From Taiwan to Hickman’s Harbour: These newcomers are hoping to build a life in rural Newfoundland

More than a dozen newcomers will be working at a fish plant in Hickman’s Harbour

Darrell Roberts · CBC News · Posted: Apr 14, 2023 6:00 AM NDT

Less than 12 hours after arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador, Amiel Vincent Navarra says he’s nervous — but excited.

“I am happy this is the opportunity for me to come here in Canada,” he said in an interview with CBC News in St. John’s on Thursday.

Navarra — who worked as an engineer in Taiwan — said he came to Canada to provide for his three young children, in hope they can one day move here too.

Navarra is one of 13 temporary foreign workers, all originally from the Philippines, who have travelled from Taiwan and will be working at a crab processing plant in Hickman’s Harbour, a village on Random Island.

Work Global Canada is the international recruitment and immigration agency that connected the workers with Golden Shell Fisheries, the company which operates the plant in Hickman’s Harbour.

Wanda Cuff Young, vice-president of Work Global Canada, said temporary foreign workers and immigrants are in high demand in Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization helps with settlement — including housing, cellphones, insurance and opening a bank account.

“And, of course, they’re going through a transition because we have a 12-hour time zone difference. So all of these things — there’s a bit of acclimatization,” she said.

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