Immigration Consultants

Back in October I wrote about Mexi-Can, the company that 'imports' Mexican workers to come work in Canada. Even though I have an in with some people at the top they have not been able to do anything for me by means of finding work. I have been able to find other companies that recruit foreign workers for business, though. As I searched for international recruiters I also found a few immigration consultant agencies that supposedly help people get LMOs. I explained what this is in my very first post and I have explained it to so many people since moving here that I never want to talk about it again.
Well, one day I was contacted by an East Indian guy who called himself an immigration consultant who asked for some information about my situation, and HE told me that I didn't need an LMO. He said since I had been approved for sponsorship I should be able to get a work permit. I couldn't believe it, mainly because everything on the CIC (Canada Immigration and Citizenship) website says that you can't when you apply from outside the country. So I was suspicious, of course, especially when he told me he could get me work permit in a month if I pay him $1000 to file my paperwork (it costs $150 to do it yourself). I tell him, "This is incredible. I was approved for sponsorship over three months ago. If we had known we could do this we would have applied for it three months ago. That's when he tells me, "Oh, you were applied three months ago? Don't worry about getting a work permit. Your permanent residency should be approved within the next three weeks."
First of all, I'm dumbfounded, especially since I thought I would be consigned to a long 15 month wait (as per the website's information). He told me that those times are the longest processing times, for like conjugal partners applying. As an American who has been married five years, it should be quick. Second of all, I really start to question this guy's credibility. He obviously knows nothing about immigrating to Canada. Except he really threw me of because he was no longer trying to sell me a $1000 service.
So I start calling around for other opinions of immigration consultants in Calgary. The first two wanted me to come in for a consultation session and pay them $100 or more for a session. Finally, I got another East Indian guy, and he answered my questions. He confirmed that in my position I was ineligible for a work permit. I pressed him for a time estimate for a married American and he told me six of seven months. This was a little longer than the other consultant's estimate, but still short enough to give us some hope that we should get it soon.
I'm not sure if an immigration consultant can really help you decrease your processing time. Mainly I think that they just make sure that you have all your documents so you don't end up getting your paperwork sent back. I'm lucky to have a detail-oriented wife who would actually be a great immigration consultant. Now it's just a matter of waiting. I don't think we'll have to wait as long as I used to think, though.

Max Hall, CFL quarterback

Max Hall was the starting quarter back for three of my five years at BYU. His record was 30-6. I watched him throw some great passes to win big games. I also was present for a nightmare rivalry game on the road (5 INT, 1 Fumble lost), watched him track every intended receiver from the snap, and saw his top two receivers actually make great contributions in the NFL before being sidelined with injuries (Collie and Pitta). Hall's NFL career ended in glory--with a concussion on a daring play to make the end zone to lead his team to victory, and now he is settling out the twilight of his football career in Winnipeg. The following photos came from a search for Max Hall Winnipeg Blue Bombers and another Max Hall throws ball off goal post (He hit the goal post passing to a receiver in the end zone. And he hit it REALLY high). I hope you enjoy.

http://www.windsorstar.com/

o.canada.com/

www.winnipegfreepress.com

cbc.ca/

www.chrisd.ca

www.edmontonjournal.com

www.cbc.ca

www.windsorstar.com

www.chrisd.ca 

The Grey Cup

Let me first relate how I was bedazzled, upon moving to Calgary, by the Calgary Stampeders. I just happened to be moving to a city where the CFL team with the best record also called its home. Two weeks ago the ended their season on top and by so doing had home-field advantage in the Western Finals. Just so you know, this is amazing luck to walk into a winning sports team. At the time my sport-fan spirit was crushed by the average play of the 49ers, the sub-par play of the Bulls, another quick playoff exit for the A's, and a Sharks team that had just lost, like 4 of their last 6 games, and did not look nearly as super-human as they did in the first 8 games of the season. So I was excited to see them make it to the playoffs, but was not surprised when they promply lost to were steamrolled by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

