Canadian Immigrant Magazine November 2014 Issue by Canadian Immigrant

november 2014 I free

Arrive. Succeed. Inspire.

Can a

mentor help you reach the

top?

What happens when your emails to CIC are lost in transmission? Attention artsy types! Publications mail agreement number 40065097

A career doing what you love might just be possible

Travel by Dartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sorin Mihailovici mixes adventure and philanthropy on TV

upfront

Contents REGULARS 4 | Our Take/Your Take 6 | Fusion ›› PROFILE: Writer Jude Paul Fernandes ›› NATIONAL BRIEFS ›› CANSPEAK: English sayings explained

26 | Settlement

A little help to the top

15 | COVER STORY

We all know getting ahead in the Canadian business environment means making connections; find out how mentoring can help you up

›› IMMIGRATION LAW: Lost in transmission? ›› PARENTING: Teaching kindness

10 | CAREER, EDUCATION & SETTLEMENT FAIR

29 | Back Page

Photos from our signature fair in Vancouver and Calgary this October

›› TOP TIPS: Advice from our Top 25 ›› HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO

Two cities, two fairs

19 | ›› Careers in the arts ›› Costume designer Carmen Alatorre ›› CAREER COACH: Information, please ›› JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: Truth about networking ›› Winners of Lilian To Bursaries for Immigrants

12 | SUCCESS STORY Trailblazer Sorin Mihailovici

To say this Romanian-born journalist’s journey has been an adventure would be putting it mildly

Help bring in newcomers to Canada. Respond to the need for immigrants.

Celebrating 10 Years!

November 2014

Canadian Immigrant

upfront

Volume 11, Issue 11 november 2014 Group Publisher Gautam Datt Sharma Director – Business Development Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com Senior Editor Baisakhi Roy broy@metroland.com Creative Director & Editorial Design Vanessa Dhanbeer

our take To the top!

It’s been a busy fall at Canadian Immigrant! Our two immigrant expos in Vancouver and Calgary this October were successful affairs, with nearly 40 exhibitors and more than 800 attendees at each event (see the photos on pages 10-11). Our speakers programs were well attended, including the IDP IELTS masterclass, the presentations by Scotiabank on money management and careers, along with all the other informative and inspirational talks.

Digital Media Developer Kamil Mytnik Advertising Sales Sr. Ad Manager (B.C. and Alberta) Alla Gordeeva alla@canadianimmigrant.ca Tel: 778 558 3397 Sr. Ad Manager (Toronto) Ricky (Kawaljit) Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8170 National Sales Manager Varun Munjal vmunjal@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8169 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: $36 plus HST for 12 issues Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher

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your take

Toronto Circulation 50,000 copies Vancouver Circulation 30,000 copies Calgary Circulation 3,000 copies

Educated choices

Canadian Immigrant is published monthly and distributed free throughout Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. 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.

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Our Calgary keynote speaker Umashanie Reddy said something in her speech that was particularly inspiring: “Leadership is not something that happens when you reach the top, it’s something you do every day until you get there.” One of the ways to put this message into action is to seek out the advice of other leaders in your field as you work your way up, and that’s what our cover story (see page 15) is all about. Have you ever

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Motivated by articles and letters published in Canadian Immigrant, I felt encouraged to share my story as a permanent resident living in Canada. My husband and I are established university professors with PhDs from American universities. We were living in Brazil with our daughters when we were invited to attend a lecture at the Canadian consulate. The staff enthusiastically encouraged us to apply for permanent residency as skilled workers even though we were in our 40s. We were given a seemingly perfect opportunity: to live in a country that values higher education and provides a healthy environment in which to raise young families. We received our stamped passports 13 months later and landed in Vancouver in 2007. Two months upon our arrival, we were hired as sessional instructors by the best universities in town. We (and every job hunter) thought it would not take long be-

November 2014

sought the mentorship of someone who you admire? Something who has achieved what you’d like to? For many newcomers, mentorship proves to be a valuable strategy to achieve success in Canada. Another important strategy for success in Canada is continuing your education. Reddy spoke adamantly about the importance of education in her speech as well, quoting Nelson Mandela’s “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Romanian-born internationally trained journalist Sorin Mihailovici (see “Success Story” on page 12) went back to school after immigrating to Edmonton after getting refused at every job he applied for. After graduating, he immediately got a job at a television station and has been building a dynamic, diverse career and life ever since. Education is also playing an important role for this year’s winners of the Lilian To Bursaries for Immigrants at Ashton College (see page 25). The winners are Anthony Margery Cantil, Sofia Domenica Lombos, Dayakshi Iyer and Giovanni Mata. Congratulations to you all, and thank you to Ashton College for your ongoing support of our magazine and newcomers to Canada! Margaret Jetelina Editor, Canadian Immigrant

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fore we landed in permanent positions because we speak English, have accreditations and experience. We soon realized that the dream of becoming a university teacher in Canada was not meant to be. We heard phrases like “You are overqualified,” “You are expensive,” “Universities are not hiring in your field,” “Most openings are for contract positions” and, finally, “Managers do not like to hire over 40 years old.” We then moved to plan B. I was hired as a research associate while my husband worked as a curator. The uncertainty of our future, with no job security but pressing financial responsibilities, took the best of us and, after eight years, we have decided to go home. During our stay, we met people from all over the world. Some were kind enough to share their stories. Many gave up careers to go back to school and obtain Canadian diplomas. Others switched facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

jobs. Some families split, with some of their members remaining in Canada while others living abroad. The majority went back home, where they have gratifying and productive lives. Their stories are those of disappointment, resentment and hatred. Many of them are from immigrants like us, experienced and with PhD degrees. Why is this happening in Canada, an underpopulated country with declining birth rates, an aging population and a shortage of skilled labour in many areas? Specialists say that discrimination has been playing a major role in the job market. According to them, Canadians are better educated now, with many possessing more than one postsecondary degree. Several immigrants report that they had experienced unfair competition during hiring procedures. The immigration of university professors confirms that Canadian immigration policies need urgent revision. It reflects a lack of understanding not only of the impediments of recruiting highly qualified foreigners, but also of the prospects of retaining them permanently. According to the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), post-secondary institutions have been massively hiring sessional instructors, who are poorly paid and have no benefits, job security or academic freedom. CAUT’s campaign “Fairness for Contract Academic Staff” has been ongoing for years. Surprisingly, university professors remain an eligible profession for Canadian immigration. The situation in B.C. raises a new concern. Many post-secondary institutions now require that their applicants obtain the B.C. Provincial Instructor’s Diploma to qualify for sessional instructor positions, which will prevent newcomers to find jobs immediately. The message is clear: your chances of getting hired are slim without Canadian certifications, regardless of your academic background.

