PPCII - Peterborough Partnership Council on Immigrant Integration

In 2006, Kantu met the love of her life, a Canadian tourist visiting her hometown of Cuzco, Peru.  By the end of his visit, it was decided:  Kantu was coming to Canada.  The first obstacle was obtaining a visa.  Her first application had been declined but this did not discourage her from trying again a short time later. 

This time, her application was approved and Kantu was granted a visa to come to Canada.  She arrived in Toronto in February where she met up with her husband to-be and they married a short time later.

One of the difficulties Kantu experienced was not having a work permit.  She said that she did not want to sit at home all day and so she started babysitting.  Once she acquired her work permit, she thought it would be easier, but it actually was not; Canadian employers still wanted Canadian work experience which she did not have.  And so, Kantu volunteered at St. Michaels Hospital.  Other difficulties included the weather and the cultural differences.

After three years in Toronto, Kantu’s husband got a job in Peterborough.  She has been in the region for less than eight months and has been eager to find employment but she shares her frustration, saying that she “... has a lot of experience but not here and so it is not valuable.” She is university educated and wishes that employers would give the opportunity to work because “... it hurts having to start over again.” But, through making use of community support services such as the New Canadians Centre and other employment services, Kantu was able to secure a job she enjoys and she feels that she is learning a lot while gaining Canadian work experience.

Kantu describes one of her most memorable experiences and achievements as buying her first house; “... it was something that belonged to me and my husband but it was mine ... after I left everything in Peru.”  She also describes her new job as an accomplishment too.

Kantu will be writing her Canadian citizenship test in the near future and describes her excitement about being “Canadian” and having a Canadian passport, saying she will “... feel so much freer!” At the same time, she says she will never give up her Peruvian citizenship, as she is both Canadian and Peruvian.

Kantu’s advice for other newcomers:

• Use the community support systems as much as possible!

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