Settlement

As an immigrant country, Canada attracts about 300 thousand new immigrants every year, and how to settle them down has been a big challenge for the whole society. As one of the newcomers, I will introduce some of these issues.

The most desirable destination areas for new immigrants are the top 3 cities: Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. For most newcomers, big cities mean more opportunities, more resources, and on the other hand, higher costs of living. Moreover, the weather in Toronto and Montreal is very chilly, which makes it hard for those people from warm places like South America and South Asia to get used to. Although most people choose big cities as their first stop, some of them move to small towns because they find new jobs there or they prefer a more pleasant environment at a lower cost.

Regarding education, Canada has one of the strongest education systems in the world. The whole system is very sophisticated and covers all stages, from kindergarten to university degrees. Canada provides free education for all children in primary school as well as high school, and the tuition fees at universities are affordable. In addition, numerous universities and colleges have certificate programs that focus on career training for adults. However, some of those applicants who attend them to find a job complain that the results are unsatisfactory.

Language is a big barrier for most newcomers, especially for those from non-English speaking countries. It takes months or even years for them to improve their language skills to an intermediate level, therefore, the majority of them choose a language class to improve their language abilities. ESL (English as a Second Language) provides a formal class for students, and normally there are up to 30 individuals in a class. As their language levels differ so much, it is hard for the teacher to balance their needs. ELT (Enhanced Language Training) provides language training for higher-level students (CLB-Canada Language Benchmark 6.0 or above) and focuses on a specific career, but most programs turn out to teach you how to write resumes and cover letters and how to apply for a job, rather than giving the students the necessary knowledge of the industry they are planning to enter, including certification and accreditation processes and professional terminology. Although the country has devoted enormous efforts to language programs, it is still the responsibility of every person to study and practice English or French in their daily life.

Career development may be top issue for adults, who need to support their families. However, Canadian labour markets are not friendly to most newcomers. Most careers require certification, like doctors, nurses, teachers, electricians, plumbers, etc. The requirements also include language skills, education and Canadian experience. Therefore, quite a lot of new immigrants have to go back to school to get the required education first and then apply for certification before finding a job. Canada does not have a big labour market for skilled professionals, which means that hundreds of candidates might apply for the same position, even a junior one, and never get an interview. All of the above makes establishing a professional career a difficult goal to achieve for most newcomers.

In summary, settlement in Canada is a new journey for newcomers, and most of them have to experience some hard times. All of us have to equip ourselves with fluent English, a better understanding of local culture, along with marketable skills, required certificates, and a positive attitude with a heart of a lion to finish the uncertain journey, no matter if it is a happy, a challenging, or a mixed experience.