COMING NEXT ISSUE ›› Is multiculturalism working? ›› Year in review ›› Things to do in winter Autumn Foreshadows My Feelings

Sun hides … gloomy clouds show Summer is gone and out … Rain pours … Western winds blow … Crisp autumn sets about. Fruits, crops and grains are harvested, Isn’t this a real “Thanksgiving”? Although, fall is celebrated, Homesickness, age hallmark feeling. Till whist leaves are silently shedding! Colours are amazingly changing. Long, cold and lonely days are passing. Mother and family are missing. For a while, painting, coffee table book writing, Time, beauty, gratuity — an appreciation. People, nature, events, words; Oh, God is loving! Arts and verses are my heart’s thankful expression.

Anonymous

Luz E. Lombos, Vancouver Want to share your thoughts? Email mjetelina@metroland.com.

Vancouver Public Library 350 West Georgia Street Central Library, Level 4 Phone: 604-331-3603 Web: skilledimmigrants.vpl.ca

Employment information for career decisions A free service for immigrants to British Columbia

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Citizenship and Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada Immigration Canada

Celebrating 10 Years!

November 2014

Canadian Immigrant

fusion news. people. events.

profile

Jude Paul Fernandes

A life in short stories

Jude Paul Fernandes’ book of short stories, Frost Bites, tells the many tales of South Asian immigrants.

ude Paul Fernandes comes from an Indian family of prolific creative people — painters, chefs and writers. Born in Kenya, and raised in India, Fernandes worked as a creative director in top advertising agencies in Mumbai. That is, until he decided to immigrate to Canada in 2003. He and his wife chose Toronto, and after facing challenges in returning to his career in advertising, he turned to writing short stories, which got published in Anokhi magazine, and anthologies like Canadian Voices II and Indian Voices. Now he has published his first book of short stories, about South Asian immigrants living in Canada cleverly titled Frost Bites.

Why do you write?

As a little boy I always enjoyed telling tales (and I mean that in a good way). My dad noticed this talent and started me on the basics (I still have a dog-eared Wren & Martin book on grammar). I excelled in English in school, but more than anything else I like composition and writing letters. After graduating in Mumbai I got into advertising as a copywriter and learned to craft words meaningfully whether I was selling a vehicle, a bar of soap or a box of tissues.

Why did you leave India for Canada?

When my work began receiving recognition and awards, I knew it was time to bid adieu to India and look for world recognition. It was at this point of time that I headed for Canada and, honestly, right from the get go, wasn’t able to make it. The South Asian markets were just beginning to emerge and nobody was really targeting that particular audience. What saved me from going crazy was enrolling myself in a writing workshop at Humber College. After my short stories began to get published, I decided that this was what I enjoyed most, and Frost Bites began to take shape. I had a full-time job and in the nights I became a ghostwriter, so to speak.

What are the stories about?

The stories are set in several cities — Toronto, Vancouver, Playa de Carmen, Mumbai, Goa, Patiala and New Delhi. They are predominantly about South Asians, although a couple have a British character and Caucasian migrants.

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November 2014

Are these stories based on reality?

Alistair MacLeod, the exceptional Canadian writer who recently passed away, was one of my mentors at Humber and he always told us to write from our hearts. He also mentioned that if a writer did not write what affected him in reality, then the story would always seem “disjointed and unreal” to the reader. The idea for Frost Bites began this way: during the course of my day job, I would speak with many people from different walks of life and what they’d leave behind with each encounter was “Back home, things were like this” and “Back home things were different.” I guess the “Back home” bug bit me and when I began to explore it further I realized that all Canadian immigrants felt uprooted when they came here … and whether they liked it or not, they’d left a part of themselves in their country of origin. Frost Bites captures those reminiscences and life in present-day Canada in a fictional metamorphosis.

How did you find a publisher?

The manuscript was sent to 23 publishing houses in Canada, London and India. First of all, it took three to eight months for any reply to come in, and most of them were negative. “We no longer publish short stories, there’s no market for them.” “Your book is way too dark, why not lighten it up.” “If you are writing a novel, send in your synopsis” were some of the nicer remarks. But before I could pull out the little remaining hair I have on my head, I managed to get a reply in the affirmative. Good Times Books from Delhi said a “Yes!” and from then there was no looking back.

Any advice for other immigrant writers?

First, try and get an agent right away. I did not have one then and it was always a challenge getting rejected time and time again. Also, try to get your short stories published by renowned magazines like The Walrus. Try and win some recognition in terms of awards/ prizes. And, in today’s day and age, self-publicity is of paramount importance, so a newbie author must have a Twitter handle, a website and use social media as if their very life depended on it. facebook/canimmigrant

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FUSION Canada >> Three years after Ottawa launched a new regulatory body to police the immigration consultant industry, critics say there are as many illegal “ghost” consultants as ever preying on would-be immigrants. “It is still a Wild West,” says Francisco RicoMartinez, co-director of Toronto’s FCJ Refugee Centre. “The ghosts still operate out there. People still fall victim to them.” Experts say that despite stiffer new penalties for those who operate without licences or oversight, unscrupulous consultants continue to take advantage of refugee claimants and immigration applicants struggling to navigate Canada’s confusing and ever-changing system. A few of these ghost consultants, who sometimes counsel clients to commit fraud, have been arrested and charged under the new laws, which provide for up to five years in jail and $100,000 in fines. B.C. >> A new report from Statistics Canada projects immigrants arriving from overseas will lead to a rapid increase in B.C.’s population by at least two million people in the next two decades. Currently, the province has 4.6 million residents. Under the lowest growth scenario, the province would see 600,000 more people by 2038. Under the highest growth scenario, more than two million additional B.C. residents would be concentrated mostly in Metro Vancouver. Ontario >> The proportion of immigrant and visible minorities in a geographical area is the strongest predictor of voter turnout, according to a study that traced results in Toronto’s last three elections. While turnout in all 44 wards in the elections was low (mostly below 50 per cent), those with high concentrations of immigrants and minorities were consistently lower than others, according to the study conducted for the Maytree Foundation by Ryerson University researchers Myer Siemiatycki and Sean Marshall.

