Marloes(39)

After my divorce I was on my own with Finn aged 7 and Noor aged 4 in Nijmegen. The housing market was impossible, social housing waiting lists were endless and my part-time salary as a medical lab technician was barely enough. I wanted a reset — somewhere I could afford a home and my children could grow up with space. Canada had been on my list for a long time, but I always thought it wasn't feasible as a single mother.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is specifically designed to strengthen the Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland). It's employer-driven: you need a job offer from a designated employer in the region. Through an online job fair for immigrants I connected with a hospital in Halifax looking for medical lab technicians. They knew the AIP process and were willing to help me and my children.

The AIP process was surprisingly smooth. My employer applied for my work permit and simultaneously I could apply directly for PR — unique to the AIP is that you don't have to work on a temporary permit for years first. I had to get my diploma assessed, do a language test (IELTS) and submit a settlement plan. Nova Scotia offers excellent settlement services specifically for families: help with housing, school enrollment and childcare.

Halifax surprised me. It's a port city with character — colorful wooden houses, a vibrant waterfront and a strong community. House prices are a fraction of what you pay in the Randstad. I rent a three-bedroom house in Dartmouth (across the harbour) for CAD 1,600 per month — in Nijmegen I paid more for a two-bedroom apartment. The children attend an excellent public school and spoke English within four months.

As a single mother in Canada you have access to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) — a monthly tax-free payment per child, dependent on income. For me that amounts to over CAD 1,100 per month for two children. That's an enormous difference from Dutch child benefits. Additionally, Nova Scotia offers childcare subsidies and after-school care is affordable.

After eighteen months in Halifax it feels like coming home. Finn plays ice hockey at a local youth club, Noor has school friends and I have a permanent contract at the hospital. The Maritime provinces may not be the first choice for most immigrants, but that's precisely why the AIP is so accessible. My advice to single parents: it is possible. Canada offers a safety net that has disappeared in the Netherlands.