Living the Canadian dream: 11 dos and don’ts

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 was born in Ankara, Turkiye and began her Canadian adventure in 2002. She settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia while eight months pregnant to establish roots. Kaptan, like the newcomers that she supports, faced many challenges in her new country as a permanent immigrant, without her support system as a mother and an immigrant.

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 work towards their futures, stay in the Atlantic Region and Canada. Her commitment to fostering inclusive community has earned her recognition as an influential leader who is committed to diversity, social impact and supporting the Turkish Community. 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 works continuously to promote gender equality for women, and access to information for newcomers.

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. Her focus 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 that will help build a stronger, more inclusive community in Canada.

Beyond her professional achievements, she stands out not only for herself, but also for all the immigrant woman across Canada who redefine success despite their barriers and strive to reach their full 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 testament to community building and the transformative power that determination can have. It embodies the resilience and spirit of immigrant communities who enrich their surroundings with the diverse perspectives and experiences brought by immigrants. Kaptan fittingly concludes her community speeches with the profound reminder that in a community, there is no “me”The following are some examples of how to use “you,”Only “we,”Together, we are stronger.