How does your migration journey shape who you are?
This photo reflects my migration journey—the path symbolizes moving forward through twists and turns, while the roller coaster represents the emotional highs and lows. I took this to capture the challenges and resilience needed to build a new life. Migration isn’t just about moving; it’s a journey of uncertainty, growth, and hope.
– Barbara Gonzalez
Being/belonging in Canada to me means peace. After the tribulations in the journey of migration, being able to achieve a Permanent Residency was like taking a huge weight of my shoulders. Canada brings to myself the sense of certainty , security, wellbeing, community, among others feelings that allow me to have the peace of mind that I knew I was looking for—for me and my family.
– Anonymous
Firstly, my migration journey helped me to better understand my goals and define who I am. Secondly, the long, multi-step immigration and adaptation process allowed me to more clearly identify my strengths and weaknesses, improve my English skills, and gain a deeper understanding of Canadian culture and people. Moreover, by comparing the differences between my country of origin and Canada, I now have a broader base of experience to evaluate my personal preferences—what I consider better or less favorable, where and how I would like to live, what is important to me, and what is not.
– Anonymous
Putting on my shoes brought me into life. From a breezy cold December night of 2017 to an uneasy evening of October 2023. This photo symbolizes my hardship, self love, respect and patiently trusting the process of my journey and being present. Is putting on my shoes the miracle solution? No, but you’ll go somewhere, and it’s a step. Don’t wait for motivation to come—you’ll be stagnant. Act on it.
– Mitzi Sanchez
I’ve moved around the world a lot—for work, for study, for fun—and I’ve learned to thrive in faceless hotel rooms and unfamiliar apartments. This journey has shaped me into someone endlessly curious, able to start over with little more than a suitcase and a sense of direction. But sometimes, despite the blank walls and unfamiliar streets, a space quietly tells you that you’re home—just like this apartment in Vancouver did, from day one.
– Anonymous
This collage, created from my Instagram account, tells the story of my migration journey. Starting in the bottom right corner, you’ll find black-and-white photos from my first year in Vancouver in 2019. Above those, you’ll see images from the COVID era in 2020, followed by snapshots of my school work. The collage then continues with memorable trips, books I’ve read in 2025, and some of the restaurants I’ve visited. Canada has opened incredible opportunities for me, allowing me to pursue my dream of becoming an interior designer and immerse myself in the world of commercial spaces.
– Angie Martinez
I became a Canadian citizen when I was a minor, so I was lucky to avoid filling out a mountain of paperwork! I took this photo of my new formal clothes to capture the mix of nerves and excitement I felt about attending the citizenship ceremony with my parents. During my pre-teen years, I remember wanting desperately to fit in, and reaching this milestone, I felt a sense of pride and belonging to this country.
– Anonymous
I took this photo because migration allows us to discover the richness of new cultures and traditions, like Nowruz, which invites us to reflect on renewal, love, and wisdom. The Haft-Seen table is a powerful symbol of these values. By sharing these moments, we highlight the importance of respecting and appreciating cultural diversity, and we learn to see the beauty in celebrations that, while different from our own, enrich our understanding of the world.
– Carolina Doncel
Upon my arrival to Canada, I have taken various volunteer roles, particularly in emergency management and supporting those affected by various disasters across British Columbia and the Yukon. This experience not only helped me understand the systems and people in Canada, but also helped me reflect on my connections to this new home. This photo was taken during a trip in summer 2024 to the village of Lytton to support their recovery efforts, as it was burned down in 2021.
– Anonymous
For me, this tree represents strength and growth amidst the hardest circumstances. This tree has endured heavy winds and rain, thunderstorms, cold winters, hot summers, droughts, and maybe even fires. All these have left some scars on it. However, it stays strong, giving shelter to wildlife, fresh air to breathe, and support to other plants to grow around. I’ve had the opportunity to live in other countries before Canada, for work and studies, which helped me be stronger like this tree, independent. I learned from other cultures, shaping me to be more inclusive and even more nurturing with family, neighbors, friends and colleagues. My migration to Canada was different because I chose this country to be my permanent home-outside-home, because of its beautiful nature, respectful people, safe environment and peaceful energy. However, it was much harder for me this time. I took a leap of faith and left everything behind. I came with no job, uncertainty about my future, and having to start all over again; even having to study a 4 year designation—again. I went through 5 years of high uncertainty, long working hours, studying, economic hardship, homesickness—hard circumstances that helped me grow even more, yes, with scars, but stronger, grateful, and more nurturing, like the tree in this photo. Always trusting the light, reminding me this journey was for the better and guiding me to achieve my goal: Canadian citizenship.
