairs

Network, learn and be inspired at our upcoming Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fairs

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earn, network and be inspired at our upcoming Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fairs, the final four fairs for 2017.

Each event features a tradeshow of diverse exhibitors, including employment services, educational institutes and social service agencies, plus hiring employers! The free event offers newcomers plenty of opportunities to learn about available services, while meeting new people and making lasting connections.

We are also planning an exciting lineup of speakers, including the welcome return of Catherine Steele, of English Pronunciation for Success.

Her workshops last year were standing room only, and we are so pleased to welcome her back for our Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver fairs.

Some of our 2017 RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants will also be on hand to provide their strategies for success, including Miroslav Reljic (Calgary) and Dahlia ElShafie-Mostafa (Calgary and Edmonton), and Trish Mandewo will oversee a new networking café (Edmonton and Vancouver).

At our Calgary Saturday fair, we also welcome families to enjoy a special Halloween

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activity hub for the whole family, organized by the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth.

And don’t forget your resumés! You can get one-on-one advice to improve your CV from professional employment counsellors.

Finally, get tips on taking the CELPIP test with Paragon Testing Enterprises, learn what it takes to become a CPA, get tips on applying for permanent residency through Express Entry, and get inspired by the stories of immigrants who have walked in your shoes and succeeded.

Where and when • Calgary, October 28, Saturday, Telus Convention Centre • Edmonton, October 30, Monday, Shaw Conference Centre • Vancouver, November 9, Thursday, Vancouver Convention Centre East • Mississauga, December 8, Friday, Living Arts Centre Learn more and register at canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair.

facebook.com/canimmigrant

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settlement

Take the first step

Author Majid Kazmi shares how to be the first among equals and attract opportunities

above Majid Kazmi at a book signing of his book, The First Dancer.

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14-hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean changed my life forever. On Tuesday, I was a senior executive at a bank; on Wednesday, a jobseeker in a new country. My wife and I had taken a chance on a new country, and risked everything we thought we possessed — our education, talents and optimism. We were past the point of no return.

Were we unsure? Yes. Were we demoralized? Hell, no. Our spirits were high and our ambition pumped a gushing river of hope into our hearts. Challenging our complacence made perfect sense to us.

For me, having a successful career was not enough if it didn’t allow me to contribute at a higher level to the society I was part of.

In fact, being successful professionally was becoming more of a hindrance for me in reaching for higher goals in life. Still, I had been too afraid to give up my comfort zone — economically and socially — and to venture into an uncharted terrain. Moving halfway across the world necessitated that I step twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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out of that comfort zone and give up the privileges that came with being a successful banker. So I took up the challenge, but things did not progress quite as I had hoped.

Over the next few months, I went through a struggle — both mental and physical — that was new to me.

From financial challenges to a close encounter with death, I had seen it all.

A few months later, when I sat down to reflect on my journey as an immigrant, I realized that I had gone through an incredible learning experience. I had learned a lot from my successes and even more from my failures, and this opened my eyes to a whole new world — a world of abundant opportunities.

That’s where my book, The First Dancer, comes in. I wanted to share what I had learned with others and to open the same world of abundance to them. I did so at first by delivering hundreds of talks on achieving success, and then was encouraged to share them on a bigger platform. The book is the result.

In this book, I have poured out my heart with just one intent — to inspire you to be the “first dancer.”

So what is the “first dancer” you might ask? And how does it relate to attracting new opportunities?

The first dancer is the person who finally decides to let go of his false sense of pride and step up to the proverbial empty dance floor.

He is the person who decides to be vulnerable in the face of uncertainties. He does not look for external opportunities or for benefactors anymore; he looks inwardly to what he possesses and uses this to make his first move.

