Immigrants of Toronto

This episode was originally broadcast on August 10, 2021.

Karla Medina moved to Canada from Venezuela worried about her life. She didn't know when she arrived that she had a case to apply as a refugee.

She talks about resources that people in her situation should know and use. And also how, after everything she went through, she was able to get a job that she loves.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Karla Medina

Karla Medina

I am a Venezuelan journalist that immigrated to Canada 8 years ago when people from the Venezuelan government threatened my life. Being a crime news reporter in Venezuela is probably one of the most dangerous jobs.

In Canada, I had two beautiful daughters. They are now four and five years old, went back to school, graduated with a high GPA, and changed the path of my life from chaos to success.

Get in touch with Karla

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karlamedina07/Instagram: @karla_mdinaFacebook: facebook.com/Karlitabella07

Other resources mentioned

Woodgreen Community Services: woodgreen.org

This episode was originally broadcast on May 18, 2021.

In this episode, I chat with Gunjan and Farhan Kafil. Originally from India, they met in Dubai and decided to move to Canada. But before establishing in Toronto, they took a fantastic road trip across the country. Today, they share with us their journey of immigration.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Gunjan and Farhan Kafil

Gunjan & Farhan Kafil

Gunjan and Farhan are curious explorers, outdoors enthusiasts and spirited overlanders. She is a communications pro and he is a contracts manager.

Gunjan grew up in Mumbai and spent summer holidays in a small Himalayan town where hikes with cousins cultivated a love for the mountains. Since then, she has climbed two of the “Seven Summits” and mountains in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Farhan is a small-town boy excited by this extraordinary world. He likes to tinker with ideas, plan the next adventure or simply, lace up and run. He is a marathoner, hiker and co-founder of an off-road adventure club.

They met on a road trip in Dubai and, the rest is history – or rather, geography. Together, they climbed mountains, descended into the Grand Canyon, walked on icefields and to the rims of active volcanoes, slept by glaciers and witnessed the aurora borealis. Several adventures later, they moved to Canada in 2019.

As new Canadians, they spent five months RVing in the great outdoors of North America – a journey of 22,000 kms from Toronto to Tuktoyatuk in NWT, Alaska and mainland USA. Together, they explored the country, its culture and communities to learn first-hand what it means to be a Canadian.

Get in touch with Gunjan & Farhan

Traveling

Website: wonderlost.meInstagram: @wonderlost.meFacebook: facebook.com/wonderlost.me/

Gunjan Kafil

Website: gunjankafil.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gunjankafil/Instagram: @gunjankafil

Farhan Kafil

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/farhankafil/

This episode was originally broadcast on September 21, 2021.

Mariela Gutierrez was born in Mexico but moved to the USA at a very young age. Later in her life, she decided to move to Toronto.

She talks about the struggles of the immigrant journey as she saw it from her parents, moving to the United States from Mexico. The challenge of starting a new life in a different country to provide a better life for her family.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Mariela Gutierrez

Mariela Gutierrez

Mariela Gutierrez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to the US with her parents in 1990. She arrived in the US undocumented; she and her family settled in Los Angeles.

Mariela attended LA public schools and went on to earn Bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Chicanx Latinx Studies from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She also obtained a Master’s degree in Social and Cultural Analysis of Education at CSULB and worked in Student Affairs for five years.

In 2020, after living in the US for three decades without any permanent legal status, she immigrated to Canada and now lives in Toronto.

She recently completed her first year of law school at York University's Osgoode Hall. She is active on Instagram sharing her journey in Canada and law school.

Get in touch with Mariela

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gutierrezmariela/Instagram: @dacamerican

This episode was originally broadcast on July 20, 2021.

Dean Lobo moved from India to Toronto in 2018. He took a bridging program that helped him adapt and find a job in his field.

He talks about the microaggressions that sometimes we, as immigrants, face and how was able to get a job at a non-profit that helps minorities.

Listen to episode 59 as well if you want to hear more about microaggressions.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Dean Lobo

Dean Lobo

Dean Lobo (he/him) is an experienced Communications and Public Relations professional based in Toronto, Canada. Prior to immigrating to Canada in 2018, he worked across various media including radio, television, and print and digital news in India, his country of origin.

Dean currently works as a Communications Specialist at The 519, Canada's most prominent LGBTQ2S community organization and service provider. He is passionate about elevating the voices of minority and marginalized communities through his work, something he gets to do extensively through advocacy and fundraising communications in his current role.

Dean is also an accomplished pianist and a self-taught watercolour artist. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring Canada's many nature trails and small towns, driving through the countryside, urban sketching, creating music covers and cooking.

Get in touch with Dean

Website: deanlobo2.wixsite.com/portfolioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deanlobo/Facebook: facebook.com/deanpianistInstagram: @deanpianist

This episode was originally broadcast on May 5, 2021.

