Why Move to Canada? Good Snow-to-Bear Ratio!
We love us a statistic at Onda! Whether a feed conversion ratio for a novel feed ingredient or the annual volume of snow per season to likelihood of running into a bear, expressing a quantitative relationship is our bag! Might be why Dr. Tirosh Shapira fits in so nicely at Onda. In honour of Canada, he sat down and shared his journey to Canada and his life he shares with his family in PEI.
Originally from Israel, Tirosh’s route to Canada began with a spirit of equality and love. After completing his PhD in Australia, Tirosh and his wife decided it was her turn to choose their next destination. She selected Vancouver for a unique research opportunity, and together they made the move – embracing the adventure as a true partnership.
Drawn by Canada’s world-class research environment, Tirosh quickly found his place in the vibrant scientific community. He highlights Canada’s top universities, collaborative spirit, and the close-knit network of researchers as major strengths. The abundance of academic opportunities and the welcoming atmosphere make Canada a global hub for biological research.
After moving coasts and starting a family in Canada, Tirosh and his wife went through the process to become Canadian citizens. He loves Canada’s safety, diversity, and quality of life – especially for raising a family. The “good snow-to-bear ratio” (lots of snow, not too many bears!) is a running family joke that sums up their appreciation for Canada’s unique climate and character. Unlike many who visit or were born here, he enjoys the cold weather, especially compared to the heat of Israel and Australia. The country’s multiculturalism and fantastic food scene won them over.
Choosing citizenship was about belonging and building a future. For Tirosh, becoming Canadian ensures his family can always call this country home, no matter where their careers take them. It’s about giving their daughter a Canadian identity and keeping the door open for future adventures.
But adapting to Canada wasn’t without its challenges. Tirosh describes a learning curve in navigating Canadian politeness and communication, especially in academia. Adjusting from the more direct cultures of Israel and Australia to Canada’s extra-polite style took time and is still a work in progress. And like many newcomers, being far from extended family is sometimes tough. Although technology allows for easy and consistent communication with family members, having grandparents abroad while raising a family is always a challenging part of living away from home.
In his own words, Canada is a place where you can be yourself, pursue your passions, and feel at home – no matter where you started. Happy Canada Day from Tirosh & the Onda Team – celebrating the joy of new beginnings, community, and all that makes Canada special!