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November 2014

canspeak Do you sometimes mix up “your” and “you’re”? “Then” and “than”? Here’s a cheat sheet for six easy-tomake errors that look bad:

You’re = You are

Your = Belonging to you

Then = A point in time

Than = A way to compare

It’s = It is / it has

Its = Belonging to something

There = A location

They’re = They are

We’re = We are

Were = Past tense of “are”

Too = Also

To = Going toward a place,

Their = Belonging to them

person or thing

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Two cities, two expos

Newcomer fairs held in Vancouver and Calgary in October

n Oct. 6 and 17, Canadian Immigrant’s Career, Education & Settlement Fair was held in Vancouver and Calgary, respectively. Presented by Scotiabank and in association with IDP IELTS, this free event at the Vancouver Public Library and Calgary’s Telus Convention Centre included a tradeshow of

exhibitors including employers (many that were hiring), settlement agencies and educational institutes. Also a program of inspirational speakers offered up their wisdom on topics from finances to soft skills to accent reduction. A resumé clinic and IELTS masterclass were some of the other highlights in both cities.

The Vancouver Public Library serves as the venue for the Vancouver fair.

Scotiabank was the presenting sponsor of the fair.

The Vancouver fair’s lower-level exhibitor room was busy with attendees all day long.

Peggy Chiu, senior manager, multicultural banking, BC & Yukon Region, Scotiabank, offers banking tips for the newcomer audience.

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IDP IELTS held a 90-minute IELTS masterclass at both fairs. Here, instructor Aaron Wilson talks to the Vancouver audience.

Vancouver inspirational keynote speaker S/Sgt. Baltej Singh Dhillon.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi with ceremonial RCMP officer arrive for the citizenship ceremony held at the Calgary fair.

Calgary Immigrant Educational Society was one of the exhibitors at the fair.

Fair volunteers Patrick Hanlon and Mahmood Jafari with speaker RCMP Cst. Wilson Yee.

Many exhibitors like Adecco were accepting resumĂŠs at the Calgary fair.

There was plenty for attendees to see at the Calgary fair.

Celebrating 10 Years!

November 2014

Canadian Immigrant

Soaring Sorin To say Romanian-born journalist Sorin Mihailovici’s journey has been an adventure would be putting it mildly By Sarah Taguiam

ost people tiptoe around thoughts of the unknown, but Romanian-born Sorin Mihailovici doesn’t have such fears. In fact, the 37-year-old trailblazer has made a career out of soaring feet first into all things foreign — including his move to Canada. Mihailovici first travelled to Canada in 2001 as a reporter covering the world track and field championship in Edmonton, Alberta. It’s now 13 years later, and he admits he never expected to call Canada his adoptive home, much less become a well-recognized producer, tech entrepreneur and television personality. “I’ve seen 40 countries and Canada is by far the best; something about it just made me want to stay,” Mihailovici says. And he’s been busy ever since. Based in Edmonton, the

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internationally trained journalist began working with multicultural station OMNI Television, where he works as a producer, community relations manager and program development co-ordinator. The entrepreneur also developed Scam Detector, an online and mobile app that exposes more than 750 of the world’s most notorious scams. As if he were not busy enough, the multi-talented Mihailovici came up with an idea for his own TV show/philanthropic enterprise. Called Travel by Dart, it features him and a friend throwing a dart and doing charity work in whatever country it lands on. “I knew 13 years ago that there will be a day when I’ll be extremely happy with who I am and what I do, and finally that day is here,” Mihailovici says. He notes, however, that success wasn’t easily attainable. facebook/canimmigrant

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Success Story

Coming to Canada as an international reporter, Mihailovici had interviewed icons like Muhammad Ali and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and expected to immediately pick up where he left off. But his foray into Canadian journalism wasn’t as smooth as he hoped for it to be. “I went to every single news station in town and nobody would hire me,” he says. “English wasn’t my first language and … I got slapped several times and told that I don’t have Canadian experience.” Mihailovici was disappointed that he wasn’t able to practise what he loved for his first three years in Canada. Fortunately, with the strong support of Edmonton’s Romanian community, he slowly got back up on his feet. “I really wanted to build myself again here and so I started from the beginning and went back to school,” he says. In 2005, Mihailovici began the three-year major in motion image and film and television degree at Grant MacEwan University. By the time he graduated in 2008, he was immediately hired by OMNI Television. His patience and hard work were paying off, and one good thing led to another, leading Mihailovici to be able to literally live out his dreams. “[In 2011], my best friend Matt [Cook] asked me what my ideal life looked like and I said, ‘I wish that one morning I could wake up with my wife and kids, ask them where shall we go that weekend, then throw a dart at a map and go there,’” he says. Two days later, Cook called him asking whether he’d like to do such a trip now instead of waiting until they’re financially independent. A couple of hours later, the men found themselves leaving their local Walmart with a set of darts and a world map. They vowed to visit the place the dart

landed on whether it was deathly cold or plagued with war. They recorded the dart throw to keep themselves accountable — and the soon-to-be televised series Travel by Dart was launched. After 22 unsuccessful tries, the dart finally stuck to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. Located a few degrees south of the North Pole, Svalbard’s average summer temperature is six degrees Celsius and drops to around minus 30 degrees Celsius with wind chill in the winter. Polar bears outnumber humans 3,000 to 2,700 in the Norwegian islands. And, according to their research, they discovered that 75 per cent of the region’s polar bear population will die in the next 50 years due to global warming and the melting of their habitat. That information changed their mandate from personal freedom to philanthropy. Mihailovici and Cook decided to turn the trip into more than just a vacation and decided to find ways to address one of Svalbard’s most pressing problems: the plight of the polar bears. “I grew up in a poor country in Romania and I struggled a lot when I saw other kids playing with their toy cars,” Mihailovici says. “I didn’t have much before and I decided that maybe it was time for me to give back.” With the help of sponsors, Mihailovici’s team launched their charitable company, Polar Faith, and travelled to Svalbard. In the dead of winter, when the Svalbard sky was pitch-black 24/7, both men worked hard to raise funds for the World Wildlife Fund and simultaneously raise awareness for the endangered

If you’re not challenged, then you don’t develop and, as immigrants, it’s important that we push ourselves to grow.”

Edmonton-based Sorin Mihailovici (right) and his Travel by Dart partner, Matt Cook, bundle up for their first trip to polar bear country — the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.

Celebrating 10 Years!

