By Miles Hamzi “Canada gave me a new life. I am two years old,” says Akinmade. As a government-sponsored refugee from Nigeria, Akin had high expectations but the journey has been a struggle. “You don’t experience the real Canada until you live in it. People are warm and friendly; the government and people are helpful. […]
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By Nicole Chung and David Gomes Vergine Tumanyan and her family moved from Armenia to Canada four years ago with hopes of a better future for their two daughters. Their biggest challenge when they arrived was that they didn’t know anyone. Her husband knew a few co-workers here whom he worked with in Armenia, but other than
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By David Gomes & Nicole Chung It takes a certain level of mental strength and willpower for anyone to uproot themselves from the comfort of the place they’ve called home for as long as they can remember and move to a place that seems completely alien at first – new life, new culture, new rules…
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When you do have freedom, then you have thousands of opportunities. And if you trust yourself, you can get everything. I really believe it.” Suzanna remembers when she was a child; a family friend who lived in Canada sent her beautiful Canadian postcards and clothing. She thought Canada must be a very special place. She
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I want people to remember when they hear my name, that I’m a happy person. A person with courage. A person who can always survive. My favourite line is “I can do it.” We all can do it. If you’re still breathing – just keep going.” Jho’s life is a story of courage, resilience, and
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Thank you for the program – it was very useful for me. It prepared me to respond to the questions. It was different in my country.” Gabriel was an accountant in Peru and worked in finance for over ten years. But his (then) wife had always wanted to come to Canada, and so they left
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It was a very interesting journey – sometimes so hard; sometimes so beautiful.” Imelda came to Toronto from Mexico City 5 years ago. She raised her family and worked as a children’s therapist. She always wanted to come to Canada, and friends had told her that it was beautiful, with a happy way of life.
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By Lucy Slavianska Being a Canadian citizen feels so great,” says Nargas Ghafori, who came to Canada from Afghanistan in 2007 to join her husband. “I feel like a free person now. I am so proud!” Nargas’s first year in Canada, however, was challenging. “When I first came here, I felt like I was out
By Lucy Slavianska I was so excited and happy to vote for the first time in the Canadian federal elections,” says Gustavo Linares, a paralegal from Guatemala who came to Canada in 2010 and recently became a Canadian citizen. “The right to vote is a great power – to choose your members of parliament, to
By Lucy Slavianska I love Canada and I want to live here for the rest of my life”, says Marcos Garcia Hernandez, who came to Canada directly from jail after being a political prisoner in Cuba for eight years. Although he had the choice – and intention – of moving from Canada to another country,