This is the second part of my journey to Canada as an immigrant. In the first part, I shared my immigration story. In this section, I’ll talk about my early days as a newcomer in Canada. I’ll also compare life in Canada with life back in Pakistan.
Why Edmonton? Choosing My New Canadian Home
After receiving my Canadian visa it’s a temporary visa, I had six months to arrive in Canada; otherwise, my visa would have been canceled. So, I quickly bought a ticket from Islamabad to Edmonton. I chose not to fly to Toronto because it’s a busy hub with a high influx of immigrants, which can result in long processing times at the airport.
On the other hand, Edmonton is less crowded, making it easier to go through immigration procedures. Plus, my brother lives in Edmonton, Alberta, so it was more convenient for him to pick me up from there.
First Impressions: Rain, Skyscrapers, and a Magical Welcome
My flight route was from Islamabad to Dubai, London, and finally Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was a long 20 hour journey. When I left Pakistan, it was the peak of June’s scorching summer, but when I landed in Edmonton, it was raining.
As the plane descended, Edmonton offered a breathtaking view. The downtown skyline, with its sleek buildings and shiny black roads, looked magical in the rain. Cars moved smoothly along the wet streets, and a strange sense of joy and excitement filled me. It was a beautiful contrast to the intense heat I had just left behind, and it felt like the perfect welcome to my new home.
At Chaklala Airport Islamabad (now known as Air Marshal Noor Khan Airport), there was no terminal in those days. Passengers were taken to the plane by bus, and the airport had minimal lighting throughout. It was a far cry from the modern airports abroad, with its dazzling lights, beautiful lounges, and bustling dining and shopping areas. It felt strange—almost like I had stepped into a completely different world.
Welcome to Canada!” My First Immigration Experience
After we landed, we followed the signs to the immigration counter. There were other travelers waiting in line, people from all over the world, including Asia and Europe. After a short wait, it was finally our turn. The visa officer greeted us with a friendly smile and said, ‘Welcome to Canada, and asked me a few questions, mainly about my job. Then he began typing on his computer. After a while, he handed me a letter and said, “Your permanent resident (PR) card will arrive at this address in 4 to 8 weeks. In the meantime, you’ll need to call Service Canada to get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and health insurance.”
Since I was going to stay with my brother, I gave him my address for the permanent resident card. And just like that, I had taken the first steps towards my new life in Canada.
Canada Needs People Like You!” A Lighthearted Moment at Immigration
While the visa officer was typing, he asked me about one of my skills. I told him with a smile that I am Oracle certified. When he handed me back my documents, I jokingly said, “The biggest skill I have is that in the time it took you to type one page, I could’ve typed ten!”
The officer chuckled and replied, “Canada needs people like you!”
It was a lighthearted moment that added some warmth to the whole experience, making me feel welcomed even before I officially stepped into Canada.
As I collected my documents and headed toward the luggage area, I walked alongside a friendly Sardar Ji from Indian Punjab. With a laugh, he said in Punjabi “If you had made that joke at New Delhi airport, they would’ve really given you a hard time!”
I couldn’t help but laugh and replied “Well, Islamabad airport would’ve done the same!”
We both burst out laughing, realizing that no matter which side of the border we’re from, some things are just the same—a shared sense of humor and, at times, similar airport experiences!
The Long Drive to Fort McMurray and Tim Hortons Coffee
Sardar Ji was going to Calgary, but I was going to Fort McMurray, which is about 500 kilometers north. It was 8 PM when we left the airport, and my brother was there to pick me up. Sardar Ji’s whole family had come in three minivans to get him!
Even though it was pouring rain, there was no darkness—just the soft glow of the wet streets. My brother asked me about our family back home and then grabbed some coffee from Tim Hortons, Canada’s famous coffee and donuts shop chain. We then started our long drive.
One thing I realized is that distances between cities in Canada are huge. You can drive for hundreds of kilometers without seeing much of a population. It was strange to think that, compared to the bustling cities back home, some places here only have small towns scattered far apart along the way.
Endless Summer Days: Adjusting to Canada’s Bright Nights
By the time we reached home, it was almost 1 AM. But I couldn’t tell whether it was 1 in the morning or 5 in the evening, there was so much daylight! It was bright enough that you could easily play a game of badminton outside without needing any lights. This was my first introduction to the long summer days in Canada, where the sun hardly sets, and it felt both strange and fascinating at the same time. To make it feel like night, we had to pull heavy curtains across the windows to block out the light. It was a strange adjustment at first, but it also felt fascinating to experience these endless summer days, which is very strange thing for me .
Government Offices in Canada: A Surprising Experience
After resting for a couple of days, I remembered what the immigration officer had told me: Get your SIN (Social Insurance Number) as soon as possible, either by visiting Service Canada or applying online. Initially, I was reluctant to go in person because I had this image in my mind of government offices back home in Pakistan—long queues, rude behavior, and endless demands for unexpected documents.
But when I finally decided to visit Service Canada, I was pleasantly surprised. I was greeted by two or three smiling ladies who guided me patiently, almost like a mother sending her child off to school. One of the women welcomed me warmly, checked my passport and temporary visa, entered my details into the system, and even applied for my health card on the spot.
Within 5 to 10 minutes, I was done and on my way out, holding a feedback form in my hand. It asked things like, “How was your experience? Were you treated well? Was your issue resolved? Was the staff kind to you?”
Coming from Pakistan, where visiting a government office often feels like a battle, filled with humiliation at every level—from the peon to the officer sitting in his chair like a king—this experience was almost unbelievable. I stood there for a moment, thinking about how many stars out of 5 I should give them. Honestly, it was a completely new and refreshing experience.
Sorting Trash and Following Rules: A New Way of Living
In Canada, each week, there is a specific day when the local government (municipality) collects the garbage from homes. At our house, the garbage is picked up every Thursday. Outside the house, there were three garbage bins—blue, green, and black, each for a different purpose.
The blue bin was for glass and plastic, the green bin was for paper and cardboard (recycling), and the black bin was for household waste. Since there were a lot of dinner gatherings at our place to celebrate my arrival, I began throwing everything into the black bin for convenience.
Seeing this, my brother separated the garbage properly and placed everything in its designated bin. He then turned to me and said, “This isn’t Pakistan. Here, everyone follows the rules, whether it’s a citizen or the government.” That’s when it hit me—rules and systems really matter here, and everyone respects them, no matter how small the task.
From Overwhelmed to Adjusted: My First Weeks in Canada
I did manage to settle in smoothly, but it wasn’t without its share of challenges. The first few weeks were all about adjusting to the new environment—getting used to the weather, figuring out public services, and learning the little things, like sorting garbage correctly!
Having my brother’s support made a huge difference, especially during those initial days when I was setting up my bank account, SIN number, and health card. The friendliness and helpfulness of people in Canada also made the transition much easier than I had expected. From the polite immigration officers to the Service Canada staff, everyone seemed genuinely interested in making newcomers feel welcome.
Of course, there were moments when I felt a bit overwhelmed—like adapting to the long distances between cities, the cold weather, and understanding how things worked in a structured system. But with time, I got the hang of it. The key was to stay patient, open-minded, and willing to learn, which made my settling-in experience much smoother than I anticipated.
