Hosting a radio show taught me immigrants came for Canada, not a separate Alberta

Hosting a radio show taught me immigrants came for Canada, not a separate Alberta

We do not have to choose between being strong Albertans and proud Canadians

This First Person is the experience of Rishi Nagar, who lives in Calgary. Also, check out our series on the Alberta referendum here and learn how we selected the writers.

My wife and I were working in India as teachers when we decided to immigrate to Canada. We were thinking of the future of our son, who was five at the time, and we felt he might get a better education in Canada.

At that time, I had no idea that Calgary — or Alberta — would eventually become the place my family and I would call home.

Like many Indians, when I thought about immigrating, I thought about Canada as a whole rather than any particular province or city. Of course, places like Brampton, Ont., and Surrey, B.C., are well-known in India because of their large Indian communities. But in conversations I've had with others who wanted to immigrate, the draw is simply Canada — a country of opportunity, diversity and new beginnings rather any specific city

For six long years, I waited. Then, in 2008, a letter arrived from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada asking me to prepare for a medical examination and other formalities.

The letter carried the maple leaf embossed therein. That very image became permanently etched in my mind as the symbol of Canada and of the new life awaiting my family.

When I finally landed at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, my heart was throbbing with excitement. Beside me was my equally excited wife and our 12-year-old son, almost dancing with joy. We had landed in our dreamland.

But dreams also demand struggle. The year 2009 was difficult because Canada was going through a harsh recession. I had moved to Toronto because some of my former students lived there. But I was advised to move to Vancouver because British Columbia was preparing to host the 2010 Winter Olympics and there might be more job opportunities there. I followed that advice and secured a security guard's licence.

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I still remember my first day of work in Canada. My first assignment as a security guard was at the CBC building in Vancouver. For someone who had also previously worked as a television presenter in India, standing inside CBC was an extraordinary feeling. I thought: a former TV presenter from India is now at CBC. Wow! Suddenly, my dreams had wings again.

Soon, I joined Red FM as a news presenter, returning to journalism and broadcasting. When an opportunity arose in 2013 after Red FM established a station in Calgary, I chose to move here.

Alberta has given me tremendous opportunities. Here, I built my career as a journalist and broadcaster, raised my family, bought my first home and became deeply involved in the community. I had the privilege of serving two terms in the University of Calgary Senate and contributing to community initiatives, including anti-racism committees. These experiences taught me that citizenship is not only about what a country gives us; it is equally about what we give back.

Through all these moves, I never thought of myself as moving from one separate place to another. Toronto was Canada. Vancouver was Canada. Calgary was — and for me will always be — Canada. I was a proud Canadian in Toronto, a proud Canadian in Vancouver, and I remain a proud Canadian in Calgary. Had Red FM opened a new station in the U.S. or Alberta (if a separate sovereign country), I would never have opted to go there. My dreamland was Canada.

Recently, I held a radio talk show about the referendum question. Every caller who participated supported Alberta remaining part of Canada. The callers were all of South Asian background and represented different backgrounds: seniors, permanent residents who were not yet Canadian citizens, people with varying levels of education, working- and middle-class Albertans and university students.

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Yet their message was remarkably similar: Not one caller supported a separate Alberta. Many of them feared that separation would lead to increased racism against the racialized communities. Many of them also said that immigrants like them would not pick Alberta as a place to move because what they know about separation makes them concerned they won't be welcome.

Of course, one radio phone-in cannot represent the views of every Albertan. But listening to those voices reinforced something I have experienced throughout my Canadian journey: many people in my community do not see their Alberta identity and their Canadian identity competing with each other.

Even sports reflect this Canadian feeling for me. I am an ardent Calgary Flames fan. But if the Flames fall behind and the Edmonton Oilers advance, I quickly start cheering for the Oilers. And I can equally enjoy a victory by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ultimately, for me, it is Canadian success.

I understand many Albertans have genuine grievances with Ottawa. Concerns about federal policies, equalization, resource development, provincial jurisdiction and whether Alberta receives sufficient respect within Confederation deserve serious discussion. They should never simply be dismissed. On a personal note, the EV mandate by the Trudeau government never made sense to me for our brutal winters. Even in Calgary, my personal EV gives me a hard time at times and the long hauls would be a nightmare. These matters can be resolved amicably, and I appreciate it when Ottawa listened and repealed the EV mandate.

But separation is not the answer for me.

Canada is not perfect; no federation is. But disagreements within a family do not necessarily mean that the family should break apart. When an arm is broken, we don’t abandon it; we support it in a sling and keep it close to our heart.

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When Albertans make this historic choice, I will vote for Alberta to remain a province of Canada. I will also continue to support a stronger Alberta that confidently protects its constitutional rights and receives the respect it deserves within Confederation.

I arrived in this country carrying dreams beneath a maple leaf. That maple leaf still means something deeply personal to me.

Do you have a compelling personal story that can bring understanding or help others? We want to hear from you. Here's more info on how to pitch to us .

Read more from CBC's First Person series on the Alberta referendum.

Bio: Rishi Nagar is a Red FM Calgary news director and host, a former senator at the University of Calgary and a former member of anti-racism action committees of the City of Calgary and the Calgary Police Service.