Last stop for our Summer vacation - Kingston, Ontario

On our way back home from Montreal, we stopped for a couple of days in the 1000 Islands, near the city of  Kingston and stayed in the little town of Gananoque.

In the heart of the 1000 Islands, Gananoque is recognized as one of Eastern Ontario's most stunning waterfront communities. Breath taking views from all angles, the warmth and hospitality by the people that call this place home makes Gananoque a very special place.

About Kingston:

Equi-distant from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario and the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage site) – Kingston is a stunning, historic city that consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Canada. In 2014, it's been named one of the top seven most intelligent communities in the world by the Intelligent Community Forum. Didn't even know there was such a thing!!

Here is what the official website says:

"Here Ontario and the United States meet… their cultures blending in the waters of the mighty St. Lawrence and Great Lake Ontario. The native peoples called this region the “Garden of the Great Spirit.” Today, many people still remark that this gorgeous garden of woods and waters that is the 1000 Islands is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Others will tell you its friendly atmosphere, fresh outdoors and laid-back pace makes the 1000 Islands a place that inspires the spirit and renews the soul."

We were privileged to visit the 1000 islands and take a cruise on the St.Lawrence waterway.
We also visited a few tourist places in Kingston like the Marine Museum and the Penitentiary museum.

Here are some pictures from our trip with explanations.

 Driving on the highway...one thing you notice in Canada are the spectacular sky lines. 

 Kingston - near the Royal Military College Museum a view of St.Lawrence river.

 One of the giant canon's. Sorry the pictures uploaded in reverse. The picture after this is the outside of the museum.

http://www.rmc.ca/cam/mus/index-eng.php

The Royal Military College Museum in Kingston which is next to Fort Henry

We saw Fort Henry during our last visit to Kingston some years ago, so we didn't visit again this year. But for pictures of Fort Henry here is the link to that album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/107654444549393408190/OttawaAndKingston?authkey=Gv1sRgCKbE4qPXqc-x7QE&feat=embedwebsite

 The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes

The building is to the left of this ship with many marine related artifacts and historical references for you to see and read. The ship itself is accessible (you have to pay a fee for the museum and the tour of the ship) and you can take pictures freely.

 http://www.marmuseum.ca/

Website where you will find the ticket price information, timings and directions.

Again, sorry the pictures uploaded in reverse. This is the Correctional Service of Canada Museum.

The website: http://www.penitentiarymuseum.ca/default/

Probably one of the most different museums you will ever see! 

The above picture is of a modern jail cell.

Above: Olden days jail cell.

 Objects made by prisoners and confiscated.

Actual confiscated items are displayed like the book above where a prisoner tried to sneak a knife to his cell. There were so many other things we saw, right from straight jackets, punishment items, ledgers and uniforms. Really worth a visit. They don't sell tickets for entry but take donations of any value if you want. 

 At the Historic Arthur Child Heritage Centre.

My daughter is putting a pin on where she is from. Yes put in two pins...one for Toronto and one for Chennai.

 Cute chair for husbands to wait while their wives shop.

 View from our 1000 Island Cruise ship on the St.Lawrence river.

 Boldt Castle - one of the main tourist attraction options you have when taking the cruise.

The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (TIBA) welcomes you to tour Boldt Castle to explore and experience an attraction like no other. Construction began on Boldt Castle in 1900 at the bidding of millionaire hotel magnate George C. Boldt as a tribute to his beloved wife Louise. Boldt Castle was designed as their summer dream home on the St. Lawrence River, in the heart of the 1000 Islands. However it was not to be, Mrs. Boldt passed away suddenly just months before the completion of the castle. Mr. Boldt was inconsolable and immediately stopped all construction on Heart Island, leaving the property vacant for over seventy years…Today Boldt Castle, located near Alexandria Bay, NY in the famed 1000 Islands is once again becoming what it was always meant to be, the premier home and attraction in the region. 

You can get off the cruise ship and tour the Island (extra cost) or just sail around it. 

 The Gananoque Boat Line Cruise Company

http://www.ganboatline.com/

Definitely a worth while stop on your way to Ottawa or Montreal from Toronto or vice versa. Nature at it's best!!

Interesting things around Montreal

One of things we enjoyed about Montreal city was the number of interesting art works displayed all over the city. As you are walking around, take the time to admire the work and even take pictures. Each one is a story by itself. Many are life size. Here are more pictures from our trip.

 Inside the Basilica

 The Olympic Tower 

Venue of the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics

 You can go to the top of the tower as part of the tour.

 Map of the subway system. It is so easy to use and you can pick up a three day unlimited pass for the subway and local bus system which makes getting around easy and budget friendly. We left our car at the hotel and didn't have to use it even once! The subways are very conveniently located near all the tourist locations and main hotel areas.

 More interesting art displays.

Reflection of the opposite side building on the glass of another. 

Hope you enjoyed reading this post!

Two months ago we decided that the Summer was almost over and school was about to re-open for another year.

