Suliat Ibrahim migrated to Canada in April 2024. It took her a while to realize her migration dream, as she first took the IELTS seven years ago in an attempt to come to Canada. It felt like it would never happen at some point because the immigration policies were constantly changing, and they got more complex during the pandemic era. However, she and her family got approved for permanent residency at the right time, and they came to Canada to begin their new life. Suliat tells her full story here:
Uprooting my life from familiar territory, the comfort of family and friends, and coming to a multicultural country like Canada was overwhelming. When we first landed, it felt like a vacation. It didn’t quite dawn on us that this was now home, but we were lucky we had a soft landing in the form of family and friends who supported us all the way. We didn’t experience most of the initial struggles with settling down because we had friends who were already settled here and family who could accommodate us for an extended period. We had access to transportation and were guided in filling out several forms, which was a herculean task due to the required data.
Beyond the physical move, the impact of settling my kids in a new country was significant. They are young, so I was solely responsible for ensuring the whole family was okay, catering to their needs, and figuring out how to integrate them into their new reality. This was quite an experience for me because I came from a place where I had people who helped with the kids, but doing this alone was challenging. The Spring weather was an enjoyable experience for my kids. They experienced a lot of activities for kids during spring and summer and participated in many nice activities that helped broaden their minds. Though the migration was overwhelming initially, it also enabled a paradigm shift, making us believe anyone can start over and do something different. Even when you feel like you’re making a mistake or things are not clear, you can always turn back and start afresh.
Furthermore, navigating the Canadian work environment was a different challenge altogether. I started to feel like my skills were not relevant in this market, and I shifted from seeking professional jobs to relying on survival jobs. However, our support system provided us with the right information, which was pertinent to our job search as we had a young family and were burning rapidly through our savings. After a while, I got a contract job after months of searching, which affirmed me because it confirmed that my skills were relevant here. After a few months, it ended, and as we entered the new year, I was still job searching, but I realized that my job search was just a small part of my experience in Canada. I looked within and tapped into my entrepreneurial side. I launched my own business (Snacks Station canada) —a home bakery that allows us to recreate traditional recipes. We cater to events and personal consumption, and we are also expanding. It’s still early, but we’ve received many five-star reviews and great feedback. This validates that people love to connect with home and enjoy good food, and as long as you offer something of value, people are willing to pay for it.
Over the past year, I’ve had conversations with other immigrants and realize that you need a strategy. You can’t go in blindly. This is a new country. Even as a permanent resident working towards citizenship, you have to understand that you didn’t grow up here, and many things are lost on you. You need to chart your course, and if something isn’t working after a certain period—three months, six months, or even a year—you should reassess and decide how to move forward. Canada is really big on networking. As a professional, you might think networking is straightforward and one-dimensional, but you realize that in this country, networking is top-down, peer to peer and community based. Another thing is the support from the Canadian government for migrants; these resources have sharpened my mind and kept me up to date with trends in the industries I’m interested in, helping me stay in the professional space. Since starting my business, I’ve also discovered several trainings for business owners in Canada, which I can leverage to expand and grow my business.
If I could do anything differently, I would prepare myself mentally for relocating with a young family and strategize ahead of our landing instead of coming in the middle and figuring it out. As a Nigerian, we roll with the punches and have the audacity to dream. That’s something I hold on to deeply—our cultural heritage and authenticity as Nigerians, as people with a can-do spirit. Our cultural identity is a source of strength and resilience, and it’s important to hold on to it in a new country.
For anyone migrating, much goes into it beyond the glamour of living abroad as an immigrant. You will have to adjust to many changes, and it’s important to start preparing yourself as soon as you begin applying, even before you receive your documentation. You should prepare mentally and professionally, especially for the adjustment of having little to no help. Planning and preparation are key to a successful migration journey.
The diversity in Canada was initially overwhelming for me. Even among Black people, we are not all West Africans; we have East Africans and various nationalities. However, at the core, we are all human, and the language of humanity is love and kindness. The principles remain the same, regardless. Having that mindset helps me treat everyone kindly and humanely, and we’ve gotten along quite well.
I encourage women, especially those with young families, to understand what is most important for their family during migration. It will test and stretch you. You need to figure out if you need flexibility, stability, income, or education. Sit down with yourself, your partner, and your kids (if they are of age) to design the life you want to live as an immigrant. Everything won’t fall into place immediately, so it’s essential to strategize and mitigate the risks you may face.
Suliat Ibrahim tells her story from Edmonton in Alberta Canada.
