Immigrants of Toronto: Recent Episodes
Oscar Cecena
Stories of Immigrants of Toronto. Aiming to open people’s minds through real stories of immigration.
Hello everybody! It has been a while since the last time I released an episode. So to be clear from the start, this episode is the last one I’m launching, at least for a while.
I launched the first episode in August of 2019. But I started working on it earlier that year, which means that I’ve been technically working on it for three years.
It’s not easy to make the decision to put the podcast on hiatus because it’s an essential part of my identity. But at this point in my life, I need to prioritize and let go of things that are not the top priority.
We all have been hurt by the covid pandemic, from not being able to go out and meet our friends to losing our loved ones. Unfortunately, I suffered both scenarios and still did my best to push forward.
It has been over a year since my father-in-law passed. 2021 was a challenging year, and doing the podcast every week helped me distract from my day-to-day life. Then during the summer, I left a job that saw me grow for six and a half years to join LinkedIn, which, funny enough, it’s the only social media platform I check religiously.
We all know that the first six months in a job are stressful; it’s when you’re learning and making mistakes. Unlearning things that worked in the past and learning new ones. But still, I kept the podcast going. Sometimes I didn’t have time after work, so I dedicated my weekends to prepare everything.
And then I took a trip to Mexico over the holidays, and that’s when everything hit me. I realized that I’ve been so busy doing so many things in my spare time that I had neglected what matters the most to me, my family.
When I came back to Toronto, I wondered what to do with the podcast, and, in the end, I decided to put it on hold. I honestly don’t know when I’ll be restarting it again, and I want to apologize to all the people who gave me time to tell their stories and never saw the light.
I’m happy to say that I’m closing this part of my life with over 100 episodes that have been downloaded over 50,000 times in 132 countries.
When I started this project, my goal was to reach at least 30 people per month. In the last few months, when I released new content, the average was over 3,000 downloads, a hundred times more than what I expected.
I’m saving the best for the end. I always say that I’m just the guy who says hello and asks questions, and I believe that. The stories come from all my guests, all the people who took the time to talk to me and share a vital part of their lives.
This project is for you. You are the ones who made this happen. So thank you!
I’m not sure if or when I’ll come back, but in the meantime, you can always listen to other excellent podcasts that showcase stories about immigrants. You have the New to Canada podcast with my friend Kate and also The Immigrant View with Ayo. Each one has a different approach to telling the stories, but both of them do it from the heart.
I have nothing else to say but goodbye and thank you for listening. I’m Oscar Cecena, and this was the last episode of Immigrants of Toronto.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you're an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I'm Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
This episode was originally broadcast on September 14, 2021.
Pragya Diwan moved to Canada from India to pursue her career. As she says, things were just too good, so she looked for a change.
In this episode, she talks about her journey as an immigrant in the media field. And how her decisions helped her to host a radio show and, later, create her own initiative called The Student Ally.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Pragya Diwan
Pragya Diwan
My name is Pragya Diwan. I’m a journalist from India with a penchant for telling stories. My quest with journalism allowed me to work in different roles like a TV presenter, content creator, radio host and video producer.
After working for five years in the mainstream media, juggling between deadlines, covering breaking news and searching stories, I decided to take a break. I thought I needed to brush up on my writing skills, and I made an impromptu decision of travelling to Canada for a writing course. In just three months, I was in Canada as an international student, which changed my life.
Just after being in Toronto for three months, I got my first job as a radio host in CIRV 88.9 FM in Brampton, where I hosted Bollywood music morning shows from Monday to Friday. Apart from the radio announcing, I do some freelance stuff like voiceovers, social media management, video creation, shoot and edit etc. I also run my own brand called The Student Ally, through which I help international students who come to Canada.
Get in touch with Pragya
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pragya-diwan-1898045b/Instagram: @diwanpragyaFacebook: facebook.com/pragya.diwan.9
This episode was originally broadcast on August 10, 2021.
Karla Medina moved to Canada from Venezuela worried about her life. She didn't know when she arrived that she had a case to apply as a refugee.
She talks about resources that people in her situation should know and use. And also how, after everything she went through, she was able to get a job that she loves.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Karla Medina
Karla Medina
I am a Venezuelan journalist that immigrated to Canada 8 years ago when people from the Venezuelan government threatened my life. Being a crime news reporter in Venezuela is probably one of the most dangerous jobs.
In Canada, I had two beautiful daughters. They are now four and five years old, went back to school, graduated with a high GPA, and changed the path of my life from chaos to success.
Get in touch with Karla
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karlamedina07/Instagram: @karla_mdinaFacebook: facebook.com/Karlitabella07
Other resources mentioned
Woodgreen Community Services: woodgreen.org
This episode was originally broadcast on May 18, 2021.
In this episode, I chat with Gunjan and Farhan Kafil. Originally from India, they met in Dubai and decided to move to Canada. But before establishing in Toronto, they took a fantastic road trip across the country. Today, they share with us their journey of immigration.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Gunjan and Farhan Kafil
Gunjan & Farhan Kafil
Gunjan and Farhan are curious explorers, outdoors enthusiasts and spirited overlanders. She is a communications pro and he is a contracts manager.
Gunjan grew up in Mumbai and spent summer holidays in a small Himalayan town where hikes with cousins cultivated a love for the mountains. Since then, she has climbed two of the “Seven Summits” and mountains in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Farhan is a small-town boy excited by this extraordinary world. He likes to tinker with ideas, plan the next adventure or simply, lace up and run. He is a marathoner, hiker and co-founder of an off-road adventure club.
They met on a road trip in Dubai and, the rest is history – or rather, geography. Together, they climbed mountains, descended into the Grand Canyon, walked on icefields and to the rims of active volcanoes, slept by glaciers and witnessed the aurora borealis. Several adventures later, they moved to Canada in 2019.
As new Canadians, they spent five months RVing in the great outdoors of North America – a journey of 22,000 kms from Toronto to Tuktoyatuk in NWT, Alaska and mainland USA. Together, they explored the country, its culture and communities to learn first-hand what it means to be a Canadian.
Get in touch with Gunjan & Farhan
Traveling
Website: wonderlost.meInstagram: @wonderlost.meFacebook: facebook.com/wonderlost.me/
Gunjan Kafil
Website: gunjankafil.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gunjankafil/Instagram: @gunjankafil
Farhan Kafil
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/farhankafil/
This episode was originally broadcast on September 21, 2021.
Mariela Gutierrez was born in Mexico but moved to the USA at a very young age. Later in her life, she decided to move to Toronto.
She talks about the struggles of the immigrant journey as she saw it from her parents, moving to the United States from Mexico. The challenge of starting a new life in a different country to provide a better life for her family.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Mariela Gutierrez
Mariela Gutierrez
Mariela Gutierrez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to the US with her parents in 1990. She arrived in the US undocumented; she and her family settled in Los Angeles.
Mariela attended LA public schools and went on to earn Bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Chicanx Latinx Studies from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She also obtained a Master’s degree in Social and Cultural Analysis of Education at CSULB and worked in Student Affairs for five years.
In 2020, after living in the US for three decades without any permanent legal status, she immigrated to Canada and now lives in Toronto.
She recently completed her first year of law school at York University's Osgoode Hall. She is active on Instagram sharing her journey in Canada and law school.
Get in touch with Mariela
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gutierrezmariela/Instagram: @dacamerican
This episode was originally broadcast on July 20, 2021.
Dean Lobo moved from India to Toronto in 2018. He took a bridging program that helped him adapt and find a job in his field.
He talks about the microaggressions that sometimes we, as immigrants, face and how was able to get a job at a non-profit that helps minorities.
Listen to episode 59 as well if you want to hear more about microaggressions.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Dean Lobo
Dean Lobo
Dean Lobo (he/him) is an experienced Communications and Public Relations professional based in Toronto, Canada. Prior to immigrating to Canada in 2018, he worked across various media including radio, television, and print and digital news in India, his country of origin.
Dean currently works as a Communications Specialist at The 519, Canada's most prominent LGBTQ2S community organization and service provider. He is passionate about elevating the voices of minority and marginalized communities through his work, something he gets to do extensively through advocacy and fundraising communications in his current role.
Dean is also an accomplished pianist and a self-taught watercolour artist. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring Canada's many nature trails and small towns, driving through the countryside, urban sketching, creating music covers and cooking.
Get in touch with Dean
Website: deanlobo2.wixsite.com/portfolioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deanlobo/Facebook: facebook.com/deanpianistInstagram: @deanpianist
This episode was originally broadcast on May 5, 2021.
In this episode, I chat with Melanie Anthony. She's my first guest from Mauritius, and she shares her journey of immigration.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Melanie Anthony
Melanie Anthony
A Mauritian, an African with multicultural heritage and Torontonian since 2016, Melanie Anthony is a versatile Bilingual with expertise in Content Development, Journalism, Marketing, Corporate and Digital Communications, Storytelling with a particular interest in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the fight against Systemic Racism, Policy Making, Accessibility Sustainability and Technology.
Her objective is to enhance communications and contribute to a bigger impact. Melanie has over 15 years of experience working as communications professional in different industries and fields such as Government agencies, Non for Profit organizations, Public Policy, Media, Gaming and Entertainment, Innovation, Creative and Cultural Industries, Food and Beverages, Tourism, Audit and Information Technology as well as Finance. A Chevening Scholar holds a Master of Arts in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths University, London, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Mauritius. A dedicated solutions-oriented individual, Melanie has a knack for networking and strong entrepreneurship acumen.
She founded Best Relations Network Ltd ( now closed), a networking agency aimed at connecting professionals and businesses that managed projects related to strategic planning, business networking, corporate communications, marketing, and events management.
Since immigrating to Canada and acknowledging that she is a settler, Melanie has made it her priority to learn about Indigenous peoples, including diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and Indigenous culture treaties. She also educates herself about the history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Black Heritage in Canada. She is an earnest champion in combating ingrained systemic racism and is a fervent advocate of accessibility for all. She aims to bring the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lens to the forefront of conversations.
Get in touch with Melanie
This episode was originally broadcast on June 8, 2021.
Laura Stürmer, my guest from Episode 24, joins me one year later. Her life has changed quite a bit since the first episode we did together. First, we talk about how she switched jobs when the lockdown started, then how she bought a home, and finally about mental health.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Laura Stürmer
Laura Stürmer
Laura Stürmer is a Marketing Professional with over seven years of experience in branding, product and channel management.
She has spent most of her career internationally working for retail companies and manufacturing organizations in Brazil and Canada. She currently works at Canadian Tire as an Associate Brand Manager.
On the side, Laura currently volunteers in different institutions offering mentorship focused on helping newcomers and refugees that are transitioning over to the Canadian Labour Market.
Listen to Laura's immigration story: Episode 24: Giving Back by Helping Newcomers
Get in touch with Laura
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurasturmer/
This episode was originally broadcast on June 22, 2021.
Today I'll be talking about how we, as immigrants, measure success, as well as sharing a few tips to avoid comparing our life with people who didn't move to a new country.
