Before moving to Williams Lake in July 2022, Nadim and Afroj led busy career lives in lndia. Nadim was a manager in five-star hotels across Mumbai for 10 years. Afroj worked for five years in a top position at a pharmaceutical firm.
But the arrival of their first baby and the increased work demands during COVID-19 prompted the couple to reconsider their priorities.
“I enjoyed every single day of my work,” Nadim reflects. “But I was away from my family a lot.”
Canada had always been a place on Nadim’s mind and when he suggested immigration to Afroj – who says she also struggled with work-life balance — she welcomed the idea.
“We are both family-orientated,” Afroj explains. “We wanted to raise our family as partners and to spend quality time together as a couple.”
Sixteen months later, Nadim received a phone call from a friend living in Williams Lake about an opening for a restaurant manager position.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Afroj says. “We were looking, and an offer came.”
Since their arrival in Williams Lake in 2022, Nadim has worked as a manager in a well-known restaurant chain. Afroj found online work as an instructor in her field and later as a curriculum developer at a local college. She encourages other newcomer professionals to Canada to remember that even though they may lack Canadian work experience, their skill level will be noticed by employers.
When they came to Canada, Nadim and Afroj left behind their family, who had been helping them raise their young son, Ahmed, but were grateful to be supported by their family, who saw great value in their decision.
“If we want to grow, we have to leave something behind,” Afroj reflects.
True to form, what Nadim and Afroj learned after moving to Canada was that their new independence brought with it new communities.
When caring for a child in Canada felt tough, Afroj credits Nadim with giving 200 per cent as a parent, a commitment not always common for fathers in India. Nadim modestly reiterates that they moved to Canada to spend time with family and he enjoys playing with Ahmed at the park and taking him skating and swimming.
Afroj also found much-needed support from the English learn and play family group offered at the library through Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy. This group allowed Afroj to join weekly play dates and outings with Ahmed, and to share with other immigrant parents about challenges and ways to overcome them. The couple says they are also impressed by the amount of family programming available across the community to young families. Even at the park, Afroj and Nadim appreciate how all parents help to take care of the playing children.
Since arriving 18 months ago, the family has found a new community within the collection of South Asian families living in Williams Lake, recalling that their first bedding and utensils were donated by some caring South Asian residents. Nadim and Afroj have also found community within a growing number of Muslim families living in Williams Lake. This small but active Muslim community has pooled resources and maintains a 24-hour prayer room in Williams Lake. As part of their Muslim faith, Nadim and Afroj plan to soon perform the Haj journey as a family to Mecca and Madina.
As for future plans, Nadim is preparing his application for permanent residence in Canada and plans to raise their family in Williams Lake where they have found such a welcoming and helpful community. Afroj wants to focus on raising her young family and supporting Nadim in his work but hopes in the long term to find work in the healthcare field to give back to the Williams Lake community.
“There are lots of activities for my family and I look forward to growing in my work here and helping other newcomers to Canada.”
