Adventure and revolutions are catalysts for new beginnings. With the upcoming 17th annual Metropolis conference on immigration and settlement, a few Canadians born in different countries – from such diverse regions as the Philippines to Iran and central Europe – share stories of overcoming barriers and finding belonging and acceptance. While the events for coming to Canada may differ, a similar feeling is felt: a place to call home isn’t necessarily one’s birth place.

From left to right: Reida Diego, Ali Zamani during Iranian New Year and Jaro Kavalir with dog Ever on a local Vancouver mountain. | Photos courtesy of (from left to right) Reida Diego, Ali Zamani and Alison Chiang

After a distant relative mentioned Vancouver and possibilities of moving to Canada, Reida Diego, 36, remembers her father started filling out the necessary paperwork.

“My parents are adventurists; they wanted to try new things,” says Diego of her family’s move to Canada.

“We got lucky, it wasn’t a long wait and everything happened smoothly,” says Diego.

When the family arrived in Richmond, on the evening of June 30th, they “didn’t know the next day was Canada Day!”

They celebrated at the salmon festival in Richmond, where they have been residing since 1995.

Diego recalls going to the grocery store with her mother and siblings as quite the adventure. Her mother didn’t usually buy groceries in the Philippines (their nanny bought most of the food).

“We saw some things that we didn’t have back home, and our mom said we could get anything we wanted,” says Diego, about how excited and happy she and her two sisters and two brothers were on that first shopping trip.

Diego got her citizenship in 1999. She say she was nervous about memorizing the national anthem, but was glad to do it in a group rather than individually.

Diego is happy she and her family are established in Canada and says she didn’t retain her Philippines passport. It just wasn’t something she thought about doing.

“It’s [Philippines] a nice place to visit and I miss my relatives, of course, and the food; but even the [Filipino] food you can now get quite easily here in Vancouver,” says Diego, who adds the city has a more diverse selection of food than when her family first immigrated.

Diego still refers to being from the Philippines because she grew up there, but says she’s a proud Canadian.

“I most value our freedom and being a part of a multicultural community that is tolerant and sensitive [to one another],” she says.

Flying to freedom

“I don’t believe in luck or fate, but I was changed by the [Iranian] revolution,” says Ali Zamani, 62.

Born in Abatan city (southern Iran) in 1953 with aspirations of becoming a pilot, Zamani was on his way to achieving his dream: by completing post-secondary studies at a Texas university, following in his aircraft technician father’s footsteps.

“My passion and interest was always flying, openness and freedom,” says Zamani.

But when the revolution started, Zamani was asked to return to Iran around 1975.

The war proved to be difficult for everyone. Jobs became scarce and Zamani and his family decided to flee Abatan.

The family settled in Tehran, where Zamani says life was hard and people didn’t accept him and his family. People from Abatan were seen as communists and traitors for leaving their hometown.

In Tehran, Zamani (then around 27 years old) lead a young people’s movement in the suburb of Esfahan. The goal was to speak up against the government about the lack of jobs.

Zamani was arrested multiple times and labeled a spy. His pilot license, American textbooks and other personal belongings were taken from him.

The death of Zamani’s younger brother by police halted any further political actions. Zamani decided to fulfill his parents’ wish: to get married.

He married a female friend, of his deceased brother, to honour his memory.

With his wife, and now a two-and-a-half year old daughter, Zamani decided to leave Iran where life was too harsh for them.

Through the help of family members, who worked with the immigration agency, Zamani was able to get the necessary paperwork to go to Canada.

He didn’t know much about Vancouver, but felt it was very welcoming, very multicultural, and non-violent.

“I can never go back to [Iran] because I would be killed, but maybe I can help the Iranian people from here,” says Zamani.

Breaking down borders and nationalities

Lifestyle and a more relaxed mindset: these were the deciding factors for Jaro Kavalir’s, 66, decision to come to Canada and become a Canadian citizen.

Born and raised in Moravia (eastern part of modern day Czech Republic) Kavalir describes his childhood as an enjoyable one: full of sports and education.

“I got politically active after the Russian occupation in 1968,” says Kavalir, who studied mathematics at Prague’s Charles University.

In July 1980, Kavalir and two others left what was then Czechoslovakia.

“I just packed my bag and traveled to Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and over the mountain range into Austria,” says Kavalir, who never told his family about his plan.

He was jailed in Austria for a week because it was done illegally.

“It was a common occurrence though – hundreds of people were doing it,” he says, adding he eventually picked up a phone and called his “shocked” parents from jail.

Once the necessary paperwork was completed, Kavalir was released on political asylum. The province of Quebec recognized his educational training and skills shortly after; and offered him an opportunity to move to Canada.

Now based in Vancouver, Kavalir says he misses his birth country from time to time: his mom, dad, younger sister and extended family are all still there, but his life is here in Canada.

“I have more feelings toward Canada than the Czech Republic. The lifestyle and environment are more suited to my mentality,” says Kavalir.

For further information, check out: www.acs-aec.ca