Canada Connects initiative creates welcoming community

Founder, 10Fold-HFX

City: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Turkiye

Named one of Atlantic Canada’s Most Inspiring Immigrants in 2024, Burcu Kaptan’s journey reflects resilience, determination and a profound commitment to social responsibility.

She is originally from Ankara in Turkiye. She began her Canadian journey by settling in Halifax in Nova Scotia in 2002 while eight months pregant, and establishing roots. Kaptan faced similar challenges to those she now supports as a permanent resident. She navigated the unfamiliar territory of her new country as a mother and immigrant without her established support system.

With her international experience and post-graduate studies in human resources management from both Istanbul University and NSCC in Atlantic Canada, she embarked on a journey of professional growth intertwined with community empowerment.

Kaptan’s advocacy extends to identifying talent and supporting individuals to reach their potential, especially immigrant women, and advocating for role models in senior leadership positions. As president of Turkish Society of Nova Scotia her efforts inspire newcomers and encourage them to stay and work towards their futures in the Atlantic Region and Canada. Her dedication to fostering diverse communities has earned her recognition for being a leader who is committed social impact, diversity, and supporting the Turkish culture. This recognition was further solidified by her active involvement in community relief efforts following the Turkish earthquake, where she played a pivotal role in supporting the reunification of affected families.

Furthermore, leveraging diverse platforms, Kaptan has dedicated herself to linking different generations of immigrants, spanning from children to international students, newcomers and emerging businesses, with Canadian partners throughout the year. Through her LinkedIn and Instagram account @KanadaliKadin, she has built a community of over 5,000 women from Canada and Turkiye, offering guidance on navigating the Canadian experience. She is committed to promoting gender equality and ensuring that newcomers have access to information.

Kaptan, who has spent 20 years in the Canadian corporate world and in public service, has now embarked on a new journey as a digital HR entrepreneur, establishing 10Fold HFX. She has a focus that goes beyond sharing her expertise and digitizing programs for people and culture. She is also committed to helping the immigrant communities and working on a new project for integration of newcomers, and building a stronger community in Canada.

She stands tall, not only for her own professional achievements, but also for the immigrant woman across Canada who is redefining success in spite of the barriers and striving to achieve their true potential. Moreover, she serves as a founding executive committee member of the Canadian Turkish Business Council-Women’s Network, further supporting her commitment to empowering immigrant women.

Her journey is a testimony to the transformative powers of determination and community-building, embodying the spirit and resilience of immigrants who enrich the environment with diverse perspectives they bring to the table. Kaptan fittingly concludes her community speeches with the profound reminder that in a community, there is no “me”You can also find out more about “you,”Only a few people know how to pronounce the word “only” “we,”Together, we can achieve more.