Kesvi is a spontaneous traveller who loves going where the nightlife is thriving and here she talks to me about Canada. Her passion and drive to see new places and experience cultures is why I couldn’t stop asking her more questions. She’s got many countries under her belt over the last few years, spanning four continents and dozens of travel stories. She’s ready to share!
Here she tells us about getting a visa for Canada, living in Toronto and Whistler, plus having to pack up and leave ASAP due to Covid-19. Read on to find out how Whistler dealt with the pandemic and her go-to item for travelling every destination.
Check out her Go Pro shots on her Instagram!
How did you go about moving to Canada?
By the end of my time in Australia I had decided Canada was my next stop. I had met multiple people who had gotten the working holiday visa for Canada and loved it. Also, I really wanted to get better at snowboarding! I had thought about improving my snowboarding but hadn’t realise doing ‘a season’ was a thing.
When I decided to enter Canada it was summer, so I chose somewhere for the meanwhile that I felt would be perfect. I decided on Toronto because I found they had amazing dance studios, great festivals and good food.
I went on another trip to South America before moving to Canada and my first task back in the UK was getting the working holiday visa (officially IEC visa). There were a few factors in my favour: I’m under 30, I live in a Commonwealth country and I had experience applying for a working holiday visa for Australia. There is a big difference applying for a working holiday visa for Australia versus IEC for Canada.
Tell me more about the visa application process for Canada
The process is MUCH longer with less guarantee of acceptance. Your name goes into a pool, which is separated by your nationality. Each country is allowed a restricted number of successful applicants to enter Canada; essentially a potluck whether you get the visa or not.
I met people who applied for the visa three or four times before being chosen. Luckily I was selected the first time. You then provide background checks and other legal documentation (passport etc). Paying the fee and getting your PofE (Point of Entry) letter afterwards. You need all of this paperwork when initially entering the country. It takes around three months to get everything sorted – I applied at the end of October and didn’t receive my PofE letter until the start of February.
My flight was booked after receiving the acceptance letter and I decided to couch-surf when I arrived. The intention being that I would meet locals instead of travellers! I really thought it could be somewhere I might live long term.
What did you love about your first location?
I loved how much was happening in the city. There was always a festival around food, music, cultural and so much else going on somewhere. There were also always friends up for going to these events.
Any initial struggles?
Not really, I managed to get a job and apartment within the first week I was there. It was easy to meet people and they were happy to take me in and introduce me to their friends. So a lovely snowball effect of making connections.
Take us through your first workplace and what you did to get the job?
I worked in an Italian restaurant as a host, basically my job was to greet people and seat them in the restaurant. There was no enjoyment working there, I felt out of place and the owners were constantly criticising everyone. Fortunately it was easy to get a restaurant job in hospitality. There are SO MANY and if you make a good impression when you hand in your CV, you are most likely to get an interview at the very least.
The job site Indeed was a great tool as many restaurants advertise on there and will say ‘to apply you need to drop your CV off in person’. This is how I got my second job in a place called Figures which I loved. It was another host job but for a speakeasy cocktail bar/restaurant. It also transformed into a club on Fridays. Their manager is incredibly lovely and the staff were all warm and welcoming. I was gutted I didn’t get that job earlier in my time living in Toronto.
What is the working scene like in Toronto?
The working vibe I found in Toronto is mad. EVERYONE is there to hustle. A lot of the people in Toronto have come from a different country and have moved over to further their careers. People work hard and party hard.
Is the scene in Canada the same across every state?
I think Toronto is unlike anywhere else in Canada, it is a true definition of a cosmopolitan metropolis. When I arrived in Whistler, I already had a job lined up but I was offered a second job for the extra money and I got this in the same way as my first job in Toronto.
Is there a road trip in Canada you would recommend?
There are so many you can do! Vancouver Island, Montreal to Gaspé Peninsula, Okanagan Lake. My favourite by far was Jasper to Banff. It is a popular route and now I’ve done it I can understand why. It’s easy finding a campsite, hikes are incredible with beautiful views from the car. We did two weeks of camping and hiking around that area and there is nothing about the trip I would change!
Take us through the night and day scene in Whistler?
Everything is expensive. During the day most people are on the mountain skiing or snowboarding, but once après starts (after ski), Whistler is one big drinking session! It is almost like being in a University town and instead of going to Uni during the day you are on the mountain or working.
Another big trend in Whistler are breweries, many of the bar restaurants have their own breweries in the back and only serve their own beers. I loved this.
There is a massive Australian population in Whistler too, so you find a lot of Australian influenced nights out. I loved it because Australia still has a little piece of my heart.
Favourite Restaurant in Whistler?
There is quite a lot of variety in Whistler, considering how small it is. But my favourite restaurant there by far is Harajuku. They are a Japanese restaurant, unlike most of the restaurants there you don’t feel like you’re breaking your bank going there. My favourite dish was definitely the Tuna Rolls and their Yuzu Sake is incredible!
Favourite Restaurant in Toronto?
This is going to sound like a cop out but honestly, anywhere in Chinatown! I have been to Chinatowns in many different cities (London, Melbourne, New York, etc.) and this is by far my favourite one! Every single restaurant I went to there was awesome and authentic!
Favourite Chain Restaurant?
Earls! You can never go wrong at this place. They have great daily deals and an awesome happy hour! If you’re free between 2-5pm it is a cheap(ish) place to eat and drink. I loved the Cajun chicken cheddar Sandwich, but I’ve never gone wrong with anything I’ve eaten at Earls! Also, try and go on Tuesdays, it’s half price on bottles of wine!
How did Whistler react to Covid-19?
It literally went from 0 to 100. They were convincing us that we had no cases and that we would stay open until the day they announced they were closing ‘for the week’. Then two days later all of the staff received an email saying we were no longer needed. There were a lot of rumours flying around and it was hard to tell what was real and what was ‘fake news’.
For example, at one point we were told we had to be out of our housing by the 27th March and we were being told to go back home. Then 5 days later we were told we could stay for as long as we needed. There were a lot of mixed messages.
What’s the one item you wouldn’t go travelling without?
My passport. Haha.
A comfortable pair of all black trainers. They are versatile, you can use them for day-to-day wear, hiking, gym, dance, they go with all outfits (so if you’re like me, you can wear them clubbing) and most importantly you can use them as work shoes, so you don’t need to buy a pair of actual shoes.
Name the item you took and then never used?
A big case of Go Pro accessories – I took too many and didn’t want to get rid of any ‘just in case I need them’. I didn’t need them. I think if you have a Go Pro you need four main accessories. Retractable selfie stick that has a wrist strap; if you scuba dive: an underwater case; a chest or head strap and the attaching mechanism (in case you go anywhere that already has a Go Pro mount).
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