Nearly a year to the day since my last site update (😬), I’m back to share a brief, exciting personal update: In January, I became a Canadian permanent resident!

Being granted PR status has been a relief. Notably, I no longer need to expend loads of mental energy on contingency planning. My temporary status was due to expire in mid-2023, without the possibility for renewal. The prospect of leaving my Canadian partner, friends, and professional network was difficult and demoralizing. I can’t overstate how joyful and grateful I am to have been approved to stay forever.*

Looking back

When I first thought about coming to Canada to take my master’s, I mostly considered University of Toronto’s Master of Information program. However, by 2018, I had adjusted my plans to come to Halifax instead. And am I ever glad that I did!

My time at Dalhousie was intellectually satisfying and personally enriching. I met my partner, became part of an incredibly tight-knit group of friends and colleagues, and ultimately fell in love with living here. I’ve thrived professionally and grown a lot in my chosen vocation. And I really can’t say thank you enough to my adoptive country. It’s a privilege to live here. I’m grateful I’ve been able to do so.

Some day, I’ll probably write more on this subject. I definitely have some information management-related thoughts about IRCC, speaking from an immigrant’s perspective. But, that will have to wait for another day. 😉

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* Permanent residents can lose their status if they fail to live in the country for a minimum number of days in a five year period. (At the time of writing, it’s 730 days out of every 5 years.) You can also lose your status for misrepresentation, immigration fraud, and other serious criminal offences. But, for the average person, permanent is permanent.