It is the first dancers of the world who make the most of the opportunities for success that are around all of us. The truth is, you have the power to create the state of affairs that you call opportunities. You just have to be bold enough to take that first step. canadianimmigrant.ca October 2017

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SETTLEMENT

I m m igr a t i o n L a w

Getting PR as an owner

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The difficulty of being self-employed and immigrating to Canada

t is generally understood that small businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them are the bedrock of the Canadian economy. Some of these are foreign worker entrepreneurs who don’t have permanent residency status yet. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for foreign worker entrepreneurs in Canada to use their Canadian business experience to qualify for economic immigration programs. Prospective immigrants who are self-employed or run small businesses in Canada, or want to, need to understand the immigration consequences of doing so in order to properly structure and time the establishment of their companies.

Self-employment and immigrating Many of Canada’s economic immigration programs restrict or penalize Canadian self-employment.

For example, one of the basic eligibility requirements of Canada’s

largest economic immigration program, the Canadian experience class, is that applicants have at least 12 months of skilled work experience within three years of applying to immigrate. It specifically excludes self-employment from being eligible experience.

In the Express Entry application intake management system, prospective immigrants to Canada are ranked against each other. People can get points for a variety of factors, and points for Canadian work experience can be especially valuable. However, any experience that was gained through self-employment is ineligible for points.

Incorporating isn’t the answer Many individuals assume that if their business is incorporated then they will not count as being selfemployed. However, it is not this simple.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) adopts a holistic approach to determining whether someone is self-employed.

Relevant factors include: the degree of the worker’s control or autonomy in terms of how and when work is performed; whether the worker owns and provides their own tools; the degree of financial risk assumed by the worker; whether the worker is free to make business decisions that affect his or her ability to realize a profit or incur a loss; and other relevant factors.

The IRCC website specifically notes that individuals who own substantial ownership and/or exercise management control of a business for which they are also employed are generally considered to be self-employed. So simply incorporating a business does not shield small business owners from having their Canadian work experience determined ineligible for immigrating.

Options for the self-employed

Because of this, the best advice for temporary foreign workers in Canada who wish to start a business is to wait. We once represented a Working Holiday Program participant who worked as a carpenter earning $25 an hour. He wanted to start his own business. We told him

to wait until his permanent residency was approved. He did, got his PR status and now runs a multi-million dollar business employing more than 30 people. Incredibly, Canadian immigration requirements would have made his immigration very cumbersome and uncertain had he started his business while on a work permit.

However, foreign workers in Canada who own a small business should not be completely discouraged. There are many options to consider.

First, the federal skilled worker class permits self-employment.

This means that self-employed individuals can still qualify for Express Entry.

Second, while Canadian work experience that is self-employment is not eligible for Express Entry points, small business owners can qualify for bonus points through qualifying arranged employment.

They may also apply for recruitment exempt owner-operator Labour Market Impact Assessments, which also result in additional points.

Third, many provincial nomination programs contain entrepreneur programs, which vary from province to province.

Finally, the start-up visa allows certain businesses who will be participating in incubators or receiving venture capital funding to be eligible to immigrate.

None of these options, however, is completely satisfactory. What is further confounding is that while a foreign worker’s entrepreneurial experience in Canada is ineligible for Express Entry points, their foreign self-employment work experience is. As the Government of Canada looks to encourage small business growth, they may wish to address this paradox.

Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver. Contact him at 604-681-9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com, or visit his blog at smeurrens.com.

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facebook.com/canimmigrant

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settlement

parenting

Autumn activities

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Are you and your kids ready for some fall fun?

utumn, or fall, is a season to celebrate the harvest and prepare for the arrival of winter. With the cool crisp air and the beautiful autumn sceneries, there is so much to appreciate about the season. And there is plenty to do with families, too.

Appreciate nature Enjoy the natural beauty of the season, with the array of colours in the leaves, crisp autumn air and refreshing rain. It is often great for photo opportunities with the autumn foliage.

Go for a nature walk, jump into the piles of leaves, splash in rain puddles, or collect some leaves to create beautiful art.

