Canadian Immigrant - October 2019 by Canadian Immigrant

Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019 c anadianimmigr ant.c a

ARRIVE. SUCCEED. INSPIRE.

Finding Publications mail agreement number 40011993 | $5.95

HIS WAY HOME Story of Teenage Refugee and Published Author Logathasan Tharmathurai CANADIAN IMMIGRANT FAIRS IN VANCOUVER AND MISSISSAUGA

THE POWER OF MUSIC IN HEALING COMMUNITIES IMMIGRANT TALENT SHINES BRIGHT AT

TIFF

Plus our regular columns and more!

CONTENTS

Volume 16 Issue 4

FUSION

PROFILE: Author Anosh Irani creates new worlds 30 NEWS: Upcoming Fairs, new RBC Economics Report

COVER STORY

LIVING

WINTER-PROOF YOUR HOME: Tips and tricks to save energy and money this season WELLNESS: The importance of making meaningful connections

BACK PAGE HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO CROSSWORD PUZZLE: Canadian cities

Meet Logathasan “Das” Tharmathurai – teenage refugee, dishwasher, writer, author, IT professional, family man and more

Don’t speak a client’s language?

12 CULTURE

Immigrant talent shines bright at TIFF

We can help you.

15 SOCIETY

The power of music in healing communities

19 CAREERS AND EDUCATION

CAREER COACH: Maximize your potential. At work. In life. HIGHER LEARNING: The value of continuing education courses

21 MONEY AND BUSINESS

Communicate comfortably and effectively in over 180 languages, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

22 SETTLEMENT

aalanguages.ca 1-888-278-8007 languages@accessalliance.ca

ADVICE FOR ENTREPRENEURS: Tips for newcomers starting a business in Canada PARENTING: Art of storytelling IMMIGRATION LAW: Canada caring for its caregivers

» On-site face-to-face interpretation » Immediate over-the-phone interpretation » Video remote interpretation » Document translation » Language access training for service providers

24 OPINION

A CALL TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS CANADA PLANS TO WELCOME 1 MILLION IMMIGRANTS BY 2021

Follow a career that knows no borders. IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT DIPLOMA PROGRAM Build your knowledge from experienced instructors and become part of a ALEX TITOV, RCIC, Ph.D. Immigration Consultant Diploma Program, 2012

powerful network of successful alumni. Contact an Admissions Officer at 1(844) 628-5784 or go to AshtonCollege.ca to apply for the next start date.

Vancouver | Abbotsford | LIVE Online

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FUSION

People. News. Information. VOLUME 16, ISSUE 4

2019 Group Publisher Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Ramya Ramanathan rramanathan@metroland.com Editorial Design Safi Nomani Digital Media Developer Kamil Mytnik Sr. Ad Manager Ricky (Kawaljit) Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8170

Novelist and playwright Anosh Irani calls Vancouver home

Assistant Manager Laura Jackman ljackman@metroland.com

Photo credit: Nirmal Shah

Marketing & Events Jamie Coffin General Inquiries: info@canadianimmigrant.ca Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com ISSN 1910-4146

ANOSH IRANI

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher

Publications mail agreement number: 40065097

Creating new worlds

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 3145 Wolfedale Road Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 3A9 Printed on recycled paper. Toronto Circulation 30,000 copies Vancouver Circulation 15,000 copies Calgary/Edmonton Circulation 5,000 copies Canadian Immigrant is published four times a year in print. Canadian Immigrant welcomes submissions, but is not responsible for unsolicited material. Canadian Immigrant is a publication of Metroland Media Group, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Entire contents property of Canadian Immigrant.

canadianimmigrant.ca TORONTO 3145 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga Ontario, L5C 3A9 Tel: 905 273 8111, Fax: 905 277 9917

By Ramya Ramanathan

ovelist and playwright Anosh Irani comes from a family of Iranian descent in Mumbai, India, and moved to Vancouver in 1998 as a student to pursue his Master’s degree in Creative Writing. He has published critically acclaimed and award-winning novels including: The Cripple and His Talismans, The Song of Kahunsha, Dahanu Road and The Parcel. His plays have been very well-received and won numerous awards and nominations. He has recently released a new collection of short stories: Translated From the Gibberish: Seven Stories and One Half Truth. Irani’s short stories have appeared in Granta and the Los Angeles Review of Books, and his nonfiction has been published in The Globe and Mail and The New York Times. His work has been translated into eleven languages. He teaches creative writing in the World Literature Program at Simon Fraser University and lives in Vancouver, BC.

I might not have one anymore, made me write with urgency. I also started reading a lot. Canada made me go inward, it made me read. What I like most about being a writer is that I can create worlds that are both disturbing and human. I carefully calibrate the chaos that exists in reality, by turning it into narrative. This transfer of disturbance is what will hopefully inspire readers to go on their own search.

You have lived in Canada for about two decades now. How has your immigrant background helped you as a writer? Somehow, I have always been an outsider. Even in India, the country of my birth, I am a minority as I am Zoroastrian – my grandfather was from Iran. So, movement seems to be a constant thing in my family. Migration takes its toll on the mind and body for sure, and has a ripple effect across generations. It is challenging, but also beautiful. Any form of struggle How has moving to a new country impacted your journey as a writer? opens you up as a human being and allows you to have My move helped me become a writer. I was tried, empathy, which is essential if you want to write. tested, and squeezed with such intensity, there was so much pressure and claustrophobia, that my learning Your latest book, ‘Translated From the Gibberish’ curve as a writer was quick. The separation from my does focus on people caught “in translation” homeland, and then the slow realization that perhaps between two worlds. Tell us about the book and

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

how you came up with the idea. The search for home – it’s centuries old, it’s very primal. Whether these characters are in Mumbai, or Vancouver, they are displaced. They don’t feel at home even when some of them are in the place of their birth. So, what does home really mean? Is it even necessary? I’m exploring the different connotations of home. Home as the body, home as grief, home as escape, and so on. I felt the need to write short stories as my 20th year of being in this country closed in on me. I found myself needing to explore the aftermath of my move. I’d say that Canada oozed out of me in the form of a short story. The “Translation” is the gap between what you expect/hope for, and what actually happens to an immigrant.

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Can you share your best moment or a special memory about Canada? It has been a process. It’s hard to pick out one moment. Maybe the time my editor handed me my first novel, The Cripple and His Talismans… I held it in my hands and thought, “Maybe the move has been worth it.” But those moments dissipate very quickly. And you can’t depend on them for your survival. They are fleeting. What do you enjoy about being Canadian? That I get to go back to India. And once I’m there, I long to come back here. Any words of wisdom you would like to share with aspiring writers? You need endurance to succeed. The talent is a given. But talent, without stamina, won’t help you create a body of work. The writer’s journey is a marathon. Think of a body of literature that you will create over time. C

What is your advice to newcomers to Canada? Make sure you do your research before coming.

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news

Canadian Immigrant Fairs in Vancouver and Mississauga Don’t miss the upcoming Canadian Immigration Fairs in your city! These free onestop events provide you with an opportunity to connect with employers, recruiters, immigrant service providers, educational institutions and government services that can help on your journey to success in Canada. The fair offers a dynamic environment for immigrants who need help as they look for jobs,

go back to school and settle into their new home. The Vancouver Canadian Immigrant Fair is being held on November 8, 2019, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Vancouver Convention Centre East, steps from the Waterfront Skytrain Station. The Mississauga Canadian Immigrant Fair is back this year on November 29, 2019, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and being held at the Living Arts Centre. In addition to employers and recruiters seeking to

hire workers, highlights of these free fairs include resumé clinics with free one-on-one advice; practical career and settlement workshops, inspirational immigrant speakers, career tips and coaching, immigration and settlement help and much more. Learn more at https://canadianimmigrant. ca/careerfair.

