Tuesday, September 28, 2010

New Immigration Reforms


In the Globe and Mail today, page A12, there is an interesting article about new immigration reforms taking place, and how some changes may be made soon regarding the kinds of immigrants being allowed to come in so easily into Canada.

For example: A person may go through the immigration process and get through the interview. When he gets his PR visa, he also applies for his aging set of parents. Now, for the one eligible working immigrant coming in to Canada, he is bringing two non-working immigrants who will live on the contributions to the Government coffers. (Not having previously contributing anything to the Canadian system this does not seem right.)

The website that you can go to for more information on this is:

http://immigrationreform.ca/

If you are Canadian and reading this, please do write to me with your views on what you think. With immigration offices in other countries calling out to immigrants to immigrate to Canada to increase the number of the labour force here, it would be interesting to know what 'Canadians' think of this and how it affects them in everyday life.



Sunday, September 26, 2010

Dressing up for Winter

One of the best ways of learning how to dress for Winter is to watch and learn from seasoned Canadians who through the years have learned to wear layer upon layer and still look great!



Here is some advice on what to buy in the next month or so before Winter starts. Waiting till the last minute can mean getting stuck with left over stock and not getting the right size. Ask the store clerks to help you out. Once they know that you are new, they will give you all the relevant advice and help you need in putting together your first Winter outfit.

Stores like Zellers and Walmart are great for the b
udget conscious, and for those who are looking for more upmarket brands try Sears and The Bay. You also have stores like Winners, Old Navy, Suzy Shier, Le Chateau and Fairweather. The Childrens Place and Siblings are great for kids.

Invest in a good coat and pair of boots. This can mean the difference between being comfortable in Winter ...and getting seriously sick!!

Here is a cute image from the International Students A
mbassadors blog about dressing up in layers.



Probably the one question I get most often this time of the year from new immigrants and visitors coming to Canada in the near future is....what kind of clothing should they buy for Winter?

First of all, check the weather history of the place in Canada that you are visiting. Up North you will have weather extremes that you won't have further South. With temperatures going down sometimes to -30 an
d -40 (in Ontario) with wind chills added to it....you are talking mighty COLD temperatures.

The first time those - 20 winds hit you, it takes you by surprise. I never knew that 'cold' could really hurt. Wearing the wrong boots to pick up my daughter one day, I came back home with nearly frozen feet and I had to stand over our heating vent for twenty minutes or so, until my feet stoppe
d hurting!

To start out with:

1. Get some thermal underwear (men, women and kids), leggings / stockings (women and girls) and long socks.

2. Wear the thermals or long underwear under your pants or jeans. Wear the long socks and overlap the bottom of your thermals. On top, you can wear thermals, a tank top, sleeve less vest or sleeved vest under your t-shirt or shirt.

3. Wear a sweater over your shirt, or a sweat shirt. Then when going out, wear a heavy coat that is padded enough to keep the wind from hitting you.

4. Don't forget....you also need a good pair of boots, gloves, scarf and or muffler, winter hat and even ear muffs.

5. Put chap stick on your lips and moisturize your skin. Dry skin is very common in Winter and you'll end up with cracked lips and itchy skin if you are not careful.

The colder it is..the more layers you need. Once you get to where you are going, you can remove the layers depending on how cold it is. It is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. Don't take a risk, especially with children.

Once Winter gets on its way and you go th
rough a couple of weeks..you will start to notice how other dress up and put outfits together. You will see amazing styles and fashions in and around Canada. Putting together fashionable Winter outfits can be fun!
For those moving to Edmonton, here is a link to how to dress there:

http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/uai_current/winter.cfm

Let me know if you have any questions or comments to add to this post!




Monday, September 13, 2010

Starting to get cold ~ brrrrrrrrrrr !!

Was really hoping that Summer would drag itself out longer...but looks like Autumn decided to sneak in early! Even our tree in the front yard is already changing colour and is starting to look like a combination of light green and yellow.

This past week it has been rainy and temperatures down to 22C on average. This coming week, Thursday is going to be 16C. Somehow when you think of how long Winter is, you try to really enjoy Summer and try to be outdoors as much as possible.

Stores: Already out with Halloween costumes and candy!! Marketing at its best I guess. Crazy when you think that Halloween is on October 31st and we still have so many days to go. Back to school sales are over with a blink of an eye and now they target your wallet with the next seasonal holiday.

Will update you later today on more of what is going on in Canada..............until then..have a great week!!



Monday, September 6, 2010

Answer to Carlos from Equador

This past week I received many emails to which I've replied personally. A reader from Ecuador, by the name of Carlos (I'm not mentioning his last name for privacy reasons) commented on one of my posts and asked me a few questions. Since I don't have his email id, I'm replying to his questions here since they are relevant to anyone moving to Canada.

"I want to ask you if you remember the time when you landed; what did they ask you for? Was it difficult? How did you feel? Did they ask you for the proof of funds in cash? And also would like to know more about the schools." ~ Carlos


When we landed the first time in September 2006 (if you read my first posts, you'll see that we landed and went back to India after a month and then moved later), at the airport immigration centre they ask you how much money you are bringing in and in what form.


