Canada is a country that warmly welcomes people from all over the world. We pride ourselves on our diversity and believe that it strengthens us as a nation. In fact, it has been announced that over the next three years Canada will become home to approximately one million new immigrants.

Packing up your life and moving to a new country can be exciting, but it can also be challenging, lonely, and even a little scary. If you don’t have a support network where you’re moving to, it can make things that much harder.

While there are obviously many benefits of moving to a new country – adventure, experience, opportunity – there are also many hurdles; from language barriers to culture shock, loneliness and stress.

However, with the right tools, many of these challenges can become great opportunities.

One such tool is Amintro, the social community for those aged 50 plus. We are not a dating site! Instead, Amintro is about fostering friendships and creating a sense of community. Find and connect with those who speak your language, who are also a newcomer to the country, who share similar interests, life experiences and goals.

Signing up is easy, and membership is free, making it a great resource for new immigrants to take advantage of. Connecting with other newcomers, or perhaps those who have already been here for years but have learned the ropes and can pass on their knowledge, will go a long way in easing the transition.

Amintro allows users to create a safe online profile where they can highlight who they are as a person, what kind of life experiences they have, and what kind of social circles they are looking to join. Through their profile members can also identify where they were born, what languages they speak, what line of work they were (or are) in, and any other qualities that make them who they are.

Then, our team gets to work and finds possible friendship matches. That said, full profiles will only become visible when both parties accept an invitation to connect. Then our instant messaging system can be used to securely and safely communicate with new friends.

A major life change doesn’t need to set you back socially. Having the right support system, people you can talk to – perhaps in your own language – will make life that much richer.

Join for free here or learn more about us, our community and how to become an Amintronian by following us on Twitter: @AmintroFriends, or liking us on Facebook: AmintroFriends.

By Christine Tompa