Proud To Be Canadian Test Post

by Jacqueline Fraser, Blog Writer

In August 1988, at 25 years old, I made a life-changing decision; to migrate to Canada! It was a decision based on the need to join my new husband who had gone overseas to pursue an undergraduate degree in California, USA. He was on a USA student visa. While I could join him on a spouse visa, I would not be able to work legally to sustain myself. So going abroad with him was not an option for me.

At that time, I was working for Polysar Ltd’s Asia-Pacific headquarters that was established in 1985 in Singapore. In fact, I was their first local employee. It was one of the most enjoyable and gratifying work experiences that still brings back fond memories and reflections on the many expatriates I worked with or met. I had the privilege of welcoming Bob Dudley, then President & CEO of Polysar Limited, when we held our official opening.

Through Polysar’s association with the local Canadian Consulate, I learned that Canada had a point-based entry system based on skills in demand. And, at that time, Canada was looking for Executive Assistants. So, I applied as the primary applicant, thinking this would be a way for my husband and I to be together, for at least three years while he finishes his education. He could continue his tertiary education pursuits while I could work legally! Plus, as landed immigrants, he would pay resident fees not international student fees. It would be a viable way for us to be together and sustain ourselves. This was our initial reasons for applying for permanent residency.

Life took a different direction once we arrived in London, Ontario (our chosen destination) and we began to embrace our new life together experiencing a new country. My husband attended University of Western Ontario (now Western University) and within two weeks after our arrival, I found a permanent, continuing position with Miracle Feeds, a division of John Labatt Limited. I flourished in my role and even undertook a payroll supervisor certification course to expand my role as Executive Assistant to the CEO. We made new friends, both local and international, and went on road trips to explore other provinces.

For anyone who has immigrated to Canada, you know too well what a huge learning curve one goes through becoming a resident of Canada. One has to learn new laws, regulations, ways of doing things, even different slang or words commonly used. It was a new driving system in Ontario too as in Singapore we drove on the right hand side! Fortunately, English is our first language and so adjusting to the differences between British English and Canadian English was minimal.

So what changed our minds and why did we choose to make Canada our home? Simply put, the beauty and majesty of this land we now call home; the people who are warm, friendly and welcoming to newcomers; and we saw the opportunity before us to live a different life to how we would have lived in Singapore. We both saw the possibilities for both personal and professional growth. We moved from an island republic to the second largest land mass in the world. Life was going to be different, perhaps challenging at times, but it would be an adventure! In 1995, with IVF intervention (covered by OHIP and a research study), we had our only child, Jason. Canada offered us a chance to provide a better life with more educational opportunities, to our son. Jason learned to play baseball, participated in soccer leagues, won several chess competitions and excelled in his studies at both Huron Heights French Immersion (where he skipped a grade) and London Central Secondary School. He completed a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Physics at Western University. He now works for one of Canada’s nuclear energy plants and enjoys his chosen profession.

Fast forward to 2025, my whole family has since 1989 moved permanently to Canada – mom, dad, grandmother, sister and brother. And we even brought our five dogs who did not require any quarantine! Each of us has thrived in our respective professions and personal lives. Each of us is married with children born in Canada, now our home on land belonging to the indigenous peoples of Canada. While my grandmother and mother have passed, my 95-year old father is still doing well and is healthy. I often tease that Canada’s colder climate has helped preserve him well! There are no regrets to moving from Singapore, which is doing well as a nation, and has brought prosperity to its citizens.

For me, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1992, fully immersing myself into Canadian life and ways of doing things, and now devoting my days to community service through volunteering, has been a HUGE blessing in my life. I am now remarried to a French Canadian, who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and did a tour of duty in Cyprus as part of Canada’s contingent of United Nations peacekeeping forces. Together, we have a blended family with three adult children with spouses, and four grandchildren. We are proud Canadians who love this land and its people. If one works hard, strives to push ourselves to our fullest potential, and have good in your heart, you can and will get far as a Canadian. Our immediate family and extended family is representative of the diversity you will find among ethniticities in Canada today.

I love the Canadian mosaic, it is one of the things I love about this country. While the Indigenous people are the roots of this country, Canada is a country built by the hard work, strength and values of immigrants. While the Indigenous peoples have had to deal with genocide by colonizers, and are still healing from the consequences on multi-generations of colonization, they are still warm, welcoming people who are eager to share with and embrace people who come to this land, Turtle Island. I have come to appreciate the Indigenous culture and ways of knowing. I see the wisdom of their centuries old knowledge. There is a lot we settlers can learn and practice from our Indigenous neighbours.

What does it mean to be Canadian in today’s world? Being Canadian means we are people who embrace diversity, are open and welcoming to people from all walks of life, genders, faiths and ethnicities. As Canada is a constitutional monarchy, we pledge our loyalty to the King of England recognized as our Soverign Head of State. Canada’s citizens are proud of their Canadian heritage, proud of who we are as a people, and patriotic to our nationa and flag. And we are humanitarians at heart. We are people who strive to care more about this planet and the environment. We are a nation that has produced many renowned inventors, intellectuals, celebrities and world leaders.

Our country is still young, having become an independent country only in 1867. We are still learning about our strengths and uniqueness. We are still gooing through growing pains with continued immigration from all parts of the world! We are still figuring it out. But, we stand as one, undivided, united in our belief that we can overcome adversity and turmoil, because we believe in ourselves and each other. We know our people have the skills, talents and gifts this country needs and the peseverance and right attitude to move our nation forward to becoming the leader of the world that it can be.

On this Canada Day, I would encourage you to take time to reflect on what Canada has given you, and what being Canadian means to you. And I would love to read your thoughts in the comments below on what Canada and being Canadian means to you!

Happy Canada Day! Enjoy the festitivities whereever you reside.