Canada needs to close its immigrant wage gap A report released in the Fall by RBC Economics, Untapped Potential: Canada Needs to Close its Immigrant Wage Gap finds that while Canada is drawing in some of the best and brightest, with the focus on highly skilled, educated immigrants, their integration falls short on one key measure, earnings. And, this gap has widened over the past three decades. The report points that this is a “red flag for a country that already has the highest proportion of immigrants to total population in the G7”. Today immigrants make up over one-fifth of Canada’s population and that’s expected to rise.

less than 4 per cent • The immigrant earnings gap spans occupation, age, gender and region • The immigrant earnings gap has worsened even as immigrants have become significantly more educated than the Canadian-born population • The immigrant earnings gap for those with a university education aged 45-54 is about 18 per cent • Only 38 per cent of university-educated immigrants aged 25-54 work in an occupation requiring a university degree, compared with 52 per cent of those born in Canada • Immigrants’ tendency to work in lowerpaid occupations relative to their education only accounts for about 40 per cent of the earnings gap Key Findings include: • The Canadian labour market appears to • Immigrants earn about 10 per cent less than those born in Canada; 30 years ago the gap was discount foreign work experience

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

• Bringing immigrants up to the wage and employment levels of those born in Canada has the potential to add $50 billion to GDP The report suggests a “path forward” and recommends: • The tracking of immigrants’ journey through the labour market to better understand why immigrant wages continue to fall short • Providing help to Canadian employers to better assess foreign work experience • The government should consider devoting more resources to helping immigrants transition into the labour force after they arrive • Learning from Atlantic Canada’s relatively narrow immigrant wage gap, and how we replicate that across the country

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COVER STORY

FINDING HIS WAY HOME Meet Logathasan “Das” Tharmathurai – teenage refugee, dishwasher, writer and newly published author, IT professional, family man, and above all, a man who never gives up. By Ramya Ramanathan

ogathasan “Das” Tharmathurai is a man who finds his way. Das nearly failed his grade 12 English literature class and had never thought of becoming a writer. But he decided he had to become one if he wanted to share his story. In July 2019, over three decades after leaving Sri Lanka, Das published The Sadness of Geography: My life as a Tamil Exile, a memoir which describes his struggles during the long and brutal Sri Lankan Civil war and his way out of it. He makes himself fully vulnerable to the reader and shares the story of his powerful journey in a deeply transparent way, pointing out that “hatred is a hard enemy to defeat”. Das grew up in Sangkaththaanai, a small village in the Jaffna District in the northern part of Sri Lanka. In 1985, at the age of 18, he fled the war-torn country, leaving his family behind to seek a better life. Germany was his first stop. From there, he was smuggled through the borders to France where he was reunited with his older brother. He then tried to leave for Canada using a fake passport and ended up in prison. Fortunately, his brother was able to bail him out and England was his next stop. He got lucky the second time around in 1986 and made it to Canada with another fake passport. Throughout his journey, Das did all he could to survive. “As my journey unfolded throughout Europe, I found myself in refugee camps, smuggled across international borders, living with drug dealers, imprisoned, traveling and living under an assumed name, and more,” says Das. What gave him the strength to keep going? “I always reminded myself of the end goal: to rebuild the life that I had before; to see my mother and siblings again. I regained my strength when I thought about my mother.” He received a work permit in a couple of weeks after he landed

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

in Canada and began to work immediately as a dishwasher in a restaurant while saving money so he could ensure his family’s passage to Canada. Simultaneously, he enrolled in a high school in Toronto. After graduating from high school, he went to college and studied computer science. An English language author today, Das confesses to opting for the IT field since he spoke very little English back then. “Language was a big barrier and I thought that computer science was easier because it was mostly math and logic.” Das found a job in the IT field and eventually built a career that he always wanted. Das sponsored his mother, three sisters and younger brother from Sri Lanka when he was still a student. His brother from France joined them a few years after. He is a strong believer that Canada should continue to support refugees and immigrants as in the past. “People are being displaced by no fault of their own and become refugees due to persecution (whether it is on account of race, political or religious beliefs), conflict, abuse and violence. Immigrants come here to improve their lives, either to find work or seek better education or reunite with their family. In the end, everyone contributes in many different ways to build this country.” Even though he had made it to Canada and managed to build a life for himself and his family, it wasn’t easy. “I suffered privately with all the terrible things that I encountered when I was a boy. I was chased by military helicopter, left stranded in a conflicted area, cheated by my own kind, and lived in refugee camps, as well as in prison. The nightmares continued over the years and I would share bits and pieces of my stories with my family and friends.” Twenty years ago, Das wrote the first short draft of his story to share with his children and grandchildren. “At that time my children were very young and they didn’t really read it.”

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

Then a couple of years ago, Das had time off from work and made a conscious decision to write a longer version of his story to share with the world. “When I began writing it, I started feeling relieved and I felt free and open-minded. I figured this was working well for me because I didn’t feel ashamed or any anger towards what happened in my past. Because as we write on a piece of paper, we take it out of our system. All the bad memories are put on a piece of paper and we don’t have to carry it around.” He channeled the expertise he had gathered writing business requirements and technical documents as an IT professional into his new role as a writer. “The book became part of me. I was no longer a prisoner of those memories! It was definitely therapeutic and because of it, I can now openly talk about it.” Das is now looking forward to retirement so that he can continue to write. “Writing has become my passion. Through writing, I can express my thoughts and feelings.” “I like the opportunity to tell my story and provide visibility to the Tamil community. I am proud to be a Tamil Canadian,” he says. Das considers Canada his true home. He says, “Every time I went to other countries, looking for a new home, I ended up in holding cells, refugee camps or in prison. In Canada, they really welcomed me as a human being. That moment at the airport when the officer said welcome to Canada, I said to myself this is going to be my home – a new home! I stopped searching ever since!” Das is grateful for the opportunities that Canada has given him: “I was able to complete my education, build a career and raise my family. I am so grateful to this country for the warm welcome I received. Thank you, Canada!”

Every time I went to other countries, looking for a new home, I ended up in holding cells, refugee camps or in prison. In Canada, they really welcomed me as a human being. That moment at the airport when the officer said welcome to Canada, I said to myself this is going to be my home – a new home!”

Das attributes his philosophy in life to an Italian-American champion race-car driver Mario Andretti’s philosophy: “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to unrelenting pursuit of your goal — a commitment to excellence — that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”

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CULTURE

IMMIGRANT TALENT SHINES BRIGHT AT TIFF

Photo courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

rom veteran directors to first time feature filmmakers, immigrants continued to tell compelling stories at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Canadian Immigrant spoke with a few these talented voices, some of whom brought their own newcomer experiences to the big screen while others took on the human condition and its many complexities.

above Atom Egoyan

The Masters

Atom Egoyan, an Egyptian-born Canadian stage and film director, writer and producer is not new to critical appreciation on the festival

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

circuit. His much-revered 1997 Canadian drama, The Sweet Hereafter won multiple awards and nominations internationally. TIFF critics even declared it as one of the top 10 Canadian films of all time. Egoyan was back this year with Guest of Honour, a quirky, psychological drama about a troubled food inspector who targets ethnic restaurants while dealing with a family crisis. His penchant for etching out characters who are haunted by their personal demons makes Egoyan a stand-out director with a loyal legion of fans. “Human beings are very complex — infinitely complex — and that’s what excites me about making movies,” he said in an interview with the Toronto Star. He says examining the way food is prepared and viewed offers an interesting window into where our culture sits today. “To close restaurants, or to have the ability to actually cut someone off from their livelihood over something that they see as being essential to their own identity, that to me was a very interesting metaphor to work with for this particular movie,” he told the Toronto Star. American-born, Calgary resident, Semi Chellas is best known for co-writing two Emmy Award nominated episodes of the American television show, Mad Men. The talented screenwriter dazzled TIFF audiences this year with her debut feature, American Woman, inspired by the 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst, granddaughter of media magnate William

Photo by Jesse Grant/CFC

By Baisakhi Roy

above Semi Chellas Randolph Hearst. “The best movies for me are about largerthan-life characters, and so many of those are to be found in real stories,” Chellas said in an interview at a TIFF news conference in July. “I think that’s always very inspiring and delicious for storytellers, when they come across those characters in life that are hard to know and ask us to imagine our way into their stories.” The

film was backed by Telefilm Canada, who is committed to supporting female-led projects. They recently announced that 59 per cent of their production funding in the last fiscal year went to projects featuring at least one woman as a lead producer, director or writer.