This information is from the settlement.org website regarding everything to do with bringing in funds at the time of landing.

You can bring money into Canada in different forms. When you arrive in Canada, if you are carrying more than C$10,000, you must tell a Canadian border official when you arrive in Canada.

If you do not tell a border official, you may have to pay a fine and/or face other penalties.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for border services (port-of-entry services), customs and enforcement of some immigration laws in Canada. You can find detailed information about importing goods and funds on the CBSA website.

You can also speak with your bank or financial institution for information about laws and regulations in Canada and in the country you are leaving.

Bringing Money Into Canada

Declaring Funds

There is no restriction on the amount of money that you can bring into Canada. However, if you bring more than C$10,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) into Canada when you arrive, you need to declare this. If you do not, you may need to pay a fine and/or face other penalties. Find more information about crossing the border with C$10,000 or more on the CBSA website.

To declare your funds of C$10,000 or more, you can fill out this form: Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report — Individual (E677).

You are not taxed on the money you bring with you when you land.

How to Bring Money into Canada

You can bring money into Canada in the form of:

  • Cash
  • Securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
  • Negotiable instruments in bearer form (for example, bank drafts, cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders)

Here are some other ideas about how to bring or transfer money into Canada:

  • Find out if your current bank has a "correspondence" or relationship with a Canadian bank and set up an account to transfer your money between banks. Your own bank might even have a branch office in Canada, which can help to transfer or access funds once you are here. Ask your bank if they have offices in Canada. Find information about Canadian banks and foreign banks with offices in Canada.

    Industrial Credit and Investment Corp. of India (ICICI) has a "Hello Canada" account for people moving to Canada from India, Dubai, Bahrain or the United Kingdom. The account allows you to open a Canadian bank account from overseas and transfer funds to Canada before you land.
  • Arrange with your bank to transfer your funds to a Canadian bank once you have arrived here. You might have to maintain your current bank account in your country of origin for a short time and then transfer the funds to your new account in Canada.

    You can get a bank draft from your current bank. A bank draft is a cheque drawn on the bank itself against a cash deposit. Confirm with your local bank what their requirements are for such transactions prior to your departure. You could then bring enough money with you to get started (in the form of cash or travellers' cheques). Once you are here, open a Canadian account and have the rest of your money transferred from your country into your new account. You should tell your current bank about your plans now, and find out what all the necessary procedures are. You can also bring the money in securities in bearer forms (for example: stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills).
  • It is possible that a Canadian bank might have a branch office in your country. Some major Canadian banks are: Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust (TD Bank), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) or Bank of Montreal. Once located, they might be able to help you set up a Canadian account and transfer your money.

When you arrive in Canada to become a permanent resident, prepare to tell the border services officer about funds that you have to settle in Canada. The border services officer may ask you about your funds, or ask you to show documents that prove you have enough money available to settle in Canada.

You can find detailed information about bringing money and goods into Canada on the CBSA website: Settling in Canada: Information on importing goods for people intending to settle in Canada.

It is important to get professional advice about financial laws and regulations. Please contact your bank or financial institution for detailed information and advice. Or, contact the CBSA for more information about bringing money into Canada.


Exporting Money From the Country You Are Leaving

It is important check if exporting money from the country you are leaving is restricted. You need to find out about the financial and banking laws in the country you are moving from. Please get professional advice from your bank or financial institution.

According to the CBSA, "Some countries limit the amount of money you can take out of the country. You should check with your banker, lawyer, or financial adviser. If you can prove that the money you wish to take out of that country has been restricted, you can claim a special provision that gives you up to three years to purchase household goods in the country from which you emigrated and to ship them to Canada duty and tax free. This provision waives the usual rule on previous ownership, possession, and use of your goods."

If you are not sure about what your local regulations are, you need to speak with a representative of your bank of financial institution before you come to Canada.


Carlos, as long as you have all your papers in order and are able to answer all the immigration officers questions clearly, you will not have a problem with your landing. As for your question on schools, take a look at my posts just before this one.

Hope this answers your questions :)

We Welcome the World Centres


'We Welcome the World Centres'


This year, you can visit one of three locations of the 'We Welcome the World Centres'. These centres help families settle their children in schools and get help with any other 'new immigrant' issues they may have.

From their website:

The Peel District School Board's We Welcome the World Centres, are making it easier for newcomer families to register their children for school and access a variety of supports for a smooth transition to life in Canada. There are two welcome centres in Mississauga, and one in Brampton.

At the welcome centres, staff provide assistance and information about free services in many languages. In addition to school registration, the welcome centres offer wrap-around services for the entire family. Some key services include:

  • childminding (while parents/guardians use services at the centre)
  • computer access to Peel resources
  • connections to community services
  • information about employment, housing, and health care
  • Internet access
  • interpreters (available upon request)
  • links to adult education and English classes
  • information about Ontario's education system

We Welcome the World Centres are located at 25 Kings Cross Road in Brampton, 100 Elm Street in Mississauga, and 3131 Morning Star Drive in Mississauga. The centres are open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round. To book an appointment, call the We Welcome the World Centre at 905-366-8791 or toll free 1-800-668-1146.

