Meet the Team
Matthew McDonald
Matthew began his career in education: teaching ESL, literature, and writing in Canadian universities and international high schools (France and Macedonia). He also spent three years as a university/college admissions counsellor, helping high school students pursue their educational aspirations in Canada, the United States, Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East.
Upon his return to Canada, he shifted to international student advising, for which he obtained his RCIC designation. He opened his boutique immigration consulting practice in 2016 while elevating his international student services/recruitment/admissions expertise at Humber College and Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
Matthew was not always a city boy, nor did he expect to spend so much of his time working with people in finance and accounting, as he did at Rotman before shifting to full-time immigration work in 2023. He grew up on a farm in rural Manitoba, completed his undergraduate degree in English/French at Brandon University (Manitoba), and then his graduate work in English Literature at the University of Ottawa. He understands firsthand that people often want to change location, countries, and careers—editing their stories away from the plot of their birthplace.
Igor is a seasoned project manager who sharpened his skills at a Fortune 500 company. In 2022, as demand for Matthew’s immigration services grew, he offered to take over business operations so that Matthew could spend more time with clients. In August 2023, he joined Matthew full time. Much of his work is behind the scenes, but clients will also communicate with Igor on non-legal matters.
Igor’s Canadian story began in 2010 when he met Matthew in his hometown: Skopje, Macedonia. He had returned to Macedonia after completing his undergraduate education in Chicago, USA, with a focus on teaching ESL. He also taught university-level classes in writing and translation in Macedonia.
After being approved for permanent residency and moving to Toronto with Matthew in 2013, he began to shift his career path, working in educational administration on examination practices for regulatory bodies. After completing a certificate in Project Management from the University of Toronto, he shifted into project management and process improvement. He has also completed a Master’s of Education in Adult Education & Workplace Learning from the University of Toronto.
As a newcomer to Canada, he also understands the challenges involved in revising one’s life story.
Igor Lazarevski
Emma Phan
Emma began her Canadian story in 2013 as an international student. In 2025, Emma will celebrate her 12th anniversary in Canada!
Much of her career has been rooted in the Ontario post-secondary education, where she has worked in human resources administration, student advising, and career counselling. Emma completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources Management from Humber College, a Career Coach and Navigator Professional certificate from Goodwill Industries, and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate from the University of Toronto. Emma is working towards becoming a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in 2026.
Matthew and Emma met while they worked at the International Centre at Humber College. They started working together again in late 2024.
As an immigrant to Canada herself, Emma understands the challenges of adjusting life to a new country while navigating complicated immigration pathways. She loves exploring ideas, helping others grow, and contributing to her community.
Sebastian Kolesar
Sebastian’s interest in international education and immigration practice stems from his mother’s immigration experience (São Paulo to Vancouver, BC), his time serving in a camp for forcibly displaced persons in Greece, and his formative experience as a student staff member working with international students (i.e., Recruitment Assistant & ESL tutor).
Following the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Sebastian has worked in five separate positions at the University of British Columbia (UBC) across general international student support, administration, and now immigration consulting; however, his professional background also includes experience in legal aid, private practice, and teaching (student immigration law & policy). He became licensed as an immigration consultant in 2021 following the completion of UBC’s Immigration Law program, and currently works full-time at UBC providing legal and settlement services to students. Sebastian is also the Owner and Principal Consultant at Pacey Immigration Services.
Sebastian intimately understands how powerful culture and language can be to one’s identity, and despite losing his mother tongue (Brazilian Portuguese) through his mother’s acculturation to Canada, he maintains a strong connection to his transnational community and family members in Brazil. Despite losing his maternal language, Sebastian is professionally bilingual in French, and has limited professional proficiency in Spanish. Immigration is a story that transcends generations, and Sebastian believes that his story is the product of his mother’s choice to create a better life for herself and her family in Canada.