Three tips on how to avoid comparing your success with others
Be careful with social media. We all share the good things that happen to us there, but we rarely share the bad ones. So, don't compare your real life with a social media profile.Understand that getting a job as an immigrant is more challenging than someone who has lived in a country since they were born. For example, your friends back home have a network that they have forged for decades. You just started one.And the third one. Keep the reason why you moved in mind. Print it and put it on your refrigerator, so you're constantly reminded why you decided to take the hard way and moved to a new country.
Listen to the episode for all the details.
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
This episode was originally broadcast on October 19, 2021.
Ryan Hollinrake joins me today to talk about how Access Community Capital Fund helps newcomers with no credit history in Canada fund and succeed as entrepreneurs.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Ryan Hollinrake
Ryan Hollinrake
Ryan has worked as a leader in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. With his deep background in finance and marketing, he has successfully led, revived & grown four non-profits.
Proud to have acquired over 25 global marketing awards from creating and driving campaigns, Ryan’s breadth of experience while working for organizations such as Access CCF, Canadian Safe Schools, Oxfam, and Good Foot Support Services has allowed him to hone in on social advocacy in order to bring about change and align strategic partnerships that last and truly make a difference.
Get in touch with Ryan and Access Community Capital Fund
Website: accessccf.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/access-community-capital-fund/Instagram: @accessccfFacebook: facebook.com/accessccfTwitter: @accessCCFYouTube: youtube.com/user/accessCCFRyan's email: ryan@accessccf.com
This episode was originally broadcast on June 29, 2021.
Meera Bala moved from Sri Lanka to Canada in 1988 due to the civil war when she was only a child. When Meera and her family arrived, they didn't speak English, and there were very few South Asian immigrants where she lived. It was a challenge for her as she faced discrimination and bullying at school.
Experiencing that discrimination as a young child just because she was different had made her a better teacher. She has zero tolerance in her classroom, and she has just released a book for children called Palm Trees Under Snow. The book reflects a bit of her own story, and her goal is to empower young children, especially children of immigrants, so they know that they can achieve great things with hard work and determination.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Meera Bala
Meera Bala
Meera Bala is a Tamil-Canadian author and publisher of children’s books. She immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka with her family in the 80s.
Her love for reading and writing began very early. As a child, she enjoyed writing stories and letters for her family and friends.
She graduated from York University’s Concurrent Education program with a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English.
Meera Bala is an educator with the Toronto District School Board for the past 19 years. She has taught junior, intermediate and special education classes.
She has always been a huge advocate of social justice, multicultural and equity issues and served as the equity representative for many years at her school.
Meera was an aspiring author for many years, and finally, during the pandemic, she made her dreams into a reality. In March 2021, she wrote her first book, Palm Trees Under Snow, and started her publishing company, MB Publishing.
Outside of writing children’s books, she enjoys spending time with her parents, husband, and two wonderful sons. She has a close support group of siblings, friends and co-workers that she’s extremely grateful for.
Get in touch with Meera
Website: www.wordsbymeera.comInstagram: @wordsby.meeraFacebook: facebook.com/wordsbymeera
Hello and welcome to the immigrants of Toronto podcast.
Today I’m launching episode one hundred and what better way to do it than by announcing the top 10 episodes of 2021.
For the next few weeks, I’ll be rebroadcasting the 10 episodes that had the most downloads over the year. Some of them were obvious winners, some others were happy surprises. But, whatever the case was, the list is final and it goes like this:
Number 10:
Experiencing discrimination as a child: Meera Bala (Sri Lanka)
Meera was my first guest from Sri Lanka and on that episode, she talked about her childhood in Canada and how she experienced and overcame discrimination.
Number 9
Helping newcomers start their businesses: Ryan Hollinrake (Canada)
Ryan is not an immigrant but in this episode, he talked about how Access Community Capital Fund can help immigrants with no credit history to start their businesses.
Number 8
How do you measure success as an immigrant?
This was one of the happy surprises. This episode is just me talking about how we can measure success as an immigrant. It’s a short one that came to me as I thought about my own successes and failures.
Number 7
One year later: Laura Sturmer (Brazil)
The first interview I did with Laura was the most downloaded episode of 2020. So, of course, her second participation in the podcast had to be in the top 10!
Number 6
From a small island: Melanie Anthony (Mauritius)
Melanie is my first and only guest from Mauritius. She’s an amazing person who arrived here in 2016 and has a very interesting story.
Number 5
Helping minorities: Dean Lobo (India)
Dean is another amazing human being that not only has a great story but also has dedicated his professional life in Canada to help minorities.
Number 4
The struggle of immigration: Mariela Gutierrez (Mexico & USA)
My wife found Mariela on Instagram and the first thing she said to me was: you need to interview her. And so I did. Mariela’s immigration perspective is quite unique. Born in Mexico and raised in the US, moving to Canada was a new experience for her.
Number 3
Getting to know Canada: Gunjan & Farhan Kafil (India/Dubai)
Time to confess that because of technical difficulties, we had to record this episode twice. The good thing is that I think the second and final take went way better than the first one! One thing I loved about Gunjan and Farhan is that they took the time to travel Canada before settling in Toronto. Honestly, I wish I someday do the same trip.
Number 2
Escaping your country: Karla Medina (Venezuela)
Karla’s story is different than most of the ones I share. Most of my guests decided to move to Canada to have a better life, in the case of Karla it was to preserve hers. Fearing that the worst could happen, she decided to leave Venezuela and try her luck here.
Number 1
Things were getting too good: Pragya Diwan (India)
Pragya’s journey started because she wanted a challenge. Most people stay where they are if things are good. But Pragya is different, she took a long flight, move to the other side of the world, and started her next challenge.
As I said, these episodes will be rebroadcasted in the next few weeks while I’m taking a well-deserved break.
The next new episode will be launched by the end of January. Until now, please enjoy not only the rebroadcasts but also listen to any episode that you didn’t listen to this year. I can tell you that every story is worth listening to.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you're an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I'm Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Today is December 18, 2021, and do you know what we are celebrating? Today is International Migrants Day (https://www.un.org/en/observances/migrants-day)!
We hear many things about migrants, and today I want to share what it means to be an immigrant for me and some of my guests.
What does it mean to be an immigrant? In my experience, being an immigrant means taking risks knowing that you cannot fail. It's taking a leap of faith aiming to land on your feet.
I look back at myself setting foot in Canada eight years ago, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for that person. Honestly, I don't know if the 43-year-old Oscar would do the things that the 35-year-old one did.
Sometimes it's hard to believe that we packed our lives into two suitcases and got rid of everything that didn't fit in there. Just to take a flight and arrive at a country where people didn't speak our language and thought Cinco de Mayo was our independence day.
But what I find harder to believe is that we did it all by ourselves, we didn't have family or friends in Canada, we didn't have a job or even interviews lined up, and no one was there to greet us when we stepped out from Pearson airport.
I want to say that the first few months were difficult, but I would be lying. The first "few years" sounds a bit more accurate. But even though they were challenging, I remember those times fondly. It is true when people say that "tough times don't define you, they refine you." I cannot think of a time in my life when I had grown more as a person than in my first years in Canada. I learned to value the things that matter and discard those that didn't. I understood that humility and compassion go a long way. And I realized that asking for help didn't mean I was helpless; it was just that I needed a hand to get back on my feet.
Very few moments in my life are as significant as those starting years, and I cherish them like nothing else. It's funny that sometimes I experience something that takes me back in time, and I'm going to share three of them with you:
The first one is the sound of an approaching streetcar. It may be because back in Mexico we didn't have them, so the sound was new to me, or, most likely, it's because riding the TTC back then was so expensive that I rather walk for an hour during the winter than spend three dollars on public transit.
The second thing that brings me back to that time is walking around Dundas Square. We used to go out and walk around that area on a weekend night. If it was cold, we may buy a coffee at Tim Horton's or Mcdonald's, not because we particularly liked their premium arabica beans, but because it was the only treat we could afford without spending part of the rent's money.
And the last one is the intro music from the TV show: The Office. If we didn't go out for a walk to Dundas Square, we used to stay home and watch that show while eating a frozen pizza topped with onions. I swear that pizza tasted better than any pizza I ever had. I know that's not true, and there's a reason I don't have them anymore, but it was the equivalent of fine dining at the time.
Harsh times make you evolve. I'm no longer that 35-year old that set foot in Canada hoping for the best and also expecting, naively, the best to happen.
I may be one of the few that never got homesick. Never missed Mexican food or wanted to go back to my home country. I'm not saying I didn't miss my family and friends. I'm just saying that it didn't matter how much I missed them, I had decided Toronto was my home, and even if things weren't going as planned, I'd do anything in my power to continue this journey.
It is funny how perspective changes after living here for eight years. I don't feel like a newcomer anymore, but I will always feel like an immigrant. I took that leap of faith, armed only with my knowledge, aptitude, and personality, and, after falling down many times, I was able to finally land on my feet.
Mifrah Abid moved to Canada from India a few years ago. She always believed in social justice. When the pandemic hit, she faced a challenge in her career as a teacher, so she pivoted and started a podcast called Across Her Table, where she interviews immigrant women.
Due to her podcast, she gained the experience she needed to apply for a job as an anti-racism/ anti-islamophobia advocate. Now, she doesn't see herself doing anything differently.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you're an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I'm Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Mifrah Abid
Mifrah Abid
Mifrah Abid is a podcaster and an Anti-racism/ Anti-Islamophobia advocate.
Her podcast, Across Her Table, highlights the stories of remarkable Canadian women with immigrant roots. She loves a good laugh, has a thing for funny memes and is passionate about telling under-represented stories in the mainstream.
She works with the Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo (CMW), and through her role, she helps support victims of hate and racism and provides Anti-Islamophobia trainings.
She had been a lecturer of English in India before she migrated to Canada in late 2017. She is now a certified ESL trainer. She is also a huge proponent of social justice, and you will often see her discuss those issues on her social media and published writings.
Get in touch with Mifrah
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mifrah-abid-26463b5b/Instagram: @acrosshertableTwitter: @acrosshertableFacebook: facebook.com/acrosshertableWebsite: www.acrosshertable.com
Monica Rojano moved to Canada in 2013 with her family. After looking at other options, like Australia, she decided to move to Canada because she wanted her children to experience this country’s diversity.
In this episode, Monica shares his experience and talks about the importance of self-advocacy.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Monica Rojano
Monica Rojano
Monica moved to Canada In 2013; she moved with her husband and three children. Professionally she has more than 15 years of commercial experience in multiple industries. She loves travelling, movies and biking with her family.
Get in touch with Monica
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/monica-rojano-mba-9686018Facebook: facebook.com/monica.rojano.775
Alan Middleton has been mentoring immigrants for quite some time. As an immigrant from England to Canada, he identifies with the struggles that newcomers face.
In this episode, Alan shares his experience as a mentor as well as some valuable advice for new Canadians.
Note: Due to issues with my microphone when recording, the audio on this episode is below the standard quality. I apologize for it; I hope you enjoy the episode.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Alan Middleton
Alan Middleton
Alan C. Middleton is a long-time professor at the Schulich School of Business, York University, independent consultant, author and speaker on marketing and mentorship.
He was inducted into Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends in 2004 in the mentorship category and has been a long-time mentor and advisory committee member at the Mentor Exchange, operated by AMA Toronto. Recently, he released his latest book, Mentorship Matters: Now More Than Ever! that delivers a timely look at mentorship programs in the post-pandemic workplace.