– Anonymous
Il y a autant de parcours d’immigration que de personnes, chacun différent et unique. Je crois toutefois que certains points se ressemblent pour tout le monde. De mon côté, mon expérience d’immigration m’a rendue plus patiente et persévérante. Il s’agit d’un long chemin, très beau, mais avec beaucoup de virages par ci et par là, et parfois c’était difficile en voir la fin. Mais j’ai appris à avoir un esprit ouvert et curieux qui m’a aidé à avancer et à découvrir toujours de nouvelles choses. En plus, je n’étais pas seule dans ce cheminement, car si j’ai commencé cette aventure c’était surtout grâce à ma partenaire canadienne à l’époque, qui est devenue ma femme depuis, et qui m’a fait encore plus apprécier le chemin parcouru.
– Natalia Ruiz
English translation from the original French: There are as many immigration paths as there are people, each different and unique. However, I think that there are some points that are similar for everyone. For my part, my immigration experience has made me more patient and persevering. It’s a long road, very beautiful, but with many turns here and there, and sometimes it was difficult to see the end. But I learned to have an open and curious mind, which helped me move forward and always discover new things. Moreover, I was not alone in this journey, because if I started this adventure, it was mainly thanks to my Canadian partner at the time, who has since become my wife, and who made me appreciate the path taken even more.
– Natalia Ruiz
I took this photo because every item in it tells a chapter of my migration story. The travel bag symbolizes the day I stepped out in faith, leaving the familiar behind and carrying only what I could hold—physically and emotionally. Nestled on top of it is my Canadian passport, not just a document but a symbol of transformation: years of waiting, hoping, rebuilding, and starting again. One of my hands is gloved, holding a dental tool—a nod to the career I carried in my heart from my home country Nigeria to Canada. The other hand grips my Bible, the one constant in my life that never changed. That Bible bore my tears, my confessions, and my declarations on days when the process seemed too long, too complex, too lonely. And still, I continued. This photo isn’t just an artistic expression—it’s a quiet declaration of perseverance, purpose, and faith. It captures the tension—and the harmony—between where I came from, who I am now, and where I’m going. When I arrived in Canada, I was already a trained dentist. But my credentials didn’t transfer, and I found myself starting from scratch—studying again, sitting for rigorous exams, learning a new healthcare system, and adapting as a mother and wife, all while trying to find my footing in a land that felt unfamiliar. But here’s what they don’t often tell you about migration: it doesn’t just relocate your body. It redefines your identity. Every delay, every detour, every “no” refined my voice. I became more than a dentist—I became a community leader, a mentor, a faith-builder, a woman committed to lifting others as I climb. My journey taught me that identity is not lost in migration—it is revealed, deepened, and reborn. I now volunteer to guide other internationally trained dentists, serve my community, support women rebuilding their lives, and mentor youth finding their voice. Every step I’ve taken—no matter how painful—has shaped me into someone who is building a life that is not just better, but 1000x better.
– Oluchi (Ollie) Omogbai
My migration journey from Colombia to Canada has changed me in many ways. It was not easy to leave my country, my family, and everything I knew. But through this journey, I have become stronger, more patient, and more open to learning new things. I learned to value simple things, to be flexible, and to keep going even when it’s hard. This experience has helped me grow as a person, a husband, and a father. I am grateful for the opportunity to live in a country like this and I hope I can contribute something from my skills to this country.
– William Fonesca
I was born in the same year as this photo—1996—but very far away from Canada. I came to Canada as an adult and missed some life experiences I would have had if I had been born here. Every time I pass this sign, I wonder if I will ever feel truly Canadian.
– Anonymous
The attached picture reminds me—and illustrates—how a simple activity can change the course of your life. In 2016, my young son and I visited Whistler during his school’s spring break, and we absolutely loved it. Later, in 2017, I suggested to my older daughter that she apply for her master’s degree in British Columbia. She was accepted for the 2018 academic year, and our entire family moved here in 2019.