New Voices Rehearsing for an interview; starting off as an intern when one has a master’s degree of education from their country of origin; being told, “Do well at your day job and earn your place…”. Sound familiar? Chances are that most newcomers to Canada have been in a similar situation or have seen a family member or friend through one. In her debut feature, Easy Land, Serbian-born Canadian director, Sanja Zivkovic looked to her own life experiences to showcase the challenges refugee and newcomer families face in Canada. She doesn’t hold back as she relates the story of an immigrant mother, Jasna, struggling to survive as a single mother, while also dealing with mental health issues.

Serbian actress Mirjana Jokovic plays Jasna while Serbian-born Canadian actress Nina Kiri – best known for her role as Ofrobert in The Handmaid’s Tale – plays Nina, Jasna’s teenage daughter. Nina is not only coping with high school life in Canada, (another issue that immigrant and refugee families in Canada have to deal with) but is also dealing with her mother’s volatile behaviour. Canadian film critics praised the film for its authentic portrayal of not only what life is like for refugee and immigrant families in the process of settlement but also how the film actually looked on screen – dreary and desperate, tinged with a sense of hopelessness. The process of making her first feature came with its own difficulties. “I think one of the biggest challenges was finding the right cast; it was hard to find good actresses to play a mother and daughter who spoke both Serbian and English fluently. It was already quite cold in Toronto and the weather in November was very unpredictable. There would be a random snow day all of a sudden. We were on a very tight schedule and couldn’t afford to come back to reshoot on another day so we ended up having to cut scenes or move them to interiors. This experience taught me to be flexible and think on my feet,” she said. Zivkovic and her film were part of this year’s Discovery programme at TIFF which featured a diverse lineup of 37 films from emerging filmmakers representing 35 countries, including 33 world premieres and four films making international debuts. Several films were part of TIFF’s endeavour to encourage more women directors to showcase their work- just over just over half were directed by women.

Presenting vital perspectives of immigrants

above Sanja Zivkovic The film had its premiere at TIFF in September this year and is getting a lot of love from critics and festival audiences. For Zivkovic, who immigrated from Belgrade to Burnaby, BC, in 1994, it was a story she needed to tell because it was a big part of her own life as an immigrant in Canada. “When my family first came to Canada I was only six years old but I still remember those first years quite vividly. My dad went from working as the Director of the National Bank in Serbia to a clerk at a local bank and my mom completely changed her career because her degree was not recognized. Everyone in our community of exYugoslavian immigrants seemed to be going through the same struggles, yet they were very creative about getting their foot in the door to rebuild their lives and took any opportunity they could, as Jasna does in the film,” said Zivkovic in an email interview.

“As someone who migrated to Canada and has since had the opportunity to build a career in this country’s film industry as well as abroad, it filled me with immense joy to see so many works by and about immigrants represented in our lineup,” said Dorota Lech, Lead Programmer for TIFF’s Discovery section. “The stories of immigrants, and the children of immigrants as well, offer insight into vital perspectives that are essential in today’s political climate. Whether stories of immigrants coming to Canada, or elsewhere in the world, it is exciting to have the opportunity to present these voices to Toronto audiences.” Another filmmaker who agrees that it is a great time to be a woman filmmaker in Canada is German-born Sofia Banzhaf who screened her short film I Am in the World as Free and Slender as a Deer on a Plain at the festival. The story of a young woman exploring her sexuality told in a non-judgemental and primarily observational manner had the critics and audiences applauding Banzaf’s take on the current dating scene. “I wanted to tell a story that was relatable and contemporary where a woman isn’t objectified

above Sofia Banzhaf and actually turns the tables on the men she is seeing,” she says. “There is so much more opportunity now for marginalised voices, be it people of colour or women. There is more gender parity, funding avenues have opened up and the need for diverse voices has made this the best time for an aspiring filmmaker or artiste to break into the industry,” says Banzhaf. Banzhaf’s love for the arts dates back to the time when she immigrated as a teenager to Newfoundland and became part of a school known for its music program. “My greatest learning was from watching movies! I went to France for a year and really fell in love with filmmaking and anything to do with it. I watched a lot of French New Wave cinema. Then I went on to study film in Montreal. The city is an experience in itself; it’s full of young people experimenting,” she fondly recalls.

What advice would they give newcomers making their first film? Says Zivkovic whose next feature focuses on immigration: “I feel underqualified to be giving advice to immigrants who want to be filmmakers. Being a filmmaker in general is not an easy or simple path, and we all have to work very hard and find our own way to make the films that we want. However there is also a great advantage to being an immigrant, your experience will be different from other people in Canada and you could use your voice to tell authentic stories that otherwise wouldn’t have been told. I feel like Canada is ready to support these voices.” Banzhaf has some valuable practical advice for immigrant filmmakers. “I’d say the most important thing is to seek out people who will help you, even cold emailing people you think could guide you. The other thing is to become savvy about funding – become familiar with grant applications, it takes a lot of time and effort to convince people to fund your project. And watch movies!,” she signs off. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

CULTURE

above Serbian-born Nina Kiri (L) and Mirjana Jokovic (R) play the daughtermother duo in Easy Land.

TIFF: Starring in a volunteer role

GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

WITH REEVES COLLEGE

Ask any filmgoer at TIFF who’s trying to make sense of their film schedule or wants directions to a screening venue or who is simply overwhelmed with all the action – the sight of an orange t-shirt clad volunteer is a sight for sore eyes! Film lover and festival volunteer, 53-yearold Ali Khan, who is also a participant in TIFF’s year-round volunteer program, just wrapped up his seventh year at the festival. For the volunteer, it is a great time to watch films, (especially the limited release ones), meet new people and even make an impression on someone important.

What brings you back to TIFF every year?

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above TIFF volunteer, Ali Khan

I migrated from New Zealand to Canada in 2013. I’ve always been an avid traveler and a lover of film. I was a fan of TIFF long before arriving in Toronto, so it was the perfect opportunity to be part of something that I followed for so many years. I arrived in March and joined up for the September Festival and it has been the most enjoyable time since I joined seven years ago. As a new arrival to Toronto, it has been a wonderful way to meet new people, learn about the city and watch fantastic movies!

What has been your main learning experience at TIFF? I think it has been sharing the joy of cinema with fellow film-goers. As a volunteer, sometimes you get to interact with people who come to the festival and they open up to you about a special story about what they saw, what they want to watch, their insights into a movie and their predictions about its success. I think being part of the TIFF Volunteer family has been a rewarding experience, especially meeting other volunteers, some who joined 40 years ago and still going strong while for others, it’s their first festival.

What was your most memorable experience at TIFF?

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

I recall I was doing a volunteer shift for a children’s movie and when the movie finished, a young teenager put his hand out to do a “high five” to show how much he enjoyed the movie. I reciprocated by outstretching my hand for a high five. What I didn’t realize was that all the children behind him wanted to do the same with me! All 50 children! I was hesitant to do 50 high fives but realized I was actually holding up the queue as the children wouldn’t move without one! That’s the kind of exciting energy you often encounter during TIFF.