Middleton has experience empowering new Canadians by helping them understand local business culture, identifying employment opportunities, and enhancing their networking and interview skills.
Get in touch with Alan
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alan-c-middleton-phd-8a253a9/Read Alan's book: Mentorship Matters: Now More Than Ever!
Maria Martinez is my first guest from Peru. I’m very excited to have her as a guest. She moved from Peru in 2017with her husband and her two children. She came as a student at Humber and, to force herself to practice her English, joined a Toastmasters club.
Even with all her professional experience, she found it challenging to get the job she wanted. However, she joined a bridging program at Rottman and was able to get that job in just a couple of months after starting.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Maria Martinez
Maria Martinez
Maria moved from Peru to Toronto in February 2017 with her husband Julio and two kids: Val, 15 and Maria Julia, 12.
She received some great pieces of advice and some terrible ones before coming here and wants to share what worked for her and her family.
Get in touch with Maria
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariavmg/Instagram: @mariavalvaneramgTwitter: @MariaValvaMG
Jessica Beck, host of the IELTS Energy podcast, joins me today to talk about the importance of preparing for the English proficiency test. She works at All Ears English Education, and today she shares excellent advice on how to improve your English by engaging in authentic conversations.
Jessica featured me in her podcast as well; you can listen to it here: https://www.allearsenglish.com/ielts-energy-1079-life-after-ielts-oscars-3-tips-to-thrive-in-canada/
The best advice she gave is: Be your authentic self in English.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Jessica Beck
Jessica Beck
I have been in the ESL world for nearly two decades. In that time, I have written 16 ESL textbooks, implemented Taiwan’s first TESOL teacher-training program, and taught in three countries. For 14 years, I was also an IELTS Examiner.
Currently, I am Director of IELTS Training for All Ears English. In this role, I host a top-ranked test prep podcast, IELTS Energy TV, and co-host the All Ears English podcast, downloaded over 200 million times since its launch. Additionally, I have designed and project-managed the creation process for all three of our successful online courses.
From time to time, I act as a curriculum consultant for various ESL organizations.
Get in touch with Jessica
Website: allearsenglish.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessica-beck-aee/Instagram: @all_ears_english
Today is Remembrance Day. And to commemorate the occasion, I'm joined by Rodrigo Königs. He's a good friend of mine and also a WWI enthusiast.
We recorded this episode at Prospect Cemetery while visiting the tombstones of four immigrant soldiers who fought for Canada during the Great War.
This episode aims to honour the memory of the soldiers who, even though they weren't born in this country, decided to go to war for it.
Here are the four soldiers that we mention in this episode:
Captain Walter L. RayfieldPrivate Wesley CoweckPrivate Curley ChristianSergeant Major Colin F. Barron
Captain Walter L. Rayfield
Private Wesley Coweck
Private Curley Christian
Sergeant Major Colin F. Barron
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Rodrigo Königs
Rodrigo Königs
After 18 years living in Canada, Rodrigo has lived in four different Canadian cities (Ottawa, Victoria, Edmonton, and Toronto), and has developed a career in the social services and nonprofit sectors.
He is married and has two children. He manages an online page about World War I called “Century Flow: Stories of the Great War” and he founded a community for Mexican professionals in Ontario that now has over 2,000 members.
Get in touch with Rodrigo
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-konigs-ma-cmp-a23a6324/Twitter @RKonigsInstagram: @rodrigo.konigsCentury Flow: Stories from the Great WarFacebook community for Mexican professionals
Vadim Lidich joins the podcast today to talk about his experience of moving to Canada at a very young age by himself. His family saved enough money to send him here to give him better opportunities.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Vadim Lidich
Vadim Lidich
Startup founder & product architect with experience in LegalTech, PropTech, Fintech, VC Tech, and eSports. Passionate about SMB SaaS and about building solutions for the underserved segments in the market.
Co-founder & CTO @ Paperstack, where we help millions of e-commerce sellers across North America with bookkeeping, categorize all their expenses, and provide actionable insights to help them grow their online store.
Mentor & startup advisor at Gener8tor, Founder Institute (Ukraine), The Forge (McMaster U), Ingenuity (Lakehead U), and through communities like TeaClub and MapleMaker. Podcast host.
Get in touch with Vadim
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vadimlidichInstagram: @vadimlidichWebsite: paperstack.us
I want to talk about Halloween. It may be a common topic, but in the last week, I had conversations with three different newcomers who not only don’t celebrate Halloween, but they think it’s just an American holiday.
I’ve always loved history. And I find ancient cultures fascinating, especially the Celts. And that’s why I decided to make this episode.
Basically, the Celts were a collection of tribes that shared a similar language, tradition, and culture. It’s believed that their civilization started as early as 1,200 BC. They spread to most Western Europe but mainly lived in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and the north of France. They celebrated their new year on November 1st. Yes, their year ended with the summer.
And this is where we start talking about Halloween.
The Celts had a celebration called Samhain (“SAH-win”) to mark the end of summer, welcome the harvest and mark the beginning of what they called “the dark half of the year,” which is basically the winter when we get only a few hours of light.
Anyway, during that celebration, the Celts believed that the boundaries between the physical world and the spirit world broke, allowing spirits of the dead to roam freely in the land of the living.
And because the barrier between the dead and the living was broken, they prepared offerings left outside their villages in an attempt to satisfy the spirits and make sure they didn’t enter.
However, they believed that some spirits would still go inside their villages. Especially their ancestors, so the living dressed up as animals, using furs and branches, so the dead couldn’t recognize and take them to the otherworld where the dead dwell.
By the year 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had already conquered most Celtic territory, and during the four centuries that they ruled the land, a Roman festival called Feralia was combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. Feralia was when the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead, and it was celebrated in late October.
Then, many centuries later, Pope Gregory III moved the All Martyrs Day that was initially celebrated on May 13th to November 1st. And renamed it All Saints day.
By the 9th century, Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with older Celtic rites and traditions. Then in the year 1000, the church named November 2nd All Soul’s Day, also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
Halloween in this continent
Before the mid 19th century in North America, Halloween was not widely celebrated. It was until the second half of the 19th century when North America was flooded with new immigrants, especially Irish immigrants, that popularized Halloween on this side of the globe.
Most of the celebrations we have today in Canada come from traditions outside this country. And even though Halloween is now a night to go trick or treating and have fun with friends, it’s good to know that hundreds of years ago, people dressed up not to have fun but because they feared the spirits of the dead.
As I said in the beginning, I love history. So if you enjoyed this episode, let me know, and I’ll be happy to add a few of these here and there to talk about traditions or historical events that forged this country that we decided to call home.
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Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it!
Mustafa Ansari joins me today to talk about how volunteering helped him to build a network in Canada. It not only helped him to find new friends but also to find job opportunities.
He also shares his experience of living in a community where, some days, he didn’t even have to speak English. And how later he moved to Kingston, Ontario, to study for a Master’s degree.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Mustafa Ansari
Mustafa Ansari
Mustafa moved to Toronto in 2018 in search of restarting his life and doing a Master’s in Canada.
After living in the GTA for a short while, he moved to Kingston to do a Master’s from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.
Since then, he has lived in Kingston, a 3hr drive from Toronto, enjoyed the small city life and still loves to help newcomers, international students, and immigrants find their feet to their new home!
Get in touch with Mustafa
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ansari/Instagram: @mustafa23ansariToronto Starting Kit by Mustafa Ansari
Ryan Hollinrake joins me today to talk about how Access Community Capital Fund helps newcomers with no credit history in Canada fund and succeed as entrepreneurs.
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Ryan Hollinrake
Ryan Hollinrake
Ryan has worked as a leader in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. With his deep background in finance and marketing, he has successfully led, revived & grown four non-profits.
Proud to have acquired over 25 global marketing awards from creating and driving campaigns, Ryan’s breadth of experience while working for organizations such as Access CCF, Canadian Safe Schools, Oxfam, and Good Foot Support Services has allowed him to hone in on social advocacy in order to bring about change and align strategic partnerships that last and truly make a difference.
Get in touch with Ryan and Access Community Capital Fund
Website: accessccf.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/access-community-capital-fund/Instagram: @accessccfFacebook: facebook.com/accessccfTwitter: @accessCCFYouTube: youtube.com/user/accessCCFRyan's email: ryan@accessccf.com
Inna Figotina was born in Russia. Her family moved to Canada when she was just a child. She didn’t speak English or French and, today, she shares her experience as a seven-year-old who only spoke Russian in Canada.
She also shares how she adapted to her new country, learned both languages, and wrote a children’s book called Trilingual Me! Moi, trilingue! that celebrates her journey learning her second and third languages.
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Inna Figotina
Inna Figotina
Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Inna Figotina immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with her parents in January 2000 when she was seven years old. In her first year living in Canada, she started learning English as her second language and French as her third language at school. Today, she is proud to be fluent in Russian, English and French.
Inna discovered her love of learning languages at a young age, and she decided to become a language teacher when she grew up. She graduated with degrees in French Studies and Education, specializing in teaching French as a Second Language and receiving a Certificate of Bilingualism in French and English. She completed her Masters of Education in French, specializing in Modern Languages Education. Today she is a certified French as a Second Language educator.
Inna is sharing her journey to becoming trilingual to inspire others who are on their journey of learning a new language. She wrote her dual-language book “Trilingual Me! Moi, trilingue!” in both of Canada’s official languages, English and French, as part of her thesis project after years of researching the topic of immigrant students in the French as a Second Language program.
Get in touch with Inna
Website: innafigotina.weebly.comInstagram: @trilingualme.moitrilingueFacebook: facebook.com/trilingualme.moitrilingueOrder the book: amazon.ca/dp/0228825059
Mariela Gutierrez was born in Mexico but moved to the USA at a very young age. Later in her life, she decided to move to Toronto.
She talks about the struggles of the immigrant journey as she saw it from her parents, moving to the United States from Mexico. The challenge of starting a new life in a different country to provide a better life for her family.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Mariela Gutierrez
Mariela Gutierrez
Mariela Gutierrez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to the US with her parents in 1990. She arrived in the US undocumented; she and her family settled in Los Angeles.
Mariela attended LA public schools and went on to earn Bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Chicanx Latinx Studies from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She also obtained a Master’s degree in Social and Cultural Analysis of Education at CSULB and worked in Student Affairs for five years.
In 2020, after living in the US for three decades without any permanent legal status, she immigrated to Canada and now lives in Toronto.
She recently completed her first year of law school at York University's Osgoode Hall. She is active on Instagram sharing her journey in Canada and law school.
Get in touch with Mariela
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gutierrezmariela/Instagram: @dacamerican
Pragya Diwan moved to Canada from India to pursue her career. As she says, things were just too good, so she looked for a change.
In this episode, she talks about her journey as an immigrant in the media field. And how her decisions helped her to host a radio show and, later, create her own initiative called The Student Ally.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Pragya Diwan
Pragya Diwan
My name is Pragya Diwan. I’m a journalist from India with a penchant for telling stories. My quest with journalism allowed me to work in different roles like a TV presenter, content creator, radio host and video producer.
