By Trudy Tumusime
In 2021, Doris came to Canada from China, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a software project manager and UX designer. With a computer science background, Doris found many aspects of settlement quite easy due to her ability to search the internet for information and having support from her elder sister who had been in Canada for over a decade.
Despite a soft landing in many ways, Doris found it challenging to find employment.
In my first year, I applied for several jobs, and while I didn’t pass the interviews, I always received replies.” Doris recalls.
She then decided to improve her English language skills and adapt her professional experience to the Canadian job market. After an initial assessment, Doris joined a Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) class near her location however she stopped attending after a year because her Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level had improved, and available higher-level classes didn’t align with her schedule.
In May 2023, at Toronto Newcomer Day celebrations, Doris found information about flexible LINC classes at the Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto (MNLCT) and switched.
At first, Doris didn’t see LINC as a priority thinking her English level was good enough for the Canadian workplace but now, she is glad she joined classes.
LINC has given me a platform where I can access local information, engage with the community, and make new friends from diverse backgrounds,” she explains “it has helped me feel connected to life here in Canada.”
Through the program, Doris has steadily improved her English, from a CLB 5 to her current level 7. Even greatest of the benefits of the program is the opportunity to belong, make friends and feel engaged in local life. She credits her teachers, who have guided her settlement journey. “The teachers shared so much local knowledge – how festivals began, how different cultures celebrate, and how society is structured here.”
She found her instructor at MNLCT to be amazing and “full of energy and always so organized with class schedules.”
Oct 20, 2021 By Doris on the balcony of the condo. Sunset
Oct 20, 2021 By Doris at the condo. Sunrise
Oct 11, 2022. Burlington. By Doris. My cousin, her husband and I went there to celebrate their marriage that day just after their swearing-in ceremony in Toronto City Hall.
May 25, 2023, Toronto Old City Hall, By Doris. I went there to attend Toronto Newcomer Day.
Oct 22, 2023, Near Humber River, by Doris. I went there to see Salmon Run.
Oct 28, 2023, TTC station for Halloween Festival, Doris back view by Anan (my cousin)
Oct 28, 2023, TTC station for Halloween Festival, Doris back view by Anan (my cousin)
While honing her English skills, Doris has also been focused on advancing her career – receiving job search assistance and participated in the She-Covery program at the Centre. She-Covery helps newcomer women transition from unemployment or underemployment to meaningful career opportunities.
Doris encourages every newcomer to take LINC classes, noting that, “It’s not just a language class – it’s so much more than that.”
Her journey in Canada has been full of surprises. Doris was particularly struck by the freedom of expression in Canada compared to her home country of China, where social media is heavily censored. She even wrote about it in one of her English class assignments. Doris was also wowed by the concept of community in Canada compared to China.
In Canada, people focus on their communities first,” she says. “It’s about real connections, not abstract ideas like nation or government. That shift in perspective was powerful for me.” she shares. One moment that deeply moved Doris was learning from her teacher about the selflessness of people in Canada. “I learned that many firefighters are volunteers,” she says, clearly surprised. “They risk their lives for others, and they do it without pay. That’s something I never imagined in China.”
Though Doris has faced setbacks in her job search – last year, she applied to over 100 jobs without receiving any responses – she remains optimistic and determined to keep going. “The market has changed, and it’s even tougher now,” she acknowledges.
For Doris, settling into a new country is about more than just mastering the language. It’s about finding a sense of belonging, understanding the culture, and making meaningful connections.