SOCIETY

August 2019 summer camp Photo courtesy: Nai Children’s Choir

THE POWER OF MUSIC in healing communities By Vivien Fellegi

he Nai Children’s Choir’s teachers and their charges are composing a new song, Nature Journey, about immigration and integration, during their week of summer camp at at the Toronto Public Library Don Mills branch. The kids clap and bob their heads to the beat. A little girl crawls into her neighbour’s lap. “What is the deeper meaning of this song?” asks the choir’s manager. One boy pipes up: “It’s about the rainbow - it makes me feel better.” “It’s about moving forwards, not backwards,” says an older girl. She’s hit the nail on its head. The Nai Children’s Choir was created in 2016 by a team of staff and passionate musicians from settlement organization CultureLink to help Syrian refugee children move forwards from trauma. The choir started shortly after the Syrians arrived in Canada. In December 2015, Fei Tang, who was working for CultureLink, delivered donations to the Plaza Hotel where many of the newcomers were languishing while their children ran

wild underfoot. “It was depressing - they were trapped since they didn’t know the city (and) didn’t speak English,” she recalls. Tang, an avid choir singer, thought the children could benefit from the structure and positive energy of music. With the help of others, her vision became a reality. The Nai Choir (“nai” means “the sound of the flute” in Arabic) had their first rehearsal at CultureLink in April 2016. The positive energy of music and arts Research has shown that music, as well as other arts-based initiatives, improve mental health and general wellbeing. According to Amy Clements-Cortes, music therapist and Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, the healing power of music has been established since the early l9th century. Music engages many different parts of the brain, helping us feel things more deeply, and drawing out our hidden emotions. Music is also a powerful memory aid. Familiar songs, CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

SOCIETY like lullabies, that conjure up happier moments from the past, could be comforting to the refugees, says Clements-Cortes. Just listening to these soothing melodies lowers our stress hormone cortisol, and boosts the feel-good brain substance dopamine. Singing together in a choir setting releases the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin, promoting contentment and trust. The process of working together on a concert helps choir members to bond. “It helps them feel part of something bigger,” she says.

Research has shown that music, as well as other arts-based initiatives, improve mental health and general wellbeing.”

Organizations, like the Syrian-Canadian Foundation (SCF), help often traumatized Syrian newcomers adapt to their new home, using photography, theater, and writing as tools of healing. These arts-based programs are especially useful in communities where formal psychiatric care is stigmatized, says Bayan Khatib, Executive Director of the SCF. Music, visual arts, writing, and other forms of creativity help trauma victims express themselves in ways that are less scary than speaking. The programs themselves offer a built-in audience to listen and share the participants’ experience, fostering a feeling of connection and belonging. This sense of fitting in with like-minded peers can transcend

above Performance night at Scarborough Civic Centre, August 2019 Photo courtesy: Nai Children’s Choir the specific group and help participants to integrate into Canada. “When you’re doing art you’re also giving something to others….this gives you the feeling of contributing to the community,” says Khatib. A sanctuary from stress The magic of music is not restricted to one nationality. While the focus of the Nai Children’s Choir was originally on the Syrians, the group has since opened its doors to other immigrants and refugees from war-torn countries. The participants, most between the ages of six and 12, rehearse weekly in two regular locations (with a third outreach program in variable settings) in Toronto. Last year, the fluid membership reached around 300 children. The initiative was badly needed. Children fleeing Syria’s war zone have had to process more pain than most of their Canadian peers, says choir founding member and coordinator Nadeen Abu Shaban. Many of them

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

were too young to understand the reasons for their sudden departure, and mentally unprepared to face challenges like learning English and forging friendships. Unable to move forward, they pined for the old friends and family left behind, says staff musician Esmaeel Abofakher. The choir provided a sanctuary from stress. Singing songs in their native Arabic was comforting for those who were homesick, says Abofakher. Feeling safe, they began to bond to new buddies. The group gave the children a place to belong. Syrian refugee Julia Alyazji, now 16, felt lonely after her arrival in Canada a year ago, and missed hearing melodies by Lebanese singer Fairuz. Rehearsing the superstar’s music along with the Nai Choir rekindled good memories and made her feel at home. Alyazji expresses herself better in singing than in speaking, she says. “When I sing I get in the mood, I get really dramatic.” She has now graduated from participant to mentor at the choir. “People can actually know who I am when I’m singing,” she says. Bridging the cultural gap The choir has also helped bridge the cultural gap between the children’s birthplace and their adopted homeland, says Abu Shaban. Singing English songs built up their vocabulary in an enjoyable way. The choristers’ involvement in community concerts, (including one at Parliament), boosted their social standing and helped them connect to their peers. “So instead of being left out in class, he’s someone...interesting to talk to,” says Abu Shaban. The choir’s music has been as therapeutic as its social aspect. Music helps us access our feelings because it is inherently emotional, says Montreal General Hospital music therapist Dany Bouchard. Artists draw inspiration from intense situations like heartbreaks and highs, channelling their sentiments into the composition’s elements, including rhythm, melody, and lyrics. Listening to these turbulent tunes enables us to tap into our own feelings, says Bouchard. Minor chords, for instance, trigger sadness, while major chords evoke happiness. “Music is giving you the emotional support you don’t have when you just talk,” he says. Just as a trusted friend can help us to open up, so too music encourages us to access our painful past. `

chosen for its optimistic vision. “This strong song message…stuck with the kids,” says Abofakher. Twelve-year old chorister Patricia Issa, who fled Syria two years ago, worries about her frail grandmother getting enough to eat in the war zone. Music helps her process her anxiety. Issa’s favorite piece is John Lennon’s Imagine, which envisions a world without war. “It makes me hopeful that there will be peace in Syria...again.” If listening to tunes helps the kids access their feelings, actively making music aids in releasing them. Abofakher teaches the kids to experiment

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SOCIETY with different instruments and write their own pieces to reflect their personal vision. “We try to listen to them more than just give answers,” says Abofakher. But while music can be cathartic, it can also give us a break from our troubles. Singing in a group demands concentration - you have to hit the right pitch and mesh with others, says Abu Shaban. “So those worries they deal with are put aside,” she says.

Twelve-year old chorister Patricia Issa’s favourite piece is John Lennon’s Imagine, which envisions a world without war.”

Performing these pieces yields the satisfaction of mastery, says Abu Shaban. Some kids who join the choir worry that they can’t sing at all. “We always tell them it’s OK to make mistakes,” she says. As their voices improve their morale follows suit. Issa can relate. “My first performance was pretty scary - I was nervous,” she says. But a dozen concerts later, she’s become a pro. “I’m very used to going on the stage, and I’m very confident.”

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above Performance night at Scarborough Civic Centre, August 2019 Photo courtesy: Nai Children’s Choir The Scarborough Civic Centre in Toronto is festooned with pink and purple balloons as the children’s voices ring out clearly in performance. Some hold hands and they all smile and sway together. The spectators lean forward, spellbound. When it’s over, the performers bow and their parents leap up to embrace them. Their relatives aren’t the only ones beaming. “I’m so proud of them - in one week we are able to sing those songs, (that’s) not easy,” says Abofakher. No one wants to leave. A bunch of kids play soccer with the balloons. One little boy twirls in circles to a tune inside his head. Patricia’s mother Gina Shahhaf peruses the buffet table with the other parents. She’s thrilled with how far this group has come, both in music and in life. “The children are very confident - they want to fly,” she says. To learn more about the choir, visit naikids.com.