The Stamps are one of eight CFL teams, the others residing in Vancouver, BC, Edmonton, AB, Regina, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Ontario, Toronto, ON, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Montreal, Quebec. The most prominent differences with American football are that there are 12 men on a 110-yard field, only three downs to get a first, legal forward movement before the snap by receivers (like the arena league), and the goal posts are positioned on the goal line of 20-yard deep end zones. The game is played a bit differently due to the rules, and I think it's entertaining, plus I like finding players from the states who I knew from their college ball days, like CJ Gable, and BYU's very own Max Hall (who led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a horrific season. In his defense, his O-Line was even worse than the one that protected him in his two-game starting stint with the Cardinals).
So last week we watched the Roughriders play the Hamilton Tiger Cats (affectionately known as the Ti-Cats) in the 101st Grey Cup. Yep, since 1909 when the University of Toronto Varsity Blues beat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 26-6, the Grey Cup has been a staple of early winter in Canada (minus four years during The Great War). Courtney's dad watched the game with me with interest, rooting for Saskatchewan if for no other reason, just to see the West beat the East (it's a thing, a blog post should follow), because as far as I knew the only other game he had watched all year was the Stamps game a week before. Around town, though, people have the Stamps' logo on their car and on flags, just like the Flames (actually, due to the unfortunate season ahead for the Flames, I think I see more Stampeders logos). The city really supports their team, which is fun. For the Grey Cup kids on hockey teams sell tickets with game scores on them as a fundraiser (For a $2 ticket win $500 if your score is the endgame score, and so on). It most certainly is a part of Canadian culture, which I didn't think it would be.
Saskatchewan won this game quite easily behind a superb pass-rush and a record-breaking game by their running back. Maybe next year, Stamps.

American Thanksgiving in Canada

I love Thanksgiving. If for no other reason, for the pumpkin pie. It's my favourite. We were going to do a big American Thanksgiving feast, but as it approached, I just wasn't feeling it. I was craving some pie, though, so I made a couple on Thanksgiving to eat as I watched football on the couch all day. And that's when it hit me, if I'm not going to be with my whole family on Thanksgiving, the holiday is really just about football and pie. I don't need no stinkin' turkey. (Okay, who doesn't love leftover turkey. Next year for sure)

Quick note: Watching the two classic games (the Lions' and Cowboys' games) I realized Thanksgiving separates football fans into three groups of gratitude. 1) Lions fans: At least we have one of the most talented players to ever touch the planet (Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson) 2) Cowboys fans: At least we aren't Lions fans 3) Everyone else: A least we aren't fans of THOSE teams.

That being said, I did miss being with my family. First of all, because I love them. Second of all, I had no one to tell that great thought about gratitude of football fans. Courtney was out that night, so I had leftover pasta for dinner with the girls. Here's the spread for our three year old. In addition to pasta she wanted a pomegranate, orange melon, and tortilla chips. What more could one possibly ask for at Thanksgiving time?

The next day, of course, was Black Friday. Canadian retailers, for the first time ever, celebrated with huge sales like the stores in the States. The main flaw: everyone's working still. Some people did go out at 7:00 and got some good deals (Courtney went with a friend and saw a guy at Target try to sell a $100 32' TV. There was a whole display full of them. Untouched). The sales extended through the weekend, though. We went in the afternoon to Toys R Us, where it was busy, but not anything close to a Black Friday Toys R Us. It was nice to almost finish shopping for the girls in one stop. So it was different Of course Boxing Day comes up at the end of the month, and that's a different story. But we'll get there when we get there.

Remembrence Day

PANARAMA!

Out here in the Commonwealth the holiday is known as Remembrance Day. It's a big thing. It's purpose is still to remember the fallen of the Great War. If it falls on Monday or Friday it's a day off. If not, there are assemblies in school. There is a moment of silence at 11:00 AM to commemorate the Armistice. But most apparent are the poppies.

