Shah Mohammad Yousuf

Although I had a good idea of what to expect when I moved to Toronto, Canada from Bangladesh in December of 2005, I’m still trying to get used to the cold winters! Moving to a new country can be intimidating, but I’m happy I was lucky enough to land in such a welcoming community. I was surprised by the multiculturalism of Toronto. I felt right at home from the start, and have never felt like a stranger or outsider in this town. I also didn’t expect that Toronto would have so many different agencies that help newcomers and immigrants. Overall, Toronto is a great place to live. It is mostly family-oriented and you can find good schools and good quality neighborhoods. Transportation is also good around the city.

After landing in Toronto I realized it was not easy finding employment in my area of work. My Computer Science degree needed to be evaluated and this was an expensive and slow process. I was constantly asked for “Canadian experience” and not being bilingual in French put me at a disadvantage for employment in Toronto.

I started with a "survival job" to pay some of my living expenses. This provided me with an opportunity to meet people, kept me focused and allowed me to build connections in the community. I worked in the evening and during the day I took classes for SAP certification courses and accessed the employment center and applied for jobs.

I knew that finding employment is just the first step in settlement. It also includes securing a suitable and affordable place to live, securing a driving license and insurance, accessing credit, and making good friends. Settling in any new country or place takes time and effort. To succeed as a new immigrant I needed to be resilient and adaptive. So I never gave up. Eventually I became a System Application and Process for Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW) certified Consultant in 2006.

At the end of 2008 I got my first job offer from the town of Markham as an Asset Life Cycle Analyst for a 6-month contract, which was renewed for another term. In the meantime I was lucky enough to find another job in the city of Peterborough as a Spatial Data Analyst for a one-year contract. At work I have a great group of colleagues that helped with my move from Toronto to Peterborough. What I like about Peterborough is that people are great, helpful, and co-operative. It is a quiet and family-oriented community where I can find quality healthcare and recreation. There are also many different agencies that help newcomers and immigrants to settle here.

My advice to newcomers is to not give up. It doesn’t matter if you don’t find the ‘perfect job’ right away. Consider your job search as an opportunity to grow and meet new people. Work hard, keep a positive attitude and you will eventually end up where you want to be.

The first year of settlement in Canada is still a big blur to me. It was a huge change in all aspects of life. It has taken me several years to feel stable and confident enough to call Canada home. While there were lots of moments of doubt and frustration, and questions on why I immigrated, there were also happy moments of accomplishments and friendships to cherish. I am now happily married with an adorable son. Sure, I miss my family but I know they can always visit so I have no regrets about my decision to move. I like my life here, and I love Peterborough.