image source: Sunlifefinancial.ca
Since my relocation to Canada in 2018, it has been an amazing journey. This is not to say it hasn’t had its ups and downs but in all, I learnt lessons that only experience could have taught me about moving to Canada. Lucky for you, I will be sharing some of these lessons with you which could serve at useful tips if you will be moving to Canada soon or are a new immigrant already in Canada.
You Snooze You Lose: As a permanent resident in Canada, there are many benefits you’re entitled to like free healthcare, tax rebates after filing for taxes even as soon as you land, opportunity to learn French for free, Child Care benefit if you have children, study loans, unlimited access to online courses through libraries and much more. But if you are not aware of these benefits and don’t go after them, you wouldn’t get them. The secret is to reaping all these benefits is getting knowledge and information through reliable sources. You can find out some of those benefits here from a YouTube video on my channel. You snooze, you lose.
Networking is Everything: Whether you’re trying to get a job, find like-minded people or just make new friends, you have to deliberately go after it. Nothing happens except you make it happen. You can download apps like Eventbrite or Meet up to find out networking events happening in your area. You can also expand your network through online platforms like LinkedIn or Bumble for Business. Networking can take you places you ordinarily might have not been able to go.
Everything is Taxed: Just before you fill your shopping cart and head to the counter, just remember that the total amount you’ll be paying will definitely be more than what’s on the price tag. Whether it’s eating out at a restaurant, paying for a service or product online, everything is taxed in Canada. There is the Federal and Provincial tax. The percentage varies from province to province.
Time Doesn’t Wait for You: Everything in Canada is built into a well-organized system. The public transportation leaves when they are scheduled to except there are unexpected delays. If you don’t get to the bus stop or station on time, you’ll have to settle for a later time. Stores and businesses open and close exactly at the scheduled time. Your meetings will begin exactly when they were scheduled to. You have to plan you time to align with your schedule.
Give Tips: I know depending on what part of the word you come from, giving tips might be weird after-all you already paid for the service right? Well that doesn’t matter in Canada. You would have to get into the habit of tipping the waiter who waited on you, the pizza guy who delivered your pizza, and no, it doesn’t matter that you are already paying a delivery fee.
You Need a Credit Card: I came from a country where it was not common to use credit cards. All payments were either made with cash or debit cards. Well, in Canada, using a credit card goes beyond choice. It is actually beneficial in building your credit history and often the only payment method accepted for some online transactions. You can click here to find out more about the importance of credit cards as a new immigrant in Canada in a previously written post.
Never Judge a Book by its Cover: You should never assume you know someone because of how they look. This saying is universal but applies greatly here in Canada. Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world as home to many citizens of different countries in the world. Drop your prejudice the moment you step off the plane and be open to finding more about people before judging…if it’s even necessary.
You Need to Have a Hobby: What do you like to do for fun? It’s okay if you can’t answer that right away but you need to have a “thing.” Whether it’s sports, fitness, music, dance, TV shows, video games, books, poetry, hiking, etc., just make sure you have a thing. This will help you know the sort of places you can possibly find like-minds when you get bored because you will. This will also help your small talk game when you find yourself in a situation when you need to introduce yourself or tell people what you’re about.
You Don’t Know How to Drive: Forget everything you thought you knew about driving and re-learn. You will probably come across road signs you had never seen before and you will be required to obey them. As a matter of fact, you will need to prove your road worthiness again through some tests before you can be allowed to drive here.
Be Very Polite: Words like “please”” sorry” and “thank you” should be part of your everyday vocabulary. It’s not unusual here to tell a bus driver “thank you” while you’re getting off the bus or hold doors open for people behind you to go through. Most Canadians are warm and polite people and would expect you to reciprocate the gesture.
There are many other valuable lessons moving to Canada in 2018 taught me that I might not have covered in this post. This is just a heads-up for you while you brace up for your own Canada experience.