Visit orchards and gardens Visit local orchards and farms for family-fun experiences like applepicking at a local orchard or picking the perfect pumpkin at a pumpkin patch. Many farms also have petting zoos and corn mazes.

ily favourites of comfort food for the cooler weather, such as chilli, soups and hot chocolate to warm up. Make extra food for your friends and family, neighbours, coworkers and local charity organizations.

Maintain your garden

Celebrate fall holidays

Make the most of the outdoor experience by continuing with some gardening work. Turn the chore of raking leaves into a fun activity with children. Make it a race to see who is the fastest or who can rake the most leaves. And don’t forget to plant some bulbs such as daffodils and tulips now so the flowers will bloom in spring.

Taking part in the many wonderful autumn festivities is a great way to bring people together. Start with Thanksgiving on October 9, an important holiday for Canadians. It’s a time to be grateful, celebrate with family and show appreciation for all that we have.

In addition, there are several multicultural holidays such as Oktoberfest (Germany), Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese) and Diwali (Indian), with local celebrations. What better way to learn about Canadian diversity than participating in these different celebrations?

Of course, then there is Halloween, where children wear costumes and go trick-or-treating on October 31. Enjoy the holiday by carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, handing out packaged treats at your door on Halloween

Cook the season’s harvest Take advantage of the abundance of autumn fruits and vegetables to make and share delicious food. Pumpkin pie, apple crumble, butternut squash soup, to name a few. Alternatively, consider freezing, drying or pickling extra fruits and vegetables, or turning them into sauces and jam, so the delicious harvest can be enjoyed over the winter season.

Also, try new recipes or fam-

night, or participating in Halloween festivities in the community.

Whichever holidays you take part in, there is one common theme

among them all: to come together with your family, friends and neighbours, to share and to be grateful for all that we have. Happy autumn!

Cheryl Song, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 20 years’ experience of working in early learning and family programs. Contact her at cheryl@learnwithsong.com or visit her website at learnwithsong.com. twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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SETTLEMENT

T i p s f o r Sett l i n g i n Fa s te r

Entrepreneurs are made, not born Learning what it takes from RBC Entrepreneur Award winner Ajay Virmani look for unique opportunities. The market is always changing, so keep a pulse on what’s out there and recognize where the opportunities are and go for it!

IC: What does winning the award mean to you?

AV: Winning the award is a great honour that I humbly accept on behalf of my entire team. It shows that Canada is a great country filled with opportunity, acceptance, tolerance and diversity — and winning during Canada 150 was the icing on the cake.

above Ajay Virmani was chosen as the RBC Entrepreneur Award winner, among the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2017.

Photo by Alessandro Shinoda

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jay Virmani has always been an entrepreneur at heart and has had the career journey to prove it. When he first arrived in Canada from New Delhi, he had humble beginnings as a window washer, then a brief stint as a life insurance salesman before eventually switching gears to work in transport. This move took him to new heights and set him on his path to eventually becoming the CEO of Canada’s largest cargo airline, Cargojet. At the root of it all has been his drive and entrepreneurial spirit.

Virmani was recently recognized as a winner in the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards of 2017 — an award that celebrates the outstanding accomplishments made

by Canadian newcomers. He also won an additional distinction as the winner of the Entrepreneur Award for his contributions as a Canadian business leader.

His perseverance to forge his own

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path in Canada — a country unfamiliar to everything he knew — is a story that resonates with so many new Canadians. I had the chance to hear more about him journey, what the award means to him and life as an immigrant.

IC: Tell me about the challenges that newcomers face?

AV: Newcomers face a lot of challenges when they move to a new country: language barriers, professional degrees not being accepted, and an unfamiliar job market to name a few. But what I quickly learned is that you cannot let these challenges stop you. Find a way to turn them into opportunities and let them motivate you to excel.

IC: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?

