By Hala Helmy, Community Engagement Coordinator, Tri-Cities.
I came to Canada in 2009. It was my third country to live in and my second time settling somewhere new. It was easier because I spoke the language, but challenging in other ways.
And of course, there was a learning curve: wrapping my head around taxes being added to everything, the 24/7 grey skies (I’m still, to this day, having trouble with that one!), and figuring out what all the hype around hockey was 🙂
There was also the isolation of being so far from my immediate family and friends, and missing the familiar, comforting sights and sounds my eyes and ears had known for so many years.
And yet somehow, as someone from mixed backgrounds, Canada strangely felt like home away from home. I saw my journey here as another cocoon I got to shed, and starting over as a challenge. One that helped me grow my grit, resilience, and gratitude along the way.
Immigration strengthens Canada
I believe diversity is an undeniable strength – for both newcomers and Canada.
Immigration strengthens Canada in many ways: ways you can measure, and other ways you can’t.
You can measure jobs filled, businesses started, and taxes paid, for example.
But you can’t easily measure the ways immigrants enrich neighbourhood life, build bridges across cultures and generations, and expand civic participation through volunteering, community leadership, and local connection.
You also don’t always measure the impact Canada has on its newcomers. Like what happens when a family finally feels safe, when a parent returns to work that matches their skills, or when a teenager gets to experience their first live concert.
I see this every day at ISSofBC: old barriers coming down, new friendships forming, communities supporting each other, and people contributing skills they worked so hard for, long before they arrived.
And it’s not just newcomers who reimagine themselves and shed old cocoons – Canada does too. Canada benefits from the knowledge, skill, culture, and experience newcomers bring, and becomes a stronger, better version of itself because of them.
Canada’s diversity is also an education, for the newcomers arriving and for Canadians already here.
Many people in Canada have never had the opportunity to travel or live somewhere else. So, their understanding of the world, different cultures, religions and traditions can be limited to what they hear or read, which can be biased and is not always accurate.
In Canada, we get to learn about the world through the new people who now call this country home. It builds empathy, expands perspective, and reminds us of our shared humanity.
Reflection on identity
Canada is not one single story. It is 41 million stories living side by side. Mine and yours included 🙂 Being part of a country shaped by immigrants means Canada can be a place for everyone, where belonging is possible regardless of language, culture, faith, or background.
Despite there being a lot of work still to do, Canada is unique in that way, and it’s worth protecting. We need to keep choosing to treat diversity as a reality we can learn from and build with, not something to fear or reject.
For me, that means taking responsibility for the kind of community I want my family, and everyone’s families, to live in: one that is fair, safe, genuine, and welcoming.
We have to be the ones who help Canada continue to morph into a better version, generation after generation. And never allow external factors such as global anti-immigrant rhetoric to shape it into something it was never meant to be.
If someone feels unsure about immigration, I understand where that uncertainty comes from. The news has been relentless on housing, health care, and rising costs. These are real and legitimate concerns. But scapegoating newcomers will not fix them.
Newcomers are not coming here to ‘take’ or ‘replace’. They come to work, raise families, and build safe and stable lives, often after years of hardship. They are simply seeking what we all want.
So, I would ask to be kind and curious. Learn about Canada’s newcomers.
They contribute quickly, taking the first jobs they can, volunteering, and showing up for their communities – often before they’ve even had time to catch their breath. They should have time to adjust, but many feel they have to start right away. I don’t think many people know that.
One common misconception about newcomers is that they come here to exploit the system and live off it. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
When immigration is planned well and newcomers are supported, communities become stronger socially, culturally, and economically.
If we want Canada to thrive and grow, the answer is not as simple as turning people away.
The answer lies in investing in, and innovating within the systems that help everyone, and redesigning the ones that don’t. Supporting settlement organizations that help newcomers find work, integrate, belong, and contribute to their full potential is a great place to start.
That is the work ISSofBC has done every day for over 50 years, and I’m proud to be part of it.
I can’t wait to see what we build in the next 50.
If you’re a newcomer seeking settlement support, such as job assistance and free English classes, visit our Free Programs and Services page.