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

CAREERS & EDUCATION CAREER COACH

Maximize your potential. At work. In life. Seven steps to make every day your best day version each day and not necessarily challenging others to a duel. To reach higher goals, raise your standards and contribute more at your workplace and in life, in small ways, each day.

drive you forward each day. People who have a high degree of ambition always work with time-specific goals. Your high ambition will keep pushing you forward beyond the imaginable limits of what you Have a compelling vision. previously thought was possible. Always have a compelling Build your self-confidence vision that drives you forward. It’s to overcome setbacks. A about how you design your life, how you see yourself and your life setback is a set up for something unfolding in the coming weeks, greater. You need to build the confidence to overcome setbacks. months and years. This is something that must High achievers stay confident that propel you forward each day. Having they will get through it because they a compelling vision helps keep your have a high level of self-worth. As you gain more knowledge and eyes focused on the big picture. experience, it subsequently helps Self-correct often. Keep you work with more purpose and introspecting and be willing to conviction. hold yourself accountable for your Develop leadership skills. decisions and actions. This means You can excel as a leader even you take full responsibility for what you do and for the outcomes you without a title. To develop your leadership skills every day at work: produce. • Inspire people to take initiative Honest introspection is the key to success. Be frank with yourself and and decisive action. • Raise others to higher standards critically assess your progress. This is the only you will put yourself in of performance. • Encourage creative self-expression. a position to make changes that can • Listen carefully, be objective, help move you forward. and balance criticism with praise. Every failure teaches • Lead by example: set high something valuable. Failure standards and inspire your team to and mistakes are an inevitable part do the same. of every successful person’s journey. • Always communicate effectively When struggles arise, take full and succinctly. responsibility, assess what worked and what didn’t, and reflect on how In conclusion The process of maximizing you could do better the next time your potential never actually ends around. People who maximize their because there is always more to potential are often harder on know, to learn, and to do that can themselves than anybody else. They help move your life forward in a hold themselves to the highest of better way. It takes consistent and persistent standards and pursue excellence in everything they do. This is why they action on your part to become a are able to accomplish far more than better version of yourself today than you were yesterday. By doing the average person. better, you become better and Keep aiming higher. raise your game each day. That is Consistently ignite your the primary path to maximizing ambition to achieve higher goals. your full potential. At work and in Your high ambition and energy life.

uccessful people in life and at the workplace are those who can maximize their potential each and every single day. We live in a culture of achievement and success. Learning to maximize your potential is simple once you understand the proper way to approach it. By following certain

steps, you can make each and every day your best day yet.

hard to be your 1 Work best version each day.

To maximize your potential, you need to keep challenging yourself with a competitive spirit. This means you are pushing yourself to be your best

Are you an immigrant looking for work in your pre-landing occupation?

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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 how he can help unlock your magic at unleashyourwow.com. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

CAREERS & EDUCATION HIGHER LEARNING

The value of continuing education courses Why you are enrolling in a course is as important as what you decide to enroll in

here are some excellent reasons why you might want to enroll in just one or a few continuing education courses. Even attending a single course could give you a view of the Canadian education system, its standards, classroom style and expectations. It can also help you get a job by demonstrating your abilities or help you to get into fulltime studies by upgrading your academics. It may even prepare you for retirement or lead to new interests and new friends. A single course may be a small resource with a big payoff. For jobs or studies Determining which courses to take is dependent on your goals. If you are concerned about meeting admission requirements for a program, you will want to get prior advice on which courses are acceptable. For instance, if you need to make up credits in science for admission into a post-secondary health science program, you need to check that the course you choose will be recognized as an equivalent. However, if you want to improve your writing skills, many different courses can help you with this, as long as you will be getting feedback on your writing assignments. Smaller classes where you are expected to participate frequently can help you with speaking effectively. If you are looking for work, there are some individual courses that might be useful, depending on your field. You may want to seek advice on what those might be. In general, however, it will enhance your marketability to know something about accounting, statistics, web

Don’t know where to look? Start by Also find out about what will be looking at the public school boards, required of you. As an example, if you local colleges and universities, ask a are taking a food preparation course, local librarian, and the settlement will you be required to buy knives or and local community and health a uniform? Will you need to purchase agencies. You may also want to look your own tools for a construction or into massive open online courses renovation course? (MOOC) or community clubs such A wide range of courses are as Toastmasters. available in most cities. They can help While a single course or two allows to prepare you for further education, you to try something out without new careers, and retirement and making a big commitment of time or help you stay fit, smart and engaged. money, you will still want to make sure Taking that course may also come design, first aid, languages, computer you can manage it. For instance, if you with added benefits such as having applications, etc. In technical fields, enroll in a course for credit, know if access to a career or advising centre, you will want to seek out courses there is a deadline to withdraw from a gym or a library. You may get much that focus on Canadian rules and the course if you need to, in order to more than you think out of taking practices or the latest developments avoid academic or financial penalty. just a course or two. in your area of work. If you are considering a specific Geneviève Beaupré and Susan Qadeer have occupation or want to change extensive experience working in university and careers, you may want to try a course college settings, providing career, academic in a related area through continuing and personal counselling to international and education before committing to a immigrant students. fulltime program. For instance, a college course in real estate for law clerks may help you decide if you want to go ahead and study further to become a legal assistant. A college course in anatomy may introduce you to the scientific aspects of healthcare. A course in blueprint Train in reading may give you a preview of the as construction industry. li To explore your own interests as a part of retirement If you are considering a part-time business as part of retirement, there are courses to help you add skills from marketing to cake decorating and home repairs. For your interests and pleasure, you can learn to draw, refinish furniture, write scripts, bake bread or weld. There is something for everyone, including fitness, nutrition, cooking and parenting. Where and how There are courses at colleges and universities, at adult secondary schools, in community centres, social service agencies, private schools and businesses. Courses can be delivered in person, online, or a combination of both. Some may earn you credit toward a certificate or degree. You may be able to find courses that are free or subsidized.

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

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MONEY & BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Advice for entrepreneurs Tips for newcomers starting a business in Canada

ccording to the 2019 RBC Small Business poll, the number of Canadians who are considering business ownership is on the rise compared to last year (57 per cent in 2019 vs. 54 per cent in 2018). The poll also looked at what the profile of small business entrepreneurs looks like in Canada. Below are the findings: • Nearly half (42 per cent) of small business owners are baby boomers (people born in the years following World War II) and 24 per cent are millennials (people who reached adulthood in the early 21st century). • Half of the boomers (49 per cent) who have started or are thinking of starting a business say they want to continue using their

rich experience to supplement their retirement income. • For millennials, almost three out of every four (70 per cent) have thought about owning a business and are motived by: having control over their career (92 per cent), doing something that aligns with their personal values (89 per cent), and bringing something new and exciting to the market (85 per cent). Many newcomers express an interest in becoming entrepreneurs. Starting a business for newcomers can come with extra challenges such as a small network in Canada, language barriers, limited knowledge of Canadian business practices and difficulty accessing credit. Here is some helpful advice if you are interested in starting a business in Canada: Build a credit history. A limited credit history can impact your access to financing. Your banking records from another country would

most likely not be readily available to Canadian financial institutions. One of the easiest ways to start developing a Canadian credit record is to apply for a credit card and use it wisely. Develop your network. One major challenge of starting a venture in a new country is the absence of relevant contacts. To start building a network, look for an association you could join or events to attend. Identify those knowledgeable about your field and solicit feedback on your ideas. The people you meet might be able to provide market intelligence, and might also become friends and mentors. Don’t forget to leverage your supplier/producer networks in your home country – an advantage you

have as a newcomer. Create a business plan. Creating a business plan is not unique to a newcomer hoping to start a successful business, but it is perhaps more crucial. The research process will provide you with in-depth knowledge of a market that might be unfamiliar. You can also clarify your strategy and vision at this stage and pivot where appropriate. The financial planning and projections you develop in this process will also aid in securing financing. There are plenty of activities taking place in October across Canada for Small Business Month and throughout the year. Be sure to check your local listings to take advantage of events that may be of interest to you.

