Our Journey To Canada

Meet Tony Vo. He is a proud Vietnamese-Canadian Psychology student at the University of Windsor. He was the Project Lead for the NSSE Project within the Provost's Office and has became the first ever Advising Initiatives Coordinator within the FAHSS Dean’s Office. Tony is a humanitarian, research assistant, and an advocate for sustainable education. While reflecting on his immigration story this is what he had to say. "When my mom was pregnant with me, my dad immigrated to Canada to begin a new life for his family. Not having enough money to bring my mom with him, my mom had to remain in Vietnam and give birth to me there. I was just 3 years old when my parents decided that it was time for me to start my journey as a Canadian. With only 2 handheld bags, a couple of boxes, and myself; my mom, who was illiterate in English, took on the toughest challenge of her life and moved to a foreign country. I vividly remember seeing my mom and my family in Vietnam cry the minute we stepped onto the plane. Although this was very difficult, my mom knew that she would be giving me a life that she never had. She took on whatever obstacle was in front of her to get that goal. November 15th, 1999 was the first time that I met my father and his family. I remember everyone was eager to meet me, but I was shy and would hide behind my mom. I stayed as a permanent resident for over 15 years, trying to learn the Canadian culture. In 2013, my parents and I decided that it was time for me to become a true Canadian. On March 12th 2014, I went to the Immigration & Citizenship Office to fulfill my oath and was officially announced as a Canadian citizen. My journey to Canada has shaped my life, my culture, and my identity."