Virtual Food for Thought

A Canadian Couple’s take on the culinary world in Asia

Do you like to eat? And wish eating was your day job? Well, for two Canadians residing in Japan tasting the best food the world has to offer, this is their bread and butter (so to speak). Along with their cheerfully ‘ugly’ (as Simon likes to describe him) rescue dog, Spudgy, and their grumpy cat Meemers, these Canucks are taking over the YouTube foodie world one bite at a time.

Representing an incredibly rich and valuable resource for Canada and the world, Canadians living and working abroad are directly and indirectly responsible for billions of dollars in bilateral trade. They are exceptionally well educated, linguistically adept and culturally bilingual. They are cultural, economic and even political ambassadors.

Dear Canadian Expats,

On behalf of the International Economic Forum of the Americas (IEFA), it is a pleasure to extend an invitation to you to attend the 11^th Edition of the Toronto Global Forum that will take place from October 30 to November 1, 2017 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

We are pleased to announce that this year the IEFA will host a special edition of the Toronto Global Forum to mark the 150^th anniversaries of Canada and Ontario. Particularly, in conjunction with Ontario’s Ministry of International Trade, the IEFA has established a Canadian Expat Program, where you will have the opportunity to hear notable global business leaders with Canadian roots share their expertise and experiences from their industries. The Forum will feature a wide range of stimulating business opportunities whilst combining official visits to business programming venues and facilitating meetings with stakeholders. Prominent leaders and decision makers from across the international economic and political arenas will be in attendance.

           Expats give a lot to whatever society they live in; they do so economically, socially, and culturally. They shop, pay taxes and make donations. They create and perform art, entertainment and business. They support each other, share information, explore, worship, celebrate, and by and large practice good health, social behavior, family life and multiculturalism principles. In sum, they generally enrich the societies they inhabit.

Is there a right way to manage people on expat assignment? Empire Life is starting to research this topic, and your insights can make a difference.

When most university students are asked what they wish to do after graduation, for some, travel is usually at the top of the list. However, in a world of student loans, tuition payments, career goals and the simple need to make a living, the dream of travel can remain as just that, a dream. For those itching to explore distant cultures in far flung places, the easiest way to get to see the world is to study abroad. For Kyla Humphreys, an MBA graduate hailing from Maple Ridge, a sleepy suburb of Vancouver, the process allowed her the ability to sharpen her tools and skillset in a way that, as she states, beneficially granted her an edge among her peers. Even though the experience took the former student in an entirely new direction, eventually setting up an unrelated business venture in the process. As she logged in hours at SFU’s advertising program, for Kyla, the dream to travel was always in the back of her mind.

At our core, The Canadian Expat believes the community of Canadians living abroad is an integral part of Canada. Not only does this community provide value to the individuals that call themselves Expats, it also provides value to the rest of Canada and to all Canadians.  This value is represented economically, culturally and politically.  We believe, without a doubt, that protecting the rights of Canadians abroad is a step towards protecting the rights of all Canadians, regardless of where they currently reside.  More about our values, mission & vision

If you haven't yet heard of Canadian Expat Petra Collins you might have missed the Time magazine article she was featured in, the Adidas commercial she directed or the Levi's one. Maybe you missed her contributions to Vogue, Elle, Dazed & Confused, and L'Officiel magazines. Without really noticing, you may have walked past her face in the Calvin Klein ad campaign she was featured in, or the Gucci one. Maybe you live under a rock, inside a cave or under the sea, or maybe you just have to ask a teenaged girl, who knows.

As some of you may know the Supreme Court of Canada is going to hear the case of Gillian Frank, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada. The outcome of this hearing will determine if Canadian Citizens who are non-residents are allowed the right to vote in a federal election.

At the Canadian Expat, we believe every Canadian citizen, regardless of whether they live in Canada or not, has the right to take part in the democratic process.

Although the idea of hand-knit, basket-woven pompoms typically beckons the image of dear old grandma and her sweaters made just in time for the holidays (and the obligatory smile and you shouldn’t have’s), in New York City, we find a Canadian Expat and designer with a contemporary approach to the tradition. Originally hailing from Vancouver, Tia Oliver’s carefully crafted crochet handbags and travel items are catching the eyes of fashionistas in the U.S. as well as back home in Canada. The signature pompoms, all-natural recycled materials, fine-wood detailing and intricate designs add a fashionable element to a skill that’s been customarily reserved for dear ol’ grandma.