In this episode, I chat with Melanie Anthony. She's my first guest from Mauritius, and she shares her journey of immigration.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Melanie Anthony

Melanie Anthony

A Mauritian, an African with multicultural heritage and Torontonian since 2016, Melanie Anthony is a versatile Bilingual with expertise in Content Development, Journalism, Marketing, Corporate and Digital Communications, Storytelling with a particular interest in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the fight against Systemic Racism, Policy Making, Accessibility Sustainability and Technology.

Her objective is to enhance communications and contribute to a bigger impact. Melanie has over 15 years of experience working as communications professional in different industries and fields such as Government agencies, Non for Profit organizations, Public Policy, Media, Gaming and Entertainment, Innovation, Creative and Cultural Industries, Food and Beverages, Tourism, Audit and Information Technology as well as Finance. A Chevening Scholar holds a Master of Arts in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths University, London, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Mauritius. A dedicated solutions-oriented individual, Melanie has a knack for networking and strong entrepreneurship acumen.

She founded Best Relations Network Ltd ( now closed), a networking agency aimed at connecting professionals and businesses that managed projects related to strategic planning, business networking, corporate communications, marketing, and events management.

Since immigrating to Canada and acknowledging that she is a settler, Melanie has made it her priority to learn about Indigenous peoples, including diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and Indigenous culture treaties. She also educates herself about the history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Black Heritage in Canada. She is an earnest champion in combating ingrained systemic racism and is a fervent advocate of accessibility for all. She aims to bring the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lens to the forefront of conversations. 

Get in touch with Melanie

LinkedIn

This episode was originally broadcast on June 8, 2021.

Laura Stürmer, my guest from Episode 24, joins me one year later. Her life has changed quite a bit since the first episode we did together. First, we talk about how she switched jobs when the lockdown started, then how she bought a home, and finally about mental health.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Laura Stürmer

Laura Stürmer

Laura Stürmer is a Marketing Professional with over seven years of experience in branding, product and channel management.

She has spent most of her career internationally working for retail companies and manufacturing organizations in Brazil and Canada. She currently works at Canadian Tire as an Associate Brand Manager.

On the side, Laura currently volunteers in different institutions offering mentorship focused on helping newcomers and refugees that are transitioning over to the Canadian Labour Market.

Listen to Laura's immigration story: Episode 24: Giving Back by Helping Newcomers

Get in touch with Laura

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurasturmer/

This episode was originally broadcast on June 22, 2021.

Today I'll be talking about how we, as immigrants, measure success, as well as sharing a few tips to avoid comparing our life with people who didn't move to a new country.

Three tips on how to avoid comparing your success with others

Be careful with social media. We all share the good things that happen to us there, but we rarely share the bad ones. So, don't compare your real life with a social media profile.Understand that getting a job as an immigrant is more challenging than someone who has lived in a country since they were born. For example, your friends back home have a network that they have forged for decades. You just started one.And the third one. Keep the reason why you moved in mind. Print it and put it on your refrigerator, so you're constantly reminded why you decided to take the hard way and moved to a new country.

Listen to the episode for all the details.

Subscribe & Follow!

Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts! And, if you haven’t done so already, follow Immigrants of Toronto on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on social media, I reply to every message I receive.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, I really want to hear about it! You can go to the website and click on Send Voicemail and leave a sweet message that I will most certainly feature on an episode. Honestly, every time I hear that what I’m doing is helping, it makes all the effort worthy.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form to schedule your interview.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

This episode was originally broadcast on October 19, 2021.

Ryan Hollinrake joins me today to talk about how Access Community Capital Fund helps newcomers with no credit history in Canada fund and succeed as entrepreneurs.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Ryan Hollinrake

Ryan Hollinrake

Ryan has worked as a leader in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. With his deep background in finance and marketing, he has successfully led, revived & grown four non-profits.

Proud to have acquired over 25 global marketing awards from creating and driving campaigns, Ryan’s breadth of experience while working for organizations such as Access CCF, Canadian Safe Schools, Oxfam, and Good Foot Support Services has allowed him to hone in on social advocacy in order to bring about change and align strategic partnerships that last and truly make a difference.

Get in touch with Ryan and Access Community Capital Fund

Website: accessccf.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/access-community-capital-fund/Instagram: @accessccfFacebook: facebook.com/accessccfTwitter: @accessCCFYouTube: youtube.com/user/accessCCFRyan's email: [email protected]

This episode was originally broadcast on June 29, 2021.

Meera Bala moved from Sri Lanka to Canada in 1988 due to the civil war when she was only a child. When Meera and her family arrived, they didn't speak English, and there were very few South Asian immigrants where she lived. It was a challenge for her as she faced discrimination and bullying at school.