After working for five years in the mainstream media, juggling between deadlines, covering breaking news and searching stories, I decided to take a break. I thought I needed to brush up on my writing skills, and I made an impromptu decision of travelling to Canada for a writing course. In just three months, I was in Canada as an international student, which changed my life.
Just after being in Toronto for three months, I got my first job as a radio host in CIRV 88.9 FM in Brampton, where I hosted Bollywood music morning shows from Monday to Friday. Apart from the radio announcing, I do some freelance stuff like voiceovers, social media management, video creation, shoot and edit etc. I also run my own brand called The Student Ally, through which I help international students who come to Canada.
Get in touch with Pragya
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pragya-diwan-1898045b/Instagram: @diwanpragyaFacebook: facebook.com/pragya.diwan.9
Karla Medina moved to Canada from Venezuela worried about her life. She didn't know when she arrived that she had a case to apply as a refugee.
She talks about resources that people in her situation should know and use. And also how, after everything she went through, she was able to get a job that she loves.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Karla Medina
Karla Medina
I am a Venezuelan journalist that immigrated to Canada 8 years ago when people from the Venezuelan government threatened my life. Being a crime news reporter in Venezuela is probably one of the most dangerous jobs.
In Canada, I had two beautiful daughters. They are now four and five years old, went back to school, graduated with a high GPA, and changed the path of my life from chaos to success.
Get in touch with Karla
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karlamedina07/Instagram: @karla_mdinaFacebook: facebook.com/Karlitabella07
Other resources mentioned
Woodgreen Community Services: woodgreen.org
In Canada, every year, we celebrate a holiday on the first Monday of August. It has different names according to the province. Most people just refer to it as Civic Holiday. But in Ontario, this holiday is called Simcoe Day, named after the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe. He founded York, which later became this fantastic city we all know and love, Toronto.
But you may be wondering, who is John Graves Simcoe, and why do I care? Well, first of all, it’s part of the history of the country. But, if you’re planning to one day take the Canadian citizenship test, you’ll need to know who he was.
I’m not going to turn this episode into a lecture, so if you want to know more about him, I’ll add some links on the episode notes.
I want to mention here why he is remembered and why there is a holiday in his name.
Back in 1793, when Simcoe was Lieutenant Governor, Upper Canada became the first province in the British Empire to move toward the abolition of slavery. Then, in 1807, the British Parliament prohibited the buying and selling of slaves, and in 1833 abolished slavery throughout the empire.
That is 40 years after Upper Canada did it.
The abolition of slavery in Upper Canada led to thousands of slaves escaping the United States following the so-called “North Star” and settled in Canada via the Underground Railroad.
So there you have it. This coming holiday is called Simcoe day in Ontario because of all this.
Lean more about Simcoe Day or John Graves Simcoe
Wikipedia: John Graves SimcoeCBC Simcoe Day: Canada's roots in slavery and the historic abolitionCity News: What is Simcoe Day
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Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Komal Faiz arrived from Pakistan in 2015. She came to study for a master's degree and, even after some rejections, she was able to land a job in her field.
She talks about the self-criticism that she faced back then and how she overcame the challenge.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Komal Faiz
Komal Faiz
Komal is the founder of 'Wanderlite' and a co-author in the book 'Contentious Cities.' She moved to Canada in 2015 to take her business global and get a Masters's degree.
She's a researcher, designer, and innovator. Her research and business focus on travelling, mobility for women, identity, and finding oneself.
Get in touch with Komal
Website: wanderlite.coInstagram: @anordinarytraveljournalLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/komal-faiz
Dean Lobo moved from India to Toronto in 2018. He took a bridging program that helped him adapting and find a job in his field.
He talks about the microaggressions that sometimes we, as immigrants, face and how was able to get a job at a non-profit that helps minorities.
Listen to episode 59 as well if you want to hear more about microaggressions.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Dean Lobo
Dean Lobo
Dean Lobo (he/him) is an experienced Communications and Public Relations professional based in Toronto, Canada. Prior to immigrating to Canada in 2018, he worked across various media including radio, television, and print and digital news in India, his country of origin.
Dean currently works as a Communications Specialist at The 519, Canada's most prominent LGBTQ2S community organization and service provider. He is passionate about elevating the voices of minority and marginalized communities through his work, something he gets to do extensively through advocacy and fundraising communications in his current role.
Dean is also an accomplished pianist and a self-taught watercolour artist. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring Canada's many nature trails and small towns, driving through the countryside, urban sketching, creating music covers and cooking.
Get in touch with Dean
Website: deanlobo2.wixsite.com/portfolioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deanlobo/Facebook: facebook.com/deanpianistInstagram: @deanpianist
Shelly Cerrelli moved from Jamaica to Canada in 2004, landing in Montreal. A few years later, in 2009, she moved to Toronto, where she now lives with her family.
She describes herself as a serial entrepreneur and has been working in the tech industry for years.
As an immigrant, she knows the challenges that we face when moving to a new country, and she provides sound advice for anyone who just landed or is about to come:
Make use of LinkedIn to connect with other professionals and expand your networkGet advice from friends and colleagues in your fieldVolunteer, it's one of the quickest ways to get involved in the Canadian societyYou can listen to Episode #29 for more information about volunteeringFine tune your communication skillsGo out and find what is outside your bubbleConnect strategically with people that will help you grow professionallyTake advantage of newcomer programsGet to know your city and CanadaLearn new skills and upgrade your current onesBe positive and stay focused
Listen to the full episode to get all the insights.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Shelly Cerrelli
Shelly Cerrelli
Shelly Cerrelli is a successful serial entrepreneur and business strategist. She has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, fostering business growth from the startup stage to maturity.
Shelly studied Business Management at The University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and obtained a Bachelor's of Interior Design from Yorkville University, Toronto. She is passionate about the career growth and acceleration of women in technology. She has participated in several women's networking groups and mentor circles to help promote female entrepreneurship and empowerment. She has also served on industry advisory boards and charitable community organizations.
Shelly is passionate about four things her family, helping women in technology, helping women in entrepreneurship and women empowerment.
Get in touch with Shelly
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/shellycerrelliWebsite: shellycerrelli.comInstagram: @shellyinspiresFacebook: facebook.com/shellyinspiresYoutube: youtube.com/c/ShellyInspires
In this episode, I talk to Clarence Paller and Alexander Braverman. Clarence is a first-generation Canadian; his parents immigrated from Russia before he was born. Alex left Russia after the U.S.S.R. collapsed and, after moving to many other countries, he established himself in the United States.
Together, they run the Russian Heritage Network, an organization that aims to promote hockey and Russian culture.
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If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Alex and Clarence
Alexander Braverman
Alexander Braverman
As a little boy growing up in Moldavia, which at that point was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, Alexander Braverman developed a love for hockey. Of course, there were no indoor Arenas, and the only time he could play was during winter when the lakes would freeze over, and he and his neighbours would meet for games of street hockey. After immigrating to the United States as one of 10 families adopted by the JCC and settling in Boca Raton more than 31 years ago, Alex eventually started a family. When his son, Michael, started playing hockey at the age of ten for the Jr. Panthers, Alex’s love of hockey came back in a different way.
To enrich his son’s experience and help him make new friends, Alex started to assist youth hockey teams in coming to Florida for tournaments. At this time, the Soviet Union no longer existed, and most of the teams came from Russia. During the tournaments, Alex would host a few boys in his house to encourage his son to interact with them, hoping that it would help him learn Russian.
Over ten years, Alex helped more than 20 international teams come to Florida, and some of the boys who came grew up to become professional players, now playing in the NHL & KHL. After Alex’s son went to college and stopped playing hockey, Alex continued with his passion and, in 2018, he organized Russian Heritage Night (RHN) at a Florida Panthers Game. In 2019, Alex grew the event into five separate Russian Heritage Nights, both in Canada and the United States. Last season, he helped organize twelve RHN’s, although two games were cancelled due to the pandemic. As part of these events, Alex also organizes masterclasses for kids to skate with retired NHL players like Darius Kasparaitis & Alexi Ponikarovsky in Florida, Val Bure & Vitaly Vishnevsky in LA, and Michael Grabovsky in Toronto.
Clarence Paller
Clarence Paller
Clarence is a first-generation Canadian. He possesses a dynamic skill set with a relentless drive for excellence and a natural ability to network and foster relationships. He graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelors's degree in Communications and obtained a post-graduate certificate in Strategic Human Resources Management from York University.
He has worked as a journalist covering some of the National Hockey League (NHL) most highly renowned names including Alexander Barkov (Florida Panthers and NHL All-Star), Darius Kasparaitis (NHL Legend) and Ryan van Asten (2 times Stanley Cup Champion). Since 2015, I have fostered relationships and have done work directly with the Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment (TBSE).
Get in touch with Alex & Clarence
Alex Braverman
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexander-braverman-339a3410/
Clarence Paller
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clarence-paller-b9a9892b/
Russian Heritage Network
Website: russianheritagenetwork.comFacebook: facebook.
Meera Bala moved from Sri Lanka to Canada in 1988 due to the civil war when she was only a child. When Meera and her family arrived, they didn't speak English, and there were very few South Asian immigrants where she lived. It was a challenge for her as she faced discrimination and bullying at school.
Experiencing that discrimination as a young child just because she was different had made her a better teacher. She has zero tolerance in her classroom, and she has just released a book for children called Palm Trees Under Snow. The book reflects a bit of her own story, and her goal is to empower young children, especially children of immigrants, so they know that they can achieve great things with hard work and determination.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Meera Bala
Meera Bala
Meera Bala is a Tamil-Canadian author and publisher of children’s books. She immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka with her family in the 80s.
Her love for reading and writing began very early. As a child, she enjoyed writing stories and letters for her family and friends.
She graduated from York University’s Concurrent Education program with a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English.
Meera Bala is an educator with the Toronto District School Board for the past 19 years. She has taught junior, intermediate and special education classes.
She has always been a huge advocate of social justice, multicultural and equity issues and served as the equity representative for many years at her school.
Meera was an aspiring author for many years, and finally, during the pandemic, she made her dreams into a reality. In March 2021, she wrote her first book, Palm Trees Under Snow, and started her publishing company, MB Publishing.
Outside of writing children’s books, she enjoys spending time with her parents, husband, and two wonderful sons. She has a close support group of siblings, friends and co-workers that she’s extremely grateful for.
Get in touch with Meera
Website: www.wordsbymeera.comInstagram: @wordsby.meeraFacebook: facebook.com/wordsbymeera
Today I'll be talking about how we, as immigrants, measure success, as well as sharing a few tips to avoid comparing our life with people who didn't move to a new country.
Three tips on how to avoid comparing your success with others
Be careful with social media. We all share the good things that happen to us there, but we rarely share the bad ones. So, don't compare your real life with a social media profile.Understand that getting a job as an immigrant is more challenging than someone who has lived in a country since they were born. For example, your friends back home have a network that they have forged for decades. You just started one.And the third one. Keep the reason why you moved in mind. Print it and put it on your refrigerator, so you're constantly reminded why you decided to take the hard way and moved to a new country.
Listen to the episode for all the details.
