Immigrant life in Canada — 3 tips on how to survive and thrive…

I completed three years of moving to Canada in February 2023 and I am nothing but grateful that I took this step. I left India on Feb 2, 2020, with a one-way ticket from New Delhi to Toronto, two large suitcases and a lot of hope. I am the only one in my family to have taken such a step which some people call “bold/risky”, but I call it “life changing”. From my three years of experience, I consider myself somewhat qualified to share a few tips to survive and thrive as a solo immigrant in this country. I live in the City of Toronto and some references can be specific to GTA (The Greater Toronto Area).

1- Be a part of community and discover Canada: As human beings we all have a basic need to belong. Do whatever it takes to integrate into the community and with people around you who most likely would be from different backgrounds. Maybe you can work on improving your English and join English learning course. I love to read, so I often go to the local public library (https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/) which is 5 minutes walk from my place in midtown Toronto, to participate in book club meetings. You can also use Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/find/ca--toronto/) to find events around you as per your interests. I discovered and went for so many interesting events such as full moon meditation, park yoga, running club, salsa in the park, stand up comedy show, toastmasters and ice skating. I also went for group hikes outside the city through Parkbus (https://www.parkbus.ca/) where I met some like minded people with whom I could connect. I made use of Canoo app (https://canoo.ca/) which is only for newcomers to Canada to experience Symphony Orchestra, Ballet shows, plays and concerts, museum and art galleries. Visits to the Iskcon temple and volunteering over the weekends for temple and some of the NGO’s made me feel that I am contributing to the society. A few places where you can volunteer are- Sick kids, CAMH, YSM, YMCA, Salvation Army, church, and temples around you. Check out https://www.volunteertoronto.ca/ for open volunteering opportunities in GTA. Besides volunteering, I enrolled for painting classes and music lessons to feed my desire to learn and be creative. Needless to mention, travel as much as you can whether locally or globally. Appreciate the change of seasons, take as many pictures as you can, satisfy your taste buds and experience new cultures. Remember to mingle and learn as you come across people from different faith/backgrounds/believes but don’t forget your roots and family back home.

2- Have your life goals in place: Make your financial goals and personal goals very clear right from the beginning. Goals and ambitions drive you to a better future. Write down your goals somewhere which is visible/accessible to you daily, put realistic timelines and work towards it every single day. Remember consistency is the key. It will take a while to get to that first house of yours or to find the right partner or to excel and get recognized at your job but eventually the wait is worth it. Financial literacy is vital, so educate yourself about the investment products, legal tax saving mechanisms and secondary sources of income. Talk to financial advisors about your goals so that you make the right decision early. I use Wealthsimple (https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca) for my investments through TFSA (a type of account that helps you save tax on investment income) and I have no complains so far. You can also use Questrade (https://www.questrade.com/home) or any bank’s trading and investing platform after doing your research. For your career progression, networking is crucial. Build your professional network even after you have bagged your first job. Your network would help you to get the right opportunities. If you are single and looking for a partner, carefully consider your options as this is the most important decision that you will be making that will impact you for the next 40–50 years of your life (assuming you are in your 30’s like me and have an average life expectancy). Don’t rush in making this decision just because you feel lonely or insecure. Tell yourself you have made it this far and only good things are in store now. There would be times when things would look far fetched and you would feel overwhelmed by juggling many aspects of life together. Remember to go back and review your goals, remind yourself that you are at it, and you will achieve it soon. Breathe and tackle one thing at a time.

3- Take care of your mental and physical health: I moved to Canada in Feb 2020 and the pandemic doomed on us in March. Life changed for all of us, and it hasn’t been an easy ride for any of us which makes it all the more important to take care of our overall health. I joined GoodLife fitness (https://www.goodlifefitness.com/home.html; locations across Canada) last year and have been regular with my workouts, pumping in endorphins. I started playing squash as the gym offers access to squash courts. It boosted my energy levels and helped me survive the winters. If you are not willing to invest in gym, check your office fitness centres or building amenities if they provide free access. In case you enjoy ice skating/skiing consider yourself blessed as you can spend more time outdoors during winter season which can range up to 6 months. I am running Toronto marathon this May, which will be a great start to the summer season. During summer days, everyone wants to be outdoors and enjoy the longer warmer days. I play table tennis, frisbees with friends or run in the park. I can’t stress enough how important mental health is for all of us. Don’t be afraid to seek help, therapy or talk to a friend you can trust. There are free services and resources provided by govt. to support your mental health (such as https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support). Personally, there are a few things which helped me a lot specially during dark, short, and gloomy winter days. Journaling, using habit tracker, investing in a light therapy lamp, creating art, reading self help books (few that I highly recommend — Midnight library, Ikigai, The power of habit, Influence and The Alchemist), going for walks (always be geared up for the weather), AUM chanting, afternoon green teas with ginger and maple syrup, staying connected with friends and family and treating myself in the best possible way I can.

Hope you find this article useful. All the best in your journey 😊.