November 2014

Canadian Immigrant

letters Success Story

Sorin Mihailovici developed an app called Scam Detector, which has more than two million users.

polar bear cause. “This was supposed to be a vacation for two guys in December … but we decided to stay there and help and that was probably the best thing that could have happened to Travel by Dart,” Mihailovici explains. Since then, Travel by Dart has turned into a global phenomenon. Last year, Mihailovici and Cook threw another dart, which landed on Russia. They released the second episode of the series midOctober, which follows them in a cross-country tour of Russia where they expose mafia violence and fight youth homelessness. They’re planning to visit their third dart location — Sierra Leone — between Christmas and New Year. When he’s not darting in and out countries, Mihailovici also busies himself with his online and mobile app Scam Detector, which he developed in 2011. The idea for the app originated from Mihailovici’s award-winning short film The 419: The Nigerian Scam, a reenactment of how one of his friends lost $30,000 to the advancefee fraud. The film was well-received online with users commenting that there should be a way to expose other fraudulent schemes. Mihailovici created the app and within a month of launching, it became the no. 1 app in iTunes Canada’s lifestyle category. He now employs a team of eight people and has more than two million users. “I didn’t expect it to grow this much, but it’s become a huge part of me now,” he says. Mihailovici still can’t believe the success he’s enjoyed. He credits his achievements to jumping into unfamiliar situations and going out of his comfort zone. “If you’re not challenged, then you don’t develop and, as immigrants, it’s important that we push ourselves to grow.”

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upfront Cover Story

A little help to the top We all know getting ahead in the Canadian business environment means making connections; find out how mentoring can help you up By Lisa Evans

hen Nadia Samji arrived in Canada a yearand-a-half ago armed with an MBA from the Institute of Business Management in Pakistan, she sought to connect with industry experts who could help move her career in brand management forward in her new country. She started her search online and found Ten Thousand Coffees.com, a networking site that connects industry leaders with new graduates and newcomers seeking advice and mentorship. Samji set to work creating her profile and browsing through the site’s thousands of experts, sending out invitations to meet over the proverbial coffee. “I wanted to know how I could keep myself updated on what’s going on in the industry [in Canada]. That kind of information I can only get from an insider,” she says. Through a series of informal coffee meetings, Samji has learned the best websites to visit, which magazines are valued by those in her industry and other insider knowledge. She has become more comfortable networking with high-profile individuals in her field (she even met with McDonald’s CEO John Betts). The concept of mentorship was new to Samji, who says formal mentoring doesn’t exist in her native Pakistan, but connecting with industry insiders has proven to be an invaluable asset to her Canadian career and her settlement in general. “Even if you have family and friends [here in Canada], you still need someone from outside to help you grow professionally and in building a network, which is very important here,” she says.

(IEC-BC). Mentorship can be particularly valuable to newcomers who are often unfamiliar with industry trends and opportunities in their new country. “Mentoring allows you to tap into a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience that you may not otherwise have the opportunity to do,” explains Kang. Mentors are often able to provide invaluable information on current industry trends, lend advice as to which courses would be most suitable to take to grow one’s career potential, recommend which conferences to attend to meet the right people and provide general insight into industry culture. Although many skilled immigrants come to Canada with extensive experience, Kang says it’s this specific industry knowledge that is often lacking and prevents newcomers from getting ahead in their chosen career. Mentoring is a way to close this gap and allow the mentee to get closer to connecting with their career. There are several ways newcomers can reap the rewards of mentorship. While some organizations, such as IEC-BC, offer formal mentorship programs, informal mentorship arrangements such as those organized by Ten Thousand Coffees.com, offer the flexibility to select from a wealth of industry experts at various levels.

Closing the gap

Formal mentoring programs

“Mentorship is increasingly becoming the norm in career development,” says Opreet Kang, manager of the MentorConnect program run by the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia Celebrating 10 Years!

There are many immigrant-focused organizations across the country, such as IEC-BC, offer formal mentoring programs geared toward the Canadian newcomer. IEC-BC works with local employers to November 2014

Canadian Immigrant

Cover Story

find mentors and matches them with job-ready immigrants based on occupation or industry background. “The point of MentorConnect is to assist local immigrants to be able to connect with their career in the Canadian context,” says Kang. Mentors and mentees make a four-month commitment to meet for an hour a week. Mentors provide input, guidance and an opportunity to shape the newcomer’s skills through exercises such as mock interviews.

Informal connections

While such mentoring programs can be invaluable to a newcomer, there are more casual mentorship opportunities available, including online options. Ten Thousand Coffees.com, for example, provides a casual, 21st-century approach to mentorship. Browse through expert profiles from more than 30 industries including small business owners, CEOs and even celebrities such as Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Review their profiles and take note of the type of conversations they’re looking to have — from career advice to portfolio review or business ideas. Create your own online profile and send a request to meet for coffee. “Ten Thousand Coffees allows for a non-committal, one-time mutually beneficial conversation that has the potential to lead to a longer-term mentorship relationship,” says founder and CEO Dave Wilkin. Ten Thousand Coffees, which just launched in January 2014, has had numerous successes, particularly among newcomers like Samji who have found meaningful connections through the site. Although Wilkin says mentorship is beneficial to anyone, it resonates strongly with new Canadians who are able to not only meet with really interesting people and build a network, but also to discover all the different types of industries that Canada has to offer. Traditionally, newcomers were often told the best way to network was to attend events where they were thrust into a room full of hundreds of individuals in their field and told to shake hands and chat people up — something that can be incredibly intimidating, especially for someone who struggles with the English language or is shy about meeting new people. In contrast, Wilkin says Ten Thousand Coffees is a great way for someone whose first language isn’t English or who finds pitching themselves at networking events difficult, giving them time to craft their introductory request before meeting in person. Setting up a one-on-one meeting also means you don’t get caught up in the congestion of a networking event.

The website has now launched a new Canadian section for newcomers and experts who are immigrants themselves and are willing to share their stories of success with others. One such expert is Tahani Aburaneh, founder and CEO of Tahani International and author of Real Estate Riches. Aburaneh came to Canada in 1981 from Jordan and credits her success to the mentors she had to help her in the early stages of her career. “That’s where my business and my career really took off,” she says. “It’s a great way to fast track your way to success by learning from those who have been very successful at what you want to do,” she says. Not only did her mentors show her the industry ropes, they inspired her to work harder and grow as an individual. “It’s so inspirational and motivational when you find someone who’s passionate about what they do,” she says. Today, Aburaneh loves meeting with newcomers who are interested in learning more about her industry to pass on her knowledge the same way her mentors did for her.