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Peter Hernandez moved to Canada from Chile in 1975, a year and a half after the military coup that deposed President Salvador Allende. He tells the story of his Chilean upbringing in Canada and how living in small towns at the time was so different than living in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto that we now know.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Peter Hernandez
Peter Hernandez
I was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1971. Immigrated to Toronto in January 1975 after a military coup. My father felt that it would be safer to leave Chile for few years, but we’ve stayed an entire lifetime, and Canada is home.
We arrived with only the clothes on our backs, and even that was not enough for a Canadian winter.
My father was a Professional Engineer & University Professor in Chile, and my mother was a Primary School Teacher. Upon arrival in Canada, my father worked as a taxi driver, janitor and manual labour jobs while studying English and re-doing his Professional Engineers designation. My mother became a stay-at-home mom to my two sisters and me.
Immigration & relocation became the story of my life. Even after arriving in Toronto, I continued to move throughout my life including living in: Sarnia, Deep River, Port Elgin, Kincardine, Oshawa, St Catharines, Hamilton, Oakville, back to Toronto, Mexico City, Montreal, and back to Oshawa.
Most everything in my life has an international aspect to it:
I studied Business Admin at Brock University and International Business at Sheridan CollegeI did an Internship at the US Consulate in TorontoI worked as a Flight Attendant with Air Canada after college.A 20-year career in International Business - Food exports to Mexico & Latin America.My wife, Irina, is Russian/Ukrainian. So our kids are Chilean-Canadian-Russian-Ukrainian.My community groups are international in scope, ie. Toastmasters International and Rotary International.I’ve enjoyed travelling throughout Canada, the USA, and Mexico, as well as Chile, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Grenada, Barbados, Australia, England, Germany, France, Monaco, Spain, Italy and India.
My hobbies include Public Speaking, Running, Real Estate Investing, Networking and Community Building.
Bucket list accomplishments: marathon, published children’s book, ex-pat assignment working abroad, fire walker, 4x40, met sports heroes: Pele (soccer) & Mike Bossy (hockey), met favourite Rock band KISS, overcame the fear of flying, overcame the fear of public speaking, 3rd place in a global Inspirational Speaking competition.
I’m proudest of being a good father, husband, son, & brother, and being an authentic person with authentic friendships.
Get in touch with Peter
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/peter-hernandez-c-i-t-p-a436bb13/
Facebook: facebook.com/peter.a.hernandez/
Instagram: @peter.a.hernandez
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCMUY4xXkKv6DPT1KzGHIjNg
Laura Stürmer, my guest from Episode 24, joins me one year later. Her life has changed quite a bit since the first episode we did together. First, we talk about how she switched jobs when the lockdown started, then how she bought a home, and finally about mental health.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Laura Stürmer
Laura Stürmer
Laura Stürmer is a Marketing Professional with over seven years of experience in branding, product and channel management.
She has spent most of her career internationally working for retail companies and manufacturing organizations in Brazil and Canada. She currently works at Canadian Tire as an Associate Brand Manager.
On the side, Laura currently volunteers in different institutions offering mentorship focused on helping newcomers and refugees that are transitioning over to the Canadian Labour Market.
Listen to Laura's immigration story: Episode 24: Giving Back by Helping Newcomers
Get in touch with Laura
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurasturmer/
In this episode, I speak with Majid Kazmi. He's originally from Pakistan and moved to Canada in 2012. Today, he shares his story of immigration.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Majid Kazmi
Majid Kazmi
Majid Kazmi is an experienced banking professional, social entrepreneur and a published author based in Toronto, Canada. He is recognized as a diversity and inclusion thought leader and frequently speaks on topics such as leadership, inclusive entrepreneurship and career development for young professionals. He is the Co-founder & CEO of Valu Ventures Inc., an award-winning social enterprise that supports startup businesses run by immigrant entrepreneurs.
Kazmi has been a career banker for nearly two decades. He has served on various boards and committees across the Greater Toronto Area, including as President of the Rotary Club of Mississauga South and Board Member & Treasurer at the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group. He also serves as an advisor to many organizations and Think Tanks across Canada.
Over the past many years, he has delivered hundreds of talks to audiences big and small, from top universities to billion-dollar blue-chip corporations. He has written for The Huffington Post and many other publications on a wide range of topics, from business and innovation to personal growth and career success.
As an accomplished mentor, Kazmi has been featured on many media outlets in Canada and outside, including CBC television and radio. Majid holds an MBA and is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
Get in touch with Majid
Website: majidkazmi.comEmail: majid@majidkazmi.comTwitter: @majidkazmi1LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/majidkazmiFacebook: facebook.com/majidauthorInstagram: @majidkazmi
Today I'll be talking about building a support network. Why it is important and how to do it.
Three ways to build a support network
On this episode, I talk about three ways to build a support network:
Find people who share your hobbies.Build relationships with people you spend time with (at work or school).Find a community from your home country.
Listen to the episode for all the details.
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
In this episode, I chat with Gunjan and Farhan Kafil. Originally from India, they met in Dubai and decided to move to Canada. But before establishing in Toronto, they took a fantastic road trip across the country. Today, they share with us their journey of immigration.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Gunjan and Farhan Kafil
Gunjan & Farhan Kafil
Gunjan and Farhan are curious explorers, outdoors enthusiasts and spirited overlanders. She is a communications pro and he is a contracts manager.
Gunjan grew up in Mumbai and spent summer holidays in a small Himalayan town where hikes with cousins cultivated a love for the mountains. Since then, she has climbed two of the “Seven Summits” and mountains in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Farhan is a small-town boy excited by this extraordinary world. He likes to tinker with ideas, plan the next adventure or simply, lace up and run. He is a marathoner, hiker and co-founder of an off-road adventure club.
They met on a road trip in Dubai and, the rest is history – or rather, geography. Together, they climbed mountains, descended into the Grand Canyon, walked on icefields and to the rims of active volcanoes, slept by glaciers and witnessed the aurora borealis. Several adventures later, they moved to Canada in 2019.
As new Canadians, they spent five months RVing in the great outdoors of North America – a journey of 22,000 kms from Toronto to Tuktoyatuk in NWT, Alaska and mainland USA. Together, they explored the country, its culture and communities to learn first-hand what it means to be a Canadian.
Get in touch with Gunjan & Farhan
Traveling
Website: wonderlost.meInstagram: @wonderlost.meFacebook: facebook.com/wonderlost.me/
Gunjan Kafil
Website: gunjankafil.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gunjankafil/Instagram: @gunjankafil
Farhan Kafil
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/farhankafil/
Today I'll be talking about the cover letter and discuss if it's worth your time to write one.
What is a cover letter
I assume everyone in Canada has heard the term Cover Letter and, if you’re like me, it was a completely new concept. Back in my home country, we don’t use those things. If we’re applying for a job, we send our resume without explanation and wait for the call.
So, if you are like I was eight years ago, you may be wondering what this Cover Letter thing is? A cover letter is a separate document that you send along with your resume to provide additional information about your skills and experience.
So the question is, should you write one?
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
In this episode, I chat with Melanie Anthony. She's my first guest from Mauritius, and she shares her journey of immigration.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Melanie Anthony
Melanie Anthony
A Mauritian, an African with multicultural heritage and Torontonian since 2016, Melanie Anthony is a versatile Bilingual with expertise in Content Development, Journalism, Marketing, Corporate and Digital Communications, Storytelling with a particular interest in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the fight against Systemic Racism, Policy Making, Accessibility Sustainability and Technology.
Her objective is to enhance communications and contribute to a bigger impact. Melanie has over 15 years of experience working as communications professional in different industries and fields such as Government agencies, Non for Profit organizations, Public Policy, Media, Gaming and Entertainment, Innovation, Creative and Cultural Industries, Food and Beverages, Tourism, Audit and Information Technology as well as Finance. A Chevening Scholar holds a Master of Arts in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths University, London, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Mauritius. A dedicated solutions-oriented individual, Melanie has a knack for networking and strong entrepreneurship acumen.
She founded Best Relations Network Ltd ( now closed), a networking agency aimed at connecting professionals and businesses that managed projects related to strategic planning, business networking, corporate communications, marketing, and events management.
Since immigrating to Canada and acknowledging that she is a settler, Melanie has made it her priority to learn about Indigenous peoples, including diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and Indigenous culture treaties. She also educates herself about the history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Black Heritage in Canada. She is an earnest champion in combating ingrained systemic racism and is a fervent advocate of accessibility for all. She aims to bring the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lens to the forefront of conversations.
Get in touch with Melanie
Today I'll be talking about how we feel when migrating.
So, how do we feel?
The other day I read a quote that made me think about my journey.
Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.Robin Sharma
I would love to hear where you are now. Are you in the first phase, the hard one? Or maybe you’ve been here for a few months already, and your life it’s not that hard anymore, but it’s messy. Nothing seems to be in the right place. Or, maybe you passed those things, and now you’re enjoying the gorgeous part of the change.
So, if you want to tell me, please shoot me an email at oscar@immigrantsoftoronto.com or send a voicemail directly on the website; just tap on the Send Voicemail button and, once the pop up appears, tap again on Start Recording. Whatever is easier for you, but I’m really curious about where you are on this fantastic journey.
Or, if you feel more adventurous, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to come to the show and tell your story. It would be a pleasure for me and for everyone who listens to hear it.
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
In this episode, I chat with Kate Johnson. She's my first guest from England and also hosts a podcast for immigrants in Canada. Today, instead of being the interviewer, she'll be sharing her story with us.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Kate Johnson
Kate Johnson
Kate Johnson is a content creator and events manager who is always full of beans! Originally from England, she has lived and worked long-term in 5 different countries and is passionate about helping others adjust to the big move abroad.
After graduating with a BA in English from Bournemouth University, Kate built a career in event management and regularly executed large-scale trade shows, weddings and corporate conferences from start to finish.
In 2017, she went backpacking solo around South-East Asia and met a dashing Canadian… Cue an unexpected move across the world: From a crowded English city to a new lake life in rural Ontario!
Kate quickly realized that building a new life in Canada is a constant rollercoaster of ups and downs. Throw in a brutal Canadian winter season, and you can start to feel isolated and overwhelmed. She decided to use her event management experience to launch a networking event and 30-booth trade show ‘Xpat Xpo’ for Toronto’s international newcomers.
After the pandemic announcement and shift towards a more virtual world, Kate has since launched The Newcomer Collective: A digital home where internationals can listen to each other’s honest real-life stories through weekly podcast episodes, connect at monthly social events and learn how to create a Canadian life that they love one ‘TimBit’ at a time.
Get in touch with Shauna
thenewcomercollective.comPodcastInstagramFacebookLinkedIn
In this episode, I chat with Career Coach and Expert Shauna Cole about newcomers' discrimination and underemployment.
One of the most challenging situations a newcomer can experience is underemployment. Shauna Cole has been working with new immigrants for a while, and today she'll be sharing some advice.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Shauna Cole
Shauna Cole
Hi! I’m Shauna Cole, the founder of Career Interrupted.
I created these educational programs as a productive response to the unjust discrimination I’ve experienced and witnessed in the corporate roles I formerly held. I have a lifetime of firsthand knowledge of the subtle and overt ways that bias affects professionals of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds.
I teach courses in human resources, leadership and communications in the bachelor’s and master’s programs in Business Administration at the University of New Brunswick. I’m a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, and hold an MBA.
