I’ve been a registered nurse (RN) for almost 20 years. In 2022, me and my family relocated to Canada from Iquique, Chile, in the Tarapacá Region, located in the northern part of the region. Iquique is known as the “Chilean Miami” because of its beautiful beaches and excellent climate, so living by the water means the weather is pretty consistent year-round. We chose British Columbia (B.C.) for the pleasant climates. For us, having a longer spring and summer was the most important factor.

We chose British Columbia (B.C.) for the continued clinical training opportunities that health care professionals receive, especially nurses. While it’s possible in Chile, it heavily depends on your financial resources.

Our first home when we arrived to B.C. was in New Westminster, and we fell in love with this community. We love the beautiful neighbourhoods, being close to the Fraser River, the beautiful parks and the proximity to our children’s schools—and has kept us here ever since. Perhaps it was a bit of a coincidence at first, but we also soon learned that the Fraser Health region serves the largest population in B.C. and Royal Columbia Hospital (RCH) is the referral center for many high acuity patients, all of which has helped me to grow and develop professionally.

I think the biggest challenge at first was learning the different cultures that coexist in this region and how I can be part of their healing process. Working with people from different parts of the world with different cultural backgrounds has been very enriching. I’ve learned so much and receiving gratitude in different languages has been beautiful. At the end the day, this part of the work is what fills my heart.

The team at Fraser Health has been amazing and stayed in contact with me throughout the relocation process. They helped me with my British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), permanent residency applications, provided advice and consistent check-ins on where I am at in the process. They also connected me with Health Match BC to support me in my transition to practice.

I feel lucky to work at RCH with wonderful people—our managers are incredible. They lead this unit with passion and are always willing to help. I have never felt like they are just managers but part of the team—they always lead with their hearts. We also have amazing educators. Since meeting them, I truly believe that angels exist on earth.

For anyone considering relocating to Canada to work in the health care sector, I would first recommend coming with a good level of English—I think that’s been one of hardest parts for me. Learning the language and coming as prepared as possible will make your transition easier. I would also say without hesitation, come to the Fraser Health region. In my experience, they have been like family. I still remember my job interview when they said, “Ben, you’ll never walk alone again” and it’s been true. It has its challenges but the rewards are great. Canada is a beautiful country, full of kindness, gratitude to health care professionals and focused on social protection. In short, it’s been the best place to develop as a nurse.

When asked what I like most about my position and team, I’d say a little bit of everything. Here I have more autonomy to work. I love that everything is certified before you can take on new responsibilities. I love feeling I’m part of a team and contribute my experiences. The team is like a rainbow, all different, wonderful and full of diverse colors coming together to build something beautiful.

I’d like to thank Fraser Health, for welcoming me and making me feel at home. For giving me the space to work and contribute to the team with my perspective. Thank you for the smiles and support I’ve constantly received, reminding me how brave we’ve been and that hard work always pays off. Thank you for helping us shine.