All of us Latin migrants who now live in Canada once dreamed of emigrating to this beautiful country, seeking a better future for our children, whether in terms of security, opportunities, or economic stability. However, when we first arrived, we faced numerous obstacles that we had to overcome to reach our dreams. Along the way, our mental, physical, psychological, and even spiritual health could be compromised.
This piece is dedicated to recognizing the incredible work we’ve done by standing strong in these cold Canadian lands. It’s a message for you, dear friends and compatriots, to remind us of the extraordinary resilience we’ve shown. Despite everything that was working against us, we’ve made it. And from my perspective, we’ve become heroes. Of what or of whom? Of ourselves.
We’ve reached realities we never imagined we’d experience. Providing stability and peace to our families, something we so desperately needed, is now a dream come true.
This message is to remind you how brilliant and valuable we are. We have made this dream a reality, and now we are here.
For me, it is both an honor and a pleasure to say that I am Mexican-Canadian. I honor both my Mexican homeland and my new Canadian home. I lovingly ask that this land welcome and bless me, as well as my loved ones, family, and friends, so that together we can build a society of peace, love, and true community.
The leap we take when we come to live here faces us with our worst fears and nightmares, some known, others unknown. However, I want to reaffirm that we are heroes—of ourselves—because we’ve conquered our fears. And here we are, with broken hearts, but piecing them back together. We know we are torn, that there are emptiness that follow us wherever we go, but we also know that if we gather all those pieces, recognize ourselves, and start anew, we can create a much better version of ourselves.
In our internal growth process, we always need support. So I invite you to reach out for help, whether it’s from another Latin person, an institution, a friend, a neighbor, a church, or therapeutic support. Because in the end, we all face similar difficulties and share the same dream of brotherhood, growth, and love.
I hope this message finds you well. I’m sure we’ll meet soon.
