"On the surface, things looked fine," says Jian , recalling the life he and his wife Lily left behind in their native China. "After graduating from university, Lily and I both got jobs at multinational companies. But as time passed – and particularly when our son Jeff was born – we began to realize we wanted something more. Particularly, we wanted the freedom to dream and build a life of our own creation." That desire led the young couple to immigrate to Canada in 2002 and subsequently start their own business. "It was while we were working at survival jobs in Toronto – I was a second assistant manager at a fast food company – and paying people to look after our son that we began to think about opening our own daycare," recalls Jian. "We started by looking after the children of friends in our house and eventually established our own licensed childcare centre." Jian notes that BMO’s support has been crucial to his successful journey. "Before we left China, the BMO branch in Beijing set up bank accounts for us in Toronto and arranged credit cards," he says. "Since arriving, we’ve looked to the bank to handle all of our financial affairs – from our home mortgage to our business. Our daycare qualifies for free banking under BMO’s community accounts program. That’s been a significant help to us in these crucial start up years." According to Jian, the life he envisioned in his new homeland is unfolding as hoped. "The business we created is going well," he says. "In fact, we are exploring the possibility of expanding. Our family is growing too. Jeff now has a little brother – Larry. Life is still busy. But we are engaged in work we love. And there’s time left over for Lily and I to take the boys hiking in the beautiful Canadian countryside. Now and then, I can even take a day off to go fishing!
Kim recalls the first difficult days after emigrating from his native China 20 years ago. "I had left behind all my family – my wife, young child and parents – to come to Canada as an exchange student," he remembers. "I lived in a basement room in downtown Toronto. I didn’t know a soul and I was terribly lonely." But Kim has always been one to turn challenge into opportunity. In the early 1990s with his wife Pamela and son Steven now by his side, the Shanghai native founded a travel agency business that specializes in helping North American investors explore the Chinese market. BMO, notes Kim, has always been a valued partner in his venture. "BMO made it possible for me to go into business," he says. "From providing information about the Canadian banking system to arranging start up financing, the bank was there for me in the early days. It still is. The folks at BMO continue to provide invaluable advice and friendship." Today, Kim oversees an enterprise that generates $100 million in annual sales, employs 100 people and operates 11 offices across North America and China. As he reflects on the journey from new immigrant to established citizen who now considers Canada "home," Kim offers a piece of advice to more recent newcomers. "If you spend time thinking about yesterday, it will be hard," he says. "But if you are willing to change and look to the future, you will achieve your dream."
While reading a newspaper one day in 1994, Young Keun , the owner of a small manufacturing business in Seoul, South Korea, happened on an advertisement for Canada’s immigration program. "I knew immediately that this was something I wanted to explore," he remembers. "At the time, my health was not good and my doctors had recommended a change in lifestyle that included more fresh air and far fewer 16-hour days. I thought that I had a better chance of filling this prescription in Canada." So it was that the following year, Young Keun, accompanied by his wife Insook and sons Heechan and Heebum, boarded a plane for Vancouver. Life as a new immigrant had its difficulties. "We knew no one and our English was limited," recalls the family patriarch. "I also discovered that my experiences back home did not count for much. So many times, I was turned away because I had no ‘Canadian history’." It was an attitude not shared by BMO, Young Keun’s bank of choice. "BMO focuses on helping newcomers like me make a successful transition to Canada," he notes. "I remember attending a number of seminars the bank offers to immigrants from South Korea on subjects including Canada’s banking practices and home mortgages. These events provided invaluable information as well as opportunities to meet new friends and business contacts." Today, memories of early frustrations have been replaced by happier experiences. They own a home located next to a greenbelt in Port Coquitlam and Heechan and Heebum are both university graduates. Young Keun, having bought and profitably sold a number of businesses, is now planning a new venture. "All of the businesses I have been involved in have one thing in common," he points out. "They have enabled me to have a balanced, healthy life. In Canada, I have been able to provide for my family and have the time and energy to be a good husband and father – and occasional golfer. Life is good."
