July 2015 - Canadian Immigrant

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CONTENTS REGULARS 4 | OUR TAKE/YOUR TAKE 6 | FUSION

›› PROFILE: Education advocate Sabra Desai ›› NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS ›› CANSPEAK: English sayings explained

27 | CAREER, EDUCATION & SETTLEMENT FAIR

9 | PRESENTING THE WINNERS FOR 2015

28 | IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT GUIDE

Two celebrity chefs, an inspired novelist, a renowned medical researcher, a real estate mogul, several immigrant champions and many more are on this year’s list

›› Toronto fair a success!

32 | SETTLEMENT

›› IMMIGRATION LAW: Why your application was refused ›› PARENTING: Power of words

Are you an IMMIGRANT looking for work?

36 | DRIVING

Our Skills Connect for Immigrants Program:

›› Summer maintenance 101

• connects your skills with B.C. Employers in all job sectors

38 | BACK PAGE

›› TOP TIPS: Advice from our Top 25 of 2015 ›› HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO

29 |

• provides mentorship opportunities and one-on-one coaching • helps you plan your career,access job leads,upgrade your skills and earn Canadian credentials

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›› The social workplace ›› CAREER COACH: 10 ways to stand out at work

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our take VOLUME 12, ISSUE 7 JULY 2015 Group Publishers Gautam Datt Sharma Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com Senior Editor Baisakhi Roy broy@metroland.com Creative Director & Editorial Design Safi Nomani snomani@metroland.com 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

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Introducing the RBC Top 25 of 2015!

It’s never easy to keep the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winners a secret between the end of our online voting stage and the official announcement of who won, but we need time to write articles, take photographs and prepare for the awards ceremonies in Toronto and Vancouver.

I am pleased to no longer have to keep silent — this issue is all about the 25 amazing winners!

After hundreds of nominations, a two-pronged judging process, a shortlist of 75 finalists and more than 45,000 online votes, these phenomenal Canadians have been selected as this year’s Top 25, for their achievements in and contributions to Canada.

Canada is called a “nation of immigrants,” and each one of them has an important story to share

about their journey to Canada and the contributions they have made to make this country a better place.

They all have seen their share of ups and downs since immigrating, but they have persisted, worked hard and inspired others — all the reasons they are now receiving this honour. Two of the Top 25 were also chosen for special recognitions from sponsor RBC and associate sponsor Chevrolet.

I hope you enjoy reading the stories (starting on page 9) of this diverse and inspirational group.

Margaret Jetelina Editor, Canadian Immigrant

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your take Canada takes a step back on immigration policy

plications to more than $500 for an adult (a markup of 430 per cent since 2013) and made the citizenship test more difficult to pass. For the first time, Ottawa is now able to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens if they are deemed to have committed certain crimes against the state. The government’s choice of revoking citizenship as opposed to using the existing criminal justice system is an indication of its tendency to view immigrants as something other than Canadians, even when that’s what they are.

The consequence of Ottawa’s restrictive policies is that fewer immigrants are becoming Canadian citizens. An estimated 26 per cent of immigrants who landed in Canada in 2008 became Canadian citizens.

This figure compares to 79 per cent who landed in 2000. Is that a problem? It is when these non-citizens are paying taxes, sending their children to school and are committed to Canada, in big ways and small.

Although Canada has traditionally scored highly

For decades, Canada has been considered an international leader in integrating newcomers. But new data shows this long-established wisdom may no longer hold true. The new data from the Migrant Integration Policy Index, or MIPEX, reveal that Canada’s performance has declined. Yes, our score dropped by only one point, but this is Canada’s first dip since it was added to the index in 2008.

The one-point drop marks a turning point in our trajectory as a leader among countries that welcome newcomers. And it is likely only the start. It comes at the end of a decade of seismic change in Canadian immigration, the results of which we are only beginning to see.

Over the last year, the Ryerson Centre for Immigration and Settlement and the Global Diversity Exchange contributed to the index by collecting information on newcomer integration along a range of social and political dimensions. We found that, especially on the issues of family reunification and access to citizenship, Canada is moving backwards.

Becoming a Canadian is harder We offer FREE employment now than it was just a few years ago. The MIPEX scores indicate services for immigrant a steady decline in “access to najob seekers of all ages tionality” from 71 points (out of a maximum of 100) in 2010 to 67 Visit our employment services centres: points in 2015. On the question of whether Canadian citizenship and VANCOUVER WESTSIDE NORTH SHORE VANCOUVER SOUTH status is “secure from state arbi300-2150 West Broadway 207 - 123 East 15th Street 8153 Main Street trariness,” Canada scores a meagre Tel 604.688.4666 Tel 604.988.2931 Tel 604.324.7733 23 points, well below Australia, New Zealand, the United States or the European average.

This poor performance reflects recent policy changes. Ottawa has The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia. raised the fee for citizenship ap-

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UPFRONT on family reunification, its scores are declining there, too. Of particular concern, the score measuring eligibility for sponsoring family members dropped from 79 in 2010 to 64 in 2015.

It is now more difficult for immigrants to sponsor their loved ones. In 2013, Canada admitted almost 80,000 newcomers, or 27 per cent of all immigrants to Canada, under the family stream. These immigrants are crucial to a successful settlement and integration experience because they provide social supports ranging from supplementary income to daycare and emotional assistance.

Ottawa has made numerous recent changes to family reunification policies. These measures include raising the sponsorship commitment from 10 to 20 years, increasing the income requirement for sponsoring parents and grandparents by 30 per cent, and instituting a longer period during which a sponsor must meet this requirement.

The younger generation, too, will find joining their families in Canada more difficult. The federal government reduced the age of dependants from 22 to 19, and exceptions for full-time students or financially dependent children are no longer made.

Ottawa has failed in our eyes to provide a convincing justification for these changes. Many dependants and elderly family members seem to be excluded not because they would be eligible for social benefits, but simply because they are from low-income families.

Canada has a story of exceptionalism to tell and it is widely regarded by others as model in how it manages immigration and succeeds in integrating immigrants … The new data signals a shift and encourages us to reflect on the most alarming trends and redirect where necessary.

But there is good mixed in with the bad. Canada still leads in labour market integration, anti-discrimination and creating a sense of belonging for newcomers. The one-point drop is smoke and not fire.

Harald Bauder, academic director of the Ryerson Centre for Immigration and Settlement, Toronto Ratna Omidvar, executive director of the Global Diversity Exchange, Toronto WANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS? EMAIL MJETELINA@METROLAND.COM.

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UPFRONT

As a youth in South Africa, Sabra Desai was told she wouldn’t be able to go to university. She not only did once she came to Canada, but has become an educator herself.

W

hen she first arrived in Canada, Sabra Desai was told she was aiming too high with her goal of going to post-secondary. It wasn’t the first time she was told no — that happened when growing up in South Africa, too, when she was told she could not attend university due to the high costs involved. She not only proved them wrong and attended postsecondary, she has since spent

more than 25 years working in the education and social work sectors, in particular advocating for women and girls.

Winner of a 2015 YWCA Women of Distinction award in the education category, Desai was part of the team that laid the foundation for the Humber College Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Diversity, the Humber Aboriginal Resource Centre and she co-developed the first anti-

fusion news. people. events.

PROFILE

SABRA DESAI

Advocate for education

By Paulomi Patel

oppression social work course for Ryerson University.

Previously, her work to raise awareness about violence against women led to the establishment of the first women’s abuse shelter, Interim Place, in the Peel region.

She also helped set up the South Asian Women’s Centre in Toronto and today volunteers with South African Women for Women (SAWW), which raises funds for scholarships for South African women.

“Activism is the rent I pay to live on this planet,” says Desai, quoting American author Alice Walker. Here, she speaks with Canadian Immigrant about her experiences as an early immigrant and her belief in the importance of education.

What were some challenges you faced when you first came to Canada?

In addition to being new to Canada, arriving here was my first experience in a non-segregated environment. I had come from South Africa where everything was divided — our schools, parks, medical services, jobs we pursued. Being in Canada, where no such divide existed, was somewhat overwhelming initially.

At the same time, there were no newcomer-friendly settlement services. I had no networks and there was no one to help navigate the terrains of a new country, especially in the field of education.

And you decided to study social work … how did you find your way into that field?

When I arrived in Canada, I started working, but after a few years of work, I decided to get back to school. At the time, I met a guidance counsellor who told me that I was aiming too high!

I vividly remember the incident — having survived apartheid in

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South Africa I’d come to Canada with visions of a better life and was shocked to be told this. That was when I knew I’d be involved in some type of social work to advocate for levelling the playing field and facilitate empowerment of vulnerable people regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, class or disability.

My mother taught me about how simply complaining about the way things are does no good, so I learned the importance of working with like-minded people to take action to make a difference.

And you then become an educator yourself?

I came to realize that if one wants to effect meaningful change, then education was one of the best vehicles for that. Education has the potential to be a true equalizer if structures are in place to help level the playing field. I worked with the Etobicoke Board of Education and partnered with teachers to address learning needs of people coming from different cultural backgrounds. I also held teaching positions at Ryerson and York Universities before coming to Humber.

Tell us more about how education can be an equalizer.

It facilitates and sustains integration.

Education offers access to meaningful opportunities that allow individuals to carve out a life for themselves and renders them less dependent on others. It reduces the overall human cost on society. Having an education means a better quality of life — this reduces dependence on social assistance and health benefits.

Also, as the saying goes, when you educate a woman, you educate a family. And that’s how you serve and uplift the community.

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FUSION

CANSPEAK

Canada >> Six new companies have launched in Canada as a result of Canada’s start-up visa program. The new permanent residents include Nick Back, who is originally from the United Kingdom and has launched Physicool Canada with Canadian business partner Dr. Joe Chiodo, as well as Shankar Raventhiran, Anand Suriyanarayana Raja and Jaishankar Rajagopal, all originally from India, who are launching Green Anthem Foods. Since the launch of the program, 16 principal applicants have been approved for permanent residency, helping launch and grow eight companies in total.

B.C. >> Latincouver is proud to present the seventh annual Carnaval Del Sol 2015, the biggest Latin American celebration in the Pacific Northwest, July 11-12, at Concord Pacific Place (88 Pacific Ave.) in Vancouver. More than 300 artists will perform at the Main Stage, including Latin Grammy winner Alex Cuba, Ecuadorian rapper Gerardo Mejia, the popular Cuban band Gerardo Cantino y Los Habaneros, and more entertainment from all over Latin America.