Get in touch with Shauna
LinkedInYouTubecareerinterrupted.ca
In this episode, I speak with Margarita de Antuñano. She moved from Mexico to Canada when she was 22 years old. She shares her immigration story with us today.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Margarita de Antuñano
Margarita de Antuñano
Margarita De Antuñano has as worked as a cross-cultural trainer and curriculum developer since 1993 with expertise in assisting expatriate employees and their families transitioning to new cultures and facilitating group business training for people working across cultural borders for global corporations. She has also trained for United Nations, Canadian Government agencies and International Relocation companies in the USA and Canada.
Born in Mexico, she achieved her undergraduate degree at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. She received a scholarship to undertake her Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Adult Education /Comparative International and Language Learning Education at the University of Toronto. She is the founder and director of the Canada-Mexico Cultural Exchange Centre Inc. www.canadamexico.com, a one-stop that facilitates the links between Canada and the world. She has coordinated the Spanish Program at HSC, a prestigious private school in Ontario, for eleven years and trains Spanish Teachers.
Margarita has lived in Mexico and Canada and travelled globally. She has attended and presented several seminars at International Conferences like the Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association (OMLTA), the Future Generations Alliance Foundation, to mention a few. She is the recipient of prestigious awards.
A citizen of the world herself, in her spare time, she enjoys travelling and hiking with her Canadian husband and her polyglot ( speaks three languages) daughter. She also enjoys following Emilia McCarthy to sets around the world with her acting career. Emilia was Brad Pitt's daughter in the Golden Globe movie BABEL, Disney and more.
Get in touch with Margarita
LinkedInFacebookcanadamexico.com
Today I'll be talking about microaggressions and how they impact us as immigrants.
So, what is a microaggression?
According to the Oxford dictionary, a microaggression is:
A statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group.Oxford Dictionary
What that means is that they usually appear harmless or even as a compliment. And they're generally related to someone's identity.
Let me give you an example that just happened at my office. On International Women's Day, one of the managers sent a message that read, "happy women's day to all the ladies."
Seemed harmless. I even cheered it. But, it triggered a big complaint. I even discussed this with a couple of my female colleagues, who didn't think of this as a big deal.
I told them that if you think about this as a fight for women's rights, it shouldn't be a "happy" day because women are still fighting for wages and leadership positions. It's a day to recognize the fight, not to celebrate someone just because of their gender.
And I gave them a couple of examples. How do you think regular, working people feel if a CEO of a Bank that makes 300 million a year sends an official message saying something like "happy labour day to all the workers."
Or a random straight guy saying, "happy pride day to all gays." That doesn't sound politically correct, is it?
Does this mean that my colleague meant any harm when he posted that? No, on the contrary, he just wanted to be a nice guy.
But that is the root of microaggressions. Most people who do that are ordinary folks like you and me who think about us as good, decent individuals.
Microaggression occurs because they're outside of our conscious awareness.
At the start of the episode, I read the definition of the term. And, one thing that needs to be highlighted is the part that reads "instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination."
Don't get me wrong. This is different than direct aggression. I'm not saying that people who do this are the same as a white supremacist group. Not at all. Those guys are explicitly aggressive.
An example of a microaggression that I took as a compliment
As an immigrant, when I moved here, I was looking to blend into the Canadian culture. I tried not to talk to people who spoke Spanish, so I could force myself to speak English as much as I could. One day, I was talking to my boss at the time. I was apologizing for a grammatical mistake I made in a presentation. Explaining that since English was my second language, it was something I usually did. Mainly because in Spanish, we use the same word for ON, IN, and AT. So it's tricky to use the correct one every single time.
Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that she stopped me and said, "you're right. I forget you're Mexican. I don't really see you as an immigrant because your English is excellent."
I took that as a huge compliment. My goal of belonging to my new culture was almost fulfilled! But then, years later, when I started doing this podcast, I thought, "in her mind, immigrants don't speak English well. That's why she didn't see me as an immigrant."
She didn't mean this as offensive. On the contrary, it was a compliment. But it showed the bias beneath it, Immigrants don't speak well. That's the stereotype we've accepted.
It's like asking a first-generation immigrant, "but where are you really from?" It might be innocent curiosity, but the way the question is phrased indicates that because that person doesn't look Canadian (and I mean white Canadians), it's automatically from elsewhere.
Think about all the biases we have and how they make us say things like "You people always do well in math," or "she has an exotic look."
And, again, microaggressions are unintentional, but they surface our internal biases.
Complaining about microaggressions is being too sensitive?
In this episode, I speak with Sanchari Sen Rai. She moved from India to Canada 10 years ago. She shares her immigration story with us today.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Sanchari Sen Rai
Sanchari Sen Rai
Sanchari is an immigrant small business entrepreneur and an Immigration Consultant leading an all-women team, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of EDUCATION CONSULTANTS CANADA (ECC) Inc. that helps thousands of international students work through the onerous process of applying to study in Canada. She has been awarded as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award 2019 (Entrepreneur Category). She was also the top 50 finalist for the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award and a finalist for the Women of Inspiration Award 2020.
At ECC, Sanchari aspires to do business in a certain way, where her women employees leave with more than just job skills. Through rigorous self-development training, they are empowered with vital communication and life skills that will carry them throughout their professional and personal journey.
ECC is a bootstrapping company and gives novice opportunities as a new hire, especially international students. Sanchari believes that for students to succeed in their studies abroad, they must be armed with the right information and the right support structure. When a student is nurtured to academic success, it paves the way for that student to remain, integrate with the culture and diversity and be a part of the community.
Given the challenges faced by all, especially international students with the pandemic over the past year, she had been trying to make an impact by pivoting the business, creating jobs, internship opportunities for international students. She is actively associated as Mentor with three different organizations volunteering her time for immigrant women, international students, and newcomers to the country, especially during this unprecedented time.
As a business owner, she has the expertise to consult in her industry—so using that expertise to offering valued services for free, like providing consultation to job seekers who are fresh immigrants/fresh graduates in the country on their resume design and interviewing skills.
Fostering employee satisfaction through community engagement during the pandemic, She and her team have donated food, cards, and gifts to senior living charitable organizations to boost her employees' morale as they felt more involved and there was a sense of togetherness doing it as a team.
She, in her own small unique way, is a role model contributing to the greater good and making positive change and trying her best to make an impact on inspiring other young women who come here as international students or new immigrant and aspire to make a career for themselves and live the Canadian dream.
Get in touch with Sanchari Sen Rai
email: sancharirai@eccanada.comeccanada.com
Today I'll be talking about the last 365 days as we commemorate the first anniversary of the 2-week lockdown.
2-week lockdown anniversary
A lot of things have happened in the past year. We have seen thousands of jobs lost, people we loved have passed away, and we even saw something unprecedented, a considerable drop of the required Express Entry points to apply for the Canadian Permanent Residency.
Other recommended listens:
The first episode after COVID was declared a pandemicShort Series focusing on COVID-related issues (Job hunting, upcoming recession, real estate market, mental health, etc.)Asad Faruqi's first year in Canada as he arrived when the lockdown started
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Today, I chat with Asad Faruqi. He moved from Pakistan right when the lockdown started, and, unfortunately, he hasn't lived in the city outside of the pandemic.
He also gives some good advice to newcomers who are moving to Canada during the current situation, especially on building your network at this time.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Asad Faruqi
Asad Faruqi
My name is Asad, and I was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan.
My field of expertise is in Digital Marketing, with a focus on content development and technical communication.
I moved to Canada in 2020. After landing a job in my field of expertise, I have been helping new immigrants with job searching and networking, especially in content marketing. I have connected with several newcomers on LinkedIn and shared my tips and tricks on expanding your network and standing out among a sea of job applicants.
I am really excited to share my story with you through this podcast and help you out in any way. Feel free to connect with me!
Get in touch with Asad
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/asad-ahmad-faruqi/
Today I'll be talking about our careers as immigrants. Sometimes we think of our career as our job, but it is more than that. A job is something temporary. Our career is our professional life.
How many times have you added a section for “side projects” or “hobbies” on your resume?
Most of us add every single piece of information about our previous jobs, but we miss the little things that make us who we are. What makes our career.
As immigrants, we sometimes believe that we need to showcase all our work accomplishments to stand out from the crowd. We add a bullet point for every little thing we did. We support it by numbers and percentages because, we know, that saying “I finished the project 12% under budget” sounds better than “I finished the project and still had some money left.”
Don’t get me wrong, all these tricks work. I know for a fact that having a professional resume supported by numbers is more appealing to recruiters. But, because it works, everybody is doing it. But, does it really showcase your career and expertise?
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Today, I'll be talking with Gaby Carrillo. She's a good friend of mine, and I'm very excited to interview her for the podcast. She moved from Mexico to Toronto in 2015.
Gaby talks about the importance of reinventing herself when she moved to this country (Recommended listen: Episode #27: Reinvent Yourself)
She also gives some advice to newcomers. Do not be shy. Reach out to people and start building your network.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Gaby Carrillo
Gaby Carrillo
Gaby Carrillo arrived in Toronto in 2015, leaving behind not only her family and friends but a promising marketing career in Mexico.
She decided to immigrate to Canada, hoping to have a better quality of life. After a series of survival jobs and trying jobs at different industries, she went back to what she liked the most, managing brands.
Canada has allowed Gaby to take chances on things that she didn't even consider doing in her home country, like doing stand-up comedy and starting her podcast "Nos Dejamos Ir," where she and a friend discuss different topics of everyday life.
Gaby can attribute a lot of her settling in Canada to taking chances, and she encourages everyone to give it a shot.
Get in touch with Gaby
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gabrielacarrillof/Instagram: @gabygabs22Podcast (in Spanish): Nos dejamos ir
Today I'll be talking about something that I’ve seen happening to many immigrants, especially the ones who come to Canada after having a successful career in their home country. Our EGO.
Hello everyone, so the topic today is related to our ego.
In simple words, without getting into psychology or other fields where I’m not an expert. The ego is simply put as an inflated feeling of pride that makes us stand out when we compare ourselves to others.
So, having an ego is not a bad thing, it can help us realize our accomplishments, make us feel confident when taking on new challenges like a new job that we might have never performed but we believe we can do it.
However, taking it to the extreme, it can be a bad thing. Have you ever heard that someone has a big ego? Like those people at work that even though they may have a lower title than you think they are better than you and everyone around them? I’m sure we all have at least one of those at our offices, I know I do.
But, when you move to a new country, your ego plays a big role.
I’ve seen people very frustrated after months or even years in Canada because they haven’t been able to get a job. When we talk about it, I always ask them what do they do? And most, if not every time, they tell me they are Directors or Vice Presidents of something.
If I’ve learned anything after living in Toronto for almost 8 years is that it doesn’t matter what you did back in your home country, it doesn’t matter if you were the VP of Sales. You’ll be lucky if you get an entry-level position in your field.
There are many skills that companies here look for, a lot of them are hard-skills. But some are soft-skills and, especially for middle and upper management positions, those are key.
Let me give you an example. Before I moved to Toronto, I was a Senior Project Manager managing a huge project. The budget was over 6 million dollars and I had to coordinate with teams all over the world. I managed the budget, scope, timelines, resources, etc. Everything!