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

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SETTLEMENT PARENTING

Art of Storytelling

Teach your children to remember their family’s experiences, history and culture

torytelling is a social, interactive activity that involves sharing and interpreting one’s stories and experience, using words, expressions, gesture and physical movement. It is the most ancient and powerful educational tool, as a means to connect people and to teach them about their history, culture, language, moral values, traditions and customs. Storytelling does not require much other than the storyteller and audience’s attention, imagination and creativity. And the stories can be short or long, formal or informal, themed or spontaneous, educational or entertaining. This activity can be shared by people of different generations, ethnic backgrounds, language abilities and ages. The best part is, it can be done anywhere and anytime. For some immigrant families, there is a risk of disconnecting with one’s family culture, language and history as families become acculturated to Canada. And storytelling

can be a great way to bring families together and for children to learn about their own family history, culture, and language. Ways to reignite the tradition of storytelling with children: • Make storytelling part of your daily family ritual, be it a bedtime story or sharing of stories during dinner time, or while waiting in line in the grocery store. • Start with something simple and light, be it a song, poem, or joke, or a fable from your heritage. Whatever the story, make sure the storyteller loves the story, wants to share it and brings the story to life. • Find ways to start storytelling by using story starter prompts. Some questions to consider include: “Do you remember when.... “ or “When I was your age...” • Experiment with different storytelling formats, be it in oral storytelling, songs, poetry, chants, dance, or with books. • Use different props and ac-

cessories to enhance storytelling. Some examples include family photographs, drawings, letters or journals, mementos, puppets or costumes. • Encourage children to take turns practicing telling stories and encourage other extended family members or friends to start sharing meaningful stories as often as possible. • Be creative and spontaneous, and come up with silly and funny stories, with different characters or superheroes, in which anything can happen. • Invite children to co-create stories together and have meaningful, shared experiences. Most importantly, keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to storytelling, as it is a person-

al journey. Like anything in life, it takes practice to be a good storyteller. Be adventurous and try experimenting with different stories, techniques, and use different story prompts as inspirations. Storytelling is an impactful learning tool that creates lasting personal and meaningful connections between the storyteller and the audience. Especially in today’s globalized world, with the use modern technology and social media, it is important to go back to basics and revive the lost art of storytelling. We all have many valuable life experiences and stories that are meant to be shared with the world. Start creating wonderful memories, build strong family bonds and share meaningful family experiences through storytelling today.

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.

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

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SETTLEMENT I M M I G R AT I O N L AW

Canada caring for its caregivers through two new programs

Assessing genuineness of a prospective employer’s job offer a part of the standard process

n June 18, 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revamped its caregiver programs. Gone was the requirement that employers first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment and that caregivers work in Canada without their families for at least two years before they could apply for permanent residency. Instead, caregivers can immediately apply for permanent residency if they have a job offer or Canadian work experience in an eligible caregiver occupation and if they meet minimum education and language proficiency requirements and come to Canada with their families right away. The new caregiver programs have existed for about four months now and it is too early to determine whether they have been a success. An issue that has arisen, however, is that of employers and applicants or a Home Support Worker and that demonstrating that their job offers they will be able to perform the terms are genuine. of their job offer in Canada. If they do, then the permanent residence application is put on hold and the How the new caregiver applicant is issued an occupationprograms work Canada now has two caregiver restricted open work permit. They programs. The first is the Home then have three years to obtain 24 Child Care Provider Pilot. The months of Canadian experience in second is the Home Support their occupation. A valid job offer must be for Worker Pilot. A maximum of 2,750 applications are accepted full-time employment from a per year under each stream. In single Canadian employer outside both programs, applicants must of Quebec in a home child-care demonstrate through standardized provider or home support worker language testing that they have occupation. Initial Intermediate English or French ability, also known as Genuineness In order to preserve program Canadian Language Benchmark 5, IRCC has posted and also that they have at least a one- integrity, guidelines and instructions for year post secondary credential. Applicants must also show that determining whether a job offer they have two years of full-time is genuine. Proof that a job offer is Canadian work experience as a valid and genuine may include but Home Child Care Provider or a is not limited to a genuine need by Home Support Worker, depending the employer for a caregiver (for on the pilot. Applicants with less example, proof of a child or a person than two years of experience must with medical needs), whether the job show that they have a valid job offer pays the prevailing wage, whether as either a Home Child Care Provider the employer has the financial

that an applicant does not have prior nanny or caregiver experience does not mean that a job offer is not genuine if there is reason to believe that the prospective caregiver can nonetheless perform the work. It is worth noting that typically the wealth of an employer does not dictate genuineness so long as families do have the ability to pay their caregiver. In one Federal Court of Canada decision, Magday v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), Justice Annis did state that the return of a low-income parent to work could be evidence of a lack of genuineness, as doing so would “contradict child rearing norms whereby parents would prefer that one of them stay at home to raise their young child, rather than the parent choose to work in a lowpaying job that provides no financial gain if parenting duties are carried ability to pay the wages specified in out by a live-in child care worker.” the job offer, and, if the caregiver However, this perspective has not will be living at the employer’s been widely adopted, and for the residence, whether reasonable most part visa officers do recognize the desire of people who want to accommodations are provided. These guidelines supplement return to the workforce. existing Federal Court of Canada jurisprudence regarding the Conclusion assessment of whether a caregiver The removal of the Labour position is genuine from the previous Market Impact Assessment caregiver programs. For the most from the caregiver programs has part, the jurisprudence dictates certainly caused at least a few that assessments must be done in unscrupulous individuals to enter a holistic and almost common- into fraudulent job offers designed sense manner. In Bondoc v. Canada primarily to facilitate immigration. (Citizenship and Immigration), for IRCC’s visa officers are certainly example, Justice Legace noted that on the lookout for such instances. a full-time caregiver position from However, prospective caregivers 9:00 – 5:00 was unlikely to genuinely and their employers should know be a caregiver position if children that the genuineness requirements were in school from 8:30 – 4:00. are not unduly onerous, and that In Liu v. Canada (Citizenship and they should not deter families from Immigration), meanwhile, Madam recruiting the caregivers that they Justice McVeigh noted that the fact need. 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. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

FREE ADMISSION!

Canada is Your Oyster, with

MyConsultant.ca is a unique virtual meeting space for immigration and citizenship consultants and foreign nationals, immigrants, and Canadians with immigration and citizenship needs. Immigration and citizenship consultants are authorized to represent clients before IRCC, ESDC, the IRB, the CBSA, and the provinces and territories (additional authorization is required by Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island.) The platform features: Immigration and citizenship law articles written by consultants and more general, entertaining content on all things Canada. Direct access to immigration and citizenship consultants and their contact information via search ﬁlters such as language, region, and area(s) of expertise. Visitors can: Contact a consultant of their choice via the directory! Stay informed on the immigration process and Canadian life through a variety of articles and general content. Post their immigration questions on our forum and engage with consultants directly.

Be sure to visit our booth at the Canadian Immigrant Fair on November 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to learn more!

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

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OPINION

A call to civic engagement from community leaders Canada’s immigrants must engage to overcome labour market challenges By Sandra Lozano and Gautam Nath

ith the 43rd general election behind us, it’s time to reflect on how immigration issues played out throughout the campaign trail. Firstly, it was wonderful to see that immigration was not a flaming wedge issue amongst the major parties. Instead of the anti-immigrant sentiment that we often see in the U.S., all major party leaders publicly acknowledged that Canada’s immigrants are an important part of our country’s growth and economic future. This may be unsurprising to many, as Canada’s immigration system is the envy of many parts of the world. Immigrants make up more than onefifth of the population, bringing diversity of culture with them. And with more than one million newcomers expected to arrive in the next three years, the integration of immigrants in our country is key to our success. Furthermore, as most arrive as economic immigrants, many of them go on to contribute significantly to the economy by creating and filling jobs and paying taxes. However, in a country as diverse as ours that proudly boasts about its inclusivity, it can be easy to take for granted its fortune, while difficult to be critical of existing challenges. The truth remains that there is more work to be done to make this even a greater place for immigrants, and perhaps it is they themselves who must initiate the undertaking. Key trends in immigration and employment in our country remain startling. Underemployment is a major issue: too many immigrant professionals are not finding work that is commensurate with their skills, education, and experience. This at a time when Canadian employers are experiencing skills and labour shortages throughout the country. In fact, almost 40% of Canadian small and medium