In addition to the new welcome centres, the Peel board's multilingual website has been expanded to include 40 languages spoken by families in Peel. The expanded website will be ready just in time for the new school year.

We Welcome the World Centres are located at 25 Kings Cross Road in Brampton, 100 Elm Street in Mississauga, and 3131 Morning Star Drive in Mississauga. The centres are open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round. To book an appointment, call the We Welcome the World Centre at 905-366-8791 or toll free 1-800-668-1146.

We Welcome the World Centres are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.


The link to the above website is:

http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/media/news2002/090825a.htm

There are so many centres and help and information places available to new immigrants. Most of them have someone there who will speak your language and help you to settle down in your new home.

If this post has been of any help to you, please let me know.

Thanks,
Nal





Here is an updated school calendar for schools in Ontario. If you are planning on moving to Canada with school age kids, it is a good idea to move during the holidays, so that your children attend the first day of the school year, or the first day of a term.


Ontario Schools Calendar Year with Holidays 2010 / 2011 / 2012

School Year 2010-2011 2011-2012
Total number of school days available (Sept. 1 - June 30) 196 196
Minimum number of school days required by regulation 194 194


Ontario Schools Holidays 2010 / 2011 / 2012


School Holidays
2010-2011
2011-2012
Labour Day Sept. 6 Sept. 5
Thanksgiving Day Oct. 11 Oct. 10
Christmas break (inclusive) Dec. 20-31 Dec. 19-30
Family Day Feb. 21 Feb. 20
Mid-Winter break (inclusive) March 14-18 March 12-16
Good Friday April 22 April 6
Easter Monday April 25 April 9
Victoria Day May 23 May 21

Note: A School Board may modify school calendar dates with prior approval of the Ministry. Please contact your board to see if their School Holidays have been modified.

Schools also have PD (professional development) holidays which will be given to the kids during the first week of school. Normally the first PD day is within the first two to three weeks of the school opening date. The teachers may re-arrange the classrooms during this time.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to email or leave a comment.

Have a great new school year!!!!


New School Year



Today is Labour Day in Canada, a public holiday. All banks, most malls and other services are closed. For something to do, consider going to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). Today is the last day and they are ending the show with a spectacular Air Show.

For more details, check their website www.theex.com

Today is also a nice day to go for a movie, out for a meal or just to stay at home and get ready for the first day of school, which is tomorrow!!

Sept 7th is the first day of the new year of school here in Canada.

I have received several emails regarding the school system here. So for those of you who asked, and those of you who want to know..........here is the information.

There are three kinds of schools:

Private - These are privately run and are very expensive. Many work out to fees of between 8000 to over 10,000/- dollars a year.

Catholic - If at least one parent is a baptized Catholic, your child can go to a Catholic school for Elementary school. In high school, you can be of any denomination. You can approach Catholic schools and talk to them about admission in lower grades even if both parents are not Catholic. Some schools do give admission, but this is purely on a case to case basis.

Public - The majority of students go to school in the public school system. These are government funded and not to be compared or confused with the corporation schools in India! These schools have excellent infrastructure, syllabus and well trained teachers. The curriculum is a mix of American and European.

Within these schooling systems, you also have the French immersion students. These students learn all their subjects and have their education in French. Some people opt for this so their kids finish school bi-lingual.

Your child’s age at the end of the year (December 31st) determines the grade that they will normally go into, though this may be adjusted somewhat if your child's circumstances require it. Children begin school in the year they become five. Use the table below as a starting point for determining which grade your child will be in.

Age at Dec 31st Grade
5Kindergarten
61
72
83
94
105
116
127
138
149
1510
1611
1712

These schools normally go by grades:

  • Kindergarten to Grade 3
    Ages 5-8
  • Elementary School
    Grade 4 to 7 (ages 9-12)
  • Secondary (High) School
    Grade 8 to 12 (ages 13-17)

Some areas have Middle Schools for Grades 6-8. In these areas the students transition between Elementary and Secondary school via the Middle school.


If you are coming in to Canada, look at www.fraserinstitute.org/reportcards

This site has listings of most of the schools and their ranking. Also the area the school is in. The schools not mentioned here are either new or not open for the number of years required to get on the fraser report. You can also look at:

www.tdsb.on.ca

This is the Toronto School Board site.

For schools in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon check this site:

www.peel.edu.on.ca

Remember: The school your child goes to depends on WHERE YOU LIVE. So if you want your child to go to a particular school, you can find a home in that zone and then get admission. Call the transportation department of the board and tell them the home address. They will confirm the school names to you.


If you live nearby, you will have to drop your kids. If you live a certain distance away, your child will be 'bussed'' to school. To know if your child is eligible for the bus this year, and what school your child is supposed to go to in the Peel Region, check this website:

https://businfo.stopr.ca/

Bus delays and cancellations can also be checked on the same link.


The 2010-2011 Peel board school calendar link:
http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/documents/HolyDaysHolidayscalendar2010.pdf

For other regions and areas, do a google search for the name of that area and school busing. You should be able to find some information.


If you have any questions....please feel free to ask.