What to expect of mentors

Whether you enter a formal mentoring program or seek out mentors on your own, success in your mentoring partnership will depend on understanding these three factors: A mentor is not a potential employer. Although the end goal of mentorship is to find employment, it is important to distinguish a relationship with a mentor from a potential employer. A mentor is a resource that can provide industry insights, but Kang warns mentees should not go into the relationship expecting to come out with employment. “The mentor is not obligated to provide employment to the mentee in their workplace,” she says. That said, on occasion a mentor relationship can lead to an offer of employment. In one instance, Kang recalls a mentor forwarded a job posting at his company to a former mentee who turned out to be the successful applicant.

A mentoring relationship should be mutually beneficial. Wilkin says the most successful meetings are those that result in a mutual benefit and advises individuals making requests for mentorship to find mutual topics of interest. “That’s the key to be able to unlock a relationship with a person because suddenly you have something in common and you can have something interesting you can talk about as a peer,” he says. Aburaneh agrees. She says her biggest pet peeve as a mentor is someone who isn’t willing to give anything back to the mentor. She advises mentees to think about ways that they can contribute to the conversation or to the mentor’s business. “Ask that expert if there’s any way you can do something to help them or to add value to their business. Most of them might say no, but at least you’ve asked that question rather than just take, take, take,” she says.

Take your time to find the right mentor. Finding the right mentor is like finding the right home. When looking for a mentor, seek out someone who can answer all of your questions about your chosen industry. You may want to visit their company or personal website to ensure they will have the expertise you require. Spend some time on their social media profiles, especially LinkedIn and Twitter, to see if their ideas and expertise match what you’re looking for. In addition to professional expertise, look for someone who can challenge, inspire and encourage you to grow and excel in your career and new life in Canada.

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Ethnic connections

Is community-specific mentoring beneficial? By Priya Ramanujam

hen the Certified General Accountants of Ontario asked Dharma Jain to be a mentor to newly certified CGAs, Jain accepted with pleasure. After all, he says, once a person is settled in his or her career, it is important to give back through offering mentorship to aspiring professionals. His first mentee was a woman new to Canada from China, and living in London, Ontario. During the first few Skype calls he had with her, she didn’t say much. Not only was she shy, she was unsure about her English skills. Jain, who had immigrated to Canada from India in 2001, shared with her that English was not his first language either, and that he, too, still found it difficult at times. A shared common ground allowed them to build a stronger and more meaningful mentor-mentee relationship. But had the mentorship been cultural-specific, she may have felt more comfortable initially, Jain says. “If her mentor was Chinese, possibly she would have been conversing in [a native language] and she may have felt more comfortable, not only in terms of the language, but in terms of cultural background,” says Jain, who is the current president of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC). “What happens when you meet someone [from the same community], you share the same type of food, the same type of heritage, same kind of language and you feel comfortable.” It’s not surprising then that the ICCC has a mentorship program for Indo-Canadian professionals, many of whom are new to Canada, which pairs them with a successful mentor (typically of a high position within a Fortune 500 company), also of Indian or South Asian background. Dozens of mentees are matched with professional mentors from their respective fields and they participate in four to six weeks of consistent mentoring that takes place via phone, Skype or in-person sessions. This is all a part of the ICCC’s work to help Indo-Canadian business professionals prosper.

But, according to Jain, perhaps even more important than an ethnic connection between mentor and mentee, is the immigrant connection. “In a country like Canada, which is made of immigrants, I believe if a new immigrant hears a story from a first-generation immigrant who has been extremely successful after 15 years, 20 years, 50 years, they’re going to appreciate that story more than hearing that same success story from a second-, third- or fourth- generation immigrant, because they can’t relate to that,” says Jain. Emiliano Méndez, an MBA from Mexico who founded the Latin American MBA (LAMBA) alumni network in Toronto in 2010, suggests the combination of ethnicity and immigration status makes for the best mentor-mentee relationships. “[Through LAMBA] there are a lot of coffees taking place with people who are interested in switching careers or who want to learn about new opportunities in different organizations,” says Méndez, who is a manager in the strategy and transformation services division at RBC. While he says much of the newcomer experience is similar, regardless of the person’s country of origin, he believes that when mentoring is cultural specific, it tends to positively enhance the mentorship experience. “I think there’s a lot of best practices and experiences that people can share and people feel identified with the experiences of the other person,” Méndez explains. “The cultural affinity plays a big role in the level of comfort of people.” Of course, there are instances when stepping outside of such comfort zones and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds can be helpful for newcomers. Harald Bauder, academic director of the Ryerson Centre for Immigration and Settlement, sees value in both approaches — building connections between new immigrants and Canadian professionals of the same ethnocultural background, as well as with non-immigrant and/or non-ethnic individuals. “What are some of the industry standards here in Canada that Canadians that have grown up here take for granted that immigrants have to learn first? Having a mentor from a non-ethnic [and nonimmigrant] community might have the advantage of conveying these types of conventions,” Bauder says.

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For the artsy types … Are your creative juices flowing? Are you also entrepreneurial? A career in the arts may be for you By Lisa Evans

o you have a passion for creating? Are you entrepreneurial? Do you want to follow a path in the arts despite the fears of becoming a so-called “starving artist”? Then you may have what it takes to have a fulfilling career in the arts. According to Statistics Canada, there are more than 87,000 artists in Canada. That includes directors, producers, musicians, painters, graphic illustrators, writers, dancers and choreographers.

Career prospects in the digital age

While a career in the arts may not seem like a path to riches, Broek Bosma, associate vice-president of advancement and alumni affairs, at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, says the landscape of the arts and design is expanding. “Traditional fine arts still exists and we, of course, produce many gallery artists, but the mediums that these artists are working in are not the same mediums they were working in 10 or 20 years ago,” he says. More and more, artists are blending art and technology, and seeking work opportunities in digital publishing, computer game graphics and web design. Another area that is seeing great development is arts entrepreneurship. Deborah Obalil, executive director of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), sees a trend toward artists becoming part of the freelance economy. “It’s more likely that they will be creating their own opportunities and their own career path more so than being hired by someone and following a [traditional career] path within a company,” she says. Bosma says 25 to 30 per cent of graduates at Emily Carr are selfemployed or starting small companies. Many arts colleges and universities are now offering courses in entrepreneurship to provide artists with the business knowledge and skills they need to launch their own businesses, including the ability to negotiate contracts and understand licensing agreements.