Experiencing that discrimination as a young child just because she was different had made her a better teacher. She has zero tolerance in her classroom, and she has just released a book for children called Palm Trees Under Snow. The book reflects a bit of her own story, and her goal is to empower young children, especially children of immigrants, so they know that they can achieve great things with hard work and determination.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you’re an immigrant and you want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form. I’ll be in touch shortly after receiving your submission.

Thanks for listening, I’m Oscar Cecena and this is Immigrants of Toronto.

Learn more about Meera Bala

Meera Bala

Meera Bala is a Tamil-Canadian author and publisher of children’s books. She immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka with her family in the 80s.

Her love for reading and writing began very early. As a child, she enjoyed writing stories and letters for her family and friends.

She graduated from York University’s Concurrent Education program with a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English.

Meera Bala is an educator with the Toronto District School Board for the past 19 years. She has taught junior, intermediate and special education classes.

She has always been a huge advocate of social justice, multicultural and equity issues and served as the equity representative for many years at her school.

Meera was an aspiring author for many years, and finally, during the pandemic, she made her dreams into a reality. In March 2021, she wrote her first book, Palm Trees Under Snow, and started her publishing company, MB Publishing.

Outside of writing children’s books, she enjoys spending time with her parents, husband, and two wonderful sons. She has a close support group of siblings, friends and co-workers that she’s extremely grateful for.

Get in touch with Meera

Website: www.wordsbymeera.comInstagram: @wordsby.meeraFacebook: facebook.com/wordsbymeera

Hello and welcome to the immigrants of Toronto podcast.

Today I’m launching episode one hundred and what better way to do it than by announcing the top 10 episodes of 2021.

For the next few weeks, I’ll be rebroadcasting the 10 episodes that had the most downloads over the year. Some of them were obvious winners, some others were happy surprises. But, whatever the case was, the list is final and it goes like this:

Number 10:

Experiencing discrimination as a child: Meera Bala (Sri Lanka)

Meera was my first guest from Sri Lanka and on that episode, she talked about her childhood in Canada and how she experienced and overcame discrimination.

Number 9

Helping newcomers start their businesses: Ryan Hollinrake (Canada)

Ryan is not an immigrant but in this episode, he talked about how Access Community Capital Fund can help immigrants with no credit history to start their businesses.

Number 8

How do you measure success as an immigrant?

This was one of the happy surprises. This episode is just me talking about how we can measure success as an immigrant. It’s a short one that came to me as I thought about my own successes and failures.

Number 7

One year later: Laura Sturmer (Brazil)

The first interview I did with Laura was the most downloaded episode of 2020. So, of course, her second participation in the podcast had to be in the top 10!

Number 6

From a small island: Melanie Anthony (Mauritius)

Melanie is my first and only guest from Mauritius. She’s an amazing person who arrived here in 2016 and has a very interesting story.

Number 5

Helping minorities: Dean Lobo (India)

Dean is another amazing human being that not only has a great story but also has dedicated his professional life in Canada to help minorities.

Number 4

The struggle of immigration: Mariela Gutierrez (Mexico & USA)

My wife found Mariela on Instagram and the first thing she said to me was: you need to interview her. And so I did. Mariela’s immigration perspective is quite unique. Born in Mexico and raised in the US, moving to Canada was a new experience for her.

Number 3

Getting to know Canada: Gunjan & Farhan Kafil (India/Dubai)

Time to confess that because of technical difficulties, we had to record this episode twice. The good thing is that I think the second and final take went way better than the first one! One thing I loved about Gunjan and Farhan is that they took the time to travel Canada before settling in Toronto. Honestly, I wish I someday do the same trip.

Number 2

Escaping your country: Karla Medina (Venezuela)

Karla’s story is different than most of the ones I share. Most of my guests decided to move to Canada to have a better life, in the case of Karla it was to preserve hers. Fearing that the worst could happen, she decided to leave Venezuela and try her luck here.

Number 1

Things were getting too good: Pragya Diwan (India)

Pragya’s journey started because she wanted a challenge. Most people stay where they are if things are good. But Pragya is different, she took a long flight, move to the other side of the world, and started her next challenge.

As I said, these episodes will be rebroadcasted in the next few weeks while I’m taking a well-deserved break.

The next new episode will be launched by the end of January. Until now, please enjoy not only the rebroadcasts but also listen to any episode that you didn’t listen to this year. I can tell you that every story is worth listening to.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. And make sure to follow the show on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Lastly, if you're an immigrant and want to share your story on the show, go to immigrantsoftoronto.com/join and fill out the form.

Thanks for listening, I'm Oscar Cecena, and this is Immigrants of Toronto.