Navigating New Horizons

People move to Canada for various reasons: employment, family, love, education, or simply seeking a fresh start. While the country offers numerous benefits, such as quality of life, cultural diversity, and stunning natural landscapes, newcomers face challenges like finding employment and overcoming language barriers. Today, we highlight Ruby’s story—a journey from the UK to Quebec to be with her boyfriend —illustrating the experiences of immigrants settling in Canada and the support they receive from companies like Défis RH.

Ruby, originally from Wales in the UK and raised near Liverpool, moved to Quebec to start a new chapter with her Quebecois boyfriend and son of Défis RH founder Jessie Fortin. After leaving her warehouse job in the UK, Ruby spent a few months traveling and met someone special. “I went to Portugal for a month, then Morocco for another month, and finally back to Portugal, where I met my boyfriend,” Ruby recalls. After finishing her travels, Ruby moved to Quebec to be with him. While waiting for her visa, she worked at a call center and used Duolingo to prepare for the language difference.

Since arriving in Quebec, Ruby has embraced the benefits and challenges of her new life. “I’ve noticed people here are active, engaging in running, hiking, and cycling activities. There’s so much beautiful nature in Quebec, and people are friendly,” Ruby shares. Additionally, Quebec’s affordability compared to the rest of Canada makes it an attractive place for young people like Ruby.

However, Ruby has encountered a few challenges, particularly with employment and language barriers. “Not speaking French has been intimidating,” Ruby explains. Her limited French proficiency made job hunting difficult. “I applied for sixty jobs and didn’t get a reply to one. Luckily, my boyfriend’s mother, Jessie, from Défis RH, helped me find a job with a car dealership. Without knowing someone, I wouldn’t have found a job.”

Many non-French-speaking immigrants need help finding employment and accessing government services. “Most job postings are in French, and it’s hard to know the degree of bilingualism required. The job market isn’t easy to navigate as an immigrant,” Ruby notes. She’s taking advantage of free French lessons to improve her language skills but would have struggled in the interim without Jessie’s support.

Ruby believes that better support structures could make a significant difference. “If you are not coming in on a sponsored work visa like I am on a holiday work visa, you don’t have the support of an employer, so you’re figuring out most of it on your own. It would be great if more recruitment companies and organizations provided services to help people, especially young people, immigrate to Quebec,” she says.  Jessie, an experienced recruiter with a large network of diverse corporate clients, even found it surprisingly difficult to help Ruby find a job so she could be with her son. Jessie says, “I couldn’t believe it was as challenging as it was to find Ruby, a qualified and eager candidate, a job, even with our healthy network of exceptional company clients. The experience made me realize how important it is to make it easier for companies searching for qualified talent to hire exceptional immigrants eager to work like Ruby.”

Défis RH recognizes immigrants’ immense impact on Canada’s culture and workforce. One of Canada’s greatest strengths is its success in attracting new talent worldwide. Immigrants enrich communities’ social and cultural fabric and bring valuable skills that drive economic growth. The federal government’s push to increase immigration has strengthened the labor force, resulting in a notable 6.8% growth over the past three years. Today, Canada has one of the highest naturalization rates in the world, with about 85% of newcomers becoming citizens.

Défis RH is proud to help its clients hire foreign workers and help foreigners like Ruby immigrate confidently with its new foreign worker support services.  The Défis RH onboarding welcome kit offers vital resources for navigating a new work environment, covering cultural sensitivity, workplace norms, and communication practices. We aim to ensure foreign workers can confidently begin their new chapters so immigrants like Ruby succeed and contribute to Quebec’s workforce. Jessie says, “We adore Ruby and want her to be able to live in Quebec to be with our son and succeed in the workforce, and this experience helping her find a job has reaffirmed Défis RH’s commitment to helping other companies do the same for other immigrants making an important life change.” Ruby is looking toward the future and is excited about the potential of this new chapter in Quebec. “I don’t know exactly what I want to do, but I’m good with people, so a job engaging with customers would be exciting. I want to travel, explore Canada, and save money so my boyfriend and I can buy a home. But first, I’m focused on getting settled. I start work tomorrow!” says Ruby.