Educational requirements

Although no formal education is required to call yourself an artist, increasingly, artists are recognizing the value in attending specialized post-secondary schools such as the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver or the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University in Toronto. Obalil says while there’s a longstanding debate about how much formal training is necessary to be successful as an artist, attending a post-secondary arts institution provides a tremendous opportunity for networking, something that can be particularly valuable to newcomers who lack a professional network in Canada. “You’re going to have access to some of the finest faculty artists and designers in the country and, in a more freelance-based economy, that network is going to be incredibly valuable to building a successful career,” she explains. Attending a specialized arts institution can also open students’ Celebrating 10 Years!

minds to opportunities in non-traditional fields such as medical illustration, for example. “You learn about what others who have studied there before you have gone on to do and how they’ve utilized the skills they’ve gained as an artist,” says Obalil. Bosma says attending a recognized institution can give artists a leg up when it comes to having access to internships and co-ops that are often launching pads for careers in the field.

Income for artists

Although most artists don’t go into this area with the idea that they’re going to get rich, now more than ever there are opportunities for artists to make a solid living. Bosma says he’s seen many graduates of Emily Carr make $20,000 to $30,000 right out of school with an internship as a junior designer, while others graduate with starting salaries of $70,000 to $80,000 in high-tech firms where they’re hired to do digital design. Some alumni are making six-figure salaries leading design or advertising firms. “The myth of the starving artist is certainly a myth,” says Bosma. “As in any career, if you are ambitious and you work hard, the opportunities are there.” Many artists also take advantage of websites such as eBay and Etsy that connect artists to a community of buyers to promote and sell their work. Other artists have found ways to supplement the income they make from their art with other types of work such as teaching. “There are plenty of artists who make their living as an artist and there are plenty of others who have found a way to have a successful career and supplement the income they make from their art work with other types of work,” says Obalil. The challenge for many artists is to find their own definition of success.

Funding may be available, too

Professional artists can also apply for funding to work on specific projects. In 2013, the Canada Council of the Arts provided more than $150 million in funding and grants to professional artists and arts organization across seven disciplines including dance, writing, film, new media, theatre and visual arts. In order to be eligible for grants, artists must be permanent residents or Canadian citizens. The BC Arts Council and community arts councils in Ontario and other provinces are other great sources of funding for professional artists. November 2014

Canadian Immigrant

rowing up in Mexico City, Carmen Alatorre was surrounded by fabrics. Her mother’s home-based sewing business meant Alatorre often spent her summers working the sewing machines. Although she actually hated sewing, Alatorre was fascinated by the variety of textiles that surrounded her and credits her childhood home with her success as a costume designer in Canada. Alatorre’s fascination with the creative potential of textiles led her to study art history in Mexico City. But it wasn’t until she took a class in theatre that she found her true calling and discovered she could combine her sewing skills with her artistic flare and passion for history into one career. Although she loved the artistic vibe that is ever-present in Mexico City, the thriving arts scene means local artists are challenged to stand out. “Mexico City has about 20 million people and the arts schools are still accepting the same amount of people that were accepted 50 years ago,” says Alatorre. To get into an arts program or theatre school is a daunting task, and for By Lisa Evans those lucky enough to get accepted, they then often struggle to make a living out of their artistic work. Canada had always appealed to Alatorre. “I had a fascination with Canada for a long time,” she admits. She visited Vancouver and fell in love with it. “It was this beautiful big place where the arts were flourishing,” she says. The fact that it was one of the least cold places in Canada helped, too. The mountains of Vancouver were also incredibly inspiring. “I think that your environment affects your creativity a lot,” she says. She applied and was accepted into the University of British Columbia’s masters of fine arts program in theatre design. Although she does occasionally miss the vibrant colours of Mexico City that once inspired her designs, Alatorre says the opportunity to go on a long hike and surround herself with the serene natural landscapes of British Colombia now helps her to become unblocked. While she struggled for the first couple of years to make a living out of her chosen career, Alatorre says the potential for artists to thrive at doing what they love is much greater in Canada than in her native Mexico. “The country still gives an importance to the arts so there’s funding available to artists,” she says. While studying at UBC, Alatorre made connections with professors and other students who were working in the arts community to build her network. She took on as many jobs as she could while in school to get exposed to other artists, yet she still found it difficult to get a steady lineup of gigs. Upon graduation, she took a part-time job at a box office. Working in the box office helped her to see another side of the theatre industry. “I got to learn what the audience expected to see in a show and what they did or didn’t like. It gave me a lot of perspective,” she says. Eventually, Alatorre’s calendar filled up with costume design gigs and she was able to leave the box office. “I now make a living just from costume design,” she says, clearly proud of this accomplishment. Learning to adapt to the conservative aesthetic of Canadian theatre was also a challenge. “Canadian theatre is very Anglo-Saxon. You have to follow a certain design style, reproducing what has been done in the past. In Mexico, we have the great writers from Spain, but we also have a lot of experimental theatre; companies that have almost no funding so designers get to be very daring in their designs,” explains Alatorre. Although not always possible, Alatorre enjoys pushing the boundaries and mixing elements of her Mexican aesthetic with her designs. “You have to listen to what the play is trying to say and if there are opportunities to do something outside the box then you go with it in conjunction with the director,” she says.

Costume calling

Carmen Alatorre has found a career she loves as a theatre costume designer — something she says would have been more challenging in her native Mexico

Mexican-born Carmen Alatorre designs costumes for theatre productions in Vancouver.

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Information, please!

The why, what and how of a successful informational interview

avvy jobseekers are employing every trick in the book to make the cut, but they could be overlooking one of the most valuable tools of all — the informational interview. An informational interview is an informal meeting arranged by you with someone who may be in a position to help you get a job in the future, either directly or indirectly. While its stated purpose is to “learn more about the company or profession,” your real motive is to first impress the interviewer and then gather intelligence that could help secure a job there.

Why set one up?

At an informational interview, you can: • Gather first-hand information about career fields and companies that you are targeting as well as ideas for getting useful new job leads. • Connect with powerful influencers and expand your network of contacts. • Place yourself ahead of the game by managing a one-onone conversation with someone in a position to either hire or refer you. • Make a good first impression with people who matter.

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Even though you should not ask directly for a job at an informational interview, the thought may very well occur to the person if you come across as professional, capable and a good fit for the company.

•

What are the steps?

To set up such an interview, you should: • Identify someone to interview. Contact family, friends and peers, look up professional organizations and browse through LinkedIn, Facebook and Google search for valuable contacts. • Contact the person by phone or email and request an appointment. Be sure to state the reason you are contacting him or her, how much time you are seeking (say, 30 minutes), and how you learned about them and their work. • Research and read about the company and career field as much as you can. • Prepare a list of focused questions that not only highlight your seriousness and professionalism, but could also help you eventually get a job. Some sample questions you could ask include: “What advice would you have for someone starting out in this field?” or “What skills and characteristics are important for success in this job?” or “What are some growth areas in this field?”

