Canadian PR

[mayliewwan]

Okay new Albertans. Who voted NDP??? Will there be "Rachel days " in aAberta???

 

[Charlie99]

Are they still doing that? I haven't heard much about them since I moved to Calgary, wonder how they are.

Other than one of the Managers (who was born in Singapore) at the firm when I started my first job in the early 1980's, I have met very few Singaporeans or former Singaporeans in Toronto.

 

[Leongsam]

Good to see this section come back to life.

 

[nayr69sg]

Other than one of the Managers (who was born in Singapore) at the firm when I started my first job in the early 1980's, I have met very few Singaporeans or former Singaporeans in Toronto.

I suppose by virtue that Singapore's population is already small and very few Singaporeans migrate anyway, chances are slimmer in meeting other Singaporeans.

I am often told there are "many" Singaporeans in Calgary but so far I have only met one in the past 2 years. A lot more Malaysians (I am often asked if I am from Malaysia if not first asked if I am from China or the Philippines).

 

[Ambulance]

I am often told there are "many" Singaporeans in Calgary but so far I have only met one in the past 2 years. A lot more Malaysians (I am often asked if I am from Malaysia if not first asked if I am from China or the Philippines).

halo loktor y go kennerder so many jiu hu ah tiong jollibee si boh

 

[gswarriors]

I'm new to this thread. However, I did go through all 60 pages, without skipping even one.

First of all, congrats to all who have migrated to this great country of ours. You have taken the first important step. I myself arrived more than 26 years ago, and I don't even remember what Singapore is like now. What I did observe in this thread are some very determined ex-Singaporeans totally determined to make it in Canada despite all the hardships they faced in Canada. And succeed they did. Stories such as the doctor's serve as inspirations to all of us, that hard work, persistence, humility and proper planning can eventually lead to success.

Emigration is no small feat indeed, even more so in my time, when the only black haired students in my Greater Vancouver Area high school were all CBCs. Of course hind sight is 20-20, but man when I look back long ago, I just see how far I've come. Back then, information such as in this forum didn't even exist. Imagine all the bad advice one can get, from friends and family, and especially from the ever-so-secretive PAP government regarding citizenship and NS issues.

Anyways it's always good to hear some of the Singlish, even if it's only in this forum. For those looking to emigrate from Singapore, all I can say is, don't look back. Once you have decided to emigrate, focus and persevere until you succeed. Don't think about retreating back to Singapore, as that's the easy way out. Be willing to take on jobs that are beneath what you would get in Singapore, because like many pointed out, Canadian experience and references are critical. It ain't easy, but your next generation will thank you for the sacrifices you are currently making. Canada is a much better place for kids, compared to Singapore.

Good luck to future "immigrants" to Canada, land of the free!

 

[Leongsam]

Good luck to future "immigrants" to Canada, land of the free!

Great words of encouragement. Thanks a million.

 

[Hock]

I'm new to this thread. However, I did go through all 60 pages, without skipping even one.

First of all, congrats to all who have migrated to this great country of ours. You have taken the first important step. I myself arrived more than 26 years ago, and I don't even remember what Singapore is like now. What I did observe in this thread are some very determined ex-Singaporeans totally determined to make it in Canada despite all the hardships they faced in Canada. And succeed they did. Stories such as the doctor's serve as inspirations to all of us, that hard work, persistence, humility and proper planning can eventually lead to success.

Emigration is no small feat indeed, even more so in my time, when the only black haired students in my Greater Vancouver Area high school were all CBCs. Of course hind sight is 20-20, but man when I look back long ago, I just see how far I've come. Back then, information such as in this forum didn't even exist. Imagine all the bad advice one can get, from friends and family, and especially from the ever-so-secretive PAP government regarding citizenship and NS issues.

Anyways it's always good to hear some of the Singlish, even if it's only in this forum. For those looking to emigrate from Singapore, all I can say is, don't look back. Once you have decided to emigrate, focus and persevere until you succeed. Don't think about retreating back to Singapore, as that's the easy way out. Be willing to take on jobs that are beneath what you would get in Singapore, because like many pointed out, Canadian experience and references are critical. It ain't easy, but your next generation will thank you for the sacrifices you are currently making. Canada is a much better place for kids, compared to Singapore.

Good luck to future "immigrants" to Canada, land of the free!

Happy Canada Day - Land of the Free.

 

[Charlie99]

Happy Canada Day - Land of the Free.

Are you Chwee Hock?

 

[nayr69sg]

Hello gswarriors, after reading your post it made me go back and read all 60 pages as well. Looks like I did say goodbye to this forum sometime in 2013 after the exchange with Time2evacuate.

But reading the posts I realize that I have been fortunate to have many forumers encouraging me all this time to get back into medicine in Canada.

Just a refresher and an update to my journey in Canada.

