Discover Manitoba as an Immigration Destination
I was a bit of an ungrateful kid, now that I look back.
I was so interested in other parts of the world that I didn’t appreciate the wonders of childhood in rural Manitoba:
· Clean air to breathe & clean lakes to swim in
· Safety and security
· Long summer evenings with big skies and sunsets that linger for over an hour
· Healthy fruit and vegetables direct from my mother’s large garden
· Quality public education with teachers who knew my family and wanted me to succeed
· A caring community
· After-school activities like theatre, hockey, swimming, volleyball, choir, and woodworking
It’s amazing how many wonderful things were available in a village of only 400 people!
October morning frost on our family farm
One of the wonderful things about Manitoba is how community members have come together to create things like musical theatre productions, co-operative grocery stories, and member-owned banking systems known as credit unions.
Join the 2024 community theatre production in my hometown!
I theorize that, in a place where the winter can literally kill you, neighbours take care of neighbours in extraordinary ways.
Winter is real here. Manitobans embrace it through hockey, curling, skating, skiing, and snowshoeing.
My mom worked at the local credit union, and my dad operated a pig/grain farm with his brother about 10 kilometres outside of the local village. I didn’t want to be a farmer, though. Fortunately, the availability of a public student loan programs allowed me to go to university to build a new path, even when my family didn’t have money to finance my studies.
As an adult, I am grateful for the opportunities that Manitoba provided me—and wants to provide to others.
As Canada’s fifth most populated province (with 1.4 million people), Manitoba is eagerly trying to attract immigrants as part of its economic development and diversification.
Its capital city, Winnipeg (population 753,000), has multiple colleges and universities, arts and entertainment, business and employment opportunities, and a great food scene. It also has an architectural gem in Canada’s newest national museum—the Canadian Human Rights Museum.
Exterior of the Canadian Human Rights Museum
But for people who are willing to leave the capital to smaller towns or cities, there is even more calm and safety, along with employment and business opportunities that provide financial security. One great example is Brandon (population ~50,000), where I attended university. It’s become one of Manitoba’s immigration hubs over the past 20 years!
I’m eager to share more about my home province and its immigration opportunities through a three-part webinar series in January 2023 with fellow Manitoban Lindsay Rubeniuk of 100th Meridian Immigration.
The webinars will be available as recordings for anyone who cannot join live.
January 13: Discover Manitoba as an Immigration Destination
This introductory session will focus on the labour market, climate, culture, and cost of living.
January 20: Discover Manitoba’s Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities
This session is designed for aspiring international students who want to understand how they can strategize studying in Manitoba as a pathway to permanent residence.
This session will also provide strategic insights for international student graduates thinking of moving to Manitoba after graduating in another province.
January 27: Discover Manitoba’s Employment Opportunities
This session will focus on the Provincial Nominee Program streams, in-demand occupations and LMIAs, as well as the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which is a community-focused program that is not well known but has high value for the right person!
Now that I’m an adult, I’m glad that I can appreciate what I could not as a child.
And even though I’m still eager to learn more about the world as a global mobility professional, I take pride in being able to help people discover and relocate to the province that provided my life with a solid foundation.
