Let me introduce you to Mourad, from Oujda, Morocco. Mourad applied for permanent residence through the Québec skilled worker program and was granted his visa in the summer of 2009. He is a patient guy… His immigration process took an astonishing four years and a half!

Mehmet Kaya has been in Canada for just over a year, and is still getting used to life here. He met his wife Brenda, an ESL teacher, while she was living and working in Istanbul. One day she walked into Mehmet’s uncle’s shop, where he was working, and the rest is history!

Unlike many immigrants to Canada, Yasmine and her family hadn’t thought of immigrating anywhere. They hadn’t really chosen Canada either: they came as refugees after leaving their war-torn country. Their story is truly moving, from a perfect life in former Yugoslavia to coming as refugees in Germany and then Canada, where they eventually settled.

Let me introduce you to Adam and Eric, formerly of San Francisco, California, and now full-time Torontonians. They have been living in Canada for two years and they have the mix of positive attitude and realist outlook on their move that make them perfect to interview.

I had to find out who was behind these pictures: I contacted the author. His profile had one line: “Brazilian guy living in Iqaluit”. Now, I was super curious. I mean, Canada is well-known to be a cold place, but from Brazil to the actual Great White North? That’s just one hell of a culture shock!