I still remember filling out the paperwork to become a permanent resident.
Married in 2011 in Kitchener city hall to an Arab girlfriend who was back in Israel with roots connecting the land. Now turned, my legal wife has given me a new world to live in, which I then proceeded to discover.
I never imagined leaving Israel for Canada until I decided to pursue that Canadian dream.
Leaving:
You would think I would have difficulty leaving my nest behind, but I am a human of mixed origin. East Europe, Azerbaijan, and Israel were not my first home.
It was my 2cnd and 3rd, which makes Canada my 4th home, and every home is a different story.
The Process:
For each newcomer who chooses to immigrate to Canada by choice, leaving relatives, language, customs, and simply things one loves, the process comes at a high cost. Each Canadian immigrant story is different from the other. Unlike certain countries whose immigrants must go through a similar process, the acclimation in Canada for many legal immigrants who choose to move by choice starts at the Airport border check welcome statement saying, “Oki doc, Welcome to Canada!”
From that moment, I was on my own while not amongst my own.
Culture:
I constantly found myself among people seeing newcomers as a negative topic, having to hide my own identity in the process under my fluent English accent.
Considering oneself culture savvy, I find Canada to be culturally isolated. Diversities stick together, forming internal relationships. Little China towns if you will. People prefer each other over other nationalities. Don’t listen to my words; take an actual look around you. Hindus speak their language amongst each other, preserving their culture. Hebrews mingle amongst themselves (either Canadian Jews or Israelis), Arabic speakers prefer each other, and other groups who stick to their roots mostly communicate within their internal communities.
Being simply polite towards each other doesn’t mean we vibe, although some may disagree with my statement, thinking we are somehow connected through social obligations. Still, we disagree on many internal issues due to our lack of synchronized knowledge, and we sometimes know different things and histories.
We have different views of the world based on our correct or incorrect knowledge of history, some of which may have been formed by assumptions or false information.
Canada enforces our tolerance towards one another even tho we disagree on many political and difficult topics or realities, tho it doesn’t provide enough cultural commonality, and the Canadian culture becomes lost in the process of segregated multiculturalism. At the same time, I can compare it to tribes who are stuck with each other rather than sticking together. Are we going back in time socially?
Here’s me DJ’ in at a local Russian-speaking event in 2022 organized by another immigrant from Georgia who became a quick success in real estate climbing through the Russian community, where many Ukrainians were present, and no one talked politics, which was a good idea. “We love our expensive liquor too, eh!”
Money:
Many people see Canada as among the wealthiest nations in the world.
Many chose Canada as their destination for prosperity, stability, peace, and growth.
It once was an affordable haven for many refugees, skilled workers, and immigrants arriving through different programs and settling in.
Today, with the current geopolitical situation, housing shortage, rental crisis, soaring inflation, weak international front, and ridiculously high-interest rates. Some may rethink this once-thought fantasy.
How hard is it to merge into Canadian life, and what is at stake?
With demands for skilled trades and software engineers among the highest, many consider profession or location changes, which could lead to more opportunities.
Weather:
Somewhere in Montreal, an Eire sidewalk in the midday rush gives me a glimpse into the peace of mind of the Canadian landscape. It is so massive and breathtaking that it stands above us all, uniting us in crisis.
Questions in mind:
- Before moving here and experiencing it in real-time, what was your vision of Canada? In a brief description, what was your idea of what life will look like here?
- What did you find out when you arrived here and experienced the Canadian daily reality, and or did you experience any negative experiences (like discrimination)
- Do you feel today that the situation of dissatisfaction with the standards of living among new immigrants and skilled workers to Canada will ever shift positively?
- Do you feel like you should move again? Outside or with Canada?
I stumbled upon a few newcomers to share their thoughts and compare them to mine.
Lastly
Understanding the current situation will require looking at complicated numbers such as housing stats, inflation rates, population growth ratios, and building approval measures. Still, there’s a lot to go about and analyze the situation, which points to one thing: it will never be as easy as it was 10 years ago.
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