Francine's Story
Do You Need More Cash?'This is the immigration story of Francine, who immigrated to Canada as a single girl and Registered Nurse.
I phoned the Canadian Embassy and took it from there. They interviewed me, I had to go for a health test, finalize my financial affairs with the tax people and 6 weeks later I got my VISA in the mail. Nowadays it takes quite a bit longer. In Holland I was a registered nurse. In order to get my Canadian RN licence I would have to write an exam. When arriving at the Customs desk the agent asked what I was going to do in Canada. I told him I hoped to find work as a nurse. He then told me to contact the City of Toronto Authoroties and ask for a job interview. This was a place I would never have thought of as a possible employer. I arrived in Toronto on Sunday, I contacted them on Monday, I had a job interview on Wednesday and the next Monday I started work as a "graduate" nurse in a Senior Citizen Home. I then contacted the College of Nurses of Ontario , wrote and passed my exam and got my Canadian papers. I was then able to work as a Registered Nurse. I applied and was accepted in a hospital. After working there for about a year I wanted a different working schedule, so I started working with a Nursing Placement Agency. I could set my own schedule. I would work for 10 to 30 days in a row, then go on camping and canoeing trips in Algonquin Park. When I came back, I would phone the Placement Agency, ask if they had any work available and they usually had 5 to 10 job offers for me. I could pick and choose where I wanted to work. I often met other nurses who also worked with the placement agency, and they complained that there was no work for them. I was willing to work in any situation, intensive care, emergency, transplant unit, they were not, they turned down offers and therefore they were ranked differently at the Agency. Working with the Placement Agency gave me the freedom to explore Canada, go on holidays when family and friends visited from overseas, and I never had to worry about having a place to work when I wanted to work. I married a dairy farmer and we borrowed money from the Farm Credit Corporation and started farming. We are blessed with 3 children. Farming has had good times but also some very tough times. Right after we started we took out a loan for expansion. Right after that the interest rates kept climbing and at one time we were paying 23.75% interest. Somehow we survived I've always been involved with organizations, doing volunteer work. It is the best thing to get to know people and feel good in your new country. From the moment I arrived in Canada I have felt at home. I am still somewhat attached to my homecountry, it's like a good old friend, nice to visit sometimes, but we parted and moved in different directions. I don't feel like an immigrant, I don't feel like a newcomer. I am a Canadian, through and through. Our kids are Canadian, and they are proud of it. Immigrating to Canada is the best decision I ever made. By Francine Link to Francine's Farm Aaross Farm Inc. If you are interested in having your immigration story on our website, just like Francine, Contact Us  Interpreter & Translation Services Canada Vacations - Order FREE Brochure! Find the best insurance rates Find the best deal and read reviews on Hotels in Canada Return from Francine's Story to Immigrant Stories page Return from Francine's Story to The Happy Immigrant Homepage This website was build with the help of Site Build It 
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