Our son was going to grade 12 and our daughter to grade 9. High School!! The years have indeed passed by faster than I would have liked. When we moved to Canada in 2008, our kids were 11 and 7. Now they are 17 and 13......teenagers....and touch wood are a fine balance of Indian-Canadian. I'll talk about that in another post.

This post is about our Summer trip to Montreal. We drove the 5 hours from Toronto to Montreal and booked a hotel there for our five day stay. (Well, actually 2 hotels because we stayed 2 nights in a place called Terrebonne (outskirts of Montreal) and three at Montreal.)

First impressions of Montreal: Beautiful city with absolutely stunning old/ancient architecture that is still standing because of a law they passed about not destroying them. So you see a sign for a modern bank, that is housed in a building that looks like it is straight out of a Charles Dickens book.

Even the streets in Old Montreal are still cobbled, and when you take a horse carriage tour, the sounds of the clip-pity clopping of the horses hooves taking you around the old city gives you a feeling of nostalgia for the glory of the past. Awesome experience!!

Will upload some pictures now as they are worth more than a thousand words as they say!

Montreal has a wonderful night life. We walked from our hotel every night through Denis Street and ate in one of the many popular street and sidewalk cafes. They are open till late. There are also many clubs and pubs open till late for those interested as well as the usual line up of fast food places.

The St. Basillica Church is the number one tourist spot. Doesn't matter what religion you are. This is a must see place, especially the inside. Amazing architecture, statues and stained glass windows. You can pray, light a candle or just tour the Church and appreciate the old paintings which you feel like taking home. They are absolutely stunning!!

Poutine is the one food dish you have to try. Basically French Fries with melted cheese and gravy. Delicious!!

Everyone speaks in French in Montreal (being part of French Canada), but they also speak broken or perfect English with a French accent. They are SO friendly and are very accommodating to tourists.

We spent our days there eating, shopping (some hand-made jewellery and tourist t-shirts), visiting places like the Basilica, Olympic Tower, Mont Royal (view of the city from the top of a small mountain), Old Montreal and a tour of McGill University. (As our son is now in grade 12th grade and will be applying for Universities later this year).

Our drive back was through the city of Kingston. (Three hours from Montreal on our way back to Toronto) I'll tell you about that in another post. We had been to Kingston before and seen Fort Henry. So this trip we avoided that and saw some other tourist attractions.

We stayed here for two days and then made our way home...a two hour drive.....and back to school.

More pictures of Montreal coming up......................

Virus on my blog...so sorry!!!

A few readers have written to me about a virus that took them to another page from my blog. This was a virus which I complained to Google about. The problem should be fixed but in case you still have the same problem, please do let me know.

I sincerely apologize!!!

Why Study in Canada?

Canada is quickly becoming the number one choice for International students, and this is because of a number of reasons.

This is from the Govt Council of Ministry Govt website:

Qualifications Valued Around the World

Canada’s high academic standards and rigorous quality controls mean that you’ll be earning a high-quality education that will open doors for your future and benefit your career over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries.

Affordable Education

The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, but the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. As such, Canada is often the preferred choice for students attending college or university.

Multicultural Society

With almost all of the world’s ethnic groups represented in Canada, it’s hard not to find ethnic foods and recreation activities associated with specific cultures. In fact, your international student advisor can help you get in touch with any number of ethnic clubs and associations for you to join while you’re here.

Healthy and Safe Communities

While you may have heard of or experienced Canadians’ friendly and open nature, you may not have known that the United Nations consistently ranks Canada as one of the best places in the world to live. As an international student in Canada, you’ll enjoy all of the same freedoms which protect Canadians – respect for human rights, equality, and a stable and peaceful society.

World-Class Language Education

Did you know that Canada is a bilingual country and is considered a world leader in language training? Since teaching French and English as a first and second language is an integral part of a Canadian education, you will be able to improve your fluency and capacity for either language as you further your studies.

Exciting Campus Lifestyle

Canada’s post-secondary campuses aren’t only wired with the latest in sophisticated technology, but countless other modern amenities as well. From Olympic-quality sports facilities to public concert halls and art galleries, Canada’s post-secondary campuses offer you enormous possibilities for learning and leisure. Plus, you’ll have incredible opportunities to meet like-minded individuals and gain valuable experience through student-run governments, radio, newspapers and businesses.

Innovative and Abundant Research Opportunities

Since research is one of the key components of a Canadian post-secondary education, you’ll have ample opportunity to become a part of this vibrant aspect of education. In Canada, government and industry together support research including: telecommunications, medicine, agriculture, computer technology, and environmental science.

Land of Possibilities

Under Canada’s highly dynamic and hands-on academic environment, you will not only acquire knowledge and skills in analysis and communication, but you will also learn how to express yourself, demonstrate your creativity, and develop your self-confidence! Teachers and professors are always available and eager to help with lessons, and studies fuse academic excellence with interaction and collaboration in the classroom.

Possibility of Immigration

Did you know that some international students with Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience may apply for permanent residency without having to leave Canada? For more information about the possibility of immigration to Canada once your schooling is complete, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. 

