From an interview with Maria Lorena Mari. Maria Lorena Mari is an economist. Originally from Cuba, she was working at the University of Barcelona, where she holds a PhD in economics, until 2014 when she took maternity leave. Her husband had an opportunity in Canada at the University of [...]
Moving to Canada and starting a new life is exciting! If you’re a newcomer with kids, child care is probably at the top of your mind. The desire to balance cost, service quality, convenience, and availability can, at times, make finding an appropriate child care arrangement challenging, especially [...]
From an interview with Vineesh Pallikara. Vineesh is a civil engineer with seven years of experience in India and the Middle East. He came to Canada in August 2018, knowing full well how difficult it would be to find work in his field. His wife, also a civil engineer, [...]
As you prepare for your move to Canada, you will likely have many action items to address. A decision that may fall to the last minute is what you should bring to Canada and how to get it there. Understanding all your options, cost implications, and restrictions [...]
As a newcomer moving to Canada, you probably have plenty of questions about finding a job, finding housing, finding an afterschool program for your children, and much more. Finding information online can be convenient, but sometimes you just need to sit down and talk to someone. Did you know that [...]
From an interview with Clarinda Andres, Business Account Management, RBC Newcomers come to Canada for many different reasons: out of need, out of desperation, out of a desire to broaden career horizons or to make a better life. Clarinda’s journey began as an adventure in life. In 2011, she [...]
Newcomers often dream of buying a home in Canada someday. Property purchase requires a large financial commitment and the willingness to take on the responsibilities of a homeowner. In Mortgages 101: How to finance your first home in Canada, we outlined the details of financing your first home. In [...]
Owning a home in Canada is a goal many newcomers dream of achieving. Unlike other smaller assets, buying a home or property involves a significant amount of financial investment. As a newcomer, you may have many questions about the process of financing your first home in Canada. In this [...]
Canada is a safe and accepting country for newcomers of all ages and backgrounds. The OECD Better Life Index 2014 even ranked Canada a 9.7 out of 10 for safety due to its low crime rates and secure communities. Safety contributes to the high quality of life newcomers experience in [...]
All newcomers to Canada must demonstrate their language proficiency in at least one of Canada’s official languages (English or French) by using one of the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approved language tests for immigration, work, or study. What is the IELTS? To demonstrate proficiency in English language, [...]
Canada has two official languages – English and French. Newcomers to Canada are required to prove their English or French proficiency by taking a language proficiency test approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This is to ensure that any newcomer in Canada will be able to communicate and [...]
From an interview with Oscar Cecena At the age of 35, Oscar Cecena came to Canada from Mexico as an international student with a crystal clear idea of what he wanted to do: His plan was to change careers from IT (information technology) to HR (human resources). Oscar completed [...]