AV: My strongest piece of advice is to not follow the crowd — let the crowd follow you. Entrepreneurs are made, not born — it is a matter of

your thinking. Believe in your vision, forge ahead and be stubborn.

And don’t let hiccups get in your way — including finances. A lot of people may think they do not have the capital to start a business. But the truth is if your ideas are visionary, capital will follow.

If you are thinking of starting a business, here are three ways you can stand out: 1. Be the first one to introduce a new product into the market.

2. If you are not the first, then be the best in market. Improve on a product or service that already exists, which may help you gain market share.

3. If you are not the first or the best, then be different! Find ways to truly differentiate yourself and

IC: What does being Canadian mean to you?

AV: To me, being Canadian means that we are all different — we come from different places, and have different languages, food and culture, but, at the end of the day, it all blends together and becomes one. Canada is all about so many different things, but we share the common goals of humanity and opportunity. There is nothing better than our entire country supporting this vision for Canada.

IC: What motivates you to go higher and push yourself?

AV: Above everything else, my employees motivate me. We started out with 40 people when we bought a bankrupt airline and now have 1,200 employees. I feel responsible in helping them grow, be challenged and have a bright future at Cargojet.

That is a huge responsibility and a huge motivator.

IC: What’s next for you?

AV: Like many entrepreneurs, I don’t have a set plan. I am keeping my eyes and ears open, but I would like to grow the international side of our business and double the size of our company in the next five years.

Ivy Chiu is the senior director, cultural markets, at RBC. Once a newcomer herself, Chiu is interested in helping newcomers integrate to life in Canada. Are you new to Canada or know someone who is? Visit rbc.com/newcomers for more advice. facebook.com/canimmigrant

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SETTLEMENT de ar fai z al

Following dreams or family expectations?

Dear Faizal: I’m an 18-year-old Indian male. My parents, younger brother and I immigrated to Canada about three years ago from Delhi. I recently completed high school and now my parents are pushing me to become a lawyer or a doctor, but I want to follow my passion in interior design. They argue that I need to become something that they never had a chance to become. I want to follow my dreams, but do not want to disappoint my family.

— From Career confused

Dear Confused: Congratulations on graduating from high school!

You are now an adult in Canada, which allows you the legal power to choose the direction of your life. In reality, you can make the decision to live wherever you want, date whomever you prefer, and attend whichever school you choose.

But, being raised by Indian parents, in what I’m presuming was a traditional desi family, things tend not to be so clearcut. Most Indian parents immigrate to the West to give their children a better life. For them, a better life means giving their kids what they never had — opportunities for success. To them, success means getting a high-paying and socially respectable career.

The problem is that your parents may be trying to achieve their dreams through you. It is also clear that you have different dreams from them. I have seen many young immigrants who, against their better

judgment, acquiesce to the hopes of their parents, only to end up hating their jobs and resenting their parents for not respecting their dreams.

To avoid this situation, you must set boundaries with your parents.

Tell them that you all share the same hope of you having a successful career, just in a different way. While you will take into account what success means to your parents, they must allow you to choose a career that ultimately makes you happy and fulfilled. Isn’t that something that all parents — regardless of racial background — want for their kids anyway?

To help your parents appreciate the interior design field, help them see this career choice through your eyes. Share with them your design portfolio or ideas, and explain to them how you feel about each project you have created. Allow them to see and feel your passion.

Take your parents to interior design shows and let them see, and perhaps meet, a few successful designers. Your parents should appreciate that you could earn a good living in this industry.

Before you apply to any academic program, schedule a session with an education advisor of one or more design schools and take your parents with you. The more you familiarize them with the industry, the more accepting they will be.

Faizal Sahukhan, PhD, is a couples counsellor and the author of Dating the Ethnic Man: Strategies for Success. Visit him at multiculturalromance.com or call him at 604-899-0102.

Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants

Are you a mechanic, manager, agronomist or interested in agriculture?

