A warm welcome makes all the difference
Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2023 19:07:08 +0000
Growing up on a tiny island at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the word “immigrant” did not exist in my world. Instead, the word was replaced with “Haitian”. Many brave, hardworking people, primarily men from Haiti, made the dangerous journey from the impoverished Caribbean country to work and live, sometimes illegally, in my home country of the Bahamas. For the Haitian nationals that chose this path, the Bahamas offered better living conditions, even if it meant living in shanty towns, and working long hours, often for less than minimum wage. All their hard-earned money was sent back to Haiti to their wives and children, mothers and grandmothers, to help feed and clothe their extended families. It did not matter to these men that they were often treated badly; all that mattered was that they were doing their best to build a better life for their families hundreds of miles away.
In 2019, my family and I decided to immigrate to Atlantic Canada following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. After weathering many storms throughout our lives and the challenge of being a same-sex family in a less-than-welcoming country, we chose Canada for its open-minded view of immigrants. As newcomers in New Brunswick, we are learning new things, making friends and paving a new road for ourselves and our families.
The welcome we received is in stark contrast to what Haitian immigrants faced in the Bahamas; they were rarely treated with such care and concern. In many cases, the motivation for newcomers to Canada is much the same as the Haitian newcomers to the Bahamas: we want a better life for our children.
Like any political view, some oppose Canada’s policy of welcoming so many new faces each year. Regardless of the differing opinions, as an outsider trying to move in, New Brunswick has been exceptionally welcoming. We have had countless conversations with strangers and they inevitably ask, “Where are you from?” Most of these conversations leave us with the impression that folks are genuinely happy that we are here. That is highly encouraging as we struggle with the usual emotions and hardships of moving to a new country.
Now, as an immigrant myself, it is so disconcerting to think of the immigrants in the Bahamas and around the world who are treated with cold shoulders and degrading words in their adopted countries. It is even harder to think about the people who cross illegally into other nations to live their lives fearful of being caught and expelled.
In most cases, the folks immigrating to another country are doing so because their home is unlivable in some way, be it economically, emotionally or physically. For us, our home was emotionally challenging as the laws of the Bahamas continue to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Our home country is also becoming difficult to live in as climate change raises ocean levels and causes more frequent natural disasters. For other immigrants, the poverty level in their home country makes leaving their only option to survive and feed their families; many others are affected by political unrest and life-threatening situations like war.
The word immigrant does not have to be negative. Immigrants are strong, resilient people with the drive to make hard decisions and see those decisions come to fruition. Whether we call ourselves immigrants or newcomers or choose to be referred to by our country of birth matters little. What matters to us is feeling welcomed and supported in our new country. I am grateful for the strangers in New Brunswick who have heard our story and been ready to open their arms and hearts to us. It has made all the difference to our family – my wife and daughter – who arrived here barely a month after facing death and losing so much. Rebuilding a life is never easy, but with the support of open-minded Canadians, we are finally feeling settled.
Tara Pyfrom is a freelance writer who works with a start-up tech company in New Brunswick. When not writing, she can usually be found plotting her next far-off adventure with her wife and daughter.
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