Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
'I had to start from zero:' Rebuilding networks a difficult reality for Windsor immigrants

'I had to start from zero:' Rebuilding networks a difficult reality for Windsor immigrants

CBC
Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:53 PM GMT

Halfway to Home: Immigration Stories, a five-part series, began April 24 on Windsor Morning. Tune in on our CBC Listen app or live at 97.5 FM. We'll also be at the Budimir branch of the Windsor Public Library on Saturday for the event Creating Space. 

Who could forget the guy with the ascot tie?

That's what Willys Abali told himself as he put on the wide, formal necktie before heading out to a University of Windsor open house. And again before heading to a job fair — and to many events after that.

Before then, Abali — a Nigerian immigrant who arrived in Windsor as an international student — had thought a Canadian education would be his ticket to a great engineering career. 

But as graduation approached, he could see he needed something else: connections. 

"I realized, I don't know anybody who I could reach out to, to say: 'Do you know someone who knows someone who knows someone?'" he said. "I had no network."

In episode four of Halfway to Home, series creator Aman Ghawanmeh spoke to Abali, who arrived to Windsor 2005, and Helena Palma-Kurek, an accountant who arrived from Peru the same year, to be with her husband who lived here. 

Halfway to Home highlights the experiences of immigrants in Windsor-Essex. About one in five people living in the region arrived as newcomers, which means it has the 11th largest immigrant population in the country, according to Statistics Canada.

During a conversation at Windsor Public Library's Budimir Branch, Abali and Palma-Kurek shared their own network-building stories, recalled early attempts to make themselves "memorable," and offered tips for newcomers. 

WATCH | Aman Ghawanmeh, Helena Palma-Kurek and Willys Abali talk about networking: 

When it came to finding a job in finance, Palma-Kurek realized quickly that her accounting experience and skills were not enough in Canada. She didn't know anyone who could put in a good word for her, or even point her to work in her field. 

Her husband is a Polish immigrant who had a small friend group at the time, and neither he, nor Palma-Kurek, had family in Windsor.

"I was on my own," she said. "What I realized was that I had to start from zero." 

It wasn't easy. She had been so confident when she arrived in Canada. She knew she was capable — good at her profession. But in the months that followed, she started to lose hope.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
'The thrill of the hunt': Regina retro gamers scour the aisles for nostalgic gems

Chris Corbin's love of retro video games came from a cousin he lost as a child. His older cousin was a gamer with a few systems, and died at 15 when Corbin was 11.

3 Prince County residents dead after 2 Friday single-vehicle crashes

Three people are dead and one person is seriously injured after two single-vehicle crashes Friday on P.E.I.

What charging for COVID-19 vaccines means for Albertans going forward

When the province announced that most Albertans will have to pay for COVID-19 vaccines themselves going forward, the phones at Mohamed Elfishawi's two Edmonton pharmacies started ringing.

Indigenous people's health tightly tied to speaking their own languages, review finds

A new research review out of the University of British Columbia (UBC) has found that Indigenous people experience better health outcomes when they speak their traditional languages.

Lacrosse team Toronto Rock returning to Hamilton, to play at newly renamed TD Coliseum

The Toronto Rock are officially coming back to Hamilton.

Bankers, athletes, students are using drugs. This hotline tries to keep them safe

There's a national overdose hotline that some Canadians call before they're about to use drugs. But the people dialling in aren't who you might think.

Where to celebrate Canada Day in northwestern Ontario

Looking for something to do on Canada Day? Good news. There's a lot going on not just in Thunder Bay, but across northwestern Ontario on Tuesday, July 1.

7 tips to keep you safe on the Great Lakes this summer

With summer here and school out, families across southwestern Ontario are flocking to Lake Huron and Lake Erie. But with the beauty of the Great Lakes comes real danger, especially for inexperienced swimmers or those unfamiliar with lake conditions.

47 years — and some clashes — later, Pride flag seems to be gaining more Island allies

Forty-seven years after the rainbow Pride flag was first raised, Pride P.E.I. says the symbol still holds deep meaning as a sign of progress and a reminder that more work remains for true inclusion.

Northern fashion designer learns how to knit fur, hopes to bring skills back to N.W.T.

Beautiful, long-lasting and supports local harvesters — those are a few reasons why N.W.T. fashion designer D'Arcy Moses wants to incorporate fur knitting into his repertoire, and he's travelled to Ontario to learn how. 

Which 'next' is Danielle Smith's Ottawa-affairs panel steering Alberta toward?

Before taking their latest chance to weigh in on the wisdom of exiting the Canada Pension Plan, Albertans must first watch a five-minute video, most of which tries to persuade them how great an idea it is.

Pedestrian Sunday is back in Kensington this weekend, but future of festival remains unclear

Kensington Market's popular Pedestrian Sunday festival is back this month, but its future for the rest of the season remains unclear as organizers look for solutions on safety concerns and the problem of illegal vendors.

To 'build, baby, build,' this country is going to need a whole lot more shop teachers

To meet the federal government's promise to "build, baby, build," the country is going to need a whole lot more skilled trades workers. But a shortage of shop class teachers in Canadian high schools might make them hard to find. 

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Alberta premier intends to 'battle' injunction on transgender health-care law in court

After an Alberta judge granted a temporary injunction blocking a provincial law that would ban doctors from providing gender-affirming care to youth, Premier Danielle Smith said she intends to fight the decision in court.

Norman Wells store owner says timing is tight, but he'll try to get goods on 2nd barge to the Sahtu

The N.W.T. government is preparing to send a second barge up the Mackenzie River to the Sahtu region in the next few weeks. 

Canada orders China's Hikvision to close Canadian operations over security concerns

The Canadian government has ordered Chinese surveillance camera manufacturer Hikvision to cease operations in Canada over national security concerns, Industry Minister Melanie Joly said late on Friday.

Man charged after coaches say he threatened to stab someone at girls' soccer game in GTA

Police have charged a man with uttering threats after an incident during a U13 girls soccer game in Vaughan last week where coaches say a parent threatened to stab someone. 

Calgary pools turn tide on swimming lessons, lifeguard shortage

Public pools around Calgary are no longer treading water, after years of staffing shortages forced cuts to swimming lessons and operating hours.

Pitcher this: MUN herbarium home to thousands of N.L. botanicals

In a room full of tall metal cabinets, Julissa Roncal carefully flicks through stacks of manila folders. They're filled with pages of expertly pressed and dried plant specimens. 

Sudburian builds fleet of Star Wars droids as a hobby

If you're a Star Wars fan in the Sudbury, Ont., area, these might be the droids you're looking for.

Increase in dog bite incidents prompts Wolfville park to limit off-leash hours

After an unspecified number of incidents involving off-leash dogs at Reservoir Park, the Town of Wolfville, N.S., is running a pilot project until January that will limit the hours dogs can be off-leash.

N.B. Museum set to add 1st rare owl specimen found in the province in over 100 years

The New Brunswick Museum is set to add a rare great grey owl to its extensive bird collection in July. 

Nearly 2,000 households in need of new home as Quebec's moving day nears

With Quebec's moving day fast approaching, more than 2,000 households across the province are still searching for housing — 320 more than at the same time last year, according to the province's housing corporation. 

Eastman Pride helps bring celebrations to rural Manitoba communities this summer

Several first-time Pride events are coming to rural Manitoba communities this summer, as a local group works to spread the message of Pride throughout the province, and into places where they believe it's needed now more than ever. 

I thought my childhood dreams were out of reach. Then I came to study in Canada

This First Person column is written by Chidinma Favour Anosike, who lives in Regina, and is part of a Canada Day series exploring what Canada means to people across this country. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us