First Generation

In this episode, we’ll explore the common financial challenges faced by newcomers to Canada and offer effective strategies to navigate them. Discover opportunities for financial growth, budget management tips and essential tools for your financial journey. Join us as we welcome Idriss Bouhmouch from National Bank of Canada, who will share valuable insights on preparing for both short-term and long-term financial success. Tune in for expert advice and inspiration!

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy the sunshine, prioritize your well-being, and make lasting memories in Canada. It’s an excellent time to plan your getaways and enjoy abundant outdoor activities.

This episode is for you if you are looking to explore Canada. Join Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan as she speaks with Maya Lange from Destination British Columbia and Tanya Berkers from Ontario Parks. They share insights into the wonders of British Columbia and Ontario, providing valuable information and tips for discovering these beautiful regions and connecting with nature.

It’s that time of the year again! As we enter 2024, we have opened the call for nominations for the 16th annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards. As we embark on our journey, we’ve invited three of our top 25 award winners from 2023, Hénoc Muamba, Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan and Winston Sayson, with different backgrounds and experiences, to share their inspirational journeys and most importantly their winning advice for 2024! Their valuable tips and advice is sure to resonate with newcomers and immigrants alike. 

One of the biggest challenges many newcomers to Canada face is finding a job that utilizes their professional skills and work experience. How can they best equip themselves to break into the Canadian job market? What are some programs that can facilitate their path to career growth and success?  

Interested in visiting over 1,400 of Canada’s most exciting cultural and outdoor experiences from coast to coast for free?  Want to get travel discounts on VIA Rail and Air Canada tickets? In this conversation with Tarun Tripathi, learn how new citizens and permanent residents can access all this and more with the free downloadable app Canoo, a project of the Institute of Canadian Citizenship. 

In the process of making Canada home? Seeking a little inspiration for your journey? As we embark on the 15th year of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, four of our past award winners share their lived experiences and perspectives and, most importantly, their inspirational advice for 2023! This episode is sure to resonate with newcomers and immigrants alike. 

The financial system in Canada is obviously very different from your home countries. What are concrete steps you can take to understand this new financial landscape? 

Where do you set up your first bank account? Is it easy to get your first credit card? Where do you start building your credit history and how do keep track of your credit score? That seems crucial, right? How can you make the money you bring with you last? Or wait: Should you invest in property at this time or is renting a better option? Or, perhaps, if you’re just heading here, how can you prepare yourself financially for this transition?  

In this conversation with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan, personal finance expert and founder of savvynewcanadians.com Enoch Omololu shares his personal experiences as an immigrant and offers valuable advice and tips to newcomers. 

Information, resources, helpful tips and inspiration – find all this and more at Canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast.

*This is a bonus episode of the First Generation podcast 

Episode 8 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant podcast series features Tareq Hadhad's journey from arriving in Canada along with thousands of other refugees to becoming a successful entrepreneur and leader. 

In this inspiring conversation, Tareq speaks about going from asking: "What's Halifax?" to making the small town of Antigonish in Nova Scotia home and launching Peace by Chocolate there with the support of the community to finding ways to give back.  He shares various aspects of his journey as an immigrant, what his six years in Canada has looked like and how the country has shaped him. Hear Tareq's advice on building a life in Canada, making connections and the importance of sharing your story. 

Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan.   

Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021

Episode 7 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant podcast series features Paola Gomez – community organizer, human rights activist and writer.  In this raw but uplifting conversation, Paola shares her journey from Colombia to the US and then to Canada as a refugee. She talks about various aspects of making Canada home – finding the tools to support herself and her child, harnessing her passions to make a good life and going on to create spaces for artists like herself to have a sense of community and belonging. Paola gives some excellent advice and provides inspiration for those who are looking to grow and invest in themselves, no matter what that looks like.  

Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan.  

Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Episode 6 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant podcast series, features Ginella Massa - journalist, news anchor and Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winner.

What did it take for Ginella to get past the initial barriers and find her place? How does she deal with her multiple identities? What's in the newsrooms today? Ginella Massa shares her experiences, learnings and some excellent advice for immigrant professionals, including those in the media, looking to pursue their dreams. Get ready to be inspired! Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan.

Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.