People from the United States, and abroad, should do their research before deciding to move to Canada, says an immigration expert at the Nanaimo Infusion event.
The second-annual event included Canadians and Americans gathering at Maffeo Sutton Park, on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, for dignitary speeches and a group selfie.
There were also information tables for potential transplants, including one with Lora Cai, owner and principal regulated immigration consultant of MacLanders Immigration Consulting.
There are many things to consider for people when planning to move to Canada, she said, and there are many misconceptions. Firstly, some don’t expect that it will take time to get the proper documentation, even if they are on an “expedited process.”
Also, some assume if a situation applies to their friends, it will also apply to them, but every situation is different – so they should be prepared and make sure everything’s documented.
“If they come in through a work permit, they want to make sure that they have … their licence, they have past work experiences that they can demonstrate they have their job offer, they have their education,” Cai said. “If they come in with a family, that’s way more stuff.”
People with criminal records should also be knowledgeable about the process and again, it is case by case.
“It depends on what kind of crime that was and how long ago that they have completed their sentence,” she said. “Depending on what kind of crime, they might be deemed rehabilitated already, or maybe they are criminally inadmissible. It really depends on what that is and how long has it passed.”
According to Cai, people should use trusted websites including the Government of Canada website at https://www.canada.ca/en.html.
“One thing that I want people to know is, immigration is very complicated, so they can do a lot of study and research themselves, and I encourage that, but never guess on answers or make assumptions. If they have questions, they should seek professional help,” she said.
There are also considerations for parents that move to Nanaimo and want to enrol their children in the area’s public schools, according to Larry Mattin, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ district principal of international student education.
“Families will come and they’ll live here, and they’ll apply for a work permit, and while they’re in that process, they need to apply through our department for their children to attend school,” he said. “There’s some fees associated with that, depending on how long they come for. Anything six months and less, they can come with something called an ETA, Electronic Travel Authorization. If they come more than six months, they actually have to get a study permit.”
With a shortage of health care workers, Americans have moved north to work.
Carlie Powell, Island Health recruitment services director, said positions are available up and down the Island and close to 150 new workers from the U.S. have joined the health authority since last year’s Infusion event.
“We’re always in need of health care workers, social workers, physiotherapists, [occupational therapists], nurses, all of it – of course, need physicians on Vancouver Island as well,” said Powell.
Brenda Beukelman travelled to Nanaimo from Minnesota and is undecided about whether to move – the process has been a learning experience.
“We’re learning that there’s more pathways to get here than we realized … They’re gonna be building a brand new cancer centre, and that’s the area that I work in,” she said.
B.C. Premier David Eby was in attendance and told the crowd health care worker spots are in demand in the province.
“Don’t tell anyone in the United States, unless you’re recruiting them up, because we don’t want this to stop, but almost 3,000 American health care workers have applied to work here in British Columbia in the last 10 months,” said Eby. “I understand not everyone’s able to move up here, but we are thrilled to have you here, and I cannot wait for relations to be normal with our countries again.”
Tod Maffin, one of the Nanaimo Infusion co-organizers, said this year’s event, with an estimated 900 people, was better than the year before, when an estimated 350 people were in attendance. While last year was more of a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the mood is different in 2026.
“Certainly, that vibe is still there, but it feels much more about pride of British Columbia, pride of Vancouver Island, pride of Canada … Canada has spent the last year reacting to a big shock, we’ve been making our own way and cutting deals with other countries and cutting the U.S. out of the loop and I think that’s sort of what it feels like the vibe here as well,” he said.
One thing that struck Beukelman was the stereotypical friendly Canadian attitude.
“We had a bus driver stop and let us cross because we were carrying a pizza,” she said. “That just doesn’t happen in the States.”