Alberta >> Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP government is short on ethnic diversity, say critics. While Premier Notley has been boasting about 50-50 gender equality of her elected members, there are only seven visible minorities out of 53 NDP MLAs, and only one in the cabinet: Pakistani-born Irfan Sabir is minister for human services.

Two heads are better than one Two people can usually brainstorm an idea or come up with solutions to a problem more easily than one person alone.

Great minds think alike You might say this in jest, when you and someone you admire have the same opinion, implying that you both have “great minds.”

A man is known by the company he keeps A person is often judged by the people he or she chooses to spend time with.

A Life of SucceSS…in one YeAr or LeSS

Since 1979

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Canadian Immigrant

is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 ‌

A

fter an extensive process of nominations, two rounds of judging and public voting, the seventh annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards program honours two celebrity chefs, a brilliant scientist, a real estate mogul, a celebrated author, several very determined entrepreneurs, plus a few diversity and immigrant champions.

There’s also a city councillor, a digital visionary, a winery owner and more. Again, the list of this year’s winners is diverse and eclectic, with people from across ethnicities, industries and provinces! There are winners who have been in Canada for 40 years, some for four.

Associate sponsor Chevrolet once again has singled out one of the Top 25 for the second annual Chevrolet Ingenuity Award.

This year, presenting sponsor RBC also launched its inaugural RBC Entrepreneur Award, picking a winner from among the Top 25. Find out who received these two special distinctions in the coming pages, along with all the winners of our annual awards.

Profiles by Lisa Evans, Margaret Jetelina, Priya Ramanujam and Baisakhi Roy

C A N A D I A N I M M I G R A N T. C A / R B C T O P 2 5

Tikaram Adhikari Career coach

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

Photo by Nilufer Rahman

Prior to emigrating from his native country of Bhutan, Tikaram Adhikari went on a study tour and considered settling in the U.K., U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand or Canada. His strong belief in global citizenship and respect for human dignity led him to Canada.

“This country exceeds many other comparable countries,” says Adhikari. “This attracted me the most as coming from an education background, these parameters were high for me personally.”

He also found the immigration policy to be welcoming, the education and social security systems top notch, and the strong sense of multiculturalism attractive. “I wanted to be part of the system so that I can contribute to the bigger cause in building this country further,” he explains.

And to this day, since Adhikari arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2002, that’s exactly what he’s been doing. In his daily work as a career coach and specialist at Manitoba Start, he assists newcomers — particularly skilled professionals such as engineers, physicians, nurses and accountants — with their career planning, resumé development and job search. He does everything from preparing clients with the interview questions to expect, to assisting them with acquiring the required qualification recognition or certification they need to work in their field.

In addition, he is a highly engaged member of the community at large. This includes his role as the president of the Nepali Cultural Society of Manitoba, his work assisting with the settlement of Nepalese and Bhutanese individuals and families in the city, and as the chairperson of the Punya Foundation, an organization that provides educational support to vulnerable youth, as well as empowerment of marginalized women in refugee camps in Nepal.

His work is never done. With the recent natural disaster in Nepal, Adhikari and his Punya Foundation are busy with relief efforts. “We are trying to support about 15 years [worth of] education [for] children made orphan from the deaths of parents in the earthquake.” His hope is that support for this initiative will come from both Canada and the international community to give the Nepali children a fighting chance at becoming upstanding global citizens in the future.

— Priya Ramanujam

Soheila Ansari

COQUITLAM, B.C.

Settlement specialist

For Soheila Ansari, her success as an immigrant to Canada is due in large part to her philosophy of thinking. She doesn’t deny that early on, she, like many immigrants, often wondered if she had made the right decision leaving her native country of Iran to settle in Vancouver with her husband and two children.

“In my brain I had made a collage of why I had decided to come to Canada, and every time I got disappointed or sad, I went back and looked at it,” she says. “Every time I looked at them I got my energy back and started to keep going.”

She consciously adopted a particular mentality that got her through the many obstacles she faced — respect for Canada for what it is and refusing to compare it to back home.

“In my heart, I accepted that this is a new country and I am entering it; they are the host and I am the guest — I need to follow whatever it is that is normal and acceptable in society and be flexible to the changes. I really tried every day to learn new things — as little as a name of a restaurant, as little as an abbreviation,” she says, adding, “Immigration is a process, it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Eighteen years later, Ansari now shares her integration wisdom as a settlement worker in schools (SWIS) for the Vancouver School Board, where she goes above and beyond her job description to ensure newcomer families properly adjust to life in Canada. She also volunteers time to giving educational seminars through settlement organizations and on local Iranian television, Aria TV’s Whiteboard. She couldn’t be happier with where she is and what she does.

In fact, she recently returned to Iran for a visit, and it made her appreciate her life in Canada that much more. She compares returning to Vancouver to a scene from the classic fairy tale Cinderella.

“When I entered the airport, to be honest with you, I felt like the fairy [godmother] came and waved her [wand] and I became that princess. I really love being here, and I am so blessed.”

— Priya Ramanujam

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Celebrating 25 exceptional individuals.

TM

We are proud to congratulate and celebrate the RBC® Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winners for 2015. Their stories of perseverance and courage will motivate and inspire all Canadians.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for these remarkable individuals.

Visit canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.

92036 AD_Top25_Immigrantv4.indd 1

2015-05-28 10:52 AM

Amrik Singh Aulakh Caring Canadian

SURREY, B.C.

When posing for a photograph, Amrik Singh Aulakh stands with a straight face, no hint of the warmth in his smile — until he finally cracks one. And once you get to know him a little, you see the caring in his heart underneath that outer solemnity — which is the reason for all the recognition he receives; he has been awarded the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award, and the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Awards for his commitment to volunteerism.

The Richmond School Board operations worker has dedicated thousands of hours to volunteering, primarily in the area of crime and safety under the auspices of the Surrey Crime Prevention Society. Indian-born Aulakh is also a Surrey RCMP Auxiliary Constable, an unpaid uniform volunteer that assists regular police officers in crime reduction strategies.

“No one wants to live in a troubled neighbourhood; I want my city to be a safe and better place to work and live in. ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ said Gandhi,” he says simply as the reason behind his volunteerism.

“I am helping seniors, newcomers who have issues and who need to talk to law enforcement. I feel like a great asset to the RCMP and my community. By volunteering I am giving something back to my community.”

Aulakh has volunteered more than 2,500 hours with the Surrey Crime Prevention Society, in a variety of activities, including Citizens Crime Watch Patrol, working directly with the RCMP at Counter Attack roadside checks, and traffic safety and speed watch programs.

Aulakh has also volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Blood Services and Canada Revenue Agency. “I frequently feel like what I’m doing helps people.

Whether it’s navigating a difficult system, or providing blood, or filing taxes, it’s helping my community as a whole,” he says. “When I think about how things were back home, I see the need for people to step up and help people out.”

— Margaret Jetelina

Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia Digital rainmaker

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

Photo by Christian Laforce. Republished with permission from The Chronicle Herald

It’s not easy for a woman to carve out a leadership position in a male-dominated industry, but that’s exactly what German-born Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia has accomplished. After several senior executive roles around the world in information and communications technology (ICT), med-tech and aerospace companies, Bahr-Gedalia became the president and CEO of Digital Nova Scotia (DNS) in 2013, the non-profit industry association for the province’s $2.5 billion digital sector, including spin-offs.

“I took on the role of president and CEO when the organization was at a make-or-break point,” Bahr-Gedalia says. “My aim was to not only ensure its survival, but to grow DNS and establish it as a sustainable organization. I’m proud of the growth we’ve experienced to date. It has grown its capacity with increased funding, which has led to a surge in high-level projects and programs.”

In 2015, Bahr-Gedalia was a winner of the national Women in Communications and Technology Award in the category of innovator, the Top 50 CEO Award by Atlantic Business magazine, and was also named one of the Top 40 Change-Makers in Canada

by Canadian Living magazine in January 2015.

How does Bahr-Gedalia define her leadership style? “Leadership to me means being authentic to who I am and leading in a manner that reflects both my professional and personal values of integrity and respect. It’s also about the company you keep. Great leaders surround themselves with loyal, smart and positive teams, and supportive partners and stakeholders,” she says. “I’m adventurous at heart, so to me, leadership also means taking risks when I need to and having the will to make difficult decisions. My motto is to be ‘decisively bold,’ while remaining kind, empathetic, professional and collaborative.”

Bahr-Gedalia has also led the charge in fostering diversity in Nova Scotia’s digital technologies sector; through her encouragement, 46 per cent of DNS’ new board directors are women leaders. She is often asked to speak and shares her expertise as a mentor.

“My drive to make a positive difference and have a positive impact on individuals and businesses locally, regionally and globally has influenced me as a business leader,” she says. “At the end of the day, if I’ve been able to help change the life of someone in my community for the better, then I’ve succeeded.”

— Margaret Jetelina

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Henri Boyi

Inspiring professor

LONDON, ONTARIO

Reflecting on his journey as an immigrant to Canada, Henri Boyi says he cannot pinpoint one thing that truly stood in his or his family’s way in moving forward in their new home country. And this is despite the fact that his wife and children, who arrived before he did, were the first Burundians to live in London, Ontario.

“The unconventional warm welcome that my family and I got from Canadians of diverse backgrounds when we arrived here generated a strong call for me to give back to the community and help others who are in need, particularly newcomers,” he says. “I believe the meaning of my life is worth what I am for others, for the community.”

Indeed he is worth a lot. As a professor in Western University’s department of French studies since 1995, Boyi has spent two decades inspiring people. Most notably, Boyi, who left Burundi following the genocide of the early 1990s, has combined his academic work and passion for helping others to develop a unique course that has taught his students what he calls, “the values of our shared humanity.”

It is a course that aims for students to gain a deep understanding of Rwandan culture and history, particularly events surrounding and following the 1994 genocide.

“I was extremely lucky to stay in my teaching profession, since I had been teaching at the University of Burundi for several years,” explains Boyi, who is also a member of the board of directors for the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre, and several cultural organizations, such as the Burundian Canadian Cultural Association of London.