How do you ensure success?

To ensure the interview is a successful event, you should: • Dress to impress. First impres-

• • •

•

sions count and you will be judged as soon as you walk in the door, so make it count. Inspire with a powerful elevator pitch — a 20- to 30-second introduction that specifies why you’re interested in this field and company, and why you want to specifically speak to him or her. Express your gratitude early on. Say thanks earnestly for his or her time and consideration. Plan your agenda with select questions that will give you the most information. Lead the conversation to come across as efficient and professional. You could walk in with printed copies of the company’s latest press releases to impress them with your extensive knowledge of their company. Request a referral. This is key to expanding your network. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask: “Who do you suggest I could speak with next? Can you connect me to someone you know for more information?” Follow up with a thank-you email stating your gratitude for the time given. Stay in touch by sharing your professional progress through email, informing the person how helpful his or her suggestions have been to you. Be open to learn from the interview. Each interview gives you valuable input and can also help you hone your interview skills so that when a real job interview does come up, you’ll be prepared to ace it.

Indian-born Murali Murthy is owner of Vantage Copy, as well as a speaker, coach and best-selling author of The ACE Books — The ACE Principle and The ACE Awakening. He is also chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. See poweroface.com. facebook/canimmigrant

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Truth about networking It’s not everything, but it is important

ong gone are the days when we would get jobs before even graduating from college: a time when employers would come and recruit the best young minds for vacant jobs. No real need for resumés, interviews or networking. Since the late 1990s, online job searching has taken over. The problem? Job postings can be accessed from everywhere in the world, by almost everyone, so online job searching has become more competitive, and companies have turned to professional recruiters, HR outsourcing and robots to screen every resumé, cover letter and applicant. In addition — or maybe because of this competitive job application process — there is a common myth that 80 per cent of jobs are in the “hidden” job market, only accessible through networking. In other words, you have to know someone to get the job.

Are jobs really ‘hidden’?

The reality is that success in job searching is about finding a good match, and you can only match what you know and have researched well. Sending generic resumés with generic cover letters to random jobs/companies will probably provide poor results. Plus, a percentage of the jobs you can see online may have already been filled; employers may post them for longer after the candidate has been found or to fulfill a requirement. Also, a big percentage of jobs are not posted on generic job boards, but it is not true that they are totally “hidden”: you can find them in specialized publications, professional associations, recruiters and individual company’s websites. No matter how you find out about the job, one thing is true: networking does help, but, believe me, it does not account for 80 per cent of hires!

How (and why) networking works

Networking works because it is all about human connections, and people tend to help people they know more than those they don’t. Companies may also be more willing to accept applications from people known to their employees or who have been recommended, have volunteered in the past or visited them. This saves them back-

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ground checking and many headaches. Networking, to be effective for job searching, needs to be caring, honest and all about connecting with people (more than connecting with jobs). What does this look like in practice? • You have to network all the time! The way you behave and dress, the places you go and who you decide to talk to (and how you talk to them and about what) all count. Being new to the country, you never know who that person is who is in front of you in the bank line, so be kind, open and professional all the time. • Listen! People like other people who listen to what they have to say. • Find commonalities. We share many things, no matter what culture we come from or what language we speak, so if we pay attention to what others care about, we will find common ground at a professional or personal level. Not all networking is “professional” and we can learn from everybody. You may even end up with a new friend! • Pay it forward. Consider what you can do for this person you just met. What do they need or want? Doing things for others feels great and always comes back to you in different ways. • Put yourself out there. You won’t find networking opportunities unless you get out there. Join conferences, professional events, local meetings, professional development courses, clubs, etc. You can also try volunteering and joining local community efforts not necessarily related to employment. • Force yourself out of your comfort zone; people won’t come to meet you. You need to go where people are. And you need to be the first one shaking hands, saying “hi” and starting the conversation. This is valid both for in-person and online networking. • Be prepared — always carry a business card and a notepad. Use the business card when appropriate — while attending courses, professional events, conferences, etc. — and the notepad to keep track of those you meet. • Take the initiative and be proactive: invite people for a coffee; mentor somebody who may know less than you do; offer your help to your professional association, school or community centre. Knock on your neighbours’ doors and introduce yourself with a card and a small gift. Invite your children’s friends over, meet with their parents. Become involved in things that involve your neighbourhood. Join or start a community garden, a book club or a potluck party. • Learn online networking netiquette: visit professional blogs, forums and groups. Read their FAQs (frequently asked questions) before you intervene. Always use professional and respectful language, and watch your grammar and spelling before you post. • Make a plan for follow up; don’t just wait for people to reconnect with you. Send a thank-you email or ask them to connect through LinkedIn. Send them interesting articles or news (connected to things they care about or need, but don’t overwhelm them). Argentine-born Silvia Di Blasio studied and worked in Venezuela for many years. She currently works as a certified career development practitioner in Surrey, B.C. She emphasizes sustainability through her life motto: “make a living while making a difference.” facebook/canimmigrant

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upfront

Education winners Immigrant bursary recipients at Ashton College announced

he recipients of this year’s Canadian Immigrant magazine-sponsored full-time tuition bursaries at Ashton College have been announced. Anthony Margery Cantil, Sofia Domenica Lombos, Dayakshi Iyer and Giovanni Mata are the four winners of the Lilian To Bursaries for Immigrants at the Vancouver-based college. Lombos just arrived in Canada this past June from the Philippines and is already proving to be a go-getter, applying for the bursary right after her arrival. “I started to pave my future life in Canada — my new home country. I immediately attended workshops offered by immigrant-serving organizations about writing resumés and cover letters, workplace culture, labour market, etc. I also wanted to upgrade my skills and knowledge in order to better anchor my career in international relations. My research led me to Ashton College and the Lilian To Bursary.” Lombos, who is based in Richmond, B.C., will be studying international trade management at Ashton College. Cantil will also be studying international trade management. A registered nurse and former loans officer in the Philippines, Cantil says, “After arriving here in Canada, it was a honeymoon stage being new to a developed country where almost everything seemed a paradise. A few months later, I then realized that acquiring an education in Canada is very vital to have a better future.” Giovanni Mata, who has been in Canada since 2012, was a practising lawyer in his home country of Philippines. “I knew from the outset that I would have to go through a long and tedious process to qualify and practise my profession here as a lawyer.” He started the process with a short-term goal of becoming an im-

Dayakshi Iyer is one of the four winners of this year’s Lilian To Bursaries for Immigrants at Ashton College.

migration consultant and studied at Ashton College and obtained his licence from the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) as an immigration consultant. While he is still writing his exams toward his law certification in Canada, he now wants to pursue training in international trade at Ashton College. The only Ontario-based winner, Dayakshi Iyer will be pursuing studies in human resources management at Ashton College. Originally from India, Iyer lived in New Zealand before coming to Canada. She has already graduated from the international development studies program at York University and works part-time with the City of Toronto as a co-ordinator of an after-school youth leadership program. “By furthering my education with the human resources program at Ashton College, I believe I would cultivate a superior edge in the employment market.” Ashton College, in partnership with Canadian Immigrant magazine, has been offering this bursary program for newcomers since 2005.

