"I found the Antigonish community to be welcoming and supportive"

Storyteller: Yathil Srinivas (he/ him)

My name is Yathil and I’m originally from Bangalore, India. Back home, I come from a lively and vibrant city with a rich mix of cultures, languages, and traditions. In India, I completed my education and started working as a hairdresser, which eventually led me to explore opportunities abroad. I moved to Antigonish in 2021 on a work permit. I currently live in Stellarton but work in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. I recently received my permanent residency.

What brought me to Antigonish was a job opportunity at a local business where I was hired as a hairdresser. I had never heard of Antigonish before I applied for the job, but I was drawn to the opportunity to work in a new place and gain international experience. When I first moved to Canada, I came directly to Antigonish and didn’t live anywhere else beforehand.

There were definitely challenges along the way. Finding housing was a bit of a struggle initially, as the market is small and competitive. The weather, especially the harsh winters, was something I wasn’t used to coming from a warm city like Bangalore. On top of that, it took time to get used to the slower pace of life in a smaller town, and at first, I felt a bit isolated. However, I was lucky to meet supportive people both at work and in the community who helped me adjust.

The Antigonish community played a huge role in helping me overcome these challenges. Whether it was simple advice or offering help in finding a place to live, I found kindness everywhere. My workplace was especially supportive, giving me the chance to grow professionally while also offering the flexibility I needed to settle into a new country. The connections I made there really helped me get through the more difficult moments.

I have so many clients who are immigrants from different countries including my home country, India, and know of many students and alumni from StFX, who also visit me for a haircut, and found the community to be welcoming and supportive. For me, the warmth of the people and the opportunities I found here have made Antigonish and now Stellarton feel like home.