As a result of his outstanding teaching and his dedication to community work, Boyi has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012, the Western Humanitarian Award in 2012, the Community Service Learning Award in 2011 and the highly coveted Marilyn Robinson Award for excellence in teaching in 2009.

— Priya Ramanujam

John Chang Winery dreams

RICHMOND, B.C.

Taiwanese-born John Chang may not have fluent English skills, but he’s a big believer in adopting the culture of your new country. As the founder of Lulu Island Winery in Richmond, B.C., Chang is a serious champion for Canada, specifically its wine industry. He works hard to promote Canadian wines on an international scale, particularly in China, explaining that “Okanagan grapes are really good quality.

Very few places in the world have this type of growing region.”

Chang exports 80 per cent of the wines he makes, accounting for almost 20 per cent of all Canadian wine export to China. He also produces roughly 50 per cent of B.C.’s ice wine production, of which 70 per cent is exported to China, Japan and Taiwan.

“In Taiwan, the population is 28 million, and Canada is roughly 32 million people, so I knew that when I started up a business here, we’d have to focus on export,” he says. But, when he first immigrated to Canada with his wife, Chang, who owned a computer hardware business in Taiwan, had no idea what that business would be.

His father was a farmer, and Chang decided to focus his entrepreneurial efforts in Canada on farming and winemaking. He had, in fact, first learned winemaking and fermentation techniques from his grandmother. Chang started to master his brewing skills humbly, combining those Chinese traditional wine methods he learned with modern Western technology and equipment.

He opened his winery as Blossom Winery in 2000, and renamed it Lulu Island Winery in 2007. The winery makes up 15 acres, and features a wine shop and tasting rooms.

Chang is also busy planning his new Grizzli Winery in the Okanagan Valley, set to open in spring 2016. “As an entrepreneur, you always have to plan ahead,” says Chang who has received business awards like Best Exporter of Canadian Entrepreneurs and the Best Partner of Tourism Richmond. “My ultimate goal is to own two wineries in the west and two in the east.”

— Margaret Jetelina

July 2015

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“

RBC is proud to introduce the RBC Entrepreneur Award, which recognizes the positive contribution that immigrant entrepreneurs and their businesses have made to Canada. Alice Chung is a wonderful example of this.

Congratulations, Alice!

”

Photo by Sandra Minarik

— Sarah Adams, vice-president, small business, RBC

NEUR EPRE R T N E 2015 RBC R OF E N N AWARD WI

Alice Chung

Health store powerhouse

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VANCOUVER

She might be the entrepreneurial powerhouse behind Alive Health Centre, a chain of 29 boutique health supplement and vitamin stores (some under the name of Supplements Plus in Toronto and Morning Sun in Alberta) across Canada, but you’ll find Alice Chung behind the counter at the Oakridge Mall location in Vancouver every Thursday to Saturday. “I am not a typical owner that sits at the desk,” she says.

“I feel working at the store is vital and important to know what is happening at the store level and to interact with customers and the staff.”

And although she’s past the typical age of retirement, she has no plans to retire any time soon. “I plan to work until I’m 80!”

Born in Malaysia, Chung’s immigration journey started perhaps back in elementary school when she hoped to one day move to England. When she graduated high school in 1966, she set off alone on her journey, landing in England, then briefly Ireland, before immigrating to Hamilton, Ontario. She studied psychology and social work at McMaster University, but had a difficult time finding work in the field. That was when she found a job as an administrative assistant for a health food company.

After having practically “ran the place” for her boss, she decided in 1983 to open her own store in Richmond, B.C. In 1984, she opened her second store in Oakridge.

“I was forced into [the health industry],” says Chung jokingly. “I wanted to get into social work, but no one wanted to give me a job!”

Then Chung started getting approached by different malls who wanted her to open a store in their locations. She strives to provide the best value and quality in all her products, including her own private label products, along with the best educated staff in the industry (170 staff across Canada).

Her success allows her to give back philanthropically. Chung and her husband, David, a successful real estate developer, have supported BC Children’s Hospital for many years and have committed to a five-year donation to help build the new oncology hospital for children, for example. “I think it’s good for immigrants if they are successful in the new country to give back to that community that is their home.”

— Margaret Jetelina facebook/canimmigrant

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Amanda Yeung Collucci

Photo by Sandra Minarik

Pioneering councillor

MARKHAM, ONTARIO

Going door to door in search of work in the Canadian winter is no easy feat — never mind that it was during the 1992 recession and the person pounding the pavement was a 22-year-old immigrant from Hong Kong who had never seen snow before. But that is how Amanda Yeung Collucci, now a city councillor in Markham, Ontario, remembers her first six months in Canada.

She finally landed a job as a waitress, but after one day she was fired — without explanation. “I thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ Obviously, my initial reaction was shame. I started to think maybe what if I can’t make it [here].”

Although her boss didn’t provide a reason for termination, in hindsight Collucci cites a language barrier may have been the issue. “In Hong Kong, we spoke a British style of the language; here it’s all Americanized — people call ketchup, I thought what do you mean ketchup? It’s tomato sauce.”

She has come a long way since then; she not only sits as Markham’s first-ever Chinese woman on city council, she’s also an entrepreneur who launched her own cleaning business, Clean4Me Inc., which has been voted Markham’s top home cleaning service.

She is also engaged in community and volunteer work, for example, by supporting Cleaning for a Reason — a charity that provides free cleaning services to women who are receiving treatment for cancer, a disease that took both her father and brother.

The turning point for Collucci in her immigration journey was when she was determined to get into university and was told she only had an equivalent of Grade 10 English. After many secondary schools sent her away without offering help, the principal of Markham District High School extended a helping hand. “The principal saw the quality in me and he said let me see how I can help you.” Within a year’s time, she had completed Grades 11 through 13 with honours and was on her way to York University, where she majored in economics. After university, she worked at IBM Canada for nearly 10 years, until she left to start Clean4Me. “With perseverance, determination and a never-give-up attitude, I found success in Canada.”

— Priya Ramanujam

July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

15

Ver Cruz

TORONTO

Determined educator

Bob Dhillon

Real estate dreams

Photo by Saajid Motala

Managing Vercore International Services, Inc., a training institution in Toronto, has been a passion for Philippines-born Ver Cruz for 21 years. “My wife and I were university professors back in the Philippines; teaching runs in our blood,” he says.

Once in Canada, he opened Vercore Business Academy in April 1994, partnering with four community organizations dealing with newly landed immigrants (Woodgreen Community Services, St. Stephen House, Toronto Catholic District School Board and Toronto District School Board). “Our responsibility was to assist newcomers with job training to further prepare them in their quest for a job in the real-work environment and easily compete in the employment arena. We provided skills such as business communication both in person and on the telephone, and office reception techniques among other soft skills,” he says.

Since then Vercore has expanded its scope adapting to new requirements in the Canadian economic landscape. “In the past 21 years, Vercore has gone to several product diversifications, including the addition of personal support worker training,” he says. "I conducted research on the prevailing curriculum of personal support worker training, and with the necessary amplifications to meet the changing needs of the industry, I submitted a curriculum to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Through this program, students are able to provide compassionate and considerate care to make the elderly and the sick comfortable, healthy and provide a longer life,” he says.

When Cruz has a goal, he definitely works hard to make it happen. “We had some budgetary constraints while carrying out a marketing project and I did not delegate the distribution of our advertising flyers to anybody. I did it myself. I handed out our flyers in the busy TTC Subway stations,” he says.

While Vercore’s offerings have evolved over the years, the students are still largely immigrants. “We have Spanish, Russians, Ukrainians, Ethiopians, Italians, Brazilians, Greek, Portuguese, Egyptians and Filipinos that make up our student base,” says Cruz, who is guided by his desire to help newcomers succeed. Cruz advises them to perform a thorough checklist of their skillset. “Everyone should create a rating system of their skills: high, medium and low. This information will help them to chart out their professional journey.”

— Baisakhi Roy

CALGARY, ALBERTA

Photo by Larry MacDougal/ Toronto Star

As a young new Canadian, Bob Dhillon dreamt of achieving a high level of education and becoming an entrepreneur and real estate developer. The Japanese-born immigrant of Indian heritage has achieved those dreams as the president and CEO of the successful real estate rental company Mainstreet Equity Corp., based in Calgary, Alberta. Mainstreet’s assets consist of nearly 10,000 apartment units in Western Canada, currently valued at more than $1.3 billion.

Mainstreet is also Canada’s highest performance real estate company, having achieved a 1,270 per cent total return on investment in the last 10 years.

Dhillon’s foray into real estate began at a young age. He paid his way through university by buying, renovating and selling undervalued and foreclosed homes. As an immigrant, Dhillon says he battled his own internal demons. “As immigrants, we bring a lot of baggage and sometimes the challenges are in our heads rather than from Canada itself,” he says, adding that the opportunities he’s encountered in Canada have been greater than he could have imagined.

Dhillon completed his MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 1998 and now sits on the entrepreneur advisory council for the school. He’s been the recipient of many awards including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and was recognized by Alberta Venture magazine as one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People. In 2005, he received the Sikh Businessman of the Year and was awarded the 2004 Businessman of the Year Award from the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Dhillon has used his success to give back to others. He established a Richard Ivey School of Business scholarship, donated free apartment suites to victims of the Slave Lake, Alberta, fires and donated $500,000 to the town of San Pedro, Belize. Dhillon is the honorary consul general for Belize in Canada and owns a private 3,000-acre island in the country that he is developing into a world-class tourist resort.

— Lisa Evans

16 canadianimmigrant.ca

July 2015

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Dr. Qais Ghanem

Photo by Saajid Motala

Doctor of diversity

OTTAWA

As a doctor renowned in sleep medicine — having served as the director of sleep medicine at the Ottawa Hospital Group, director of the sleep and neurophysiology laboratory at the National Defence Medical Centre, and director of sleep medicine at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa — Yemen-born Dr. Qais Ghanem built up a reputable career since coming to Canada in 1970 and relicensing as a doctor in Ontario. But he is perhaps just as well known for his culture-based volunteer work as his medical work, especially now that he’s retired. “I am an ardent believer in respect for diversity,” says Ghanem, who urges full integration in Canadian society for immigrants, without sacrifice of language, religious convictions or good universal values.

