The trade-off: social status for safety

For Jafar Mirsalari reinvention took the form of a new career. 

Jafar came to Canada in 1986. Before that, he was a middle school teacher in Iran. He left his homeland after losing his job and being put in prison for two and a half years. At the time, the political climate in Iran did not allow for much freedom of speech and Jafar ran into trouble when discussing his ideologies in the classroom, as he was a social democrat.

After his release from prison, he knew there was no way he could get another job as a teacher in Iran. And, since he was now known to police, he was arrested again. Luckily, he had connections that helped him get out of the country this time. He travelled to Europe, where his brother lived.

Still, he had nightmares about his time in solitary confinement and longed to settle back into a life that felt secure and comfortable.

Jafar arrived in Canada, not worried about what he would do for work — just happy to be "somewhere safe." Soon, he started driving taxis part time, despite his education and specialized skills.

"To me, at that time when I came here, it was a source of income, and it allowed me to live in a country that I can go home at night and sleep without being worried that someone will knock at the door and question you."

Jafar had a young family and he began driving full time to support them — admitting that taxi driving is not socially perceived in the same vein as teaching. But he wanted to be able to provide opportunities for his kids.

Now, his son is a senior analyst in finances at TD Bank. His daughter is wrapping up a degree at Ryerson University. Jafar is happy to brag about them, knowing that his ability to reinvent himself was an instrumental part in making their lives so successful.

For newcomers to Canada, he has a few tips on adapting to a life that may be very different from the one left behind:

"Two things I think are major. First, learn the language of the country that you are going to live in and you want to build your future. 

"And don't give up on your hopes. If you hope to become an engineer again, especially these days, there is opportunity now again. For the newcomers, once they know their way around, once they know how to contact the right channels and find them and just stick to it, you will get to where you want to be."