Immigrants of Toronto

Hello everybody! It has been a while since the last time I released an episode. So to be clear from the start, this episode is the last one I’m launching, at least for a while.

I launched the first episode in August of 2019. But I started working on it earlier that year, which means that I’ve been technically working on it for three years.

It’s not easy to make the decision to put the podcast on hiatus because it’s an essential part of my identity. But at this point in my life, I need to prioritize and let go of things that are not the top priority.

We all have been hurt by the covid pandemic, from not being able to go out and meet our friends to losing our loved ones. Unfortunately, I suffered both scenarios and still did my best to push forward.

It has been over a year since my father-in-law passed. 2021 was a challenging year, and doing the podcast every week helped me distract from my day-to-day life. Then during the summer, I left a job that saw me grow for six and a half years to join LinkedIn, which, funny enough, it’s the only social media platform I check religiously.

We all know that the first six months in a job are stressful; it’s when you’re learning and making mistakes. Unlearning things that worked in the past and learning new ones. But still, I kept the podcast going. Sometimes I didn’t have time after work, so I dedicated my weekends to prepare everything.

And then I took a trip to Mexico over the holidays, and that’s when everything hit me. I realized that I’ve been so busy doing so many things in my spare time that I had neglected what matters the most to me, my family.

When I came back to Toronto, I wondered what to do with the podcast, and, in the end, I decided to put it on hold. I honestly don’t know when I’ll be restarting it again, and I want to apologize to all the people who gave me time to tell their stories and never saw the light.

I’m happy to say that I’m closing this part of my life with over 100 episodes that have been downloaded over 50,000 times in 132 countries.

When I started this project, my goal was to reach at least 30 people per month. In the last few months, when I released new content, the average was over 3,000 downloads, a hundred times more than what I expected.

I’m saving the best for the end. I always say that I’m just the guy who says hello and asks questions, and I believe that. The stories come from all my guests, all the people who took the time to talk to me and share a vital part of their lives.

This project is for you. You are the ones who made this happen. So thank you!

I’m not sure if or when I’ll come back, but in the meantime, you can always listen to other excellent podcasts that showcase stories about immigrants. You have the New to Canada podcast with my friend Kate and also The Immigrant View with Ayo. Each one has a different approach to telling the stories, but both of them do it from the heart.

I have nothing else to say but goodbye and thank you for listening. I’m Oscar Cecena, and this was the last episode of Immigrants of Toronto.

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.

This episode was originally broadcast on September 14, 2021.

Pragya Diwan moved to Canada from India to pursue her career. As she says, things were just too good, so she looked for a change.

In this episode, she talks about her journey as an immigrant in the media field. And how her decisions helped her to host a radio show and, later, create her own initiative called The Student Ally.

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 Pragya Diwan

Pragya Diwan

My name is Pragya Diwan.  I’m a journalist from India with a penchant for telling stories. My quest with journalism allowed me to work in different roles like a TV presenter, content creator, radio host and video producer. 

After working for five years in the mainstream media, juggling between deadlines, covering breaking news and searching stories, I decided to take a break. I thought I needed to brush up on my writing skills, and I made an impromptu decision of travelling to Canada for a writing course. In just three months, I was in Canada as an international student, which changed my life.

Just after being in Toronto for three months, I got my first job as a radio host in CIRV 88.9 FM in Brampton, where I hosted Bollywood music morning shows from Monday to Friday. Apart from the radio announcing, I do some freelance stuff like voiceovers, social media management, video creation, shoot and edit etc. I also run my own brand called The Student Ally, through which I help international students who come to Canada. 

Get in touch with Pragya

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pragya-diwan-1898045b/Instagram: @diwanpragyaFacebook: facebook.com/pragya.diwan.9

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]