My Home and Native Land: Naeem Noorani

NARRATOR: My home and native land: Personal stories of coming to Canada.

NAEEM "NICK" NOORANI: The government book said if you need a credit card, go to your nearest bank and get a credit card. That just so does not happen to an immigrant.

NARRATOR: Naeem Nick Noorani, publisher, Canadian Immigrant Magazine, born in India, emigrated to Canada in 1998.

NAEEM "NICK" NOORANI: Hi. I'm Nick Noorani. I publish a magazine for immigrants. I love the country. I love the people.

I love the fact that I can be Canadian and I can preserve my Indian-ness.

Thank you.

I migrated to Canada in 1998. I was born in Bombai, India, which is now called Mumbai. I lived in two other countries before I came to Canada. So I guess you could call me a serial immigrant. I wanted to move my kids into the West. I wanted to give them an opportunity to live in a country like Canada which is devoid of any kind of racial undertones. I came to Vancouver, fell in love with the people, fell in love with the city and I guess it was a natural seduction, if you may.

It's always fascinated me. What is that one thing that makes one immigrant so successful? What is it that makes another immigrant throw in the towel and go back after a year? I think a lot of immigrants make a mistake when they come to this country by living in small silos. They stay within their own community, they don't go out.

If you would ask me the one thing that makes every single immigrant whom I have met and interviewed who have been on the cover of my magazine succeed, they have friends who are outside their community. They learned how to be Canadian from so many more people.

I live in a country which is multicultural, multiethnic, and I love integrating myself with the various ethnic groups in this country. Is that being Canadian? Yes. Do I watch the Canucks and scream when they lose? Yes. Do I like my can of Canadian? Yes! So what is being Canadian? I guess I love this country. I love the people. That, to me, is being Canadian. I love my flag. I am a Canadian immigrant!

NARRATOR: My home and native land: Personal stories of coming to Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

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[unhooked25]

Wanted to move your kids to Canada? A country devoid of any racial problems? I wouldn't bet your bottom dime on that my friend, because I think we're headed down that road.