Theresa and Glyn Blackburn came to Canada from Manchester, UK. Glyn had always wanted to live either in the U.S. or Canada, so in 2011, he decided to explore the Campbell River area where one of his nephews lived. He found a job as a heavy-duty mechanic, and he and Theresa applied for the Provincial Nominee Program.
In 2013, Theresa joined Glyn, leaving behind a 20-year-long career as a manager at a Salvation Army residence for the elderly.
Says Theresa, “The most difficult part of leaving was leaving behind family and coworkers. We left two children, six grandchildren, numerous brothers and sisters and my coworkers, who were like family to me.”
Theresa also says that, at the very beginning, she and Glyn were a bit worried they wouldn’t like to live here. “Even without the language barrier, we found that the culture is different from our home country. Here they use different words, the workplace culture is less formal than in the UK, and all the shops and restaurants close early! We also miss our favorite food, and the English sense of humor.”
Theresa adds that at the beginning she wasn’t able to find a job that matched her qualifications; she found a job as a sales representative at Walmart and eventually moved around the different departments within the store. Then she worked for a while at Volunteer Campbell River, before accepting a position as LINC Intake Worker at the Immigrant Welcome Centre where she supports the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada instructors.
“The scenery here on the island is beautiful, and the weather is way better than in Manchester!” Theresa says with a smile. “When family visits, there’s so much to do.”
When asked what advice she would give to people planning to immigrate to Canada, Theresa says to come here and take a look first, before moving here. “Check out the housing market, the neighborhoods, and, if you have kids, the schools.” Once immigrants have moved here, she suggests they do their best to get out and meet people, maybe do some volunteering as being an immigrant can be lonely and daunting. “Come to the Immigrant Welcome Centre and ask for help,” she adds.
Theresa and Glyn took their Canadian Citizenship Oath on January 19, 2023, at the IWC office in Campbell River.