In the states the holiday is called Veterans Day and is observed on a Monday or Friday close to the actual day, which is November 11th. Growing up I don't remember much hoopla or anything for this holiday. It fell in with Arbor Day and other holidays that kids get neither a day off school or a party at school. The reason for the holiday is simple enough to understand from its name--to celebrate all veterans for their service. It was only 60 years ago that this became official, though. Before then the holiday was called Armistice Day. The day was called such for the Armistice with Germany to end World War I, which occurred at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month 1918, thus Novemeber 11th being the day of the holiday.
People start wearing poppies mid-October. I remember thinking, "Why is Mike Babcock wearing a flower?" Then I realized it was a poppy. Something tells me this is comparable to Christmas creep in the states. Every year some broadcaster wears the poppy one day earlier to try to one up everyone else. The poppy is a symbol from a poem written by a Canadian serviceman in WWI, "In Flanders Fields." The poem, in full, appears at the end of the post. It's a touching reminder to always remember the great sacrifice of those who gave their lives in serving their country. It was recited at the ceremony we attended today.
We attended the ceremony at the Calgary Museum of the Regiments. The perfect venue for a tribute to a nation's veterans. Inside are displays of Canadian troops and missions, and outside are my favorite--tanks. On hand for the event were distinguished veterans and the honourable Jason Kenny, MP, Minister of Employment (He was in charge of immigration up until two months ago, so he's kind of the guy who isn't really doing enough for me right now.) The ceremony was nice, although we had to leave after the moment of silence because the kids needed naps.
All in all, Remembrance Day is a well-respected and celebrated holiday.

Courtney, the baby and a tank

More tanks

My daughter, learning how to fortify her territory

"Hold the line!"

One last shot of the festivities

In Flanders Fields

Lieutenant Colonol John McRae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep , though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

California Winter

The day after Halloween we were on a walk down by the river around dusk. Courtney commented on how beautiful the scenery was. I looked out and said, "It reminds me of winter when I was a kid." The bare trees, the light chill (10 C), the dead grass. Courtney laughed and said, "Oh, Keith, this is fall."

So it was, because Saturday, this happened:

And four days later, it's still here. This morning I left the house and it was -13 C (8 F).

This is what winter will look like. This is what winter will feel like. And it starts now.

It's not like I don't know what winter is like. I lived in Utah for the past six years. In Provo I learned that it snows and in Roosevelt I learned what -30 is like. But even in Roosevelt it's 10 C warmer than it is here now, and will be for the rest of the month. We're sub zero and we're in for the long haul up here in the great white north.

Ice Dancing with the Stars

I have never seen Dancing with the Stars. Not my thing. One problem is the name. It seems a little bland to me. You know what sounds more awesome?

Yeee-yah. Pairing random celebrities with dancers. Meh. Pairing hockey players with ice dancers and pairs skaters. Sweet.  My Freshman year of college I saw the movie 'The Cutting Edge', which is the best figure skating movie I've ever seen (and the only one). It's about a hockey player and a figure skater who get fail in the '88 Olympics and train for the next one together. Starring Moira Kelly. Win. So Battle of the Blades was a no-brainer when we stumbled upon it. Judged by Kurt Browning, Jaime Sale (Canada's sweetheart ice dancer, robbed of a gold medal by the cheating French in 2002) and ex-NHLer P.J. Stock, and previous competitors including Theo Fleury, Val Bure and Claude Lemieux. I laughed so hard the first routine I saw. Because generally, when I think of male figure skaters, I think of this:

But on the show, I saw this:

http://www.cbc.ca/battle/skaters/amanda-scott

Big difference. Courtney said it's the most the Canadian thing on TV because 1) it's a rip-off of an American show and 2) it's on ice. The only thing that could make it more Canadian is if they had a female hockey player on the show. After a quick trip to google, we found that they did, and she won last year (paired with Sale's partner David Peltier, of course).
Only five couples left. Can't wait to watch next week. The most Canadian thing on television.