Are you a Skilled Immigrant looking to get back to your original profession?

Our Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants Program can help!

Eligibility*: Permanent Residents living in Canada less than 5 years, intermediate level of English and 1-3 years of experience in your field.

Additional eligibility criteria may apply*

Contact us for more information:

604.575.3800 careerpaths.ca

www.workhorsehub.ca

09/17-56079

can connect you directly with employers in 5 easy steps.

The Career Paths Program is available across B.C. Back in Motion provides services in Surrey/Langley & Richmond/South Delta

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culture

Flight of fancy

Romanian-born fashion designer Lucian Matis is reaching new heights on Canada’s runway

By Kaitlin Jingco

left Romanianborn Lucian Matis’ Flight collection on the runway at Toronto Fashion Week. above Lucian Matis.

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uring Toronto Fashion Week in September, Romanian-born Canadian designer Lucian Matis saw his romantic

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Flight collection — complete with elegant butterflies, Swarovski crystals and, most notably, fullcoverage face masks — opening

the runway portion of the threeday event.

“I wanted to show that the face doesn’t really matter [in fashion],” Matis says of his eye-catching face wear. “It’s more about the art and the craftsmanship of the garments; it doesn’t really matter who wears the garments.”

Matis says that with social media, the fashion world has become so interested in the people who wear the clothes, but, at events like Toronto Fashion Week, he says he wants his creative designs and intricate work to be what’s capturing the audience’s attention.

While the 35-year-old emphasizes the importance of art as opposed to the models during shows, off the runway, the people who wear his clothes have played a big role in raising awareness about the Canadian’s work.

Most notably, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the spouse of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has been spotted wearing Lucian Matis pieces on multiple occasions.

“She’s gorgeous, and very easy to make look beautiful,” Matis says of Grégoire Trudeau. “I feel like she’s doing a great job being a fashion ambassador in Canada … She’s doing the best she can to support

Canadian talent and to show it globally.”

From having Canada’s leading lady sporting his garments to kicking off Toronto Fashion Week, Matis has come a long way from when he was a child learning to sew at his mother’s shop in his birth country of Romania.

“Things were difficult in Romania; there was a lot of poverty,” he told Canadian Immigrant in 2011.

“My first impression of Canada was that it kind of seemed like heaven.”

Today, Matis says things have continued to change and flourish.

“My life is absolutely, completely, 180 per cent different. I moved out of the city, and I live in the country,” he says. “The label has grown so much. We’ve already expanded in five to six countries since the [last interview with Canadian Immigrant].”

Matis’ consistent growth, both personally and as a designer, has a similar theme to the collection he showed at this year’s fashion week.

“Everything had to do with takeoff and flying,” he says of his Flight collection. “We had a lot of wings, a lot of butterflies, a lot of petals that were actually going upward instead of downward, so fighting the gravity a little bit.”

In defying the weight of the obstacles he’s had to face personally, he says it’s hard work that’s allowed him to overcome trials like the stresses of growing his business or handling big changes like moving countries.

What’s also helped is his mindset about work and life in general.

“I don’t really look at myself as an immigrant. I don’t really think the world belongs to anybody. I have a very different view when it comes to countries and borders,” he says. “I’ve never looked at myself as being any lesser or any more than anybody. I’ve always lived with integrity anywhere I went and anywhere I did work.” facebook.com/canimmigrant

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Immigrant Settlement Guide For getting your listing included, please call Ricky Bajaj at 416-856-6304 or Johnny Zhang at 416-803-3931

2017

Agency

General Services and Specialty Programs

Languages

Brampton Multicultural Centre (BMC)

Not for profit, registered charity providing multilingual and culturally appropriate programs and services for free to help clients enhance their community engagement and social capital while integrating into the Canadian society. Programs: Programs and services include Settlement support , employment readiness workshops, enhancing immigrant community connections through schools and libraries, advocacy and solution-focused counselling, interpretation and translation, volunteer and placement opportunities, mental health support services, seniors and women abuse and engagement services. A unique portfolio of youth programming is also available such as: Youth leadership development, life skills coaching, client-centred counselling, paid internships at various workplaces, gang prevention workshops, one-on-one intervention meetings based on individualized work plans.

