#3. What's it like doing business in Canada?
Plus a new series on who's eligible for what in Canada's constantly changing immigration programs
Hello!
How’s your week been? Thanks for responding to the newsletter timing last week. So, going forward, our From the Editor newsletter will go out Wednesday evenings. And hopefully give you something to read as you head home or wind down for the day.
In today’s newsletter: Mario Meyer talks about why networking must become your "second profession" as an immigrant entrepreneur in Canada, how he built relationships at 3-4 events per week for years, and the power of referrals versus cold outreach.
Also: Chris Friesen of ISSofBC says that when we talk about immigration in a calm way, not shrieking through social media, everyone’s kind of on the same page.
Plus: Veronica Sepehr of Westdale Immigration Consulting on who’s eligible for the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This is the first of a series we just launched where we break down who’s eligible for the various Canadian immigration programs.
By: Dozie Anyaegbunam
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Mario Meyer on doing business in Canada
What's it like doing business in Canada as an immigrant entrepreneur? Mario Meyer, Founder & CEO of Reyem Tech calls it a “double leap of faith.”
Mario moved to Canada from Brazil and launched his first business the day he landed. Literally. He started talking to lawyers in Canada six days before he boarded a plane to Toronto, Canada. Two months later, COVID-19 slammed into the world.
My biggest takeaway from this conversation? Make networking your second business, people.
As immigrants, we had 30-40 years to build networks in our home countries. In Canada, you know nobody. Networking is essential to your business’s survival. It’s not optional. Mario's biggest contract came from a referral from someone he met at an event two years prior.
Continue listening ⤵
Chris Friesen wants the government to rebuild public trust in immigration
This was such a good conversation. Chris calls Canada a "giant global cohesion experiment." And I agree. Society always tends towards homeostasis. Immigration disrupts that equilibrium. However, if managed properly, I believe it leads to a more resilient, prosperous society.
Now, I agree that’s up for debate. But I hope Canada gets it right.
The solutions Chris proposes to the Canadian immigration issues aren't complicated, but require political will. A 10-year population growth strategy. National credential recognition. Better success indicators. Proactive rather than reactive planning.
And most importantly, rebuilding public trust by communicating what immigration actually delivers for Canada.
Continue listening ⤵
Who's eligible for Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)?
The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows foreign workers in Canada to keep working while waiting for a decision on their permanent residence (PR) application. However, its eligibility rules are strict and often misunderstood.
1. Be in Canada as a temporary resident
You need to physically be in Canada with valid temporary resident status when you apply.
2. Hold valid status in one of these ways:
Have a valid work permit, or
Be on maintained status (you applied to extend your work permit before it expired), or
Be eligible to restore your worker status (within 90 days of work permit expiry)
Continue reading ⤵
What am I excited about?
Ozoz Sokoh’s new book, Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria: If you’ve wanted to make the famous Nigerian jollof rice, suya, or Edikang Ikong, she’s got all that and 100+ recipes in there. Travel to Nigeria by plate, you won’t regret it.
Ray Newal’s Constellation Registry: Canada needs builders. Ambitious ones. Ray is building a living registry that maps the people shaping Canada's future from every corner of the globe: founders, scientists, operators, investors, and public thinkers—whether they live in Toronto, Dubai, or New York. Love love this.
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