Success Stories
Newcomers to Canada bring with them their own vibrant cultures, their hopes and their dreams. In every part of the country there is a story waiting to be told about how they are achieving success in their lives. The following Success Stories are about Newcomers who are making better choices to lead productive and rewarding lives in their family life, at work and in their communities.
Alberta
The sky is the limit
Edmonton, Alberta — When she first came to Canada from Lebanon, Vivian juggled two jobs and motherhood with university classes and adjusting to life in a new country. Thirteen years later, she is a manager in Alberta's department of education and has just welcomed the rest of her family to this country.
Thirteen years later, she is a manager in Alberta's department of education and has just welcomed the rest of her family to this country.
Palliser lumber: the spirit of giving back
Calgary, Alberta — Half a world apart, Crossfield, Alberta, and the town of Laur in the Philippines might seem to have little in common. The two communities, however, are linked through economic cooperation, strong family ties and the spirit of giving back.
British Columbia
Building a new life, one cup at a time
Vancouver, British Columbia — Martha immigrated from Colombia in 1998 and is now the owner of Latin Organics Inc., a fair trade, organic coffee company that sells specialty coffee beans in several Vancouver area stores. She and her husband came to Canada as landed immigrants – now known as permanent residents – in a bid to find a better life for their family.
A former lost boy helps others to find their way
Vancouver, British Columbia — Although he was a “Lost Boy” when growing up in the Sudan, William has both found his way to a new home in Canada and is helping others to do the same.
When he was just nine years old, William fled from his home in South Sudan to avoid being killed or abducted by troops in the country's civil war.
Newfoundland and Labrador
From Tehran to st. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador — It's a long way from Tehran to St. John's, but Sepideh is glad she made the trip.
The Iranian-born-and-trained physician immigrated to Canada with her husband and young daughter in the summer of 2002. Sepideh says they left behind a good life.
Arts student from Kosovo is a Rhodes scholar
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador — Born in a war-torn country on the other side of the world, Remzi is an energetic arts student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and is the newest Rhodes Scholar for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Originally from Kosovo, Remzi, 24, is currently completing a joint honours degree in French and German Studies at Memorial�s St. John�s campus. He immigrated to Newfoundland with his family in 2000 to escape the violence and destruction that plagued his country.
Ontario
Language training helps to build a new life
Toronto, Ontario — Elaine holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. In September 2007, she immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, in search of opportunity.
Building her career in the Philippines was a challenge for Elaine. Not only did she find it difficult to get the work she wanted there, but she felt that even hard work as a nurse might not earn her the kind of job recognition and advancement she desired.
Fresh air for the soul of this country
Ottawa, Ontario — Afghanistan is about so much more than conflict. Just ask Mushfiq, a musician and visual artist who has brought the culture of his old home to his new home in Canada.
After acting in an Afghan stage drama at age five and establishing his own arts and music school by the age of 30, Mushfiq was forced to flee his homeland in 1992, when the Soviet-backed regime fell and Kabul erupted into civil war.
Québec
Closing the circle
Québec City, Québec — Florence was only a small child when her family fled Vietnam in 1979, but the memories of that sometimes harrowing journey are vivid. Crowded into a small boat, the family spent four days on the South China Sea.
We were attacked by pirates three times,” says Florence. “I was too young to know exactly what was happening or to understand the danger,
but I do remember the feeling that something very serious was happening, that something was not right.
Saskatchewan
An angel of the north
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan — Dr. Lalita is a highly regarded physician whose combination of skill, compassion and commitment to her community have brought her numerous honours.
She received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2001 and the Order of Canada in 2007 and most recently, was proclaimed 2008 “Citizen of the Year” in Prince Albert, the city which she says “found her” in 1975.
Further stories from other newcomers to Canada
Building Futures in Canada is a Web site developed by the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) in partnership with the Government of Canada. It includes video vignettes profiling the stories of 23 former immigrants to Canada who talk about why they chose Canada, where they decided to settle, the challenges they faced, and the sources of help they received.
Viewing these vignettes will enable you not only to hear the experiences of these individuals but to learn what life is like in various communities across Canada. You will find below four sample video vignettes from this resource.
Video vignette samples:
We encourage you to visit the Building Futures in Canada Web site for further videos.