July 2010 - Moved family to edmonton
August 2010 - moved myself permanently to Edmonton.
September 2010 - 1st job in PVC window frame company as general assembly line laborer
Nov 2011 - Passed MCCEE exam
Jan 2012 - 2nd job as Land Administrator at Surface Land company in oil and gas industry
May 2012 - Passed MCCQE1
Oct 2012 - Passed NAC-OSCE
Dec 2012 - Passed MMI exam
Jan 2013 - Promoted to Project Manager handling big oil and gas company account
Feb 2013- invited for interview with U of C Family Medicine Residency Program
March 2013 - accepted into Land Agent (Landman) course in Alberta
March 2013 - successfully matched to U of C Family Medicine Residency Program via AIMG Program
April 2013 - commenced 3 month Externship program with the AIMG Program
June 2013 - Successfully completed Externship
July 2013 - Commenced Residency training in Family Medicine (2 year program)
Oct 2013 - applied for Canadian citizenship
Feb 2015 - Passed Canadian Citizenship exam
April 2015 - received Canadian Citizenship
May 2015 - Passed CCFP and LMCC Part II exams
July 2015 - Attained Certificate Registration with the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), Certificant in Family Medicine with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP), Granted full independent practice permit with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
July 2015 - started independent practice at a clinic in Calgary and taking new patients.

It's been a few days since I started and it sure feels good to be free again. 2 years residency was a chore. It's like having to drive with the driving instructor with you all the time for 2 years! Now I am free to drive on my own.

Fully booked everyday so far. Clinic is mainly serving chinese/cantonese speaking patients. This was actively my choice and intention, leveraging on my language abilities and familiarity with the cultures. I observed that some Family Practices have been rather quiet and empty. Each year the residency program graduates about 70-80 new Family Physicians. My analysis was that Mandarin and Cantonese speaking doctors were a rare commodity. I was right. There are so many Mandarin speaking patients currently looking for a family physician that speaks their language. While they can speak English, they much prefer a doctor who can communicate with them in their native language. It's working out very well for me.

and for all those friends here who kept telling me and encouraging me to get back to medicine, I thank you wholeheartedly. I understand why now. It is much closer to how I have always wanted to practice medicine and help people. at the same time be well rewarded for doing so.

Another chapter has closed and a new one has opened.

And for Time2evacuate.....if you are reading this.......yes I am fully licensed now. But I do not have an MD. I have an MBBS. But it doesn't matter anymore. I am free to apply to any province and Territory to work as a specialist family physician. (all family physicians are considered specialists in Canada and I totally agree it is rightfully so having undergone their training)

The old delphiforums sammyboy had a more lively emigration thread. This Canada thread was doing well for a while but then individual spats somehow curbed the activity. A friend in Vancouver asked me what reasons I thought the thread here has died? I don't know. Is it less Singaporeans looking at Canada now? Honestly I don't really care if Singaporeans want to move here or not. But I hope my story is testament that dreams do come true.

Good luck and thank you to all the forumers in this thread. Hope you come back and chat once in a while.

 

[Charlie99]

Brother [nayr69sg],

Congratulations.
I am delighted to read of your continuing and ongoing success.
You deserve it.
Wish you many happy, healthy, Blessed Years.

Sincerely,
Charlie
in Toronto
0318 hours July 5, 2015

 

[Ambulance]

Good luck and thank you to all the forumers in this thread. Hope you come back and chat once in a while.

halo loktor yew 1000 x better den fake maggi mee ah neh loh goon all the best hor

 

[Leongsam]

Good luck and thank you to all the forumers in this thread. Hope you come back and chat once in a while.

When the delphiforums emigration folder first came into existence, the internet was in its infancy and matters such as emigration were spoken in hushed tones in tightly controlled Singapore. The delphiforum became a meeting place of like minded individuals who shared a common interest in various topics that were sensitive for one reason or another.

My forum provided the cloak of anonymity that was a prerequisite at the time when it came to on line discussions about matters that were considered taboo. No Singaporean wanted to admit to friends and colleagues that he was intending to jump ship.

16 years have passed and the majority couldn't care two hoots about being anonymous anymore. If they need information they use their facebook accounts to garner information or they simply skype or watsapp their friends and relatives living abroad for first hand information.

This little corner of the forum has pretty much become redundant as a result.

However, it is still a treasure trove of information so I have kept it going. I'm sure there are some who have used it in the past who also have a sentimental attachment to the contents. :p

 

[gswarriors]

Hello gswarriors, after reading your post it made me go back and read all 60 pages as well...

But reading the posts I realize that I have been fortunate to have many forumers encouraging me all this time to get back into medicine in Canada.
...
April 2015 - received Canadian Citizenship
May 2015 - Passed CCFP and LMCC Part II exams
July 2015 - Attained Certificate Registration with the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), Certificant in Family Medicine with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP), Granted full independent practice permit with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
July 2015 - started independent practice at a clinic in Calgary and taking new patients.
...
and for all those friends here who kept telling me and encouraging me to get back to medicine, I thank you wholeheartedly. I understand why now. It is much closer to how I have always wanted to practice medicine and help people. at the same time be well rewarded for doing so.

Another chapter has closed and a new one has opened.

Congratulations is in order Doc! What you have achieved is difficult. Takes a lot of faith and guts. You are a testament of someone who was unhappy with his situation in Singapore and took his "business" somewhere else, so to speak. This is not what typical Singaporeans would have done; all they do is take whatever the PAP shoves down their throats, no matter how bitter or unreasonable. They just keep voting PAP time after time, and wonder what the hell went wrong.

