Expert Advice
Rina Mero
Rina Mero is a current English as a second language (ESL) teacher and the former director of the International Organization for Migration Canada. As someone who has had done extensive work with the Canadian immigration system and newcomers, Mero has contributed a lot of the country's support system for the immigrants. She is a former Albanian citizen and immigrated to Canada, along with her family, nearly 20 years ago. She takes a lot of pride in helping newcomers navigate a new language and country that she once experienced first hand.
Mero's one piece of advice to newly arrived immigrants:
Teacher and Former Director
International Organization for Migration Canada
Take things one step at a time. Progress happens slowly and there are many levels to it. The best thing you can do at the beginning is to improve your language skill
Carlos Canales
Government of Canada Program Officer
Carlos Canales is the senior program officer for the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP). This program is an international initiative created by the government of Canada to help immigrants transition smoothly into their new lives. The program has three fundamentals steps and begins with workshop sessions in the native countries of thousands of newcomers. It is designed to create a support system and set goals for anyone who has received the proper documentation to move to Canada.
For anyone new to Canada, Canales advises to:
Start preparing ahead of time when planning to come to a new country. Once you arrive in Canada you will be much more prepared. But don’t forget there will be a lot of work to do here too. Keep in mind that it’s a journey.