In 2006, Ghanem began hosting a weekly radio show on CHIN Radio called Dialogue with Diversity, which profiles the lives of new Canadians. He has interviewed Canadians from 100 different origins — from Australia to Austria, Brazil to Burundi and Chile to China as well as various religious groups. “The idea was that an enemy is someone whose story you have not heard before, but once you hear his story, he can no longer be your enemy,” says Ghanem, who also writes novels and poetry.

In the same vein, Ghanem co-founded Potlucks for Peace, an Ottawa-based dialogue group between Canadian Arabs and Jews, plus a mixed couples social group, where 60 couples of different races and religions and their children get together over dinner to celebrate multiculturalism. “It was great fun to hear how spouses overcome cultural differences,” says Ghanem.

Ghanem is also a regular organizer and moderator of a monthly discussion group called Dialogue for Democracy, where individuals are encouraged to gather and discuss issues that impact the lives of all Canadians.

Ghanem has received several awards for his volunteer work including the Martin Luther King Citation for 2015 and the Order of Ottawa, although he doesn’t measure his success by the number of awards he’s received. “You need to be sincere and credible and do things not because they are going to benefit you personally,” he says. “Contribute, like a responsible and productive member of society. That’s why I coined the acronym I live by — SCSC, which stands for Stop Complaining, Start Contributing!”

— Lisa Evans

Sherif Guorgui

TORONTO

Pharmacist leader

Pharmacist Sherif Guorgui moved to Canada from Egypt with his family in search of a better future and equal opportunities. Driven to succeed, a third-generation pharmacist Guorgui would stop at nothing to ensure his success in his new country. “In addition to personal drive, discipline and vision, I was cognizant of the value of proper and effective integration into the Canadian society and sought various resources to facilitate this transition,” he says.

First off, Guorgui participated in the Leaders for Change program, offered by the Maytree Foundation, to help build the capacity of immigrants as potential leaders, and the University of Toronto’s International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) program, designed to integrate internationally trained pharmacists into the pharmacy profession in Canada.

Once able to practise his profession here, Guorgui started out as an entrepreneur, owning and operating his own independent pharmacy before becoming a franchise owner with Shoppers Drug Mart. His skills, talent and impact were immediately noticed, and Guorgui moved into senior corporate leadership roles at Shoppers Drug Mart and then Rexall/PharmaPlus before joining the Ontario Pharmacists Association as its vice-president of pharmacy, where he oversees pharmacy business support services, practice resources, continuing education and professional development.

Guorgui has also shown his dedication to the pharmacy profession by actively serving on the Council of the Ontario College of Pharmacists, the regulatory body of pharmacy practice in Ontario. He served a term as president of the college — the first IPG program graduate to achieve this honour. “I enjoy public service and giving back to the community and profession,” he says. “I served as a council member of the Ontario College of Pharmacists, as well as on various college committees. I’m currently an advisory board member for the Humber College pharmacy technician program, as well as a mentor for the career centre informational interview program at the University of Toronto, in addition to serving on other various taskforces and working groups."

Guorgui adds: “Once you’ve achieved success, it is important (and also fulfilling) to give back to your community, to be involved in public service, and to invest your personal time to inspire, mentor and help others succeed.”

— Lisa Evans July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

17

Enterprising businessman

TORONTO

Photo by Saajid Motala

John Iwaniura came to Canada via Germany to escape communist Poland two decades ago. “Those were tough times. I landed in Toronto with my wife, Hanna, and two kids in 1988; my daughter, Ola, was five years old, and son Denis was just 18 months old,” he recalls.

Iwaniura, who is of Ukrainian heritage, got his start in Canada driving a delivery truck for local Toronto business Future Bakery. Less than 10 years later, in 1997, he co-founded his own trucking business, Caravan Logistics, an Oakville, Ontariobased carrier. Since its start, the company has expanded to become a $60-milliona-year business, and sits as one of the top 50 carrier companies in Canada.

“We have 370 trucks and 1,150 trailers on the road and divisions in Vaudreuil, Quebec, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Regina, Saskatchewan and Calgary, Alberta,” he says.

The turning point in his business that made all the difference was his hands-on approach to the company. “I took a more active role in handling my business — not only dealing with customers directly, but also looking into all aspects of it — be it hiring, accounting, legal, etc.,” he says.

Despite his professional success, Iwaniura hasn’t forgotten his roots as part of the Ukrainian minority in Poland. Active philanthropically and supporting several Ukrainian community organizations and events, the self-made businessman volunteers his time to the Canadian Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (in the role of first vice-president) and sits on the board of the advisory committee for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Along with raising cultural awareness within the Ukrainian community across Canada, Iwaniura uses his entrepreneurial acumen to facilitate financial opportunities in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

For immigrants like him, he has a simple never-say-die mantra. “Have vision and self-confidence, work hard with determination — never give up,” he says.

— Baisakhi Roy

Susur Lee

TORONTO

Celebrity chef

Photo by Jason Finestone

You may recognize him as the judge with the long ponytail on Chopped Canada or one of the past contenders on Food Network’s Iron Chef America, but chef Susur Lee is more than a television personality; his celebrity has been built on years of hard work in the restaurant industry first in Hong Kong and now Canada.

In Toronto, Lee, praised as one of the “Ten Chefs of the Millennium” by Food & Wine magazine, now owns and operates four restaurants in Toronto — Lee, Bent, Luckee and Lee Kitchen at Pearson Airport Terminal 1. He has another restaurant in Singapore called TungLok Heen. “In addition to these, I am working on some new concepts with my two eldest sons who now work with me in the business,” says Lee, whose creative approach to food balances the epicurean traditions of China with the classical techniques of French cuisine.

But it took time before Lee developed his own original culinary aesthetic.

“I think a pivotal moment for me was when I met by second wife, Brenda. I would say I was a very good cook and I had been a great hardworking student, but I had never been really encouraged to be creative. My now wife was a design student and everything she did was creative. That was such an eye-opening experience for me,” he says.

But Lee’s early days in Canada are marked by deep personal tragedy when his first wife, Mary-Lou Covey, whom he met in Hong Kong before following her to Canada, died. “When we finally landed in Canada, I worked two to three jobs, six days a week, 12 hours a day. After she completed her master’s, we decided to move back to Hong Kong. But, on Sept. 1, 1983, my wife boarded a plane from New York City to Seoul Korea. That plane was shot down by the Soviet Union claiming they mistook it for a spy plane. There were no survivors. I was devastated, but I stayed in Canada and kept working,” he recounts.

Lee went from strength to strength, becoming one of the highest profile chefs in the business. “It’s a very tough business,” says Lee, who gives back by lending support to charities like the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, among others. “But it’s been good to me and my hard work has paid off.”

— Baisakhi Roy and Margaret Jetelina

18 canadianimmigrant.ca

July 2015

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Photo by Saajid Motala

John Iwaniura

TORONTO

Dr. Tak Wah Mak Renowned researcher

Photo by Saajid Motala

Born in southern China and raised in Hong Kong, Dr. Tak Wah Mak is a world-renowned Canadian scientist who has had a major impact on cancer research and public health around the world. Canada was lucky that the doctor took a detour here from the United States. “I received most of my higher education in the U.S., but decided to come to Canada for further training [at the University of Alberta and Ontario Cancer Institute]. I found that, at that time, Canada provided a very stimulating environment for medical research,” says Mak. And, in 1984, Mak solved one of the toughest problems in immunology — the structure of the T-cell receptor genes — and changed the world of science and research in the process.

His paper has been cited nearly 1,200 times in other scientific studies, making him the third most cited scientist in the world.

In the 1990s, Mak became a professor at the University of Toronto, and later a director of the Amgen Research Institute in Toronto, where he led a team that produced 20 patented molecular discoveries for use in drug development. His lab produced numerous important studies, which have been cited a record 40,000+ times.

The next two decades saw Mak blaze a trail in the understanding of the molecular biology of the immune system and cancer at the cellular level. “My decision to stay in Canada motivated me to assemble a group of outstanding doctors and researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to make concrete advances in the fight against cancer,” he says.

As a senior scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and director of the Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, since 2004, Mak has earned international recognition and has even been named to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Mak is a classic example of a brilliant international student who has made his adopted country better by calling it home. He encourages other immigrant scientists and researchers to strive for success. “Our expertise and cultural backgrounds may differ greatly, but we are united by one common goal — to build better lives for our children and make positive contributions to Canada,” he says.

— Baisakhi Roy

Dr. Rosemary Moodie

TORONTO

Photo by Saajid Motala

A doctor’s calling

Jamaican-born physician Dr. Rosemary Moodie graduated from the University of the West Indies before completing postgraduate training in paediatric and neonatal/perinatal medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children (HSC) in Toronto. “I married a Canadian and stayed!” she says. “I chose medicine as a career because I wanted a profession that works directly with people. And I chose children because of their vulnerability and the satisfaction it gave me to help them.”

Moodie’s vibrant community paediatric practice serves the neighbourhoods of Rexdale– Etobicoke and the Jane/Finch corridor — home to a large immigrant community — and both designated priority neighbourhoods with high poverty, social housing and school dropout rates. “During medical training I realized that women and children face significant barriers to good health and wellbeing,” she says. “I have advocated improving health equity and expanding quality health care access for women and children.”

A fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and American Academy of Paediatrics, Moodie is involved in research, focusing on the social determinants of breastfeeding practice, and she has written extensively on regional health services and physician human resource planning.

Beyond her practice and research, Moodie serves on numerous national and international volunteer boards, pointing out that her work at the board level made her realize she could have a broader impact in “making the changes that I wanted to see.”

For instance, she recently completed a three-year term as president and board chair of YWCA, the highlight being the development and opening of the YWCA Elm Centre, Canada’s largest affordable housing project for single low-income women, women living with mental health and addiction issues, and families of aboriginal ancestry — also benefiting many immigrants.

In addition, Moodie, who has won many awards for her work and community building, including the Harry Jerome Award in Health Sciences and the American Academy of Paediatrics Continuing Medical Education Award, is a member of the International Women’s Forum and was a 2012 NGO delegate for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She says, “Don’t underestimate the power of commitment and perseverance; it can change your life, your community and your world.”

— Baisakhi Roy July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

19

Shasha Navazesh Artisan baker

TORONTO

Shasha Navazesh discovered his knack for bread making after combining his background in microbiology studies to perfect his baking skills at Toronto’s George Brown College while taking its culinary management diploma. But his love for baking originated in his kitchen back in Iran, where his mother and grandmother made bread regularly from natural ingredients.

