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Immigrant Stories

Meet the Sethi Family

By Saira Hayre, Darpan, 21 Nov, 2014

    Supinder Sethi is working as a Resident Care Assistant with Delta View Life Enrichment Centre

    Cynthia Sethi is working as a Health Care Assistant with Bayshore Home Health

    Harsheen Kaur is 5 years old

    In search of better opportunities, and to secure a brighter future for their daughter, Supinder and Cynthia Sethi applied for Canadian immigration in 2011. In 2012, they arrived in Canada, along with their daughter Harsheen and within six months, they obtained their Permanent Residence Visa.  

    A few days after his arrival in Canada, Supinder secured employment in a moulding company as an Accounts Receivable Clerk and in 2014, he began taking a Health Care Assistant course at PACE Canada College. "It was such a great time for me in PACE Canada College, and I completed the course with 96.8% marks,” he says.

    About 15 days after graduating, Supinder, who completed his MBA in Marketing back in India, obtained employment as a Resident Care Assistant at Delta View Life Enrichment Centre in Delta, BC.  

    Like Supinder, Cynthia, who has a Masters of Science in Zoology from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, also completed her Health Care Assistant course from a local college and then obtained employment as a Health Care Assistant with Bayshore Home Health at the end of 2013.  

    Reflecting on their initial experiences in Canada, Supinder, who belongs to the holy city of Amritsar in Punjab, says, "The good part was the better systems and processes.  The weather here is too good and there is a clean and green environment.  On the other hand, we were a bit sad because of getting separated from our near and dears ones, especially our parents."  

    He adds that he enjoys the fact that Canada offers fair and proper working systems, as well as equality and social security for its inhabitants.  

    On a parting note, Supinder sums up his thoughts on his family's immigration story: "There were no obstacles [while adjusting to a new life in Canada].  It's just that we needed to start from scratch, as we all have to.  We did the studies and courses, worked really hard, obtained success and got really good jobs.  Now, we are really satisfied and happy!

    Resolutions:
    Supinder: First target was to get a good job, which I got as Accounts Receivable, so that Cynthia can upgrade her skills.  It was our plan to upgrade our skills one by one. First, we planned to get a driving license for Cynthia, and after that she did a Health Care Assistant course and then she got a job. Once she got a job, then I upgraded my skills, and also did a Health Care Assistant course and then got a job. And now recently I did a General Insurance Auto Plan course and I got another part time job.

    Advice:
    Supinder and Cynthia: If somebody is planning to come here, they need to be patient and get ready to start from scratch in a new atmosphere.  Be determined and focused towards the goal, nothing is impossible!

    Memories of their Homeland:
    Supinder: We really had a great time in our homeland, as we had lots of local family and friends, so whenever we had time, we used to have get-togethers.  As I mentioned, I belong to Amritsar.  We used to go to the Golden Temple, which we miss a lot.

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