Sandra’s Arrival and Change in Kirkland Lake

Sandra Reygada Licuime moved from Chile to Kirkland Lake in 2005. There were many challenges to overcome as a newcomer – from a feeling of isolation to the need to learn English. This experience, along with a few new friends and a literacy course, helped start the Kirkland Lake Multicultural Group.

Sandra is sitting in front of the Kirkland Lake Multicultural Group sign, facing the camera.

Sandra’s Arrival

[Sandra] Okay, actually I met my husband at a mine in Chile. I came first to 2004 for Christmas to Earlton because he’s originally from Earlton. A small town.

So after this, we decided to stay together in 2005 so we move from Chile to Earlton, a small town, so I told him that I don’t see too much expect me like working or, I love the town but for me continue my life – everything is hard, to study, no second language no nothing, so French the other issue. So his work was here in Heath and Sherwood, Kirkland Lake. So we decide to move to Kirkland Lake.

But my first issues was here English. I have basic English, so I have many barriers to try to find job or something. I’m a first-time mom so hard too. So, for, start at zero, you have your actual life in Chile, you work, your everything and then coming back here is start like my children – talking, writing zero was huge frustration to me. No is I married, no is the town, is personal.

Even the culture, it shock, is different – the weather, the communicate was very hard to me, it affect my marriage. So I was thinking how many family or how many immigrants suffered the same like that. Because I’m happy to be married with my husband, but I feel lonely. Because just I wait him to talk in Spanish, and say no, I need to try, how many people are in this situation.

So more opportunity, because I was so lucky to start one [literacy] course in the college. So I met one lady over there from Africa, she speak Swahili, I speak Spanish, we start, real connection, because provided we are both immigrant. So we be very good friend and start support each other.

Start of the KL Multicultural Group

It start with my friend from Tanzania, Witness, we start follow people who look like immigrant, and be friend to them, we try to talk and invite to my house, we start little group, little group, until we form huge group that I don’t have more space in my house.

We met wonderful lady from Puerto Rico, Dominican I suppose, Kristy, we start at her place, doing soccer time, we create, we feel like support each other. We help many immigrant more, so I say ‘Oh ok, we need to continue with this’ until Renee [Willmott], one Australian girls say, ‘Ok, we need to do’, come in other girl, Kristy Clark, Anna McPherson, now we have wonderful group here. It still support immigrant.