Letters

Celebrating 50 Years In Canada

Raised as a Christian, one of nine kids, my parents wanted us to speak English in the house, stating that if we know English, we can go anywhere in the world. They wanted us to get the best education, so they sent us to the best schools in Pakistan, the Karachi Grammar School, Karachi American School, and Catholic Schools, and last but not least, apprenticeship at Pak-Swiss Training Centre(PSTC).

Hearing that Canada was God’s country, they wanted each one of us to live in a free country, and I was the first one to leave home for Canada. Later, I sponsored 7 of my other siblings, who have done well, and have never depended on Social Benefits.

My father wanted to die in a free country and he did in 1983, in Windsor, Ontario, whereas my mother, who passed away in 1976, is buried in Karachi, Pakistan, RIP.

It has been 50 years today, since I first put foot on Canadian soil, and my memory goes back to that day, just like a dream. Seems like just yesterday, that I came to this country, on September 17, 1973, with just a suitcase, getting off the plane, heading to Peterborough, Ontario, to study, but not knowing a soul.

I had an Uncle in PEI, and a friend in Toronto, but nobody to receive me at the airport. I was the only one going to Sir Sanford Fleming College, and the rest of the students, from Pakistan, were heading for Sarnia.

Coming out of customs, the doors opened, I thought, somebody had opened it for me, and I said, “Thank you,” but nobody was there. This was my first experience with automatic doors.

I was wondering where I would go, and how, but when I came out of the airport, another Pakistani gentleman, was there to receive somebody, and asked if I was so and so, but I said, “No.”

He asked where I was going, and I told him that I had a friend near downtown Toronto. He said he was going close by there, and offered to give me a ride. This is, when I started realizing how friendly and helpful people are over here.

Sir Sandford Fleming College, Peterborough was the first place that I experienced the beauty of snow — not what I had imagined.

The first year was the most difficult year, adjusting to the cold weather and the different culture.

Sitting next to females in the bus, which no one would ever experience in Pakistan. Addressing our teacher as Mister, and the whole class laughing, so the teacher just asked me to call him by his first name — another experience, which would never have been possible in the old country. This is where I learned to play Euchre and Cribbage, my favorite past-times now.

While attending College, I was able to seek employment, my first one being a dishwasher at a restaurant.

At College, the other students advised me to start looking for Summer Employment at Christmas, so I started dropping off my resume, door to door. Outboard Marine Corporation called me for an interview, and wanted to hire me as a Jig Grinder. But I told them, that I was on a Student Visa, and not allowed to work, so they asked me to go see an Immigration Officer for a Work Permit, who came there only once a week, from Oshawa.

When I went there, the Immigration Officer stated, why can’t they hire a Canadian to do the job, and refused to issue me a Work Permit. So, I went back to the company, and the Human Resources Manager gave me a very nice letter, stating, and proving by ads, that they could not find the right person to fill the position.

The following week, I went back to see the Immigration Officer, and presented him the letter. He reversed his decision, issued me a Work Permit, congratulated and welcomed me to Canada.

After working as a Jig Grinder at Outboard Marine Corp. for couple years, I got laid off. This was another new awakening for me because back home, once you had a job, it was for life. The layoffs made me move to different cities in Ontario, seeking employment.

The first one was Toronto, then Windsor, where I got married to my beautiful Irish Rose, Roberta. She was born in Georgetown, Washington D.C., and after nearly 35 years of marriage, just passed away last year, RIP.

Here also, both our smart daughter and son were born, who have been successful in life also. Due to the unstable economic situation of the world, I was laid off again, from a few different companies. After exhausting all my time looking for work, I took Hwy. 401 and headed towards Toronto.

I stopped at all the major cities in between, dropping off my job applications and resumes. I was able to find a job in Mississauga, but kept looking for better opportunities.

I was lucky that at the same time General Motors, Oshawa was looking for Tool and Die Makers, and I got hired here. Ever since moving to Oshawa, I got involved in volunteerism, and got elected to quite a few Community Organizations.

To name a few, as President of the Multicultural Council for quite a few years, as a Director on the Durham Region Training Board, Regional Parent Advisory Council, and Treasurer of The United Way of Oshawa, Whitby, and Clarington.

As a Volunteer, I received quite a few awards, from the Canadian Federal and Ontario Provincial Governments, and this got me involved into politics. After getting laid off from General Motors, with 22 years of service, I was able to go back to Fleming College for a Second Career in Construction Skills, and was selected to be the Valedictorian for the 2010 Graduation.

After working 35 years in Canada, I was able to collect Canada Pension, which is not a privilege in Pakistan, and retire in Kingsville, the Southernmost part of Ontario. Couple weeks ago, I turned 75 years of age, another hurdle passed in Canada, after spending most of my life here in this beautiful God’s country, enabling me to start collecting Old Age Security(OAS), another benefit that I would never have received, in my Country of Birth.

Since living in Pakistan, my dream was to live on Lake Ontario, and that dream came true. I have also had the opportunity to travel by train all the way to the East Coast, through the Provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, to Prince Edward Island.

To the West, I have travelled to Calgary, Jasper and The Yukon. Everywhere I go, I take my fishing rod with me. This was also something new that I picked up, living here, and caught some big fish, in different lakes across Ontario. I have also become a pool shark, and sometimes keep winning until 2 a.m., in certain bars.

This is a land of beauty, opportunity and freedom, and I came here 50 years ago, to take advantage of it. I wanted to make this my homeland, and to respect and obey the laws and culture of this country.

I resent people who come here, trying to bring their own cultures, and changing the laws here, to their own benefits and beliefs. I believe that if these people are not willing to change, and adapt to the Canadian culture and laws, then they should stay in their own country. When in Rome, do as Romans do, when in Canada, do as Canadians do.

I guess, coming from an oppressed country, you value the freedoms and the good life that Canada has to offer. Many people take it for granted, and don’t value it, and enjoyments here which are not enjoyed in other countries. They complain about different things here, like the weather, taxes, etc. Try living in another country.

This is still the best country to live in, and after living in torrid climates for 25 years, I prefer the winters here, especially Ice Fishing, with a bottle of wine to keep warm.

It has not been an easy road, overcoming lots of hurdles, just like travelling through the mountain country. You pass over one, and see another one coming. I am glad that I travelled this road where God has blessed me, and do not regret this decision at all, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dave Patterson

5 Comments

  1. Cathie Penner

    Very interesting story Dave! Thanks for sending it to me. It’s always interesting to see how people have been shaped over the years. Humans are kinda like beach glass that way.

    So sorry for the loss of your dear wife.

    Live well

  2. Cheryl Comeaux

    This is fascinating. So happy for you Dave. You have been a great friend for 23 years. Congratulations!!! And God Bless 🙏🙏🙏
    Cheryl Comeaux

    • Thankyou Cheryl. Can’t believe that it has been 23 years, since you introduced me to Marine Moms, and I am specially thankful to you, for making the website, “Corporal Patterson”.

  3. Shelley Dancel

    My husband’s brother sponsored three of his siblings to come to Canada. Even thou they knew how to speak English, they went to the YMCA for an English class during the summer. I believe that the goals are different when your family helps you. No one in my husband’s family has ever been on social assistance. All nine siblings have a post secondary education. Five of the nine live in Canada, two in the United States and two stayed in the Philippines. My mother in law who is well and soon to be 104 years, is very grateful that her children have the lives that they have.

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