Competition for immigrants set to increase, according to experts

This is Part 4 of Unsettling, a series on immigration by CBC Calgary. Join us for a live show exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by immigrants. It's tonight at 7 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m.) at the Central Library, 800 Third St. S.E. Register for free here.

It's a sunny Monday afternoon in the suburb of Woodbine in southwest Calgary and Cherotich Chemoss has a day off school.

All she wants is to get some chicken wings.

Chemoss, who moved from Kenya last September to start a post-graduate certificate in marketing at Mount Royal University, has found a pub to frequent.

"I love their wings," she said.

When asked if they are better than ones from her hometown of Nairobi, she quickly said, "Hmm. I don't think so. Ours are fresher."

And that is pretty much the answer Chemoss has to any question about whether Calgary is better for her than her hometown.

Possibly … but she's not sure yet.

"I had a fantastic life in Kenya, really," she said. "I lived in the leafy suburbs like Woodbine."

Chemoss has relocated to Calgary to study for a number of reasons. She wanted the extra education and she was also looking forward to a year out of the corporate rat race that was her past life.

She wondered if Calgary might be a good place to settle and raise her 10-year-old son.

"You know, so I mean, I've had fantastic jobs, jobs with drivers, you know, jobs that pay a good number," Chemoss said.

Chemoss is part of a growing class of immigrants who know they are in high demand and are calling the shots.

Darrell Bricker believes that Canadians haven't really awakened to the fact that competition for immigrants is looming.