My Great Canada

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Lidia May. Originally from Russia, Lidia arrived in Canada in August 2014. Since then, she has been a passionate advocate for newcomer communities, working with various settlement organizations. Most recently, she launched her own YouTube channel, Ice to Nice, where she shares her tips for newcomers adjusting to Canadian life. Follow Lid...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Leah Mitchell, a newcomer workforce development consultant and ESL instructor dedicated to helping Canadian companies hire, train, and support the growth of their newcomer employees. We explore the importance of language training in the workplace and Leah’s practical strategies to help English learners improve their language skills both...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Ritika Saraswat, the CEO and founder of Re-Defined, a community of over 50,000 international students across Canada. She’s a LinkedIn Top Voice, a Top 200 Global Woman Leader, and a two-time TEDx speaker with 50+ keynotes and features on CTV, and CBC News. This episode covers Ritika’s journey to Canada and how she started Re-Defined. It...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Colin R. Singer, immigration lawyer and Founder of immigration.ca. Colin has 35 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate Canada’s immigration system. Through his work with Immigration.ca, Colin has helped thousands of people interested in settling in Canada. Today, we’re going to talk about why so many Americans are look...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Ramiz Essani, a Digital Marketing Professional currently living in Toronto, Ontario. Originally from Pakistan, Ramiz arrived in Canada in April of 2023. Since then, he has honed the art of networking in Canada and is here today to share valuable insights on: Navigating the Canadian workforce as a newcomer Practical strategies for buildin...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Gerard Keledjian, the Founder and Managing Director of New Horizons Media and Host of 'New Canadians', a national TV and web-based information hub for newcomers to Canada. Originally from Lebanon, Gerard arrived in Canada in 2010. Join us as we explore his journey to Canada and the creation of 'New Canadians'. Follow Gera...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Aastha Taneja, a student in Strategic Relationship Marketing and the co-host of the The Immigrant Project Podcast. Originally from India, Aastha arrived in Canada as a student in 2022. Since her arrival Aastha has learned to grow and adapt in the face of challenges such as increasing demands on her time and building a new community. Foll...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Melissa speaks to Idriss Bouhmouch, a Partnership and Digital Strategy professional living in Montreal, QC. Originally from Morocco, Idriss arrived in Canada as a young child with his family in the early 1990s. Follow Idriss on LinkedIn: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibouhmouch/   Melissa Gosselin is a highly qualified Canadian CELTA-certified English La...

In today's episode, Melissa speaks to Girish Jaggi, a skilled communication consultant and the host of "The Immigrant Project", a podcast that aims to share the inspiring stories of individuals who leave their homes to pursue new lives in foreign lands. Follow Girish on LinkedIn: 🔗 www.linkedin.com/in/girish-jaggi-06935497/ Melissa Gosselin is a highly qualified Canadian CELTA-certi...

In today’s episode, Melissa speaks to Aditya Mhatre, the Co-Founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer of Beacon. Aditya, originally from India, got his Canadian PR in 2017. His current mission at Beacon is to give newcomers the tools they need to build their brightest future in Canada. Aditya’s links 🔗 www.linkedin.com/in/acmhatre/ 🔗 mybeacon.ca/ Melissa Gosselin is a highly qualified Can...

In today’s episode, Melissa speaks to Gaurav Singh, the founder of Guddi (Goody) Growth. Gaurav, originally from India, got his Canadian PR in 2019. In his work with Series A/B startup founders, he brings his inquisitive mindset, knowledge of the inner-workings of technology (especially machine and deep learning), and wealth of experience in business strategy. Join as we explore his arrival to Can...

Join us on this episode of My Great Canada as we sit down with Nicholas Keung, the immigration reporter for the Toronto Star. Nicholas has written extensively about Canada's immigration, refugee, and border policies, shedding light on the lived experiences of migrants affected by these policies. As a former international student and immigrant himself, Nicholas brings a unique and personal pers...

