Dominicans in Canada

mamichula24 · #1 04-24-2006, 02:44 PM

I was wondering if anyone out there knows of any Dominicans who have moved to Canada, specifically Winnipeg. I know it's not a huge or well known city, but my boyfriend plans on moving here (canada) as soon as all the paperwork gets out.
The reason I'm asking is that if I can find some Dominicans in or around my area, I think it would help him out in the "home sickness" dept, as well as have people he can relate to. Make him feel more at home in a way.

trina · #2 04-24-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamichula24

I was wondering if anyone out there knows of any Dominicans who have moved to Canada, specifically Winnipeg. I know it's not a huge or well known city, but my boyfriend plans on moving here (canada) as soon as all the paperwork gets out.
The reason I'm asking is that if I can find some Dominicans in or around my area, I think it would help him out in the "home sickness" dept, as well as have people he can relate to. Make him feel more at home in a way.

I know that there is one Dominican for sure in Winnipeg, I will see if I can find contact info for you. Let's hope your husband doesn't arrive in Winterpeg in the winter

.

Lesley D · #3 04-24-2006, 03:07 PM

Not to crush your hopes but Winnipeg is sure not the place.

The home of the Dominican community in Canada is Montreal. Without getting into details of grandeur, Montreal is the place to be if you are looking for a sizeable community (and friendly). You see the thread below "Montreal Merengue Festival" that's because there's a sizeable community in the greater MTL area especially Montreal North.

There are Dominicans in Toronto as well but the size of the Latin community in Toronto is considerably large so the Dominican community and its presence easily go unnoticed.

I agree with Trina. Hopefully he won't arrive in the winter. Montreal winters are cold but I don't think I could handle Winnipeg in the wintertime.

Good Luck.

-LDG.

Campesino · #4 04-25-2006, 11:05 AM

My wife is from Santo Domingo, we now reside in Hamilton. Our neighbours in front of us are Canadian/Dominican and its funny as we were neighbours in DR also. ( This was not planned, employment related) Just around the corner is another Dominican family. Visited a friend of my neighbors a few weeks back and was surprized to encounter 3 more Dominicans living in Hamilton. We also have a Dominican friend in Orillia, where we once resided. If you mingle with the right people and places you will find there are more folks from the DR than you think.

Campesino....

Girl79 · #5 04-26-2006, 06:07 PM

Hi, I live in Winnipeg and my husband is from the Dominican Republic if you want send me a message. He came here November 2005 and was here all winter and didn't mind it at all but all people do adjust differently.

trina · #6 04-26-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girl79

Hi, I live in Winnipeg and my husband is from the Dominican Republic if you want send me a message. He came here November 2005 and was here all winter and didn't mind it at all but all people do adjust differently.

Still in the honeymoon phase

.

Girl79 · #7 04-26-2006, 07:35 PM

Oh I forgot people on the DR1 know about every about each Dominican in the world. Well my grandma who immigrated to Winnipeg said it the best if you can survive your first winter here the following years are nothing. We have in Winnpeg many people from all over the world and they survived I just think its nice to encourage people and give postive feed back about immigrating here.

trina · #8 04-26-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girl79

Oh I forgot people on the DR1 know about every about each Dominican in the world. Well my grandma who immigrated to Winnipeg said it the best if you can survive your first winter here the following years are nothing. We have in Winnpeg many people from all over the world and they survived I just think its nice to encourage people and give postive feed back about immigrating here.

Sorry, I really didn't mean to offend you. I'm from Saskatchewan originally, so I'm definitely not one to talk. I am glad that we're in Calgary. I hope your husband has many good years in Winnipeg to come.

corazonpartioamor · #9 04-28-2006, 12:47 AM

I married a Dominican, and all I can say is that depending on his age, they have a hard time at first. Its an adjustment that neither one of us was completey prepared for. Looking back now I wish i had gone there for the first six months of our marriage and get off to the right start instead of being separated from the beginning of our marriage. Picture that you go somewhere for the first time and everything is shinny and new, forgein and different, it takes you awhile to come down to earth and the excitment of the newness to wear off. Associating with Dominicans is not what Dominicans need when they are new to the country. What they need is someone to guide them (if they are willing) to find their way the first few months they are here. They dont need the comforts of home. What they need is to find their way in their new home. The will never forget what is back home, because its inside them. I am not Dominican but being with my husband for four years, I miss the craziness of Santo Domingo and Higuey. I miss Sancocho and baseball between October and January. I miss beer and tostone on the beach. I miss my family and the sound of loud cars and screaming on the street, I miss the wawa and public cars. I miss my family. The music, the food, the early morning rooster when the guy next door finally shut of his speakers blarring bachatta and merengue all night till the sun came up. Can you imagine, i miss all that I am not even dominican? I can only imagine what my husband was feeling like. But that is not what they need when they are trying to build their life here in Canada. It only confuses them. What they need is to stay foucsed and work or go to school and see all the benefits Canada has to offer. They need to contribute and be equal with you, or you will be carrying your man all his time here with you and you wont know what hit you. For the first six months your man needs to learn about where is and where is wants to be not about where the local Domincian Bar is so he can feel like he is back home. That can come later when he as adjusted and the craziness has worn off, he will be better able to handle everything that is coming at him without the distraction of the crap that is out there especially within the Dominican community.

marliejaneca · #10 04-28-2006, 11:55 AM

I had wondered how many Dominicans were living in Winnipeg. When I was there in April, I noticed that there are a few new restaurants catering to a Latin market, but the menus don't suggest that they are Dominican based.
My questions are: where would you go for a night out that would provide Dominican-like food, merengue, bachata and salsa dancing in Winnipeg? Is there a Dominican community club set up?
I once tutored a Dominicana who had moved to Dryden (of all places-the girls from Winnipeg will know where that is!) and married a Drydenite. She did not speak any English and since I had just moved back from the DR, the literacy society asked me to help her out. I was so excited to be able to speak Spanish(well, I was never fluent) again as well, so we both helped each other.
She just found it very lonely living in Dryden ( a paper mill town - that says it all) and they ended up moving closer to Toronto where she would have access to a community of Dominicans.
I wouldn't consider Winnipeg a tough market for Dominicans as it has a very large multi-cultural presence, it would just be a matter of networking to find others with mutual interests.
I do have to agree with the others about the winters though, they can be pretty tough in Winnipeg. Just stay away from the corner of Portage and Main!! You think Chicago is the windiest city, think again!

Marlie