Isaac Garcia-Sitton holds Canadian values of acceptance, inclusivity and multiculturalism close to his heart
Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 23:42:41 +0000
Isaac Garcia-Sitton is no stranger to moving from country to country, but the comfort with which he navigates life in Toronto is a sure sign that he has found his home in Canada. Yet, this feeling of being at home was not an instinctive one: something a number of immigrants resonate with. But the common denominator to the immigrant experience is perseverance and resilience, and Garcia-Sitton’s story is no exception to that.
Born in Barcelona, raised in Panama, and trained in the United States (where he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies), Garcia-Sitton served as a diplomat for Panama, working at the Consulates in New Orleans in 2005 and then Montreal in 2007. At the end of his term, he decided to apply as an immigrant to Canada through the skilled worker program in Quebec.
“The values that Canadians cherish the most is what drove me to apply for my permanent residency as my term [as Consul General] was finishing up,” he remarks.
What values is he referring to, you may ask? Those of acceptance, inclusivity and multiculturalism, values he already held close to his heart. Canada and its people embodied exactly what he was looking for in a home, and the next logical step to settling in was to become a permanent resident of the country.
He landed as an immigrant in Montreal in 2010 and his first job in Canada was covering a maternity leave as a Program Administrator at McGill’s School of Continuing Studies. Making the transition to the post-secondary education sector was not straightforward but being able to translate his skills to his new workplace helped; and so did finding people who were willing to take a chance on him.
“Yes, adjusting as a resident in a new field and in a new language [French] wasn’t simple… but you know what makes it easier? People who take a chance on you and allow you to prove yourself.” Garcia-Sitton’s boss recognized his abilities, skills and need to establish himself in his new environment without related “Canadian experience”. “He gave me room to evolve, to promote change and improvement within my unit and that allowed me to grow both professionally and personally. I was promoted to a permanent position as Senior Manager my first year in the role.”
Currently, he serves as the Director of International Education & English Language Institute (YUELI) at York University’s School of Continuing Studies in Toronto. Familiar with YUELI’s reputation in the industry, he was excited about the professional opportunity and about working and living in such a metropolitan city as Toronto. “Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our team, YUELI became the largest public English Language Institute in Canada a few years ago,” he says with pride.
Allowing new immigrants to gain a foothold within the Canadian labour force has also become part of Isaac’s philosophy as a leader in higher education. He hires new immigrants seeking “Canadian experience” to further themselves professionally despite them having more than the required education, skill set, profile, and considerable professional experience back in their country of origin. Reflecting on Toronto’s diverse and eclectic nature, Garcia-Sitton muses that “Toronto prides itself on its openness, inclusivity and multiculturalism and these are all values that we hold dearly at YUELI.”
What advice does Mr. Garcia-Sitton have for fellow immigrants?
“It’s important to keep your tradition and heritage alive and to share that with others – you can be an ambassador for all the communities that you represent. We are lucky to live in a country where our distinct differences and characteristics make us stronger collectively. Finally, keep learning and educating yourself in whatever capacity you can. Opportunities are vast as the ocean – jump in and start swimming.”
His own commitment to learning is clear as he pursues a Doctorate in Education at York University (when he is not working!) focused on the role of cities in attracting international students.
Garcia-Sitton was recognized through TD Bank and the Hispanic Business Alliance as one of the “10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians” in 2018.