– Jay Kahan
Here is a picture (taken from Google Maps) of the bus stop in front of the BMO (bank) branch at Oxford East in London, Ontario. This is the place where I had my first huge homesick cry. I had arrived in London, Ontario only two weeks prior, still living in a hostel and without a Canadian bank account. A lady from the same cultural background as me in my workplace generously offered to help. Her daughter (I’ll call her Cecile) was looking for a roommate. Cecile also worked at the BMO branch on Oxford West, so she could also help me open an account. “You don’t even need to book an appointment,” my colleague reassured me. “Cecile will be happy to see you anytime during her work hours for a chat!” Of course, the day I decided to pay Cecile a visit, I ended up going to the wrong branch on Oxford Street. I entered the building and asked the clerk to meet Cecile. “Oh, honey, you’re at Oxford East, not Oxford West!” she replied in an uproar. “Let me call Cecile to let her know you’re late. At what time was your appointment?” I tried to explain to the clerk that I didn’t have one because I just wanted to come by and say hi. The clerk’s tone changed from agitated to condescending as she offered me a kind, well-meaning but incredibly patronizing explanation. “You see, when you want to visit a bank here in Canada, you need to book an appointment.” Minutes later, I was in tears, wandering around near the bus stop in front of the branch, feeling hurt and disoriented. Somehow I think I never left this bus stop, as it came to represent the border between my country of origin and Canada. It is an ever-changing threshold, where I am constantly mediating between the cheerful yet confusing way of fraternizing I grew up with, and the aloof but predictable social expectations of this part of the world.
– Anonymous
This is a Moroccan dinner—very different than a Colombian one, but at the same time, with similar ingredients. I enjoy learning about different cultures, costumes, and trying new things. I’m happy to be part of a diverse community.
– Yury Villalobos
Migration starts a long time before you arrive to the desired destination. From that moment, when you look hundreds of miles away from home, the way you walk became different in your own shoes. And you really need to tie the laces tight…you don’t want to fall on the path. Actually, you don’t know when you will have the chance to rest and take off your tired shoes; maybe your hands, your back, your look, and your heart get tired too. Just keep walking.
– Bettina Dávalos
My migration journey has shaped me into the person I am today. My journey felt like the arduous climb up a mountain at the time—the struggle, the confusion, and moments when I just wanted to go back “home”. But each step, no matter how difficult, brought me closer to this view and a sense of fulfillment, similar to the exhilaration one feels when reaching the summit of a mountain. From up here, I’m able to see the bigger picture, trace the path I’ve taken, and appreciate just how far I’ve come. When I stand at this peak and look out toward the horizon, I celebrate where I came from, but also embrace where I’m headed. There are still more summits to discover!
– Anonymous
Yesterday I found a real treasure during my grocery shopping at a Chinese supermarket: a box of longans! The first thought that popped into my mind was: It’s longan season in Vietnam. And right away, the memories of my Vietnamese life started to appear in my head. The fact that I was in a Chinese supermarket reminded me of the time when I was living in China. All these smells and products brought back memories of the south of China. But here I am—a Ukrainian in Canada—feeling nostalgic about longans that I used to buy from trucks along the dusty Vietnamese roads in 2019, and smelling vegetable bao zhi that I used to buy from my beloved vendor on the way to my cultural classes in China in 2017…I feel like I’m as far from Canadians as I am from Ukrainians who didn’t leave the country in 2014–2015, or even during the full-scale war. I feel like I’m a longan among humans: exotic to almost everyone—even to ones of my own kind…
– Yelyzaveta Vasylieva
In my particular case, immigrating means leaving everything behind and starting over. This experience has influenced me, teaching me that there are always new opportunities in life; even if there are many obstacles and difficulties, there are always opportunities to start over. I took this photo in March 2025 near the Vancouver airport in Canada. It reflects part of my life as an immigrant—where I was able to encounter a complex, sometimes uncertain, emotional state, but also where I was able to find my freedom to walk freely without fear. Despite the uncertain path, there is a feeling of freedom, tranquility, and the opportunity to change my life.
– Anonymous
I took this photo because I was amazed by how the cherry blossoms decorate such a modern city, creating a beautiful contrast between nature and architecture. It’s my first time seeing this combination, and it felt like a special experience. Vancouver is a multicultural city full of contrasts. Its tall buildings reflect urban development, while its parks and blooming trees show a deep appreciation for nature. Here, modernity and natural beauty coexist in harmony.
– Carolina Doncel
Note: Some reflections have been lightly edited to improve readability.