In today’s episode, Melissa speaks to Sindhu Mahadevan, a Quality Assurance professional in the medical device industry. Originally from India, Sindhu relocated to Canada from the US in October 2021.  Sindhu is the creator of This Immigrant Life Newsletter. Drawing on her own experiences as a newcomer and using her writing and communication skills, she has been assisting others on their journey to...

In today’s episode of My Great Canada, Colin welcomes Rajesh Luhar, Chief Executive Officer of iRIDE. With an MBA in Finance from the University of California, Riverside, and leadership in corporate finance, Raj has an impressive background, having served as the CFO for a major manufacturer in North America’s consumer sector. Join us as we explore Raj's entrepreneurial acumen, his drive to cre...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we welcome Chengeer Lee, a transformation coach & talent acquisition professional in the tech space. Chengeer, originally from Kazakhstan, moved to Canada in 2019.  Drawing from his various experiences, including those as a start-up founder, researcher and educator, as well as his own personal transformation journey, to assist his clients in combati...

Join Melissa Gosselin on our latest podcast episode, where we have the pleasure of speaking with Paula Calderon, CEO of the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA). Paula brings her extensive experience and personal journey as an immigrant from Colombia to her role, where she passionately supports the integration and empowerment of newcomer women and girls in Canada. Tune in to learn abou...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we will examine Ontario's groundbreaking decision to reserve a staggering 96 per cent of foreign student applications for its public colleges and universities. Join us as we shed light on the far-reaching implications of this bold move by the Ford government, reshaping the province's higher education sector and sparking crucial conversations abo...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we explore Canada's latest immigration announcement, unveiling plans to set temporary immigration levels starting this September. With concerns about housing affordability and economic impacts, Minister Marc Miller's strategy emphasizes collaboration while sparking debates on long-term consequences. Join us as we discuss the intricacies of Canad...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, host Colin Singer explores the pressing issue of Canada's construction labour shortage. Join us as we uncover four strategies to address this challenge, from reforming immigration policies to enhancing industry involvement in decision-making. Learn how aligning federal and provincial programs can cultivate a skilled workforce vital for Canada's...

In today's episode of My Great Canada, Colin passes the mic to guest host Melissa Gosselin, a seasoned educator and career coach. In honour of International Women’s Day, Melissa leads an engaging conversation with business and finance journalist Renee Sylvestre-Williams, founder of "The Budgette" newsletter. Join us as they share insights on navigating finances, offering invaluable a...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we dive into two controversial topics reshaping Canada's landscape. First, the legal battle between McGill University and Quebec over tuition fees for out-of-province and international students, challenging fundamental values of fairness and accessibility in education. Then, we explore the Canadian government's decision to re-impose visa require...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, Melissa showcases Himank Bhatia, a credit counselor with Credit Canada, as he shares his personal journey as a newcomer to Canada and the financial challenges he faced. Himank discusses common financial pitfalls for immigrants, the importance of credit building, and provides valuable credit building advice during the immigration process. Through his sto...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we will dive into the intriguing world of Canadian immigration policy, exploring why Quebec struggles to attract the best French-speaking international workers. Join us as we unravel the complexities behind this phenomenon, shedding light on the clash of ideologies and economic implications. Stay tuned for a thought-provoking discussion on My Great Cana...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we delve into a crucial move by Immigration Minister Marc Miller to cap international students, aiming to address housing concerns. This significant policy shift, impacting provinces differently, comes amid broader debates on managing immigration levels and ensuring a balanced, inclusive approach for Canada's future. Free Assessment: bit.ly/immica S...

In today's episode of “My Great Canada”, we will dive into the latest buzz in Canadian immigration. First up, the consideration of capping international students which is stirring conversation amidst housing affordability concerns. Plus, we'll explore the economic forecast, dissecting how provinces are navigating unexpected challenges. Free Assessment:  bit.ly/immica Subscribe to our newsl...