When I came to Canada as a student and tried to find an internship at a company, no one cared if I had managed such a big project. I thought it looked great in my resume, for sure, I was really proud of it. It was the biggest project I’ve ever managed and I had metrics and everything to show that it had been successful.
When the time came to start looking for internship opportunities, I was so confident that I would get anyone I wanted that I decided to be very picky about the positions. I was certain that any of the companies would fight to have an intern like me.
But, that was not the case. My ego had led me to believe that I was better than I really was. My ego held me back from applying for all internships and only picking three of them.
After almost a month of not receiving any response, I started to worry. I didn’t understand why a company wouldn’t want me if I was so good! So I sought council with one of my professors and he saw my resume and said, this is not what companies are looking for. They are looking for a recent grad with almost no experience. That’s why they’re not calling you.
I have to say I was shocked. My ego had grown so much, that something so small as not finding an internship hurt me so deep that made me question my professional life.
Fortunately, a couple of weeks before the deadline, I secured an internship with a not-so-good company, but at that point, I had no option. I had to say yes or I wouldn’t be able to move to the next term of the certificate.
Had I been less cocky and left my ego on the side, maybe I would have landed a better internship. Somewhere where I could have learned something, instead of wasting months of my life copying and pasting data from excel to PowerPoint.
But I wasn’t, and I learned my lesson. After I left that company, I searched for jobs and decided to be open to interviewing for Junior Project Manager or even Project Coordinator positions.
Today, I'll be talking with Garry Donaghy. He's originally from Scotland, but, as he says, he no longer has a Scottish accent, so that's why most people can understand what he says.
He lived in Japan for a few years and moved to Toronto in 2019. Canada is the fourth country he lives in, so he now realizes that home is where we're living in the moment.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Garry Donaghy
Garry Donaghy
Originally from Scotland, I’d consider myself now a global citizen, having studied or worked in Scotland (19yrs), the USA (1yr), Belgium (½ yr), Japan (15yrs), and now Canada (1yr)! You might say that I’m a professional immigrant!
I speak English & Japanese, and am trying to remember the French I learned in high school 2 decades ago..! So far, ca va bien.
In Dec 2019 I moved from Tokyo to Toronto with my wife and our dog, and since April I’ve been working (from home!) in my career field (Supply Chain), as a Project Manager for Metro, the major Canadian grocery retailer.
I have a Medium blog where I share job-seeking insights and advice for recent arrivals called "The Canadian Newcomer". I’m very active on LinkedIn and have my own hashtag, #GarryGuides. Feel free to connect with me or ask any questions you may have about life in Canada, moving here, or finding work in Toronto!
Get in touch with Kristin
Blog: garrydonaghy.medium.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/garrydonaghy/
Today, I'll be talking about the importance of getting a 7+ band score, not only for immigration purposes but as a way to communicate appropriately. For this, I have a special guest today, Kristin Espinar.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Kristin Espinar
Kristin Espinar helps candidates get a 7+ band score on writing and speaking skills. She is the creator and host of the Get a 7+ Band Score Podcast and owns an online English writing and speaking school.
Get in touch with Kristin
Website: kristinespinar.comPodcast: Get a 7+ Band Score: Be Determined
50 episodes later, I talk about what an amazing trip has been doing this podcast, what got me started with it, and how I've managed to do 50 episodes!
Subscribe & Follow!
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.
If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Happy 2021 everyone! Today I'll be talking about a situation we all immigrants fear. Losing a loved one while living abroad.
Welcome to the first episode of 2021.
I want to start this episode by stating that I planned this episode to come a week early and be about new year's resolutions and how to achieve our goals. I will release that episode later, but I decided to change this one due to something that happened recently.
Unfortunately, on Christmas eve, we received a call that we wish we had never gotten. Around 9 PM, just as we were getting ready for Christmas dinner, we learned that my father in law had passed away.
He had been diagnosed with COVID two weeks before and admitted to the hospital just a few days later. Honestly, we never thought things would end like this. We knew he would spend Christmas at the hospital and maybe the New Year as well, but, as we learned the hard way, none of those things happened.
As I record this episode on the morning of Sunday, January 10th, the pandemic has taken 1,928,872 lives worldwide. This may be a small percentage of the almost 90 million people that have been infected, but numbers bring very little comfort when one of those is someone you love.
Losing a loved one while living abroad is a matter of WHEN not IF
Regardless of the pandemic, one of the things that we, as immigrants, sign for when we move to another country is that someone we love will die, and we won't be with them. It's a matter of WHEN not IF.
When we decided to move to Canada, that was one of the biggest fears we had. That one day, out of nowhere, we would get a call from Mexico telling us that one of our loved ones had passed away. And one of the reasons we picked Canada over other countries was that we knew that we would be a four-hour flight away from our families when that happened. We've done it before, we get a redeye flight, and we are there the next morning.
It's not the first time we are away when we lose someone we love. But, this time, because of the pandemic, we didn't travel. Even though there are daily flights from Toronto to Mexico City, we decided not to go. Two main reasons drove our decision. The first one was that we had just lost a loved one to COVID, so we didn't want to risk losing another. My wife and I are both healthy, but you never know if you're going to catch the virus at the airport or on the plane. And the second one was that it wouldn't even be possible to be with our family because of the whole situation. We wouldn't be able to hug them, mourn with them, nothing. Because we would have to quarantine as soon as we arrived there. The second reason was that, because it was a COVID death, there would be no funeral at all. Our family received the ashes from the hospital without any ceremony. A hard situation made even worse by making it feel that it's just a transaction. Fortunately, our family organized a few gatherings online and a mass for religious people, which, at least, brought some comfort.
I remember interviewing Marta Batiz for Episode 8, she was one of my first guests. When I asked what had been the most challenging situation she had faced as an immigrant, she told me the story of when her mother passed away. She took a plane to Mexico, and she told me it was the longest flight she had ever taken. She said, and I'm quoting, "the worst thing about migrating is, is not being able to teleport yourself for those crucial moments." I'm not sure that I really got what she meant back then, but now I do.
Don't get me wrong, I always knew something like was going to happen, and I was trying to prepare myself for a situation like that. But I didn't really prepare for this specific situation. There was no redeye flight, there was no funeral, we just had to mourn my wife's father from a distance. I mean, we talked to our families every day over, but it was not the same. Not at all.
For me, the worst part is that we are only one of the almost 2 millio...
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Lalaine Aquino-Rizzotto. She moved from the Phillippines to Canada in 1990 via the Live-in Caregiver Program.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Lalaine Aquino-Rizzotto
Photo by M.Ventura
I immigrated to Toronto from Manila, the Philippines in 1990 through the Live-in Caregiver Program. I was 18. I moved because I wanted a better life for my family. I love challenges and thought this would be a good one to take on.
It wasn't just a good one. It was a HUGE one! It took me some time to adjust and adapt but I can say that it was the best decision I could have ever made. I'm very happy with the outcome and it made me the person that I am today.
Besides taking on challenges, I love to cook, play volleyball, watch our Toronto sports teams, travel with family and all the other things we used to do prior to this pandemic.!
Get in touch with Lalaine
Email: sandqueen72@gmail.com
In this episode, I'll talk about the risks of getting bad legal advice and a few techniques on how to spot it.
I’m going to start today with a sad story.
The other day, at my office, we were informed that one of our colleagues couldn’t work in Canada anymore. He was being asked to leave the country within 90 days.
We were shocked. It is not like he was here illegally or committed a crime. No, he got his Permanent Residency denied. As his Work Permit was expiring, he couldn’t work in Canada anymore. And, as any visitor to the country, he is limited to stay for up to 3 months only.
I dug up a little and found out that the legal advice he got was not appropriate and led to this situation.
It happened to me back in 2016
I totally understand how difficult this is for him. The reason is simple, back in 2016, my wife and I got our Permanent Residency application denied.
I remember the feeling that afternoon when I saw the email. First, I was excited as the subject said nothing. But as soon as I opened it, I saw the words. Your application has been denied. The reason was that, accidentally, I uploaded the original marriage certificate instead of uploading the translated document.
This could have been solved easily by the immigration officer asking me to upload the correct one but, instead, they decided to cancel the whole application. I’m not going to go too deep into this because I believe there is a systemic problem with immigration, but that’s a topic for another episode.
What I really want to focus on is the sad situation my colleague is experiencing and why I know it is one of the worst feelings I’ve felt in my life.
Reading those words “application denied” shattered my dream. I felt like all the effort, time, and energy we had spent trying to make Canada our new home were in vain. I honestly thought that, as soon as my work permit expired, I would be selling my things here and moving back to Mexico. And it was disheartening.
Fortunately for me, I work in a company that cares about me. As soon as I raised this problem with the upper management, they did everything they could to help me stay in Canada. We started working with a law firm. Long story short, about a year after the day my first application got denied, I got the news that my Permanent Residency application had been approved this time.
The consequence of bad legal advice
Going back to my colleague, I don’t know all the details. I don’t really know what went wrong. I just know that the immigration advisor he hired gave him incorrect advice and ended up in this situation.
Now that you know all the back story, I want to talk about why it’s essential to make sure that the person you are hiring is right for you.
Immigration lawyers have a great responsibility, and, at least the ones I’ve met, they take it very seriously. They know that if they make a mistake, your whole life may be torn apart.
The problem is that for every one good immigration lawyer, there’s a bad one. And this is when things get tricky. How can you identify a bad advisor? It’s not like you’re an immigration expert. If you were, you wouldn’t need a lawyer.
Sometimes is a recommendation from someone you know. Other times is online reviews. Whatever it is, make sure you trust the person because your future, or at least what you planned your future to be, is on the line. If you have a bad feeling about it, move on.
How to spot irregularities
The first thing you need to do is check if a person is licensed to represent immigrants or give advice.
To do this, you can check if the consultant is a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.
Government of Canada - Find out if your representative is authorized
Lawyers must be members of a Canadian provincial law society, so if they are not members in good standing, you should not use their services.
The good thing is that most law societies let you check online to see i...
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Alma Arzate. She moved from Mexico to Canada in 2007 and she'll be talking about her experience, especially the first year in Toronto.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Alma Arzate
Alma Arzate is currently a Global Director, Supply Planning at Apotex Inc. Alma has over two decades of broad experience across global supply chain and operations in the Automotive, Electronics, Medical Devices, Consumer Packaged Goods and Pharmaceutical industries, which she leverages every day to support multiple supply chain, education, women and immigrant-related initiatives.
Despite her sometimes hectic schedule, Alma volunteers extensively as a keynote speaker and panelist for many Universities, Colleges, Associations, and Canadian Immigrant Settlement Organizations. Alma’s hope is that her audience will relate to her, learn from her journey and the many obstacles she has had to overcome to find her voice and be recognized as a leader in male dominated industries and professions, and through ongoing dialogue, they will also be inspired to find ways to continue to persevere, achieve their own dreams, and become the best version of themselves. Alma’s story was shared on the cover of the April 2020 edition of Canadian Immigrant magazine, as part of their “Immigrant Women of Inspiration” special.
