Name: Asa Bagna
Born: United Kingdom – British citizen
Raised: Formative years: Jamaica; teenage and adult years: Canada
Resides: Ottawa, Canada
Asa and Asa jr.
Asa grew up in a small town with tight family and communications. “Everyone knew each other and each other’s families”, he recounts.
He met his wife, also of Jamaican descent, in Canada where they started a family. They find Montreal less expensive than Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, but eating out can be affordable. Getting to the restaurant by car can be costly because of the high price of gasoline, but public transit in the main cities is reliable and fairly inexpensive.
Canada is an interesting country given its bilingual heritage. Ever since it passed to Britain in the French & Indian War, Quebec has harbored a large French speaking population. Both Montreal as well as the capitol Ottawa are located in Quebec where signs, product labels, and even much of street conversation is primarily in French. Asa is studying French and also plans to enroll his young son soon.
As for his future plans, Asa will stay long term in Canada and will likely gain citizenship. For newcomers immigration permits are needed for work, going to school, and it can be expensive to gain residency status. However, the refugee program is quite liberal.
Snapshot Overview – Canada
Housing:
Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver: C$1000 – C$1200/month, Montreal: C$700 – C$800/month.
Recommended monthly budget:
Minimum C$3000 – C$4000 per month
Basic amenities/infrastructure: Very modern.
Legal hurdles faced by foreigners:
Immigration permits needed for work and education, it can be expensive to gain residency status, liberal refugee program.
Asa’s recommendations:
• Travel to different regions of the country, Canada is vast.
• Learn French/English.
• Visit Quebec City, it’s beautiful and historic.
Panorama of Ottawa, capital city of Canada, Province of Ontario
Photo credits: Portrait provided by Asa Bagna, Parliament Canada Day – cdn.tripadvisor.com, Ottawa panorama – Wikipedia user Wikicanadia.
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