Link is: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

Immigrant Children in Universities in Canada

Check out the Canadavisa.com for tons of information on different visas and the latest on immigration news.

An article they had recently was about immigrant children in Universities in Canada.

"According to a study by Statistics Canada, children of immigrants to Canada are almost twice as likely to attend university as students whose parents were born in the country.

According to the study, 50 per cent of students who immigrated to Canada with their families will go on to attend university. This is compared with 31 per cent of students who had one immigrant parent, and just 25 per cent of students whose parents were born in Canada. Students of Chinese origin were the most likely to go to college.

Overall, students whose families emigrated from Asia were four times more likely to attend college than Canadians, even if their performance in secondary school was low. Students with immigrant backgrounds from Europe, on the other hand, are generally as likely to attend university as a third-generation Canadian.

The study’s coordinators believe that the Canadian education system may have a role to play in helping immigrant students achieve success. For instance, Canadian schools do not follow the European practice of directing students to either vocational or academic programs in their early teens. Because of this, students who speak English or French as a second language have more time to master the language before applying to higher education."

Canada is also actively trying to get more international students to come and study in Canada. They are hoping to double the number by 2022.

Quebec Announces new Cap on Immigrants

The Government of Quebec has announced a number of measures for its Skilled Worker, Investor, and Entrepreneur programs. They are as follows:

Skilled Worker – Between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015, a maximum of 6,500 applications will be accepted for review by the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Investors – Between the 8 and 19 of September 2014, a maximum of 1,750 applications will be accepted for review by the Quebec Investor Program. No more than 1,200 applications will be accepted from any one country.

Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed Persons – The Government of Quebec will accept a maximum of 500 applications from entrepreneurs and self-employed persons.

To learn if you are eligible for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, or any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, click the link below:

https://www.canadavisa.com/assess/canada-immigration-assessment-form.htm

Snow storm in Feb

Pictures of the snowstorm we had.

My boots deep down in the snow.

Neighbors car.

Driving down our street....they clear the main roads first and then the side roads. 

Clearing the snow from behind and around cars before being able to drive them.

Using a snow blower at the school to clear the sidewalks before the bell rings.

Bringing up Immigrant children in a North American World

Thanks to everyone who have been so kind in emailing about all the help this blog has been to them. I would love to hear about your stories too, especially if you are new to Canada and can tell us your experience in moving here.

As a teacher, psychologist and mother of two children, I have always been interested in the lives of families and how parents and teachers impact the lives of their children. Especially parents.

Many of you have written to me, asking about my children (now age 16 and 13) how they are coping with the pressures of living in Canada. Honestly, if you are open with your children and talk about things in your home as honestly as possible, you can avoid a lot of the issues that tend to crop up out of ignorance or defiance.

It also goes a long way in knowing that, you cannot come here and expect to live a different culture in Canada and not allow your children to integrate and live as a Canadian. That is not fair to them. By 'Canadian' I don't mean what many of you may think...drugs, drinking and dating. No. All these things are there all over the world and not just here. I know..because every time I visit India, I think there are more kids out late and partying, then I've seen here in Canada.

I'm writing about this today because I just heard of a young girl from a South Asian family run away from home because her parents would not allow her to have friends over at the house, or for her to visit friends at their homes. This is the first step in you saying you don't trust your child or her friends. By allowing friends to come over, you get to meet them, hear what they say to each other and learn for yourself a little more about their lives.

When you move to Canada...open up your mind and heart...read about how to handle children and teenagers with love and understanding. Learn how to integrate into the culture here. Learn about Canadian sports, make Canadian friends and make the best of life here.

Many immigrants feel that Canadians are not very open to them...but you know what? Maybe you have to make the first step. Go say Hi. They may be afraid that you don't speak English, or have other fears just like you do. Take this new adventure to be a positive one, not only for you but for your family.

Will write more about this topic soon. Let me know what you think?

Starting a business in Canada

Many immigrants coming in to Canada want to know how to start their own business. Here is a link to a Government website that will give you all the information you need.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/lifeevents/business.shtml

Most businesses take between four and seven years to start running in a profit situation. It may take less time or longer...depending on what business you want to open and how it does. Just don't get discouraged or give up.

All the best to you!

Looking for a job in Canada

Hi,

Everyday I'm answering emails from potential and new immigrants about looking for a job. I guess that it the number one fear for everybody.

Here is a Government link to the Service Canada website, that will give you many tips and leads as to how to go about looking for a job.

Check out the websites and keep an open mind. No point in looking only for one particular job when there may not be many jobs in that field. Here is your chance to go outside your box and try something new. Who knows...maybe you will find your dream job here and it may not be anything you ever thought it would be!

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/lifeevents/job.shtml

Longest Winter ever........................

We've been here almost six years now, and this has by far been the longest Winter. It started in November with a huge snow storm, an ice storm and continuous storms from then till March.

Here are some pictures...you can see the kids shoveling snow and how our street looked.