Succeeding From the Margins of Canadian Society: A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees, and International Students. Francis Adu-Febiri

good to say about Canada.

      Regardless of the motivation for migration, the excitement of living in Canada may have meant not giving enough thought to what the realities might be. You may have heard only the stories of milk and honey and those about the big, bright, boulder of gold that glistens through the four seasons, beckoning to all. While the potential immigrant might have acquired some information about the target country, there is no guarantee that such information will always match up with the reality. It is no doubt disappointing, for example, for people who envisioned living amiably in a new environment to find that not all neighbours are welcoming and that not everyone is happy to see them around.

       Your First Year

      Your first year in Canada might be one filled with emotions. On the one hand, you have exciting opportunities and challenges awaiting you, while on the other hand, you might look back with nostalgia on some of the more precious elements you left behind including the positive memories you have of your home country. Even though Canada may have extended a welcoming hand to you, it is possible that as an immigrant you will find yourself “in a social environment that is confusing, frustrating, and challenging. In most cases [immigrants] will find that holding the status of “immigrant” does not enhance their identity nor does it facilitate their ability to integrate into the host society” (Frideres 2002). You might feel that the best way to get a handle on your new life is to ponder about it from the safety of your room, home, or apartment. Whereas back home you may have been a minor celebrity in your neighbourhood, here in Canada you may be invisible even if you are a so-called visible minority! In your home country your brilliance may have blinded your teachers, parents, and friends but in Canada there are times when, in your dealings with people, you might wonder if they are not perhaps questioning your intelligence. Considering that even those who come to Canada with some French or English speaking ability sometimes have communication challenges the problem may be compounded for those who do not have the benefit of speaking one or the other of Canada’s two official languages: English and French. Do not hold yourself back, however, because of uncertainty about your use of one of Canada’s official languages.

      It may seem safe to stick close to your own community whether in terms of race, ethnicity, religion or language. This is especially the case for those who have the benefit of a large ethnic community within which they can operate. For example, a Chinese living in Vancouver may be able to interact in the main with people from his or her background. It is possible to visit a Chinese doctor, eat Chinese food, speak Chinese on an almost daily basis and thus feel that there is really no need to interact with other Canadians. Young people, at any rate, sometimes find it much easier to embrace the notion of being Canadian, sometimes even rejecting the norms of their ethnic or national background. Even after you have become a citizen you might still have to answer questions related to your origins. In this matter, some are proud to identify their backgrounds while others might wonder why there is such a great emphasis on people’s origins. After all, aren’t we all now committed to Canada?

       Don’t Prejudge

      Just as you do not want people to prejudge you, give others the benefit of the doubt. Approach people with a positive expectation and you’re likely to be met with open arms. Making assumptions about people is dangerous. You may have heard stories of prejudice; don’t let that deter you because not everyone is prejudiced. If you need a job, go for it. Do not hold back on the assumption that you might not get it. If you approach any situation with confidence, you increase your chances manifold. A positive attitude is likely to take you much farther in Canada than a negative attitude will. Sometimes, it is possible to win simply by not entertaining the idea of failure. In any case, Canadians are far from being perfect. Thus, in some cases, one has to fight for one’s rights.

       Be Aware

      In Canada’s politically correct environment one has to continually pay attention to one’s choice of words. Don’t be surprised if someone snarls at you for using the word “disabled,” for example, which you know to be a perfectly good English word. “Physically-challenged” is the politically correct term. To avoid being accused of sexism you might want to say fire fighter instead of fireman, police officer instead of policeman. Resist the urge, however, to say, “person-hole” for manhole. Immerse yourself in your new environment and feel free to debate with other Canadians while remaining sensitive to others’ feelings.

       You Can Achieve Your Dreams

      Though Canada holds much promise for personal success and achievement, so often, people have come to Canada only to have their grandiose dreams shattered. It is not uncommon to see immigrants who have been in the country for, sometimes upwards of twenty years, feeling bitter at the “system” and at Canadians for erecting so many overt and covert barriers that the immigrant has virtually no chance to transform his dreams into reality. Some give up, cutting down their original vision to size and taking to existing on the back streets of society, as faceless, anonymous drones. Others may keep their hopes alive though the stark gap between their current state and their grandiose dreams may make one question the sanity of holding on to those dreams. There are also those who come with an ironclad will and determination that no matter how long it takes and how many setbacks they face they would achieve their goals. They may go through years of trial and error or if fortunate, find a legitimate shortcut to reaching the goals they have set for themselves. What are the elements that can help an immigrant, new to the land or not, navigate the Canadian social and economic waters in order to arrive safely at the port of personal and professional prosperity? Even under the best of circumstances, personal initiative is necessary. And if you are banging your head against a brick wall, could it be that you have to redirect your efforts? Do you have a strategy for success or are you just drifting along? A person who just drifts along has not much choice about where he or she ends up. You might have to take a more proactive approach or redirect your energies in order to reap the rewards you deserve.

       IDA: Renew Your Commitment to Success

      Having talent and confidence is not enough. Even education is not always the answer to the achievement of goals though it can make a person more aware and open up opportunities. Not everyone who has come to the country with a degree or a head full of knowledge has been able to transmute such knowledge into personal success, satisfaction, or happiness. Immigrants who have smelled the sweet fragrance of success in their native land may respond with frustration to what may seem like endless roadblocks in Canada. For some, time, the acquisition of knowledge about their environment and a good plan are what may eventually transform their dreams into reality. No matter what skills an immigrant brings to Canada, it is worth noting that the waters here may be completely different from what one might have known in one’s own country. Canadian society, the Canadian waters may seem calm and benign but never forget that still waters run deep. There are such powerful maelstroms as racism and ageism, all of which can render the unprepared paralyzed. How you respond to these unexpected societal traps can be crucial. Some choose to leave while others choose to stick it out and find ways around the challenges. While we may take inspiration from past successes, we cannot rest on our laurels and let the successes of yesteryear lull us into inaction. New environments call for new initiatives. New challenges call for new reserves of determination. And rather than assuming that we know all that there is to know, sometimes, a little bit of humility, taking the Socratic pose, and learning anew what we might have assumed we knew may help us to make new distinctions and to tackle life with a little less dread and a greater chance for success. The key then to sailing smoothly through the Canadian waters is first to be INFORMED, the first point of the IDA principle. Next is to be able to make definite DECISIONS, and finally, to take ACTION.

       Be Informed

      In order to become well informed, one has to shed one’s coat of pride. It is true that you may have studied about Canada in primary school and followed news about Canada long before coming into the country. Once in the country, this process should not stop. While it is important to observe, it is also necessary to talk to others. While people from a similar background to yours can give you some insights into their personal experiences, it would be a mistake to assume such a one-sided