After graduating in 1991 from George Brown, where he would later become an advisor, he worked almost every job in the restaurant industry, from pastry chef to chef consultant. He then decided to devote his efforts to something he was truly passionate about — opening an artisan bakery, which he did in 1998.

“I realized that I need to be fully invested in my business. I am involved in every aspect of our company, from research and development, online and social media, to recipe creation and baking in the kitchen. I am tuned in completely,” he says.

The Iranian-born baker actively helps newcomers find their footing in Canada through his business, too. “We employ individuals with an array of cultural backgrounds. A lot of our employees are immigrants to Canada, and ShaSha Co. serves as their first Canadian job. Some of these employees have been working here for more than 10 years,” he says.

ShaSha Co. is the only bakery in Canada to receive a grant from the National Council of Canada. The Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is a federally sponsored initiative filtered through the University of Guelph that provides the means for dedicated researchers to advance Canadian products. With this assistance, Navazesh has determined the environmental factors to optimize sourdough bacteria and fungus to replace commercial yeast, boosting lactic acid levels and contributing to greater health, energy and vitality.

“We take pride in our ability to be innovative and socially apt. We always try to be forward thinking, projecting market trends and producing on-trend products, staying true to our foundation,” he says. He urges newcomers to give it all they’ve got. “Be dedicated to your business and be passionate about its success,” he sums up.

— Baisakhi Roy

Dr. Dhun Noria Health care leader

SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO

Dr. Dhun Noria arrived in Canada from India with only $8 in her pocket, as the then Indian government allowed only $8 in foreign exchange. She has come a long way since then; today, she is the Scarborough Hospital’s chief of laboratory medicine and medical director of laboratories.

Noria has built a career on an unwavering commitment to excellence in health care, and her work has had a significant impact on Ontario’s health care system. Noria was a member of the core planning team for the amalgamation of Scarborough General and Grace Hospitals in 1999. She also founded and chaired the Shared Hospital Laboratory — a joint venture with Scarborough Hospital, North York General Hospital and Toronto East General Hospital.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, Noria says it’s dogged determination that helps her to achieve her goals. “Whether it is a career, business opportunity or any milestone that I want to achieve, I go for it with information, passion and enthusiasm,” she says.

Her passion for community health is Noria’s way of giving back to her new country. “Being Canadian is God’s gift,” she says, clearly proud to be part of — and contribute to — her new country. Noria is also currently the chair of the quality committee of the board for the University Health Network and serves on the Toronto Police Services board and was the chair of the Metro Toronto District Health Council.

Noria’s enthusiasm has been recognized nationally and internationally.

She has earned many awards for her commitment to the health care field in Canada including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scarborough Hospital Foundation in 2014, the Ontario Medical Association Presidential Award for Outstanding Services by a Physician to the Community, as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012. She was inducted to the Scarborough Walk of Fame in 2011 and was named a Local Toronto Hero by the Canadian Multicultural Council. In 2015, Noria was appointed to the Order of Ontario — the province's highest honour.

— Lisa Evans

20 canadianimmigrant.ca

July 2015

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Umashanie Reddy Empowering immigrants

CALGARY, ALBERTA

Photo by Mansoor Ladha

Her journey as an immigrant has been more of a challenge than her battle with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to Umashanie Reddy. Nonetheless, neither obstacle has slowed Reddy down in the pursuit of her ultimate goal: helping others.

“I am a humanitarian at heart; my passion, my resilience and my determination to help people is basically what I’m here to do,” says Reddy, executive director of the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (CBFY), an immigrant-serving agency that assists newcomer youth and their families settle into Canada.

Having left a successful career in South Africa, Reddy and her husband arrived in Canada in 2005 seeking a better life for their daughter. Reddy, who worked as a faculty librarian at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa was met with a series of obstacles in landing a job in her field in Canada. She didn’t give up, and, after earning a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2008, she landed a position as diversity services manager at the Calgary Public Library.

“Often as immigrants when we move here, we tend to be told, ‘You don’t have Canadian experience,’ ‘You don’t have the qualifications,’ and we tend to lose our confidence a little bit,” she explains. “But I didn’t do that. I definitely asserted myself, I definitely said I have the knowledge, I have the experience, I have the skills and now I believe that I can make an impact and I can contribute to the socio-economic wellbeing of Canada.”

Confidence, resilience and passion — these three traits, she says, have been essential in achieving success as an immigrant in Canada.

“I think if you go out, you assert yourself — that passion just resonates. People see it in you. I go out and I speak to a whole lot of people and they see the passion through me,” she says. “I think, just seeing how my eyes light up when I talk about helping people, people want to come on board and help without asking them to help.”

— Priya Ramanujam

Maria Nieves Santos-Greaves Sound of success

SURREY, B.C.

Photo by Sandra Minarik

Maria Nieves Santos-Greaves, president of Surrey Hearing Care Inc., has opened three successful hearing aid clinics since 2009, employing 10 staff, and has plans for more in the Metro Vancouver area in the near future. But there’s a humanity to her entrepreneurial style that makes her much more than just an apt businesswoman. “I am very passionate about my calling in hearing,” says Santos-Greaves.

“We do go the extra mile like home visits to clients — unheard of in the 21st century — or picking up and giving rides to patients who do not have cars to and from our clinics,” she says.

Santos-Greaves also gives back to the community through free hearing testing via her company’s mobile hearing clinic van. “We give complimentary hearing screenings, and drive our hearing clinic vans all over the Lower Mainland, and provide information lectures at a number of community activities,” she says. “I do not lose sight of the fact that our services are [incomplete] if we only rely on technology and screening. With science we blend humanity, imparting warmth as we genuinely care for others and their hearing needs.”

That desire to provide compassionate and quality care was what propelled her to open her own clinic in the first place. When Santos-Greaves came to Canada from the Philippines, she started working in a dollar store, sold registered education savings plans and worked at a call centre. She then became an audiometric technician at Fraser Health, before venturing out on her own.

“Having your own business is not easy, but when you love what you do it becomes second nature. It does not feel like work,” she says. “But I am also a single mom to a 14-year-old boy and balancing lifestyle and business is not easy.

That is why I believe it is critical we as immigrants help and support each other so that we will not be afraid to take risks and succeed in doing what we were trained for, attaining our dreams for ourselves and our children.”

— Margaret Jetelina

22 canadianimmigrant.ca

July 2015

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UPFRONT

Thilak Tennekone

STRATFORD, P.E.I.

Thilak Tennekone moved to Prince Edward Island at a time when there was little diversity in the small province. In fact, his was the first Sri Lankan family to settle there. “At the very early stage of our integration in the early 1990s, some immigrant families, including my own, felt some social isolation due to the lack of their own community groups and social networks," he says.

These early experiences inspired Tennekone to play an instrumental role in making the province inclusive and welcoming to newcomers. He has done this through his current role as diversity consultant for the province’s Public Service Commission and his volunteer work such as his role as chair of the Town of Stratford’s diversity and inclusion sub-committee. Tennekone’s work in Stratford is one of the reasons the town is today considered one of the province’s most proactive and welcoming communities in terms of diversity and inclusion.

Tennekone helped establish P.E.I.’s first immigrant serving agency, the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada, in 1993 and was one of the founding members of the P.E.I. International Friendship Association. This association is responsible for designing the International Tea House, the main purpose of which is to develop a sense of community among all cultural groups through cultural presentations, costume shows, ethnic food, traditional arts and crafts displays, music performances and other family-friendly social events.

Over the past few years, the Sri Lankan community in P.E.I. has grown substantially, becoming one of the major ethnocultural groups living on the island, and Tennekone has taken the lead in organizing events that provide opportunities for cultural learning. Tennekone has a talent for promoting cultural diversity and is proud to have been a role model to help others learn about cultural differences.

“I always talked about my cultural identity, significant cultural aspects, Buddhism, Sri Lankan music, food, traditions and other cultural practices,” says Tennekone.

— Lisa Evans

Photo by Winston Maund

Photo by Mansoor Ladha

Diversity champion

Kim Thúy

MONTREAL

A novel journey

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, author Kim Thúy fled Vietnam with her family in November 1978 at the age of 11, and arrived in Canada in late 1979. The family, who qualified as “boat people” arrived in Granby, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and settled in Montreal. Now a famed Canadian novelist, Thúy describes arriving in Canada after a snowfall as a second birth. “[The ground] was totally white,” she recalls. “I was born in a country at war and lived in a refugee camp where the colour was dirt.” The snow white ground symbolized purity to Thúy.

Thúy earned degrees in law and translation from the Université de Montréal, and after working as a translator and lawyer went on to open a restaurant in Montreal, introducing the city to the cuisine of her native country.

When the restaurant closed, Thúy turned to another passion — writing. Her first novel, Ru (which means “lullaby” in Vietnamese), fictionalized her family’s long journey from Vietnam to Quebec and their discovery of their new environment. Although partially autobiographical, Thúy says the book isn’t only about her. “I like to believe that [Ru] talks about the lives of many boat people who arrived here under the same circumstances as my family,” she says.

Written in French, Ru won the Governor General’s Literary Award for French-language fiction in 2010. An English edition was published in 2012 and received international acclaim. It was shortlisted for the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Amazon.ca First Novel Prize and most recently won the 2015 CBC Canada Reads program. Thúy has been surprised by the success of Ru. “I never thought that Ru could find itself in so many different countries,” she says. Most surprising to her is how individuals from all over the world can relate to the story in some way.

Not just a one-book wonder, Thúy followed up her first book with Mãn, which has received praise for its meditation on fulfillment, love, identity and food.

— Lisa Evans July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

23

“

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Vikram's journey demonstrates exceptional entrepreneurship, but it's his forward-thinking approach to all his endeavours that really resonated with Chevrolet.

”

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— John P. Roth, vice president, General Motors Canada

Vikram Vij

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24 canadianimmigrant.ca

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VANCOUVER

Vikram Vij is a household name in Canada these days, thanks to his television appearances on Dragons’ Den, Recipe to Riches, Top Chef Canada and Chopped Canada, but his focus continues to be on his growing Indian food empire, rather than television stardom.