Congrats again Doc. I am proud to acknowledge you as a fellow new Canadian, and an ex-Singaporean!

 

[mayliewwan]

Did you know you gave out enough info where one can identify you?? No need to go to the library. Online tracing will do
Are you glad, you don't have to sell cough syrup, panadol etc???

Hope you come back and chat once in a while.

 

[indig10]

I look back at the last few years I've been in Canada and think of how this thread contributed to my preparation tremendously and I am thankful for it.

Now when I look back at *Singapore* from halfway across the world, I feel like I don't recognize the majority of Singaporeans who respond in the way they did to the Amos Yee and Roy Ngerng debacles, with their inability to discern right from wrong and see fallacies and contradictions for what they are. If this is how the country is heading, it is very sad.

My hope is that those considering leaving have the courage to venture and forge their own paths and not be held back by the narrow minded and insular worldview of people around them.

 

[indig10]

Other than one of the Managers (who was born in Singapore) at the firm when I started my first job in the early 1980's, I have met very few Singaporeans or former Singaporeans in Toronto.

There was a Pasar Malam just last Sunday in Mississauga organized by the Singaporean Malaysian Association.

 

[Hock]

Are you Chwee Hock?

No, I am not Chwee Hock.

 

[Hock]

Hello gswarriors, after reading your post it made me go back and read all 60 pages as well. Looks like I did say goodbye to this forum sometime in 2013 after the exchange with Time2evacuate.

But reading the posts I realize that I have been fortunate to have many forumers encouraging me all this time to get back into medicine in Canada.

Just a refresher and an update to my journey in Canada.

July 2010 - Moved family to edmonton
August 2010 - moved myself permanently to Edmonton.
September 2010 - 1st job in PVC window frame company as general assembly line laborer
Nov 2011 - Passed MCCEE exam
Jan 2012 - 2nd job as Land Administrator at Surface Land company in oil and gas industry
May 2012 - Passed MCCQE1
Oct 2012 - Passed NAC-OSCE
Dec 2012 - Passed MMI exam
Jan 2013 - Promoted to Project Manager handling big oil and gas company account
Feb 2013- invited for interview with U of C Family Medicine Residency Program
March 2013 - accepted into Land Agent (Landman) course in Alberta
March 2013 - successfully matched to U of C Family Medicine Residency Program via AIMG Program
April 2013 - commenced 3 month Externship program with the AIMG Program
June 2013 - Successfully completed Externship
July 2013 - Commenced Residency training in Family Medicine (2 year program)
Oct 2013 - applied for Canadian citizenship
Feb 2015 - Passed Canadian Citizenship exam
April 2015 - received Canadian Citizenship
May 2015 - Passed CCFP and LMCC Part II exams
July 2015 - Attained Certificate Registration with the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), Certificant in Family Medicine with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP), Granted full independent practice permit with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
July 2015 - started independent practice at a clinic in Calgary and taking new patients.

It's been a few days since I started and it sure feels good to be free again. 2 years residency was a chore. It's like having to drive with the driving instructor with you all the time for 2 years! Now I am free to drive on my own.

Fully booked everyday so far. Clinic is mainly serving chinese/cantonese speaking patients. This was actively my choice and intention, leveraging on my language abilities and familiarity with the cultures. I observed that some Family Practices have been rather quiet and empty. Each year the residency program graduates about 70-80 new Family Physicians. My analysis was that Mandarin and Cantonese speaking doctors were a rare commodity. I was right. There are so many Mandarin speaking patients currently looking for a family physician that speaks their language. While they can speak English, they much prefer a doctor who can communicate with them in their native language. It's working out very well for me.

and for all those friends here who kept telling me and encouraging me to get back to medicine, I thank you wholeheartedly. I understand why now. It is much closer to how I have always wanted to practice medicine and help people. at the same time be well rewarded for doing so.

Another chapter has closed and a new one has opened.

And for Time2evacuate.....if you are reading this.......yes I am fully licensed now. But I do not have an MD. I have an MBBS. But it doesn't matter anymore. I am free to apply to any province and Territory to work as a specialist family physician. (all family physicians are considered specialists in Canada and I totally agree it is rightfully so having undergone their training)

The old delphiforums sammyboy had a more lively emigration thread. This Canada thread was doing well for a while but then individual spats somehow curbed the activity. A friend in Vancouver asked me what reasons I thought the thread here has died? I don't know. Is it less Singaporeans looking at Canada now? Honestly I don't really care if Singaporeans want to move here or not. But I hope my story is testament that dreams do come true.

Good luck and thank you to all the forumers in this thread. Hope you come back and chat once in a while.

Congratulations Doc. I am in Calgary. Where is your clinic?

 

[Charlie99]

There was a Pasar Malam just last Sunday in Mississauga organized by the Singaporean Malaysian Association.

I am aware of it.
A few weeks ago, I went to Mississauga's Celebration Square, for the Mississauga Ukrainian Festival.
It is for that Sunday, till 2300 hours, whereas the Toronto Ukrainian Festival is from Friday evening to Sunday 1800 hours.