Email: services@bmccentre.org www.bmccentre.org

• English • Arabic • Farsi • French • Gujarati • Hindi • Punjabi • Spanish • Tamil • Urdu • Tagalog (Filipino)

TCET provides Language, Employment, & Settlement programs that empower people in fulfilling their potential. Our LINC Home Study program provides Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) via distance education. The self-paced curriculum is offered either online or by correspondence. The program includes a weekly lesson via phone or VOIP with a certified instructor.

Email: help@linchomestudy.ca www.linchomestudy.ca

• English • Some services available in French and other languages

197 County Court Blvd.

Suite 303 Brampton ON L6W 4P6 Phone: 905-790-8482 Fax: 905-874-6100

Centre for Education & Training (TCET) Head Office: 90 Burnhamthorpe Road W, Suite 210, Mississauga, ON L5B 3C3

Locations across the Greater Toronto Area and virtual services across Ontario & Canada Phone: 905-949-0049, Toll free at 1-800-668-1179, Email: Info@tcet.com, www.tcet.com Centre for Education & Training Language Assessment Centre York-Simcoe-Durham 420 Highway 7 East Suite 204 B Richmond Hill ON L4B 3K2 Toll free: 1-855-330-8655 Job Skills Employment & Business Programs & Supports Locations in Markham, Brampton, Keswick and Newmarket Phone: 1-866-592-6278 Multinational Small & Medium Business Community Center (Msmbcc) 211 Consumers Road, Suite 300, North York, M2J 4G8 Phone: 647-343-8288 The National Association of Humanity Science and Technology (NAHST) 4675 Steeles Ave. E Unit 2D22 Toronto On M1v 4S5 Or: 3-2375 Brimley Rd. Unit 351 Toronto ON M1s 3L6 Welcome Centre Immigrant Services 7 Locations in York & Durham Regions 1-877-761-1155

twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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Completing a language assessment is the first step to accessing English language classes in your • English community. Language Assessment Centres provide no cost English language assessments and referrals to classes for eligible immigrants seeking language training.

Language Assessments services are available on a scheduled and pre-booked basis. If you live in York region, Simcoe County and Durham Region please call 1-855-330-8655 to schedule an appointment.

Email: ysla@tcet.com www.tcet.com/assessments Facebook: www.facebook.com/Language.Assessment.Centre.YSD/# Twitter: twitter.com/LAC_YSD Find out how to: get the skills you need to find work, including: work experience, resume help, interview techniques, entrepreneurial options and more. We offer: Job Search Workshops Program, Job Find Club for Internationally Trained Individuals, Bridge to HR, Practice Firm, Self-Employment Pathways for Newcomer and Employment Ontario Employment Services.

Email: info@jobskills.org www.jobskills.org

• English Interpreters are available

Help small and medium business from starting business with business plans for success: business registration; business planning; corporate problem solving; corporate culture tutoring; legal, politics and social requirements service and fund assistant application from government. Specialty program: business guide in Canada and Asia countries;enterprise assistant program; free tax services for new comers and seniors; Seniors program for social networking and conversational Café and special events to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation..

Email: info@sbsccanada.org www.sbsccanada.org

• English • Chinese

Community services for cultural and recreational activities, including classic poetry recitation events and Chinese traditional music concerts, with funds collected from its own members; supports for seniors groups for cultural and recreational activities; promotions for cultural exchange with the main stream society and many minorities’ cultural groups.

Email: thomas@nahst.org www.nahst.org

• English • Mandarin • Cantonese

Settlement Services assist immigrants to integrate and become established and contributing members of Canadian society. English Language Classes are instructor-led, and supported by a computer lab.