Becoming an entrepreneur was a natural fit for Vij, whose father and grandfather were both shopkeepers. “Entrepreneurship was in my blood,” he says. But, after he immigrated to Canada, the Austriantrained chef had a clear goal beyond just owning a business; he wanted to introduce North Americans to a modern style of Indian cuisine beyond butter chicken. “I wanted to be the ambassador of the cuisine and raise awareness of the cuisine and the culture that I love so much,” he says.

His strategy met with some resistance, but today Vancouverites will line up for hours to get a table at the first-come, first-served Vij’s restaurant. When he opened it in 1994, “it was a 16-seat restaurant on West Broadway, and it was a one-man show. I cooked, cleaned, served and shopped,” Vij says.

He says it was an uphill battle, but his vision to offer modern Indian food soon paid off for him and his wife, Meeru, who joined him in opening a second restaurant and market called Vij’s Rangoli in 2004.

The market sells Vij’s At Home, a line of prepackaged gourmet curries.

And, in 2011, they built a food production facility in Surrey, B.C., to meet the demand of the line of products.

In June 2014, Vij opened his third restaurant, My Shanti, in South Surrey, which is based upon his culinary travels from all over the world. Then there is also Vij’s Railway Express, a mobile food truck in Vancouver, and Vij’s Sutra, a market location in Victoria.

Vij has received many honours for all his efforts, including the BC Food Processors Association’s Rising Star Award, an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and most recently an honorary PhD from Simon Fraser University.

And more accolades will assuredly keep coming as Vij, also a trained sommelier, continues to build a Canadian legacy upon Indian food and spices.

— Margaret Jetelina facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

25

Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa Multicultural supporter

STRATFORD, ONTARIO

Originally from Ethiopia, Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa is no stranger to having to adapt.

Before moving to Canada four years ago, Wordofa studied world history, international relations, human rights and diplomacy at the University of Moscow. When he and his wife, Nicole, were expecting their son, Aaron, they decided to move to Stratford, Ontario — Nicole’s hometown. “I had always loved Canada and their contributions internationally, so I was excited about the idea of moving here and to start a new adventure,” says Wordofa.

Wordofa has spent most of his life helping others, and has continued that tradition here. He volunteers his time with many non-profit groups including the Salvation Army and United Way. Having been an immigrant twice in his lifetime, Wordofa knew how hard adjusting to a new country was, so upon moving to Canada, he began to seek out new immigrants in the Perth-Huron area who needed support, meeting them in local coffee shops. Wordofa eventually founded and is project director of the Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron in 2013, under the auspices of the United Way, to further help newcomers adjust to their new lives in Canada.

Wordofa has been recognized several times for his work with awards, such as the Ontario government’s Newcomer Champion Award and the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. “I have been honoured with a lot of awards, but these have all been by-products of what are my most proud achievements, which are making connections and helping others,” he says. “To me, that is my greatest success.”

Although he lives in a small community, Wordofa, who was a Goodwill World Peace Ambassador for 10 years before immigrating, keeps his eye on the global picture, working with refugees and the homeless in Moscow, Russia, and is actively involved in raising money for health clinics and schools, and clean water for small communities in his home country of Ethiopia. He’s also proud to be part of a new non-profit startup called the New Flower Children’s Fund, focusing on small medical procedures for children around the world.

— Lisa Evans

Ana María Zúniga

Connecting through language

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.

Ana María Zúniga has grown her company AZ World Translation and Interpretation Inc. from a one-woman translation company into an agency working with translators around the world. “I have 200 freelance translators and/or interpreters and editors who work with me on a regular basis: there are 25 in Canada, 50 in the United States, 25 in Latin America, 50 in Europe and 50 in Asia.”

Indeed, her company has become a market leader for nearly 10 years, and in 2014, was recognized by Small Business B.C. as one of the Top Five Small Businesses in the province.

Zúniga credits her success to her team of translators. “I have always believed that you are only as strong as the team who is supporting you; for that reason, I have been very careful in hand-picking the team members who support me,” she says. “If you have a great team, the clients keep coming back to you through thick and thin.”

But Zúniga was actually working in the mining industry when she first came to Canada.

“I immigrated to Canada in 1997 to get married. I had met my husband-to-be while working on a mine construction project in Santiago, Chile,” says Zúniga. She began freelancing as a translator while working full time at a large mining company in Vancouver, before formally launching AZ World in 2001.

“My passion is to communicate, and languages make the world a more connected place,” she says.

In addition to her business success, Zúniga supports her community through volunteering.

She was a volunteer Spanish instructor at a senior’s centre in North Vancouver for three years and the volunteer co-ordinator for Sinfonia Orchestra of the North Shore, a non-profit professional orchestra in North Vancouver, which supports musical education and development for school-aged children, for 10 years. She also contributed philanthropically to the orchestra as well as to the HOPE International Development Agency, and has provided free translations for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the British Columbia Boys Choir and the Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir.

— Margaret Jetelina

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PRESENTS

5TH

A N N U A L

FAIR

CAREER

EDUCATION

& SETTLEMENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

At the fair 5th annual expo for immigrants in Toronto a resounding success!

Scotiabank was the presenting sponsor of the fair.

Speaker Murali Murthy shares his tips on using social media.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Costas Menegakis speaks to the crowd.

Tracey Lloyd, director of career services and counselling at Centennial College, receiving a token of appreciation for being associate sponsors of the annual fair.

Scotiabank’s executive vice president and co-head of information technology, enterprise technology Michael Zerbs offers welcoming remarks at the fair.

SAVE THE CAREER FAIR A

DATE!

N

N

U

A

L

EDUCATION

& SETTLEMENT

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Halifax Sept. 8 • Calgary Oct. 15 • Vancouver Nov. 16 Planning is currently underway for upcoming fairs. We are seeking sponsors, exhibitors and speakers. Contact: Ricky Bajaj (Halifax fair) rbajaj@metroland.com / 905-273-8170

Alla Gordeeva (Vancouver/Calgary fairs) alla@canadianimmigrant.ca / 778-558-3397

Photos by Jason Kolisan and Kamil Mytnik

Canadian Immigrant magazine and Scotiabank, in association with Centennial College, presented the 5th annual Career, Education & Settlement Fair, on Monday, June 15, 2015, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Around 1,100 Canadian newcomers attended the day-long event with activities like a resumé clinic, speed mentoring and an inspirational speakers’ lineup, including a keynote by LocaWoka tech startup whizkids, Hussain H. Bandukwala and Shabbir Evershine.

The buzzword for the event was social media and how to attract potential employers with a killer online profile. “Social is the new resumé. You have five seconds to make an impression on social media sites like LinkedIn with your title and headline to get noticed,” said career coach Murali Murthy in his engaging session.

With other sponsors British CouncilIELTS, MEDISYS, IDP-IELTS, IEP Bridging Program at York University and CPA Ontario, the innovative event also saw a wide range of exhibitors with information about continuing education, settlement services and recruitment opportunities.

Immigrant

Settlement

Guide 2015

To list your agency in the “Immigrant Settlement Guide,” please contact: ONTARIO LISTINGS Ricky Bajaj: 905-273-8170 or John Zhang: 416-803-3931

WESTERN CANADA LISTINGS

Alla Gordeeva: 778-558-3397 or alla@canadianimmigrant.ca

Are you a newcomer to Canada? You no doubt have many questions. Immigrating can be a challenging process, with many unknowns, but the good news is that there are many resources available to help you. Seeking help at an immigrant settlement agency is going to be your most important first step in Canada. And many services are free, from English as a second language programs to settlement counselling to career help, including mentorship and retraining opportunities. The services are all aimed to help you overcome the challenges you’re facing and succeed in Canada.

Here are just some of the agencies ready to serve you in the Greater Toronto Area:

Agency

General Services and Specialty Programs

Languages

Brampton Multicultural Centre (BMC)

Not for profit, registered charity providing multilingual, culturally sensitive free programs & services to help clients enhance their community engagement while integrating into Canadian society. Programs: Initial settlement support, resumés & employment readiness workshops, advocacy with solution-focused counselling, interpretation & translation, services for youth and youth at risk, volunteer opportunities, seniors program and mental health support services in multiple languages. Reference to instructor-led LINC classes with child-minding & transportation subsidies, violence against women program and community engagement programs.

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

• • • • •

English Punjabi Gujarati French Spanish

• • • • •

Hindi Tamil Urdu Arabic Farsi

Settlement Services, Family Counselling, Senior Services and Volunteer Opportunities. Specialty Programs: English Language Training & Citizenship Classes, Job Search Workshops, Adult Day & Seniors Wellness program, Services for Women, Children and Youth, Supportive Mental Health Services Email: info@indiarainbow.org www.indiarainbow.org

• • • •

English Punjabi Gujarati French

• • • •

Hindi Tamil Urdu Arabic

Find out how to: get the skills you need to find work quickly! — Job Search Workshops Program! perfect your resumé, practise interview skills and more — Job Find Club for Internationally Trained Individuals job search effectively — with Employment Ontario Employment Services. Access Bridge to HR — a bridging program for internationally educated HR professionals Email: info@jobskills.org www.jobskills.org

• English

Settlement Services, LINC Classes (level 1-6) with child minding, Counseling, Job search, Citizenship & Immigration, Groups for Youth, Seniors & Women and Volunteering. Specialty Programs: Bridge Training Program for International Mental Health Professionals, Community Engagement Program, Community Mental health Program and Anger management.

Additional locations at Scarborough and Toronto.

Email: northyork@mnlct.org www.mnlct.org

• • • • •

English Spanish Mandarin Bengali Turkish

New to Canada? Looking for a job in your field? Need career and training options? We can help Get free advice on how to use your skills and find a meaningful career in Canada. Contact us today to speak with one of our experts. We’re a national organization and serve all of Ontario.

Contact: Elena Rakitskaya or Jim Lamarche Email: acp@nacc.ca www.nacc.ca/acp

• • • • •

English French Russian Farsi Spanish

Settlement Services: assist immigrants to integrate and become established and contributing members of Canadian society. English Language Classes are instructor-led, and supported by a computer lab. Job-specific, advanced-level Enhanced Language Training available. Supports to assist in developing the skills needed to find work: resumé/cover letter preparation, interview readiness and information about accreditation, workplace practices, Canadian employer expectations. Other services available.

