ITI supports New Residents and Business

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Blog Entries

July 8, 2019

Originally from the south of China, Ripei Huang and his family learned about Yellowknife from friends who lived in the NWT Capital.  

Though conversations and pictures, over 20 years, they came to know the city as harmonious, peaceful and surrounded by clean water and trees.  It was one of the reasons they decided to take the leap and apply through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program to make it their home.

The ITI-administered Entrepreneur Business stream is designed to support entrepreneurs and/or owner/operators of businesses who want to immigrate to the NWT to start their own business or invest in and operate an established company.

It took almost one year to open their store, but Mr. Huang says he found the officers involved with the program to be prompt and very helpful. 

Their store – Loft, with its focus on high quality bedding, towels and sleepwear is now open in the YK Centre.  Huang is helped in the store by his wife, 14 year old son and 6 year old daughter. 

Unlike large densely-populated cities, which can exist anywhere in the world, the Huangs find Yellowknife to be quintessentially Canadian; with its clean air and open spaces and portraying the friendly and welcoming qualities that were experienced and described to them by their friends. 

One of the family’s favourite memories so far was seeing snow for the first time. 

Huang, however, also believes that Yellowknifer’s are worldly and will appreciate the higher quality of the products their store is offering.  “China is the origin of silk,” he notes, “and good products that will be popular because of the quality of the material.”

“One of the best moments since moving here was watching my children learn to sing ‘Oh Canada’ and communicate with their new friends in English”

Through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) and Education, Culture and Employment, the GNWT delivers the Northwest Territories Nominee Program in association with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Visit immigratenwt.ca for more information.