Job-specific, advanced-level Enhanced Language Training available. Supports to assist in developing the skills needed to find work: resume/cover letter preparation, interview readiness and information about accreditation, workplace practices, Canadian employer expectations. Other services available.

Languages of service: English, interpreters are available Email: info@welcomecentre.ca www.welcomecentre.ca

• English Interpreters are available

canadianimmigrant.ca October 2017

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money & business my two cents

Garage entrepreneur Starting a home-based business — is it for you?

M

ore and more people like the idea of starting a home-based business because they want to be their own boss, work the hours they want, have low startup costs, have no dress code and spend more time with their family. But how do you start?

One thing that helps in choosing a home-based business is knowing exactly what you want from it.

Clearly define your reasons, goals and purpose. Here are four ways to help you do that.

1

Decide if it suits your personality

Ask yourself if being your own boss is actually a good fit for you.

You have to be self-driven to grow your business to the next level because there will be nobody giving you targets and deadlines!

2

Seek knowledge and mentors

Starting a new home-based business is no different than learning a new skill, like playing an instrument or learning a new language.

Look before you leap; if you are unsure about something, seek the help of a professional, or educate and equip yourself with sufficient knowledge with books or specialized training. Associate yourself with other people who run homebased businesses successfully or, better yet, find a mentor who can guide you in every step of your business.

3

Stick with something you are passionate about

Ask yourself what you’re passionate about or what you’re good at — often they are the same. Suppose you are a person with great

computer skills, then you can become a webmaster for businesses needing assistance with website design, logo, web programming and website maintenance. Build on your passion and experiences, instead of starting a business outside your comfort zone. Starting a business in a familiar field will give you more courage and confidence.

I have found that the key to becoming successful is to truly and genuinely have a desire to help people with your business. The more

people you help, the more successful your business will become.

4

Get your family’s support

Talk to the people you live with, and ask them for their support and help in making your home-based business great. With preparation and effort, your business can be a winner. Don’t forget that the world’s greatest companies like Apple, Google, Nike and Microsoft all started out in someone’s garage!

Gokul Jayapal has a doctorate in biological sciences and lives in Toronto. He is an investment junkie who achieved financial freedom by persistence, frugal living and intelligent investing.

He pursues his passion of investing in stocks and trades currencies and options. Reach him at gokultoronto@yahoo.ca.

Apply

604.710.3008 info@acceleratedcareer.ca

in 5 months!

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9/28/17 3:39 PM

s m a ll b u s i ness

Do you have what it takes?

10 traits of a successful entrepreneur

Y

ou want an easy guide to be that successful business person you always wanted to become? There is no panacea, no magic amulet and nothing as easy as one, two and three. But I’ve found that there are some traits common to those entrepreneurs who have found success.

1

Expert knowledge

You really must have the experience and a deep understanding of your product or service to sell yourself properly.

2

Strategic vision

3

Carpe Diem

4

Networking

You must be driven to succeed in your business, living and breathing your dream.

You must be able to seize the opportunities and the moments given to you.

A good networker will not only look for opportunities for himself, but keep an eye open for others; a good referral will always come back to you.

5

Extroversion Unless you’re running an

internet business with no contact with others, you cannot be a loner in business. You must like people, especially your customers.

6

Optimism

7

Handle stress

8

Persistence

9

Communication

If you tend to look at the glass half empty, you will find it hard to have the necessary enthusiasm to excite others about your business.

Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart; you need to be able to manage stress.

Determination is the key to success in business. You have to go after what you want.

You must be able to get your message out to your customers, as well as your employees, in order to do well.

10

Lifelong learning

Learn from your mistakes as well as your victories. Successful entrepreneurs see business as a continuous learning experience with a lot of finetuning of accepted practices and procedures.