Email: info@welcomecentre.ca www.welcomecentre.ca

• English

197 County Court Blvd.

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

India Rainbow Community Services of Peel 3038 Hurontario Street, Suite 206 & Unit 1, Mississauga, ON L5B 3B9 Phone: 905-275-2369 Job Skills Employment & Business Programs & Supports Locations in York, Peel and North Toronto Phone: 1-866-592-6278 Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto 2737 Keele Street North York ON M3M 2E9 Phone: 647-776-2057 National Association of Career Colleges 44 Byward Market, Suite 270 Ottawa, K1N 7A2 Phone: 1-866-981-6863 Welcome Centre Immigrant Services 7 Locations in York and Durham Regions Phone: 1-877-761-1155

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THE SOCIAL WORKPLACE Do you have the social media skills desired by employers today?

By Baisakhi Roy Seeking receptionist with social media Ninja skills.” This is an actual excerpt from a job posting on a popular hiring site for a part-time receptionist for a health and wellness company. Another posting for a real estate assistant insists on “extensive experience with social media and should be extremely familiar with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.” Social media skills are becoming essential for an increasingly wide range of roles, including human resources, sales, designers and marketing.

Hardly surprising then that Wanted Analytics (a company that combines real-time, global business intelligence with years of hiring demand and talent supply data) is reporting that most jobs created in 2015 will

require digital and social media skills.

“Today, social media is all too prevalent in all areas of our lives. We use our mobile phones and the social media apps on them. Social media usage has now become prevalent in all areas of life,” says Canadian Immigrant columnist and career coach, Murali Murthy. “It cuts across age, nationality and income barriers — everyone is using their smartphones to read movie reviews, rate restaurants, find directions and watch videos, and so are recruiters and candidates across every profession.

Newer profiles

Typically, social media skills have been a requirement for jobs in the

July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

29

communication and marketing fields, and opportunities for “social media manager," “social media expert” and “community managers” were and are still prolific on job boards. But the scenario has changed, much like the dynamic nature of social media itself.

Martell Home Builders, an Atlantic Canadian custom home builder, connects directly with their customers via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, Pinterest and Instagram, and wants its employees to have these skills. The company is currently focusing on Facebook ads. “Essentially, every position at Martell Home Builders requires a certain level of social sophistication because social is the new resumé. Meaning, we will check out everyone on their social media before arranging an interview,” says Natalie Davison, manager, new home sales, Martell Home Builders. “But what we are looking for varies based on the role. The baseline for everybody is how they present themselves and what they’re sharing publicly. Roles that require more in-depth social media skills would include any roles related to sales and/or marketing,” she says.

Keeping pace

Social networking is evolving at a dizzying pace and many employers are struggling to keep up. The ability to change, hop to a new app or platform at a moment’s notice, and keep abreast of the latest in social is what employers are looking for. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the way journalists work to get the news out in a timely and relevant manner.

“Journalism is all about storytelling. You need to be able to cut through the noise and the reams of information to tell your audience what is important, and you need to do so in an interesting, impartial way. Social media can be a key part of the storytelling process,” says Shauna Rempel, social media strategist for globalnews.ca. “[Our] journalists often source interview subjects via social media and the online team regularly curates stories using Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

posts embedded on the website. So, first and foremost, a media job hunter needs to be a storyteller. Strong communication skills and a keen news sense are also requirements. The technical skills (such as social media curation) can be taught, which is good because they’re always changing.”

Davison concurs. “The truth is, because of the speed of the evolution of social, what you knew six months ago many not apply today.”

Making connections

Newcomers are increasingly aware of the all-pervasive nature of social media both as a job hunting tool and as a requirement in their resumé. “Earlier in my home town (in Tehran), I was aware of it and used it mostly for personal use. But after coming to Canada I use it extensively — thanks partly to the huge awareness about it and its prevalence in all areas of life in Canada. Definitely the creation of my LinkedIn profile was the first major step. Then I was able to reinvent myself on Facebook and strategically started using Twitter and Facebook more with my professional life in focus. Today I use social media to connect with new people, to market my skills/products, to network online for new opportunities and also to look up connections, interviewers, read about companies, etc.,” says Iranian-born sales and marketing executive Mara Aalipour.

So a receptionist with “social media Ninja skills” is no longer an anomaly in the current Canadian job market; another job posting on LinkedIn recently asked for a “Receptionist/Assistant at Richardson GMP – Saskatoon who has experience with social media, websites and campaigns.” Marketing vice-president Susan Fry explains the scope of the job: “This role would require knowledge of LinkedIn and Twitter primarily. He/she would be required to post updates to … help drive recognition of the services offered. Actually all employees/partners can benefit from social media skills to help control their own online presence both personally and professionally.”

LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT JOB? GET THE RIGHT SKILLS!

Electronic Medical Records

Hands-on, End User and Implementation Projects Programs start every Saturday

Office Clerk Diploma* Reception for Newcomers Certificate** Word & Excel Advanced Certificates**

Medical Receptionist Diploma* Medical Billing Certificate** Medical Office Procedures Certifcate**

Computerized Accounting Diploma* Bookkeeping & QuickBooks Certificates** Simply Accounting Certificate**

Small Class Size, Friendly Instructors, Financial Assistance Available * Diploma opportunities are approved vocational programs under the Prviate Career Colleges Act, 2005

Convenient location at: 55 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 703 Toronto, Ontario (Yonge & Eglinton) 30 canadianimmigrant.ca

July 2015

** Certificate programs are not approved as vocational programs under the Private Career Colleges Act 2005

www.workingskillscentree.com facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

| C AREER COACH |

Stand out from the crowd 10 simple, smart ways to shine at work

C

ongratulations! So you have found a new job or you are among the lucky ones who have been comfortably settled in a job for some time now. Getting a job is just the first step, however. If you want a chance to advance in your company, you will need to stand out, step up and contribute in multiple ways.

Almost everyone performs their duties satisfactorily, but only a few will be considered for advancement when the opportunity arises. Those few are employees who have succeeded in standing out in the office.

So, what changes can you make to separate yourself from the herd?

If you want to get recognition and respect from your employer and peers, and be a leading candidate for promotions, consider these following tips.

1. Be competent

can still contribute. Throw out ideas and suggestions.

Challenge things that do not make sense, in a respectful manner. Use every opportunity to show that you have the confidence and abilities needed to work well in a team and be a good leader.

8. Improve yourself

Improve your skills constantly. The business world is constantly evolving, and you will be left behind if you do not keep yourself up to date with the latest developments. Stay relevant and marketable by doing extra to improve your knowledge and skills constantly. Be the first to update your social media profile pages and help others.

9. Go beyond your job description

The most basic thing you need to do to get into your boss' good books is to do your job competently. Make sure you are able to deliver an above-average performance and meet deadlines consistently.

When you are at work, always seek out ways to improve the company.

Become an integral part of taking your company to the next level. If you show your interest lies far beyond yourself, you’ll stand out and set yourself up to become a future leader in the company.

2. Don’t waste time

10. Be hardworking

3. Be proactive

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.

Use your time responsibly. Excessively surfing the internet and gossiping with colleagues can be detrimental to your career. Try not to waste your company's resources and put yourself at risk of being labelled a slacker.

From little things like reloading the copy machine to helping prepare progress reports, from doing additional research for a project or helping a team meet a deadline, there are many ways to demonstrate a proactive spirit. It simply means going beyond your regular duties and doing things without being told.

Nothing, I repeat, nothing beats good, old hard work. The best way to stand out is to simply outwork everyone else. It's also the easiest way, because often, you'll be the only one trying.

4. Participate in meetings

Don't sit quietly in meetings. Most people either stare blankly at the wall or peek at their phones, and hardly participate. While that's good enough for the average worker, you could speak up, participate and keep things moving. Making your voice and opinion heard is a key part of standing out at work.

5. Fix problems

Lots of people take verbal stands. Few take a stand and put effort behind their opinions. If you think a project has gone off the rails, instead of just pointing out its flaws so you can show everyone how smart you are, jump in and help fix it. Everyone talks about problems.

The people who help fix them stand out.

6. Help out

If someone sends an email out about a new initiative or simply asks for suggestions or participation, be the first to volunteer — even if it is just cleaning up after a potluck lunch or helping with a company party. Join a diversity committee or any other group in the company where you feel you can make a great contribution. People who help out always stand out.

7. Lead with ideas

Someone has to be the leader, so why not you? If it is not you, you

For helping us , get on a bus to go outdoors , not play on floors and have more fun, under th e sun with friends b rand new expesh especi ally you!

Please help us send 25,000 kids to summer camp. 2015 GOAL: $650,000 To donate by VISA, Amex, MasterCard or Discover, call 416-869-4847. Online, please visit www.thestar.com/freshairfund.

July 2015

Canadian Immigrant

31

SETTLEMENT

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

Why was my application refused?

What the immigration department states in refusal letters is not the whole story

A

person whose visa, permit or immigration application has been refused needs to understand two things.

First, when Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) refuses an application, it does not necessarily provide the full reasons for the refusal to the applicant.

Second, it is possible for an applicant to apply for and receive the full, internal reasons for CIC’s refusal. Applicants should do so before either resubmitting an application to CIC, or throwing in the towel.

Not the whole story

CIC’s refusal letters are generally extremely vague. They typically

consist of generic letters stating that applicants did not meet the requirements of Canadian immigration legislation. As well, the refusal letters typically contain a list of all possible reasons why CIC may refuse an application, with a checkmark or an X next to the reason(s) applicable to the applicant. Possible reasons include “lack of funds,” “travel history,” “purpose of visit,” etc.

What most applicants whose applications have been refused don’t realize is that behind these decisions are additional, often very detailed reasons that aren’t provided in the refusal letter.

These internal reasons can range from a few short sentences, to sometimes even more than a

page of reasoning that CIC does not share with applicants.

Although this may seem unfair to applicants, the Federal Court of Canada has consistently ruled that there is no requirement for CIC to provide the detailed reasons for refusal in its refusal letters. There is also no requirement that CIC inform applicants that if they want to obtain detailed reasons for the refusal that it is possible to do so.

Getting the reasons

There are several ways for an applicant whose visa has been refused to obtain CIC’s detailed, refusal reasons. If the applicant is outside Canada, then he or she can file an Access to Informa-

tion request. If the applicant is inside Canada, then he or she can file a Privacy Act request.