sized enterprises face difficulties in finding workers equipped with the skills their business requires. If immigrants’ skills were rewarded in a similar way to that of Canadian-born workers, the country’s GDP would be $50 billion or 2.5 per cent higher. The statistics in our home city of Toronto is just as gloomy. A 2018 report by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), State of Immigrant Inclusion found that immigrants with a Canadian degree are doing better than those without and immigrants are underrepresented in senior positions: just 35 per

cent of senior managers with a university degree in the Greater Toronto Area are immigrants – even though immigrants make up 52 per cent of the university-educated workforce. These are difficult numbers to accept, especially in a country that is one of the most diverse and inclusive in the world. Everyone must pull together in order to solve the issue of underemployment and untapped talent of newcomer professionals. These efforts must be led by key stakeholders – employers, employment agencies, and newcomers and immigrants themselves – who can make the most meaningful difference. It is vital that change be brought upon through active civic engagement. Governments are responsible for

setting an environment conducive to the success of all residents through effective public policy and investment. And without the campaigning and implementation of smart regulations and sustainable funding, the current employment trends will remain status-quo. An elected government should reflect the people it serves. Canada needs eligible newcomers to bring about change by putting their skills, experiences, and visions into good use. Immigrants must consider getting more involved in Canada’s democratic process by voting and running for office. Whether at the municipal, provincial, or federal level, all decisions made by elected officials impact our day-to-day lives – especially as it comes to its residents securing meaningful employment. The 2019 general election had approxi-mately 66 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots. That’s a slight decrease from the 2015 turnout of 69.5 per cent. We believe it’s particularly crucial for all eligible immigrants to use the power of their vote to make a difference for all newcomers. They must get involved in campaigns, be informed of the issues, network and make contacts. The whole country can use more volunteers in riding associations; it would do well with a more diverse government. Friendly labour environment for immigrants will only be realized if immigrants and newcomers engage in their community’s civic life. Sandra Lozano ran as an NDP candidate in the 2018 provincial election in the riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge. She is currently a family lawyer based in Toronto. She moved to Canada from El Salvador as a teenager. Gautam Nath was a Toronto mayoral candidate in the 2018 municipal elections. He and his wife moved to Canada from India in 2008. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

LIVING

Winter-proof your home

Tips and tricks to save energy and money this season

ith colder months approaching, your utility bills are likely to be on the rise. Fortunately, there are several ways to lower your energy expense this winter. For starters, let the sun in through the windows by keeping shades open during the day. Covering bare floors with rugs and carpets to prevent heat loss is another simple addition you can make to your home to save energy and money during the colder months. Below are some tips on winter-proofing your home from Empower Me, a social enterprise program helping Canadians make smart, safe, and affordable energy choices. While the following items may have a minimal initial investment, LED light bulbs: Light Emitting Diode they are recommended as being easy to install (LED) bulbs are extremely energy efficient and and worthwhile in the long run. consume up to 90 per cent less power than regular incandescent bulbs. Since LEDs use only Use window film: Window film helps stop a fraction of energy, you can realize a dramatic cold drafts coming through your windows, decrease in power costs. LEDs also operate well prevents potential frost build-up, and reduces in a wide range of cold and hot temperatures overall condensation on your windows. without significant degradation. Weather stripping: By using this product around doors, windows, attic hatches, and around air conditioners, you can prevent heat loss in your homes and improve overall energy efficiency. Low flow showerhead: Studies show that Canadians currently use an average of 329 litres of water per person, per day — second only to the United States in the developed world, and more than twice as much as Europeans. That’s equal to 164 jugs of milk! Using a low flow showerhead uses lesser water while increasing overall water pressure.

obstacles, or pets and can help to mark an emergency exit in your home. Temperature card: A hot water temperature gauge and fridge/freezer thermometer is a convenient card-like device that helps you to check the temperature of your fridge, freezer, and tap water so you can adjust the temperature of your appliances and hot water tank. You should set your fridge at or below four degrees Celsius and your freezer at or below -18 degrees Celsius. The hot water temperature gauge can also be used to reduce the risk of scalding from hot running water from kitchen faucets, baths and showers, etc. Ensuring that your fridge and freezer are at the correct temperature setting can help reduce the risk of contracting any food-borne illnesses and prevent food from spoiling.

Don’t forget to look into local rebates • Several provinces offer rebates for installing

new insulation to help improve your home’s energy efficiency, comfort, and safety. Look for Sink and kitchen swivel aerators: These information in your province. Also remember aerators will help you reduce the amount of water that you, and not your contractor, should be you use in your home while not affecting your submitting rebate applications. water pressure. Aerators help to reduce the splash distance of water as it falls from your faucet and Be sure to do your research! • Gather quotes from at least three contractors hits the sink basin; they can reduce any disruptive sounds that your faucet may make (like gurgling before deciding on who to go with. Consider or whistling noises); and, they can increase overall certified or registered contractors for insulation filtration because they consist of small screens installations. For example, in British Columbia, which increase particle filtration for an individual Fortis BC, BC Hydro and Clean BC can refer Program Registered Contractors who have faucet. completed additional training so that they Switch and outlet gaskets: These foam gaskets can provide the best service possible to their help provide a tight seal around your outlets and customers. Working with a certified or registered light switches to reduce drafts and insulate walls. contractor mean you are working with someone They are also really easy to install; you simply that is trained in industry best practices and is unscrew your switch or outlet plate and place the knowledgeable about the rebates available for gasket behind them. You don’t even know they are your upgrades. Arm yourself with knowledge on what a good quality installation looks like! there, because they remain completely invisible.

Pipe insulation: Have you ever considered how far the hot water has to travel from your hot water tank before reaching your? All along that route your water loses heat, which is a waste of energy and money. Proper insulation around pipes limits heat transfer and provides a vapour barrier against moisture. This helps to reduce heat loss LED night light: This handy nightlight, which and save you money. Poorly insulated pipes allow has an LED bulb, not only gives you enough light water to condense, which can result in standing to guide you around your home in the dark, but water that can freeze during cold weather. it’s also great for avoiding tripping over stairs,

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

PUBLIC NOTICE The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (“ICCRC”) is the national regulatory body that serves and protects the public by overseeing licensed Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants and international student advisors. ICCRC’s federal mandate stems from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Citizenship Act. To ensure ongoing consumer protection, the Council administers a complaints and discipline process to ensure that its consultants and advisors comply with ICCRC’s Codes of Ethics and Regulations. Below is a list of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (“RCICs”) who are currently subject to a suspension or revocation as a result of a disciplinary action. If you have any concerns about these individuals or any of our other members, we encourage you to contact us via our website with the information. This list was current at the time of publication and is subject to change. To see the most up-to-date list please visit ICCRC’s website.

Urgent Interim Suspension

www.iccrc-crcic.ca

Discipline Decision

Member:

Kuldeep Bansal, R407527

Member:

Nana Mikhelidze, R415671

Company Name/ Location:

Overseas Career & Consulting Services

Company Name/ Location:

N & N Immigration Services Inc., Edmonton, AB

Summary of Allegations:

Delayed filing application for improper reasons, allowed client status to lapse then demanded excessive fees for filing a TWP application. Failed to properly advise client and respond to client communications. Failed to provide services, a retainer agreement, receipt for payment, and refund as promised. Charged foreign workers fees to obtain employment. Failed to arrange employment as promised.

Finding:

Charged clients for arranging for jobs offers that turned out to be invalid and caused their applications to be denied; failed to disclose to clients business arrangement with recruiter; failed to abide by terms of the retainer agreements.

