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Local couple happy to call Lacombe home after landing residency status

Lacombe residents Edson Silva and Eva Silva said that to be celebrating their permanent residency status in Canada is like a dream come true.
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Lacombe residents Edson Silva and Eva Silva celebrated their permanent residency status in Canada last month during a special event hosted by Cafe Brazil. Photo submitted

Lacombe residents Edson Silva and Eva Silva said that to be celebrating their permanent residency status in Canada is like a dream come true.

And being able to call Lacombe home is also a tremendous gift for the couple.

The Silvas, who are originally from Brazil, are happy to have achieved permanent residency status after the process to enter and leave the country with a temporary visa and a work permit only.

They said that now they feel they have more freedom to come and go when visiting their home country or any other place as well as to enjoy fully all the benefits that Canada has to offer for those who decide to make it their home.

They arrived in Lacombe on Feb. 13, 2021 - two years ago accepting a job opportunity.

They describe Lacombe as a nice city to live in with plenty of amenities and calm people - everything is also close by. And Lacombe is also well located close to Red Deer and not so far from Edmonton and/or Calgary so residents can really enjoy the best of both worlds, they explained.

“Our history began decades ago when we decided to work in Australia for eight years. After going back to Brazil and staying there for we years, we heard there was an opportunity to come to Canada and work here,” said Edson.

First they went to Prince Edward Island for a year and six months.

They said it was indeed a beautiful province, and the company they worked for was a good place to work. But during this time, Eva could not work and Edson’s salary was limited.

“That’s when we heard that Beretta Farms (operating as Canadian Premium Meats) in Lacombe was in need of workers and we decided to apply and wait for the applications to be processed.”

Finally, they were accepted and came to Lacombe.

Here, Eva had a work permit as well and the pay was better for both of them. This has also allowed them to help their families back home.

“We feel blessed to be here and to be able to even help some of our family members to get here as well like our son Fabio.”

In the meantime, Eva and Edson have been active in helping other newcomers in the community by providing help with language skills, driving people to the supermarkets and doctor’s appointments, and helping those without connections get the assistance that they need.

“We always volunteer to give rides for co-workers and help out in any way we can,” he said. “We are happy to be here.”

The Silvas are part of Cafe Brazil here in Lacombe, which helps Portuguese-speaking newcomers to the community.

The group offers conversation and grammar lessons in English/Portuguese and provides a space for fellowship and support.

The group was initially begun by one of the Life Groups at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Lacombe, noted Rute Prescod, the group’s founder.

She said it’s all about helping the community, and it’s a community group that is open to everybody.

Meetings focus on everything from grammar and English classes to just spending time together playing games and socializing. Folks from the Lacombe community are also more than welcome to join and help those who are working on their language skills, too.

Prescod said many immigrants are on their own as they settle into the city, and they really appreciate a local community where they can make connections and form friendships.

They’ve had games nights, a Thanksgiving dinner, and a Christmas get-together.

And it was during a special Family Day event last month that the Silva family celebrated their permanent residency status.

Again, English-speaking folks are welcome to join in any of these events, and also encouraged to perhaps volunteer some time to spend with someone who would like to work on their own English skills and also learn more about Canadian culture in general.

If there is anyone out there who needs help, or who would like to volunteer, or maybe learn a little Portuguese and help out, they are more than welcome, said Prescod.

For more about Cafe Brazil, call Rute Prescod at 226-750-6766 or find them on WhatsApp.



Mark Weber

About the Author: Mark Weber

I've been a part of the Black Press Media family for about a dozen years now, with stints at the Red Deer Express, the Stettler Independent, and now the Lacombe Express.
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