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SETTLEMENT | Imm i g r at i o n L aw |

Lost in transmission

Immigration matters could be tricky

Reach an Expert

Communicating by email with Citizenship and Immigration Canada

eople wishing to immigrate to Canada have traditionally had to submit paper-based applications, and communicate with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by regular mail. CIC, however, is modernizing its processes. An increasing number of applications can now be uploaded to CIC’s online portal, and visa offices regularly communicate with applicants by email. Indeed, visa officers frequently send important emails to applicants that contain requirements for the applicants to provide specific documentation within strict deadlines. Unsurprisingly, many emails from CIC to applicants appear to go missing, and both CIC and the Federal Court have had to determine what procedures are fair when applicants miss deadlines contained in emails that they allege they never received.

You get to decide how to communicate

You, the applicant, has the ultimate choice of when to communicate by email with CIC. CIC will initiate email communication with you if you submit a completed application form, which includes an email address, if you provide a signed Use of Representative form that includes an email address, or if you initiate email communication with CIC. At any point, however, you may request that CIC communicate only with you by regular mail.

Missed emails

If you miss a deadline and claim that you never received CIC’s email, then you or your representative is responsible for emails that CIC can prove were sent even if they were not received. When a communication is correctly sent by a visa officer to an address (including email) that has been provided by an applicant, and where there has been no indication that the communication may have failed (for example, if CIC receives a “message failed” bounce-back email), then the risk of non-delivery rests with the applicant. In other words, if the visa officer can prove that the email was sent to the correct address, then it does not matter if the email was sent to spam, junk or mysteriously vanished in your server. You are

responsible for the missed deadline.

Risk mitigation tactics

Generally speaking, email communication with CIC is preferable to regular mail as it is faster. However, as the risk of non-receipt lies with you, you should have systems in place to ensure that emails do not go astray. There are various steps that you should take to try to prevent the loss of emails from CIC. First, carefully review your junk mail filters and any possible spam filters or firewalls that may contain emails from CIC. Once one email from CIC has been received, it is important if possible to mark CIC as being amatters preferred sender so that Immigration could be tricky future emails do not wind up in spam or junk folders. It is also important to constantly update CIC with any changes in contact information. For example, if you change your email address, then tell CIC immediately.

Immigration matters couldmatters be tricky Immigration

Reach an Expertan Reach Reach an Expert

A note on reconsideration requests

It is inevitable that an individual can take extensive precautions, yet emails from CIC will still go missing. CIC is generally very flexible about sending follow-up reminders, however, this does vary from officer to officer. Hence, applicants whose applications are refused because of a deadline Certified contained in an email Canadian Immigration Consultants that they and Members of CSIC, CMI, CapIC never received should immediately contact CIC, provide the required Graduates of the UBC Immigration documentation and ask for reconsideration. practitioner Certificate program Member CSIC Indeed, the Federal Court has stated that in such circumstances it would be highly unfair and unjust for CIC to simply close a file, require that an individual pay another processing fee, and suffer unnecessary delays simply because of a missed Federal Skilled Worker email.

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ov. 13, 2014, is World Kindness Day, so what better excuse than now to introduce your children to the concept of kindness and ways to incorporate acts of kindness into our daily lives.

Why be kind?

The kindness project

The best and most powerful way to instill kindness in our family is to be a great role model to our children. In other words, children are more likely to be kind, compassionate and loving, if they are shown great examples, and are surrounded with people who express love and kindness on a regular basis. Help children find ways to be kind, considerate and contribute to the welfare of others. Give them age-appropriate examples of how to be friendly and loving; for younger kids, talk about sharing their toy or helping a friend. Challenge older children to brainstorm new ways to share their kindness with the world. Acknowledge and appreciate when you see your children do something nice for others. Alternatively, start writing in a gratitude journal on a daily basis, focusing on writing down three to five acts of kindness that we are grateful for, whether through personal experience or witnessing other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s act of kindness. By documenting and celebrating the kindness that we notice, we will become mindful and conscientiously make the effort to be a kinder person. Imagine a world where everyone is a little kinder to each other. No matter how small or big the acts of kindness, they can have a great impact in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life and make the world a better place. Start your kindness project with your family today and see the magic of kindness change your lives for the better!

Teach your children the power of being nice in our lives

Research has shown that people who practise kindness are more likely to be happier and healthier. They are optimistic, and have a greater sense of self-worth and fulfillment in their lives. Moreover, they have better connections and relationships with others, and have greater satisfaction in life. Kindness is contagious and has the power to multiply; that is, acts of kindness stem from positive feelings that impact the giver, the recipient and even the observer of the acts. These feelings often inspire others to turn around and pay it forward by performing more nice acts.

Easy to be nice

Make kindness a project

An act of kindness does not have to be expensive or complicated. It can be in the form of giving of ourselves, our time or resources. It can be as simple as smiling, saying hello, giving someone a compliment, showing gratitude and appreciation to others, volunteering at a local charity or donating food to the less fortunate. There are endless possibilities in terms of what can done to show kindness, starting with being mindful and inspired to show kindness in all areas of our everyday lives. Some possible ideas to start with include being kind to ourselves, our loved ones, our community and our mother earth.

Cheryl Song, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 10 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience of working in childhood education and family programs.

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ewcomer tips from our RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2014!

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Dream big, be ambitious and be consistent and strategic in your approach to achieving your goals. Also, it’s very important to give back to your community.

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“ ”

If you always wait for perfect conditions, you will never do anything. You are never too young or too old to do something greater than you think you can. Brazilian-born Hemeterio Rufino Cardoso Neto illustrates his impressions of being a newcomer in Canada! Email hemeterio@gmail.com.

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