Both of these requests can be submitted online. CIC is legally obligated to provide the full reasons within 30 days of receiving the request, which it typically does by email.

Another way is to commence an

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UPFRONT

stated that the reason for the refusal was his insufficient finances. She was flabbergasted, as she had included in her visa application a bank statement showing more than sufficient funds for her trip in Canada. We advised her to wait until we had applied for and received the internal CIC reasons before she took  Medical Office Assistant with any further steps.

Health Unit Coordinator* CIC’s detailed reasons contained the full reason,  Community Service Worker* which had an obvious solution.  Personal Support Worker* The internal reasons stated that CIC did not consider the bank  Medical Office Assistant* statement to be reliable because the bank statements did not have *with Internship the applicant’s name. It was easy for the applicant to correct this when she reapplied.

Given how easy it can be for applicants to remedy mistakes in their visa applications once  Paralegal* (LSUC accredited) they see the detailed reasons  Immigration Consultant* for refusal, the obvious question that has to be asked is why does (ICCRC accredited) CIC not provide more detailed  Legal Office Assistant reasons in its refusal letters?

I am not the first person to ask Immigration matters could be tricky  Law Clerk* this. Indeed, during every legislative session, Don Davies, mem*with Internship ber of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway, introduces a private member’s bill to amend Canadian immigration legislation to require visa officers to provide Next steps after refusal It is important that anyone the detailed reasons for refusal. whose application has been Davies’ proposal has never made refused receive the detailed rea- Certified it past first reading in the House Canadian Immigration Consultants  Computerized Accounting sons before they consider next ofand Commons, Members of CSIC, which CMI, CapIC is a shame.

Graduates of the UBC Immigration steps.

Refused applicants should know practitioner Certificate program Member CSIC M064140 Business Administration For example, our office recently why their applications were refused them having consulted with an individual We provide all without immigration services Administrative Assistant whose temporary resident visa to apply and wait for  Accounting & Payroll was refused. The refusal letter Federal detailed reasons.

Skilled Worker uld b Application for Leave to Commence Judicial Review. However, because doing this actually launches a Federal Court action, it is typically only done when an applicant is appealing CIC’s refusal, and where judicial deadlines do not permit waiting 30 days while you wait for the detailed reasons.

Be Job-Ready in 5-12 Months

Healthcare

Immigration matters could be tricky

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 Project Administrator Arranged Employment xpe Canadian Experience Class Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants Canadian Immigration Consultants Certified and Members of CSIC, CMI,and CapIC Members of CSIC, CMI, CapIC Graduates of the UBC Immigration Graduates of the UBC Immigration

Agnihotri Certificate program practitioner Certificate program Rosenberg in Vancouver. Contact him Neera atpractitioner 604-681Provincial Nominee Programs Member CSIC M064140 Member CSIC M064140 or 9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com visit Business and Investor We provide all immigration services We provide all immigration services his blog at smeurrens.com.

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SETTLEMENT

W

ords are part of everyday life, and have influence over our thoughts, emotions and actions.

"I believe in you" or "you are worthless" are both just a few simple words strung together, but while the two messages are very different, they are equally powerful.

Why parents' words matter

Parents are the most important figures in their children's lives, so what parents say holds a great deal of influence on children's lives.

Since birth, children look to the parents for feedback and guidance, as a way to learn and figure out the complicated world around them. Thus, children hang onto the words we say to them and take them to heart.

We can send empowering or disempowering messages simply based on the words we use when communicating with our children.

Words children regularly hear can have enormous and long-lasting impact in how they feel and behave for the rest of their lives.

The choice of words we use convey whether or not we value or

| PA R E N T I N G |

Power of words

Negative talk can be harmful to children; stay positive

respect them. Furthermore, these messages have a powerful effect on family relationships, children's self-image, and motivation and behaviours.

Negative remarks hurt

Whether they are angry remarks, unhelpful criticism, hurtful jokes or teasing, words that belittle children are an ineffective parenting style, and can be very damaging to children's self-esteem. While children seem to just laugh or shrug it off, hurtful words can tear them up on the inside, causing emotional scars and resulting in them feeling worthless, insecure, anxious and embarrassed.

Constructive messages

Children need guidance and

unconditional love, and through our power of words, we can accomplish both. Keep in mind that positive words are not flattery or over-praising children. Sending a positive message involves viewing situations through positive perspectives, and using constructive criticism instead of hurtful, insulting words. By using encouraging words that convey trust, sincerity and respect, we can empower children to thrive to try their best and reach their full potential.

So, when communicating: • Be mindful of negative words commonly used, and choose other more positive alternatives.

• Recognize when you are stressed, upset and frustrated, and find ways to calm down, such as taking a few deep breaths or going for a walk.

• Take a moment to gather yourself and assess the situation before responding and re-engaging with your children.

• Sometimes it is important to not allow emotions to control our words and actions.

• If more time is needed to figure things out, wait and revisit the situation when everyone is calmer.

• Most importantly, if you do utter some hurtful words, make sure to offer sincere apologies to remedy the situation.

In closing, remember that children believe what we tell them. So make sure that what we are saying matters, since our words are so powerful. Send the right message, by choosing our words wisely, and see a world of difference.

Cheryl Song, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 10 years’ experience of working in childhood education and family programs.

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July 2015

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DRIVING UPFRONT Sponsored by:

Summer maintenance 101

that let you “spray-and-scrub” the mess away. Also look into replacing your car’s cabin air filter. Antiallergen cabin filters can reduce the effects of certain allergies.

Rejuvenating your ride for road trips this season

By Ronald D’Souza

N

ow that summer is here and the weather is beautiful, it’s time to make plans to enjoy the all-Canadian summer road trip. Whether it’s a trip to the U.S.A., a provincial park or your mother-in-law’s, we all want summer road trips to be fun and stress-free. But while heat may make for a great day at the beach, it’s not easy on your vehicle. Here are a few tips to keep your car running and looking in tip-top shape this summer.

Maintain your investment’s appearance

As the weather warms, road salt becomes increasingly corrosive and much more harmful to your vehicle’s finish than in the dead of winter, when temperatures are well below zero degrees. So be sure to thoroughly wash your vehicle’s exterior. Don’t forget to spray in between the body panels, wheel wells and underneath.

Washing underneath a vehicle can save you money in the long run, as protective coatings on brake lines, electrical wires, exhaust systems and suspension components tend to wear away more quickly when covered with 1. Check your tires. Tires are often overlooked, as most drivers don’t check their tires regularly.

Under-inflated, over-inflated, worn out or misaligned tires not only make the ride uncomfortable, but affect performance, safety and fuel efficiency.

2. Oil keeps your engine running smooth and problem free.

Typical engine oil needs to be replaced every 6,000 to 8,000 kilometres, depending on your vehicle and driving conditions.

3. Top up brake fluid, coolant

road salt. Using a household garden hose with pressure attachment or a pressurized carwash bay will allow you to yield the best results. A drive-through touchless car wash is the next best option.

Use a few drops of mild liquid soap from a retailer that carries automotive cleaning products, or use dish detergent, such as Palmolive or Sunlight. This will be gentle enough not to harm your vehicle’s painted surfaces, yet strong enough to cleanse your vehicle from road grime. Just note that if you use that latter, any car wax that you may have applied will be stripped, and that it should be re-waxed. Many automotive soaps not only prevent the stripping of existing wax, but also contain a small amount of carnauba wax that is applied automatically when soaping.

Don’t neglect your interior

Protection from summer sun

Your car is like a living room on wheels, where you and your loved ones spend plenty of time on the road. A clean, dust-free interior is a good habit to keep, especially for families with young children. Many forms of bacteria and germs form within a vehicle from normal use, particularly on the seat bottoms, steering wheel and door handles, as these are high-contact areas.

Using warm water and a soft cloth with a few drops of antibacterial soap (or dishwashing detergent) can go a long way in keeping your vehicle germ free.

Don’t forget to spray your rubber floor mats. If you are faced with stubborn salt stains on your vehicle’s carpets, don’t fret; visit any retailer that carries products to tackle this problem, including the ones that come with stiff bristles

The sun, particularly in the summer, emits a high level of ultraviolet (UV) rays and scorching heat, both of which can lead to a hot, uncomfortable interior.

But perhaps more bothersome is the fact that a car that is exposed to high levels of heat and UV can cause faded paint, a cracked or warped dashboard, interior fading and visible damage to a leather interior.

Tinted windows are an effective ways to reduce heat and cut down up to 95 per cent of harmful UV rays. Make sure to check local laws and regulations regarding tint darkness. Clear and lighter shades of tint are also available.

A windshield sunshade, which covers a vehicle’s windshield, uses a foil-like material to reflect the sun’s UV rays and heat away from an interior and help keep it cool while parked. Automotive interior spray or protectants are also useful tools in combating the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays on plastic, leather and vinyl. To keep your vehicle’s exterior finish looking like new and fade-free, using auto waxes and sealants annually can help prolong the life of the paint and prevent a chalky finish. noises or feel any odd vibrations when applying the brakes, get your car looked at by an auto technician as soon as possible.

8 TIPS NEWCOMERS NEED TO KNOW and windshield washer fluid before you set out on a summer road trip.

4. Make sure your A/C is working before you go on a hot road trip. You may need an A/C system recharge if your car is not

getting cool enough.

5. Visibility is key; check your windshield and replace old wipers to ensure that your vision is clear.

6. If you hear any squealing

7. Check your lights, not only for driving at night, but also for during heavy rain and emergency situations.

8. Check your vehicle’s cooling system. Make sure your coolant is changed every two years or 48 kilometres. Some newer vehicles have long-life or lifetime coolant, which is fine too — just keep an eye on your vehicle’s temperature gauge.

Disclaimer: The content is produced and owned by Canadian Immigrant magazine. All content provided here is for informational purposes only.

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Tips

Newcomer tips from our RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2015!

K T, 

“

Don’t be afraid to engage yourself, to dare asking for help.

”

B D,   

“

Go to emerging cities like Edmonton, Calgary or Saskatoon instead of going to ethnic utopias like Toronto and Vancouver. Take evening classes and improve your education. And don’t restrict yourself back. This is a land of opportunity.

You can achieve all of your dreams with hard work.

”

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2015-05-21 1:04 PM

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