How is Life in Canada?

A few weeks ago there was a very important announcement in Ottawa: the city was having a new professional basketball team!

With the excitement all around, media and city officials gathered at the venue. There, the owner of the team proudly unveiled the team’s name: the “Ottawa Tomahawks”!

ottawa-tomahawks

There was a little problem though… No one liked the name. Even worst: the aboriginal community got deeply offended by the use of the word.

What was thought to be a tribute to a well known movement in basketball turned out to be the misuse of a war weapon name.

And that’s where I got confused and had to deeply think about what happened.

What’s in a name?

To be honest, I first thought it was just another overreaction by the aboriginal community. I thought they had much better things to think about and worry about other than the use of a word. I thought that with all the poverty, high level of drop outs at school, drug and alcohol issues in their communities… Does it really had any sense to worry about the use of the word “tomahawk”? I did not get it.

But after thinking about it for a while I realized that we, as immigrants, cannot pretend to completely understand these kind of discussions that are s deeply related to the Canadian roots. Not at least without going through a further understanding of the context.

Some things are “Canadian things” and may be are out of our scope of understanding. We come from other cultures with other realities and even with a much different approach to the aboriginal community. If they say it’s not right to use the word “tomahawk”, well… it may not be right. And they may have their own reasons. Specially when all the media aligned behind the First Nations  and even the Mayor of Ottawa said he had warned about the issue. It was clear I was not understanding the problem and I was misjudging.

Canadian Solutions to Canadian Problems

Sometimes we must take a step back and just watch. There’s no need to get involved and have a saying in every single issue going on around is in our new society.

We will not be judged or censored if we have our saying and give our opinion but we must clearly have a good judgement on when it;s out turn to get involved in something or not.

What do you think?

What is your saying in this matter? What do you prefer to do? Do you step back or do you get involved in the discussion?

Share your saying, the door is open!

(by the way, they are called the Ottawa Skyhawks now)

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can-humour315One of my favorite radio shows is “The Irrelevant Show”

It’s a very entertaining comedy show that, once in a while, shows how Canadians know to laugh about themselves. If you don’t know it I recommend you to subscribe to their podcast or listen it online every Saturday at about 11am Eastern Time.

Of all their sketches, I chose three that are a great example of what things Canadian take into account to laugh about themselves. For us, immigrants, is a great way to know more about Canadians and their culture.

I want to invite you to listen to these sketches…

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latino-girl

Love, love, love…

It can turn us stupids, eh?

Every single year there is a notice like this going around.

A title called my attention on twitter the other day.

The lawyer Sergio Karas (a well known immigration lawyer from Toronto and of Argentinian origin) twitted an article from the Toronto Star where his opinion was featured:

 

When I read the paper I figured it out right away: another Canadian deceived by a latino girl.

And it’s going to get worst…

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This is a Guest Post written by Eduardo Bojorquez, Chairman of the IGSL. 

We are the Inter-Governmental Soccer League (IGSL). Our league is entering its third year.

The idea is to have a soccer league composed of government departments, including Federal, Provincial, Municipal, Aboriginal, and Regional. We will also welcome other autonomous departments, such as Ottawa Police, RCMP, and Firefighters.

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Last week Ottawa had its coldest day in eight years: the wind chill surpassed the mark of 40 below zero. For us that came to Canada in 2005, was then our coldest winter day of a lifetime! Just during the  weekend we had a bit more normal temperatures for the time. What they call “normal”? let’s Say -20 and up.

With the excuse of the cold then, and knowing how much the topic  of Canadian climate scares those in their way to this country, I suggested to our fans in Facebook to ask me questions about Canadian winter in order to write this entry as complete as possible. I  read all the questions posted, summarized them, added my particular views on the subject and this is what came out…

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When we decided to immigrate our first options were Australia and New Zealand.

It was the year 99 or 2000 and I remember going to a conference organized by an Immigration Consultant office in a Hotel in Buenos Aires. It was a Saturday morning and the room was almost packed. It was the typical PowerPoint presentation: economic figures, geographic data and everything  illustrated with pictures of smiling couples and families running in the beaches of Adelaide (similar to the pictures of those smiling couples under the snow at the Ville de Quebec). But it worked. I was excited, we had a good profile, we knew the language … we just needed the courage to start the process. But I did not dare.

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If you decided that you can handle the immigration process on your own and that you don;t need any help from any Immigration practitioner (which is fine), you may want to  read some books that can help you get ready.

And if you are using a Consultant, you can also read them.

