We had an interview date. Our visas application had been transferred to our “home town” of Montreal, and we were planning to meet with officials, who would decide our immediate future.
No Visa meant packing the bags and returning to Europe, leaving my not yet launched company without its driving force.
A renewed Visa meant being able to concentrate on getting us out of the starting gates, and back on course for our soft launch...
I decided it was time to ask for help from the people who had shown support for our concept, and true to my experiences since arriving here in Canada, and I was amazed by the generosity that I encountered! Colleagues, suppliers of services who I'd worked with to get our product to this stage, even a Montreal based, Member of Parliament. put pen to paper and showed that they believed that a “forced return” to Europe would be non- productive.
No wonder this country is holding strong through world recessions! By valuing your entrepreneurs, you nurture the business leaders of tomorrow, and support the small businessman (and woman) of today. This is what makes a country grow. And as the most “non political” person I know, I was rendered speechless by the letter of support that I received from this unexpected, “political” corner.
That letter will stay a touching reminder of how, after such a short time here, I had been accepted into the fabric of the community. Thank you Mr. Mulcair for your much appreciated support.
But even with so much physical evidence, that what we had on the table was worth keeping us in the country, I was still unsure about the outcome when our number was called, and the meeting started.
After all, we'd not followed our original business plan! I'd changed direction “en route” and no matter how big “our new baby” was, we didn't have physical sales to back up my reasons for that change.
Boy, was I crossing my fingers for luck (plus my legs, toes...you name it, I crossed it!)
But, December the 21st will stay a date that I will always celebrate. The immigration officer we had in front of us understood my goals, understood that many Canadians were going to be effected in a negative way if my Canadian experience stopped here. Thank you for your understanding, thank you for your vision.
My Christmas present was delivered in the form of a renewed Visa, with a new title of “Entrepreneur”. Never have I been so proud “of what I am”. Of what I have been given the opportunity to achieve, and I was humbled beyond measure. Now I had even more reasons to succeed!
1 comment:
And now dreams will become reality!
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