Due to Alma’s business achievements and extensive altruism, she has been recognized by many organizations. In 2019, Alma was selected by Supply Chain Canada as part of their first-ever Top 100 Most Influential Women in Canadian Supply Chain. Her story was shared on the cover of the October 2019 edition of “Supply Professional” magazine. Alma was one of the top finalists of the 12th. annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards in 2020. Alma was the winner of the 2020 Woman of Inspiration Awards issued by the Universal Womens Network (UWN) under the category of Authentic Leader, and she was a finalist of the 2020 Woman in Leadership Awards under the categories of Organizational Leader and Inspirational Leader, by the Customer Service Professionals Network (CSPN).
Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Alma relocated with her family to Canada in 2007. She resides in the GTA with her husband, their three children (ages 12, 15 and 21), and their rescued tabby cat.
Get in touch with Alma
LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram
Today I’ll be sharing a couple of things on how to survive a Canadian Winter under COVID.
This winter is going to be different than all the ones I’ve lived through before. Here in Toronto, we just started a new lockdown, which means that I won’t be doing most things that I used to do during the winter to keep me sane.
As an immigrant, the Canadian winter can be challenging. And there are a few things that we need to be aware of:
First, it’s cold. So unless you moved from Siberia, you’ll find that North American winters are freezing.Second, the days are shorter. Even now, it’s getting dark around 5 PM. The bad news is that they’ll continue getting shorter until the winter solstice, but the good news is that they’ll slowly become longer and longer after it.And Third, COVID. Yes, that thing that essentially defined 2020. This one is particular to this winter (hopefully only for this winter), but then again, it’s so crucial that I need to talk about it
So, in a regular winter, you will only worry about the first two. But this time, we really need to think about the third one as well.
Winter weather
Okay, so let’s start with the easy part: the cold weather. There are a couple of things you need to avoid. One is thinking that winter in Toronto is like winter in the mountains. I’ve seen people wearing snow pants to go for dinner during the winter, you honestly don’t need that. You also want to avoid going to the other extreme, thinking that winter here is like a regular winter in a warmer country. I was one of those on my first winter, I wore Converse for the first half of the season, thinking that it wasn’t going to get colder and I didn’t need winter boots. Spoiler alert! It did get cold, and I ended up buying winter boots. So, yeah, don’t be like me and get a pair of good warm boots. They can be expensive but, trust me, it’s totally worth it.
Another thing you need to keep in mind for the winter is how to dress up. Layers are your friends. So what happens is that even though it’s cold outside, when you jump into the subway or a streetcar, with the controlled heat on them, it gets less cold but not warm enough to take off all your clothes. So, if you have a big-super-warm-jacket, you’ll be fine outdoors, but as soon as you step indoors, you’re going to get hot, start sweating, and you don’t want that either.
You do want to get a warm jacket, don’t get me wrong. But you want to wear a sweater (or two) below it just in case.
A warm hat is also super useful. If you don’t like to mess up your hair (which the hat will, 100%), at least get some earmuffs to cover your ears. A scarf is also useful. I don’t really wear them unless it’s like super-super cold, but I’m more like the exception. Most people wear them as soon as the weather drops below 5-10 Celsius.
Gloves are essential. Your hands will thank you. So, your hands have very little fat and countless nerves that we use for our touch sense, so it hurts because they’re there. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you can walk in the cold with an uncovered face, but as soon as you expose your hands, it starts hurting.
Anyway, we’ve covered boots, jackets, layers, hats, gloves, scarves. I mean, there are other things that some people use, like long johns (which is basically thermal underwear pants), but I’ve never worn them, and I know very few people that do. So, unless your legs get extremely cold, I don’t think it’s necessary.
The short days
While the cold weather impacts your body more than anything, the short days also have a toll on your mood. And most of it is related to the lack of vitamin D. You usually get vitamin D by spending time in the sunlight. But, with the days growing shorter, we’re going to get to the point where it’s dark before we leave the office or, well, not the office but the time when we stop working at home.
It has happened to me already that I start working, never leave the den because I’m busy,
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Anjali Rego. She talks about her experience doing a bridging program and how it benefited her career.
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.
Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.
Learn more about Anjali Rego
Anjali has worked in journalism and corporate communications in the UK and in India.
Working across geographies in an international environment has taught her to find unique opportunities in developing and packaging content for a diverse range of audiences.
Pushing herself out of her comfort zone twice, to the UK and to Canada helped her adapt and thrive in new environments.
Driven by curiosity, a passion for communications and a nose for news, she can turn conversations into compelling stories. The pace of the industry and the newness of each day makes this profession worthwhile. She gets an opportunity to write every day and her work helps executives and organizations convey their vision and values in a clear and engaging way.
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In this episode, Oscar Cecena and Rodrigo Königs talk about Remembrance Day. The meaning of the tradition for immigrants, and share some stories of immigrants who fought for the Canadian Army during the Great War.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Mariana Gomez. She moved permanently from Colombia to Toronto after spending some time studying in Canada. Today she shares her experience so far.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks about Thanksgiving, the Latin American month, and the importance of embracing new traditions.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Sneha Gaikwad. She moved from India to Toronto, and she shares how pursuing her mental health helped her make this decision.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks about Thanksgiving, the Latin American month, and the importance of embracing new traditions.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Aroop Rayu. She moved to Toronto from Kashmir, India, in 2018, excited to have a second chance to start from scratch.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks about why forging meaningful relationships as new immigrants is important to adapt to the new life.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Brian Golod. He's originally from Argentina and moved to Prince Edward Island after one of the worst financial crisis in his country. Then, after five years, he moved to Toronto to pursue his career.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks about how to find a job as a newcomer and why it is so important to do it.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Swapna Malekar. She's originally from India and just received her Canadian Citizenship the day the episode was recorded.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks about immigrating as a student; advantages, disadvantages, and how to spot and avoid scams when moving,
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Shomik Roy. He moved from Mumbai, India, to Toronto in 2018, and started his life in Canada in the Startup community.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena celebrates the first anniversary Immigrants of Toronto and talks about the lessons learned during the year.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Mazen Tannir. He was born in Beirut, raised in Oman, studied in multiple countries, and moved to Toronto 15 years ago.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena will discuss a topic that is important for everyone, but especially for newcomers. That topic is Volunteering.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Preeti Chakravarti. She moved from India to Toronto a year ago on the same day as her wedding anniversary, and she'll be sharing her experience and how she feels a year after arriving in Toronto.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena will be talking about why it is important to reinvent yourself when you move to a new country.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Lucia Gallegos. A psychotherapist from Mexico, who shares part of her immigration story and, most importantly, her opinion about why it's okay not to feel okay during COVID-19 times.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena shares part of his journey and what does a privileged life means to him, especially as an immigrant.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Elke Rubach, founder of Rubach Wealth, who gives financial advice to face the recession.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks to the co-founders of Arrive: Shikha Bhuchar and Tricia Jose, an organization dedicated to helping newcomers in Canada.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Elisa Hajducek, a Real Estate Agent with over a decade of experience, and talk about the changes to the Real Estate market due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Lorena Perry, a talent acquisition professional, and discusses the changes to the job market related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 is impacting every person in the world. Due to this, we're starting a series of episodes focusing only on this pandemic and how it may impact us.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Laura Stürmer, an immigrant from Porto Alegre, Brazil that moved to Canada in 2016. Today she’ll be sharing with us why and how she helps newcomers.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena talks about the importance of being aligned with your partner before moving to Canada or any other country.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Javier Montenegro, an immigrant from Venezuela that moved to Canada in 2014. Today he’ll be sharing with us how he felt welcome when he arrived in a new society.
Oscar Cecena shares his best advice for any newcomer in Canada. Improve your English. There are many reasons to do it, listen to them.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Dhiti Nanavati; she moved from India to the UK, then the US, and now to Canada. This is her fourth and, maybe, final destination after quite a journey. Today she’ll be sharing her experience with us.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena shares the story of a woman who escaped an abusive husband and wishes to remain unnamed. When you listen to the story, you'll understand why.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews six guests and asks them about their experience during the first winter they spent in Toronto.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Sidharth Iyer. He moved from India a couple of years ago and he has an interesting story to tell.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Norma Marin. She moved from Mazatlan, a city on the west coast of Mexico to Toronto in 2002, and today she’ll be sharing her story with us.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Marzie Aghdaee. She moved from Tehran, the capital city of Iran, to Toronto in 2015. She shares her story, and the challenges that being a perfectionist can bring to the immigration journey.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Catherine Chen, founder of MyShoperon. She’s originally from China, but she lived in Washington DC for many years until, in 2010, she decided to move to Toronto.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Etna Rodriguez, a Mexican Sales and Marketing professional that immigrated as a student to Toronto.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Dron Sharma, an immigrant from India that came to Toronto in 2018. He shares how his life was back in his home country and the struggles he had faced as a newcomer.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Chi Odogwu, an immigrant from Nigeria that came to Toronto in 2017. He shares his immigration story and the shock he faced as a newcomer. He also tells us why giving back is so important when you're a newcomer.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena has a conversation with Gullermo Pendola, an Industrial Engineer from Argentina, currently working in Global Capital Markets at Scotiabank. In his free time, he likes playing soccer, tennis and watching movies. He serves as a mentor for newcomers, sharing his experience and help them to start with the right foot.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena tells his immigration story. From the moment he and his wife decided to move to Toronto to the time he lost his job and finishing with the list of his three biggest achievements.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Nerissa Fernandes. She moved to Toronto from India and was presented with a unique work opportunity, so she decided to switch careers and start from scratch doing what she loves most.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena interviews Martha Batiz. She’s a Mexican born writer that moved to Toronto in 2003. And today she’ll be sharing why she decided to move to Toronto instead of staying in the United States or returning to Mexico. And also why she thinks it’s important to have hopes, not expectations.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena is interviewing Roxana Radulescu. She moved to Toronto with her family in 2017. Since the moment she arrived, she has felt that she belongs here. Home is where we are, she says, and we are in Toronto.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena is interviewing Carlos Chalico, he moved with his family from Mexico seven years ago. He was looking for a better place to raise his children. He says that the world needs more Canada, and we’ll find out what he means with that.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena is interviewing Carol Donohue. She'll be sharing her struggle with the Canadian Experience as an American immigrant in Canada.
In this episode, Oscar Cecena is interviewing Raj Dam. He migrated from India, and he has been working on embracing the Canadian culture as an immigrant.
In this episode, I’m interviewing Gabriela Covaci. She has dedicated a big chunk of her life to helping newcomers in Canada, but she also helps children in her home country, Romania. She’ll be sharing with us how a positive attitude made the difference in her process of adapting to a new culture.
In this episode, I’m interviewing Rodrigo Königs. An immigrant with a one-of-a-kind story, he became a newcomer while holding a Canadian passport. He was born in Kitchener, Ontario, while his father was doing a Master’s Degree at the University of Waterloo. After he finished it, they moved back to Mexico, just when Rodrigo was 9 months old.
Today I’m interviewing Gabriela Casineanu, a Romanian immigrant and award-winning author. She’ll be sharing her experience of becoming a writer in Toronto and the story of why the Immigrant Writers’ Association was founded.
I was debating between doing or not an episode zero for the launch of the podcast. But then I realized that some of the podcasts I love the most have them, so I thought it could be a good idea. This episode is way shorter than the normal ones, but it's also a glimpse into what made me start the project and a little bit of my immigration story.