They are about immigration, life, career, job search… Most of the things I know are on the top of your mind at this time (at least for most of you)

Let me recommend you some interesting books from Amazon (and yes, there are all affiliate links in case you wonder)

Immigrating to Canada and Finding Employment by Tariq Nadeem

book1This book is a 3 in 1 publication. It offers a do-it-yourself kit for skilled workers under the latest Canadian immigration policy, along with a comprehensive step-by-step settlement guide for new immigrants and visitors.

Finally, it provides a detailed job search guide with profession specific guidelines, addresses and tips.

The do-it-yourself kit enables any skilled worker to access their eligibility and prepare their immigration application professionally without any external help.

This book will provide you with an example of the alternate submission which is required if you believe that you are proficient in English and therefore do not wish to take the IELTS.

How to Move to Canada: A Primer for Americans by Terese Loeb Kreuzer

book2More and more Americans are thinking of moving to Canada for work, study, peace of mind—even retirement—and whatever their motivations, they will have to navigate the Canadian immigration and naturalization processes.

So whether you’re thinking about moving or already have your bags packed, How to Move to Canada is for you.

It’s a straightforward, friendly, informative handbook that delivers on its promise, providing readers with a thorough understanding of what to expect and where to get help and more information.

Live & Work in Canada: The Most Accurate, Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Living and Working in Canada by Frances Lemon

book3This book is a complete guide to daily life in Canada, from finding a home to finding work or even setting up a business from scratch.

Live & Work in Canada is illustrated with first-hand accounts from people living in Canada and is full colour, with numerous maps and photographs throughout.

Set out to be easily accessible, each chapter guides you through the practicalities of a move to Canada, from setting up home to finding a job.

In particular, it gives advice on renting accommodation, opening the right bank account, finding your ideal home, obtaining a competitive mortgage and making the most of your leisure time.

The American in Canada: Real-Life Tax and Financial Insights into Moving and Living in Canada by Brian D. Wruk

book4For Americans either contemplating a move or already living in Canada, this reference answers all the questions necessary to successfully plan the transition, including immigration planning, customs planning, cash management, income tax planning, retirement, wills and estates, risk management, and investments.

According to the Association for Canadian Studies, more than 10,000 Americans moved to Canada in 2006, a new 30-year record.

So, You Want to Be Canadian: All About the Most Fascinating People in the World and the Magical Place They Call Home by Kerry Colburn

book5So, you want to be Canadian? Who doesn’t these days?

Canucks are enjoying a major renaissance in attention, from their enlightened social policies to their wild and wooly pop culture.

This playful, trivia-packed book is a long-overdue celebration of all things Canadian, from the mysteries of “eh?” to the difference between an Ogo Pogo and a Windingo to how to prepare moose stroganoff (mmm!).

Featuring a dreamy list of Canadian hotties, a toe-tapping roundup of Canadian smash hit songs, a handy CanadianAmerican translator, and pointers on how to eat, dress, and apologize like a Canadian if you weren’t lucky enough to be born a Canuck, So, You Want to Be Canadian demonstrates once and for all why Canada is so cool (formerly just cold).

AMERICANS MOVING TO CANADA – How To Move & What You Need To Know For Stress Free Settlement With Your Tax And Financial Planning Tips To Maximize Your Assets by Tariq Nadeem

book6As an American this book will help you to decide if you are the right candidate to move to Canada or not.

If yes, then it offers you the necessary information about Canadian immigration system with your options to move.

Then help on necessary planning for cross border issues that provides both challenges and opportunities.

Canada has a well deserved reputation for having some of the highest marginal tax rates amongst the OECD countries.

What most Canadians do not realize is that Canada has a well established regime of tax sheltering to attract new residents that it does not offer to its indigenous population.

Canada is not just about a peaceful nation with universal health care system, clean air, low crime rate, no abortion laws, no death penalty, most respected nation, balanced education system or same sex marriages but with proper pre-immigration tax planning, wealthy individuals can move to Canada and avoid income and capital gain tax on their non-Canadian source income and capital gain producing assets.

This book is especially designed for Americans moving to Canada for an effective, efficient and stress free settlement to save your precious time and hard earned wealth.

Living and Working in Canada: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Canada) by David Hampshire

book7Wheter you’re already living or working in Canada or just thinking about it – this is THE BOOK for you.

This book is designed to meet the needs of anyone wishing to know the essentials of Canadian life – however long your intended stay, you will find the information contained in this book invaluable.

Do you have any recommended reading to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

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