Catching Up with a Canadian: Franca Ciambella

1.  Which parts of Canada do/did you call home?

The leafy districtof Montreal  known as the “Town of Montreal West”-it is a small picturesque part of the city that is home to mainly professionals (too many of my old university profs) and where animals have more rights than people in many parts of the world!

2.  How long have you carried your ‘ex-pat’ title?

23 years but it seems like just yesterday.

3.  Tell us your profession and what you do all day.

My day starts at 7 am when my husband and I see our three teenage boys off as they board their school bus. I then go for a run outdoors which lasts about one hour. Then off to work.
I am a lawyer and the Managing Director of a law firm I started called Consilium Law Corporation. My work day starts with meetings and briefings with my team of lawyers and staff, then onto client appointments, telephone calls with parties , review of documents, research of law, negotiations, administrative matters pertaining to the law firm etc. I am also the Vice president of the Canada ASEAN Business Council and sit on various boards, which I tend to work at towards the end of the work day. We try to have dinner at home by 6:30 pm as a
family and then hang out at home and do some work etc .

4.  2 things that you would beg Singapore Customs to import from the GWN (Great White North)?

McIntosh apples-they are my favourite and I can’t find them anywhere in Asia.I am not sure that it has anything to do with Customs though…Of course, secondly, chewing gum..I love all of the new flavours available in Canada-like raspberry and kiwi together or cheesecake flavoured …

Find out more about Franca at: www.consiliumlaw.com.sg

Jack Gray Q & A

1.   Which parts of Canada do/did you call home?

I grew up in South Western Ontario, moved out West after university and spent 20 years in Calgary and we now have
a home in Toronto.   We feel very much at home both in Calgary and in Toronto.

2.  How long have you carried your 'expat' title?

With the exception of a 3 1/2 year stint in TO, I have been an Expat since 1998.  We spent four years in the UK, a couple of years in Texas and have been here in Singapore for 6 1/2 years now.

3.  Tell us your profession and what you do all day.

I am an accountant and work for a Canadian based Oil and Gas Services Company Shawcor Ltd.. My co-workers also wonder what I do all day

4.  Two things that you would beg Singapore Customs to import from the GWN (Great White North)?

Taber, Alberta Corn and Alberta beef.

Photo caption: Jack Gray, third from left

Diane Lee: Q&A

1.   Which parts of Canada do/did you call home?

Toronto, Ontario

2.   How long have you carried your 'expat' title?

More than 8 years.

3.   Tell us your profession and what you do all day.

I am a certified Hot Yoga Instructor since 2004. I open the first Bikram Yoga studio in Singapore 2006, recently rebranded locally as BYCH Hot Yoga studio in Raffles City. I have been practicing the traditional hot yoga for 10 years, teaching for 9 years. And since I started the yoga studio, I literally spend hours sweating in hot rooms every day.  I teach about 6-8 classes a week, mix of 90-min classic classes and 55-min cardio classes and practice 6 times a week.  Before moving here, I was in marketing and advertising field, so I get to enjoy planning and creating marketing campaigns.  The most fun part of my work is meeting hundreds of people, like-minded people who enjoy disciplined, intense workout sessions for a better mind & body connection.

4.   Two things that you would beg Singapore Customs to import from the GWN (Great White North)?

I would love to have everything from president’s choice Organic Line, I missed the chunky peanut butter, moroccan mint tea…. And if they can also move the entire highland farm here, that will be great to enjoy all fresh dark green leafy veggies on daily base.

Hector Morrison: Q & A

1.   Which parts of Canada do/did you call home?

I was born and raised in Wawa ON, which back in the day was a vibrant mining community.  Wawa is located near the north shore of Lake Superior between the Soo and Thunder Bay. I went to school in London, ON where I met my (quite geographically adventurous it turns out) wife Wilma. After college we spent five years in Yellowknife NWT (!) and then returned to London where we spent the next 25 years working and raising our family of three boys. 

2.   How long have you carried your 'expat' title?

Despite being well along in my career, this is my first expat
assignment and we have been in Singapore for 3 ½ years now. The whole experience of living in this part of the world has been very
interesting and rewarding, both personally and professionally. My most astonishing moment in Singapore came when I met a childhood friend from Wawa at a local Chinese wedding dinner!

3.   Tell us your profession and what you do all day.

Global Spectrum is an American based public facilities management company with over 100 stadiums, arenas, and convention centres managed throughout the U.S., Canada, and overseas. In Singapore, we are a member of a PPP (Public Private Partnership) consortium which will build, operate and manage the new Singapore Sports Hub under a 25 year contract with the Singapore government. The Singapore Sports Hub is scheduled to be open in late March 2014. You can see the construction rising over the Kallang River basin, dominated by the new Singapore National Stadium with its iconic retractable roof design. I am an accountant by profession and I oversee the Finance Department in our operation here in Singapore

4.   Two things that you would beg Singapore Customs to import from the GWN (Great White North)?

Other than a local Canadian Tire Superstore – I don’t even have a car here! – What I miss is the seasons - spring and Fall.  But that GCW (Great Canadian Winter), not so much!

Learn more about Singapore sports hub at: www.sportshub.com.sg

William Chew: Q & A

1.   Which parts of Canada do/did you call home?

I grew up in the Toronto area, with Scarborough being my childhood stomping grounds and most of my extended family still live in and around TO.  I do have some family in Victoria and my sister in Vancouver.  My youngest son is currently is doing his final year (I hope) at Carleton.

2.  How long have you carried your 'ex-pat' title?

I moved to Singapore in 1992 as part of a ‘short term career assignment’, but 22 years later I’m still here! I lived a true ‘ex-pat existence’ during the first 3 years, with the apartment, car, club, home leave package, but ‘went local’ in 1995 when it became clear that I was going to stay indefinitely. I do not really consider myself to be an “ex-pat” any more, but I do not feel ‘local’ either since my accent and cultural value-system remain heavily Canadian.  

3.   Tell us your profession and what you do all day.

I am a Telecom professional-cum-serial entrepreneur - having started several infocom-based companies over my 30+year career.  I currently run a young (what else?) start-up company in Singapore called “myHealth Sentinel Pte Ltd”.  It is a ‘cloud-based’ Telehealth Service Provider, the first of its kind in the region.  Our mission is to empower caregivers (both medical and non-medical) with our simple-to-use telehealth service to remotely watch-over the health of their ageing parents and loved ones.

Our “TeleMetrix+” service can monitor, analyze uploaded vital signs such as blood pressure, blood glucose, heart rate, weight, temperature, activity, etc and alert caregivers when any abnormal conditions are detected.

As with any start-up, I’m involved in all aspects of the company’s activity e.g. Guiding the design of its features and functionality, meeting prospective customers, dreaming up marketing campaigns, managing staff and vendors, updating investors etc.

4. Two things that you would beg Singapore Customs to import from the GWN (Great White North)?

Only 2?!?! I would have to say: J. Peameal bacon, ‘real, fresh’ Montreal smoked-meat, “Swiss Chalet” restaurants, “Canadian Tire” stores….that’s all!

Learn more about this Canadian at: www.myhealthsentinel.com and www.TeleMetrix.com.sg