Business startup specialist Gary Bizzo is CEO of Bizzo Management Group and author of How to Start a Successful Business — the First Time. He has coached or mentored more than a 1,000 businesses, including many owned by immigrants. Email ceo@garybizzo.com. twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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BACK PAGE

C

O

Te

Connect with CI! /canimmigrant @canimmigrant canimmigrant

multicultur al OCTOBER 2017 1 International Day for the Elderly (UN) celebrates the achievements and contributions of elderly people.

2 Gandhi’s Birthday (India) is the day that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born.

2 International Day of Non-Violence (UN) is a day to celebrate non-violence. It was purposely chosen to be on Gandhi’s birthday.

4 Harvest Moon Festival (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan) is a festival that consists of a variety of activities that involve the moon, such as moon gazing and eating moon cakes.

4 Trung Thu (Vietnam) is a Vietnamese festival for the harvest moon.

4 Chuseok (Korea) is the Korean Thanksgiving Day. It’s a celebration of the harvest and thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth. Family members come from all over the country to visit their ancestral homes. It takes place until September 25.

4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Italy) is a day to celebrate St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

5 Sukkot (Judaism), which lasts until October 11, is a harvest festival lasting nine days, beginning the fifth day after Yom Kippur.

5 Pavarana (Buddhism) is the holy day that marks the end of Vassa, sometimes referred to as the Buddhist Lent.

9 Citizenship Week (Canada), which ends on October 15, is a time to celebrate the rights and responsibilities of

Canadian citizenship.

9 Thanksgiving (Canada) is celebrated on the second Monday of October. It is for giving thanks for the harvest and other blessings of the year.

10 World Mental Health Day (UN) is a day to raise awareness about mental health and to help end the stigma that is associated with it.

11 International Day of the Girl (UN) is a day to promote gender equality and progress for females.

11 Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) is a celebration to mark the end of Sukkot.

13 Simchat Torah (Judaism) marks the beginning of the synagogue’s reading cycle.

13 International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

calendar (UN) is meant to raise awareness about reducing the risk of harm due to natural disasters.

19 Mahavira Nirvana (Jain) is known as the Festival of Lamps to celebrate the attainment of Moska by Mahavira.

16 ‘Ilm (Bahá’í) marks the 12th month, the month of knowledge.

21 Birthday of the Báb (Bahá’í) is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází, the founder of Bábism.

16 World Food Day (UN) is a day to take action against hunger.

17 International Day for Eradication of Poverty (UN) is a day of awareness and action to rid the world of poverty.

19 Muharram (Islam) is the Islamic New Year. It is the first month of the Islamic calendar.

19 Diwali (Hindu, Sikh) is known as a festival of lights, to commemorate the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated over a five-day period recognizing the triumph of good over evil.

24 UN Day (UN) celebrates the creation of the United Nations in 1945.

28 Chung Yeung Festival (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan) is a holiday where people visit the graves of their ancestors. It occurs on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.

31 Halloween (Canada, U.S.A.) is an annual holiday where children get dressed up in costumes and go door to door asking for candy. Its heritage comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

See Canadian Immigrant’s Multicultural Calendar at canadianimmigrant.ca for more October 2017 listings.

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V

N

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W

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CALGARY

EDMONTON

October 28, 2017

October 30, 2017

Telus Convention Centre

Shaw Conference Centre

FREE ADMISSION

CAREER

FAIR

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& SETTLEMENT IMMIGRANT

SAVE THE Get motivated for success at our 2017 Career, DATES! Education & Settlement Immigrant Fairs in these cities Learn more at: canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair

VANCOUVER

MISSISSAUGA

November 9, 2017

December 8, 2017

Vancouver Convention Centre East

Living Arts Centre

Want to take part in our fairs as an exhibitor or sponsor? Contact us!

Ricky Bajaj • Tel: 905-273-8170 • Cell: 416-856-6304 Email: rbajaj@metroland.com twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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