World Day for Cultural Diversity continues throughout the year in our Canada offices, where we ask members of our team hailing from around the world to share their thoughts about their arrival in Canada. This time, Siddiqa Dahoo from Mauritius, a new employee in the Customer Service department, tells us about her transition to Canada.

What struck you the most upon your arrival in Canada?
The cold weather here. Since I arrived in December, even though everyone kept telling me that it was a nice winter and that I should consider myself lucky, I found it quite difficult at the start especially when I had to go for interviews in the snow by bus and metro…As a tropical country, Mauritius does in fact have winters, and the temperature can go down to 9 degrees Celsius in my region, but there’s obviously no snow! Other than that, I loved the winter–the trees, the houses covered in snow. It was beautiful and I took lots of pictures.

Could you tell us about a tradition from where you come from that does not exist here?
The multi-cultural independence day that we have. On the 12th of March 1968, Mauritius became an independent island and on 12 March each year we celebrate this day with pride in schools, colleges, universities, and at work, and many events are organized by the Ministry of Arts and Culture. People get together and have fun. We have bring-and-buy events, traditional shows are presented: for example, the ‘Sino-mauritians’ will present the dragon dance, the Hindus will present a traditional dance like khattak, and the best of all—the Mauritian Sega in which each Mauritian takes part when the music begins. Also, the Mauritian flag flies high in each yard, be it at home, at the office or on stadiums grounds.

Thanks Siddiqa!