Soobia's Story
07-10-2025
My Journey to Canada: A Story of Love, Loss, and New Beginnings.
This journey didn’t begin with an immigration application, it began with my marriage.
Just a week after our wedding, my mother-in-law told me, with a smile and hope in her heart, “We got our son married to you so you can take him out of this country.” She lived in Chicago, and we were in Pakistan. As an architect with a progressive mindset, she believed I would encourage my husband to pursue a better future abroad. That one sentence, spoken in good faith, planted a seed.
Two years into our marriage, as the world began recovering from COVID, we took our first step, the International English Testing System (IELTS). At the time, I still wasn’t fully convinced. My mother, the person closest to me, was in Pakistan and leaving her behind was unthinkable.
But everything changed in January 2022, when I lost her to COVID. Her passing created an unfillable void. With no immediate family left in Pakistan, I knew it was time to move forward, not just physically, but emotionally. That’s when I filed our Canadian immigration application.
The waiting felt endless, a test of patience and faith, until the day we were finally approved. We landed in Canada in November 2024, greeted by extreme cold and my very first snowfall. It was surreal.
Thankfully, the landing process was smooth. We received our health cards, SIN numbers, and even a SIM card with ease. We contacted the YMCA, and they welcomed us with warmth and guidance. They introduced us to a newcomer program that outlined our next steps — from banking and credit history to the driver’s license process and job search resources.
Through the Y, I learned about bridging programs tailored to internationally trained professionals, and I wasted no time registering in one. Each step, each interaction, reassured me that I wasn’t alone. The people I’ve met here have been kind, supportive, and genuinely helpful.
While my journey started in love and took a painful turn through loss, it has brought me to a place of hope. Canada already feels like home in many ways, and I look forward to building our life here, with resilience in my heart and optimism for what’s ahead.
#ShineOn #IgnitePotential #GreaterTogether
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