u/Independent_Fan_7907

Hello, fellow Calgarians!

I’m an Indian immigrant living in Calgary, and I wanted to ask this honestly because I’m struggling mentally with it.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been seeing a lot of anti-Indian sentiment online, especially on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram comments, etc. Some of it is criticism about immigration policy, which I understand people can debate, but a lot of it crosses into outright hostility and racism toward Indians in general.

The problem is that it’s started affecting me in real life, even though logically, I know online spaces amplify negativity.

I work permanently from home, so I already spend most of my time indoors. Recently I’ve started avoiding even basic errands because I keep expecting some kind of negative interaction. My wife has to push me to go grocery shopping or get out of the house. Sometimes I’ll sit in the car while she goes inside because I just feel anxious being out in public.

What makes this confusing is that Calgary itself has actually been mostly positive for me. In the years I’ve lived here, I haven’t personally experienced much racism at all apart from one random incident years ago with a homeless guy when I worked customer service. Most people I meet here are polite or just mind their own business.

But mentally, the constant negativity online has made me feel like people secretly resent us, even if I’m not seeing it face to face.

With the long weekend coming up, my wife wants us to do a short trip somewhere in Alberta, and instead of being excited, I’m already thinking of excuses to avoid going.

I guess I’m asking other Calgarians honestly:

Does social media make Calgary feel more hostile than it actually is?

Have others (immigrants or otherwise) gone through this kind of fear/anxiety from doomscrolling?

Am I becoming disconnected from reality here?

I’d appreciate honest perspectives.

Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I’m expecting a refund of about $3,000 on my credit card (CIBC Costco Mastercard). Right now, the card has a balance of around $500, so once the refund is processed, I’ll likely end up with a negative balance of about -$2,500.

My question is: can I transfer that negative balance (credit) directly to my chequing account (Scotiabank), or do I need to request it some other way?

If anyone has experience with this, especially with CIBC cards, how does it usually work? Is it something you can do online, or do you have to call in and request a refund/cheque?

Thanks in advance!

Hey all,

We’re a couple who have been living in Canada for the past 10 years and are now seriously considering moving back to India. Our main reasons are aging parents, some ongoing health concerns, and honestly, limited long-term prospects in our respective fields here.

We’re currently eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, which would take roughly 6 months. We’re a bit torn on what to do next:

Is it worth staying back just to get the citizenship before leaving?

Or are we overestimating the long-term value of Canadian citizenship if we don’t plan to stay?

Also, if we give up Indian citizenship, how difficult is it to regain it in the future if needed?

Would really appreciate hearing from others who’ve been in a similar situation or have insights on the pros/cons.

Thanks in advance!