Sanction:

Revocation; Effective 24-Jul-19 – Permanent

Sanction/Duration:

Decisions, Reasons and Order:

Ltd, Surrey, BC

Interim Suspension; Effective: 28Aug-19 until a further decision on the complaints launched in 2015 and 2016 is rendered by the Discipline Committee. https://tinyurl.com/y6aytq8l

Administrative Penalty: $2,000.00 Decisions and Reasons:

https://tinyurl.com/yyygqlaq

LIVING WELLNESS

To your health

The importance of making meaningful connections

elocating and settling in a new country can be a lonely and somewhat isolating experience, even if you have arrived with family members. One of the ingredients to longer-term success for Canadian immigrants is to create your own community, especially outside of your ethnic group. Staying in your ethnic silo limits your communication skills and your capacity to learn about, and experience, the local culture. It minimizes your social circle and negatively impacts your earning potential. Research has shown that immigrants who work in jobs where they communicate primarily in their native language earn less than Canadian-born employees. Community is not only important for success in Canada. It is also essential for emotional health and wellbeing. As human beings we are inherently social animals and feeling isolated and lonely is a stress factor that poses a health risk that’s apparently comparable to smoking or obesity. When we build healthy relationships, we feel supported and can provide support. Extensive studies show that social support is critical for long-term health and psychological wellbeing. When we are connected and supported, we tend to perform better and enjoy life more.

Make relationships a priority

You may have heard about people who live in the Blue Zones. Five specific places in the world where people are living considerably longer, healthier and happier lives. Okinawa, an island southwest of Japan, has more centenarians than most. One of the lifestyle characteristics they claim key to their longevity and vitality

is having a secure, social network. It’s a group of people who commit to providing mutual support and respect. In all five Blue Zones social connectedness is an integral part of the culture. Assuming you would like to enjoy a long and happy life, and that your health is important to you, there are some very worthwhile benefits to making relationship building a priority.

What kind of relationships do you have in different areas of your life?

Think about your personal and professional connections: • What is the quality of these relationships? • Do you have lots of contacts but few connections? In this digital age, many of us have a large network of contacts but rarely have any connection or quality communication within our network. • Are there any relationships that would benefit from some additional care and attention? Have you received, or taken, more than you have given, with anyone? Here are a few more questions that may provoke some further thought on the topic. Some will be more relevant than others, depending upon whether it’s a personal or professional relationship that you have in mind. • What are you doing to foster community and social connection? • What part are you playing in creating or maintaining dysfunctional relationships, be they between partners, colleagues, parents and children, siblings or other family members? • What action can you take to

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

resolve the challenges? • What assumptions are you making about another person that stops you from connecting? (e.g. they won’t like me, they won’t want to engage/won’t be interested, or they won’t react well). • Are these assumptions true, or (possibly/certainly) untrue? What actual (versus imagined) evidence do you have to support them? • How are you using your imagination to limit yourself in your relationships? • What are your expectations of other people? Are you expecting them to meet all your needs? Are you expecting or waiting for them to change their behaviour? Are your expectations keeping you disconnected? • Where’s your focus? Are you expecting to succeed or fail at building connection? Are your thoughts rooted in the past (‘I’ve never been good with people’), the present moment (‘I am interested in others who are different to me’) or in the future (‘they probably won’t agree to meeting with me’)? • Are you finding fault, blaming and complaining? Are you wearing the victim T-shirt and using victim language? • Are you people-pleasing and then feeling compromised, resentful or stressed? • What is your motivation when interacting with others – to give in

order to receive? • Do you have your own identity, interests and goals outside of the relationship? Or do you rely on another person to define your sense of purpose? How does this affect your levels of energy and happiness?

Reflect on what is important to you

When you are choosing your connections and building relationships, for personal and professional purposes, it’s helpful to understand that it is your values, emotional needs and principles that drive your decisions and choices. Taking some time to reflect on these driving forces can help you decide if it’s time to re-evaluate what’s important to you. Are your values and principles helping you create more of what you want to have, be and do in life? It’s not always easy to build a new network, especially when there are cultural and language differences. Start with a smile – the universal connector. Show genuine interest in another person. Get curious and ask questions to find out how they see and experience the world. Listen without judging. Over time you will build trust and respect which is the foundation stone to meaningful, lasting connection and support. You will soon find your own Moai and potentially add years to your life – or at least add life to your years…..what’s not to like about that?

Hazel Morley has worked as a trainer, facilitator and coach for more than 25 years, in England and after immigrating to Canada in 2009. After her own personal health crisis, she shifted gears to focus on strategies for enjoying optimal health.

MATCH YOUR SKILLS TO A NEW CAREER IN THE RETAIL AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

INDUSTRY GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT MAKE AUTO DEALERSHIPS A TOP WORKPLACE FOR CANADIAN NEWCOMERS.

Recently, the national Cars and Jobs program released the ﬁndings of a cross country survey of Canadian millennials (those currently aged 18 to 38), revealing that being at the forefront of technological advancement, industry growth potential, and diverse opportunities for advancement are all signiﬁcant factors when are considering employers. “Since unemployment in Canada is at its lowest level in four decades, it’s critical for employers to highlight their competitive advantages,” said Astrid Mauger, Marketing Specialist at the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA). “These survey results reveal that workplace attributes found at auto dealerships are very much in line with what job seekers desire in a workplace.” The survey, commissioned by CADA, was conducted with 2,000 Canadian millennials by Abacus Data in the summer of 2019.

68%

OF RESPONDENTS SAID

they wished to work in an organization where opportunities for advancement are plentiful and diverse, and which are tied to significant financial benefits.

63%

OF RESPONDENTS SAID

they wished to work in a sector which has experienced signiﬁcant growth recently, and which has projected growth.

61%

OF RESPONDENTS SAID

they wished to work in a sector that’s at the forefront of technological advancements and which contributes to improving people’s day to day lives.

DEALERS SEEKING DIVERSE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES HELD BY NEW CANADIANS So why is this relevant to new Canadians? Mauger says that dealerships across Canada are very keen to hire professionals who are new to Canada, since many of their skills are transferable to the auto sector. Mauger said that job seekers are often surprised to hear about the diversity of careers that exist within dealerships, but that perception is beginning to change. The retail automotive sector offers a variety of job options that build on the skills and drive newcomers to Canada already possess. Of course, dealers are always looking to hire strong salespeople and automotive technicians. But what most don’t know is that they also need to ﬁll positions related to marketing, graphic design, ﬁnance, accounting, bookkeeping and management – jobs that are critical to the growth of the business.

Dealers seek team players who are strong learners, have positive attitudes, and who can adapt to changing environments. Both the experience and abilities of new Canadians give them a unique drive that is perfectly suited for employment in Canada’s retail automotive market. “We know that newcomers want opportunities that allow them to thrive and build prosperous lives for themselves and their family. We have the jobs and they have the skills. The retail automotive sector is a great industry to help them achieve their career objectives,” concluded Mauger. Joining the industry is easier than ever. The Cars and Jobs program promotes the diverse opportunities that exist at over 3,200 auto dealerships throughout Canada. Connecting workers with opportunity, training and career advice now and well into the future.

Find your next great career at CarsandJobs.com

#FutureProofCareers

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R 4

N A

I 10

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 4 | 2019

Answers: Across 2. Vancouver – 5. Whitehorse – 6. Churchill 8. Niagara Falls – 10. Kelowna – 12. Winnipeg 13. Saskatoon – 14. Edmonton

Contributed by: Gu Zhenzhen

Answers: Down 1. Kingston – 3. Victoria – 4. Charlottetown 7. Calgary – 9. Montreal – 11. Toronto

CROSSWORD: CANADIAN CITIES

ACROSS 2. Rain City (British Columbia) 5. The Wilderness City (Yukon Territory) 6. Polar Bear Capital of the World (Manitoba) 8. Honeymoon Capital of the World (Ontario) (2 words) 10. Orchard City (British Columbia) 12. Gateway to the West (Manitoba) 13. Paris of the Prairies (Saskatchewan) 14. Gateway to the North (Alberta) DOWN 1. The Limestone City (Ontario) 3. The Garden City (British Columbia) 4. Birthplace of Confederation (Prince Edward Island) 7. The Stampede City (Alberta) 9. The City of Festivals/Heavy Metal City (Quebec) 11. Hogtown (Ontario)

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