This First Person column is the experience of Satya Patel, who lives in Mayerthorpe, Alta. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
My stomach turned during my training at McDonald’s as I learned how to wrap breakfast sandwiches. I had never eaten an egg and the smell of meat was overwhelming.
As a new immigrant to Canada from India, I needed a stable source of income. Never did I dream that with my multiple degrees and certificates in pharmacy and business administration, I’d be working in a restaurant. I’m a vegetarian and I hoped the nausea I was experiencing was not mirrored on my face while I worked at the west Edmonton fast-food counter.
But there’s also no way I could have known that seven years later, I would be sitting in my own pharmacy and be welcomed with homemade baked goods and gifts flooding in from my patients at Christmas time.
Satya Patel and her husband, Hetal Patel, celebrate Canada Day in 2013 at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. (Submitted by Satya Patel)
Out of my comfort zone
In 2012, when I received my permanent resident visa for Canada, I was plagued with doubts about moving to a new country nearly 12,000 kilometres away from home. Should I go? Do I want to start over again? Is it worth the risk? So many unknowns. Plus, we would leave behind our family, friends and culture.
What tilted my decision toward Canada was the thrill of a new adventure and the satisfaction that would come from being able to establish ourselves on our own.
I knew that the transition wouldn’t be an easy one, but then I told myself, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
My husband and I took a leap of faith and decided to give Canada a try. We arrived in Canada on April 30 that same year and were completely exhausted after a 40-hour plane ride from India. My husband had contracted food poisoning during our layover in London, eight hours prior to our arrival in Canada, and was in no condition to help me navigate this strange new world to our new home.
It was beginning to hit me just how out of my comfort zone this journey would take me.
Seven-year-old Satya on family vacation in western Rajasthan in India. From left, Satya, her brother Surya, mom Saroj and dad Shailesh Amin. (Submitted by Satya Patel)
Speed bumps on my journey
My early days in Canada were not easy.
After applying for jobs everywhere based on my previous experience in clinical research, I failed to get any interviews. I tried working at McDonald’s, but I lasted only a day.
Next, I landed a part-time job as a cashier at a Superstore.
My job as a university professor in Ahmedabad in western India was being held for me, with the option to go back to my position within three months if I decided to return to India. I would be lying if I said the thought didn’t cross my mind.
Thankfully, the universe had a different plan for me. One evening, a lady walked into the store and asked me if I was new there. I was surprised and said, “Yes, I am new, how did you know?”
She smiled and told me that I did not look like a regular cashier. Then it hit me how visibly nervous I was. She asked me what I did for a living back home, and after talking briefly, asked for my contact number, which I reluctantly provided to her.
A rural opportunity
Just as I was ready to give up on my new venture in Canada, I got a call from the cousin of the Superstore customer. He owned a pharmacy and was looking for a pharmacy assistant.
WATCH | CBC host Adrienne Lamb took a road trip northwest of Edmonton to Lac Ste. Anne County:
Our Edmonton: Road trip to Mayerthorpe
19 days ago
Duration 44:09
Join CBC host Adrienne Lamb for interesting stories from the capital region, including a road trip northwest of Edmonton to Lac Ste. Anne County.
After a formal interview, I landed the position, which was located in Evansburg, Alta., — a hamlet about 90 kilometres west of Edmonton with a population under 1,000.
My first thought upon arrival was, “Where is everyone? It is so quiet here.”
I saw a deer crossing sign for the first time and I asked my new boss, “Do deer actually, physically cross here? In town?”
I grew up in Mumbai, a concrete jungle, so the thought of seeing wildlife in the middle of town was inconceivable to me.
I wondered if the pharmacy even had enough customers to warrant hiring me. But I soon found out that I was wrong. Evansburg is a bustling little community and the pharmacy was very busy. People were friendly and soon I knew most patients by name.
Going for my dreams
My boss pushed me to renew my licence to work as a pharmacist in Canada. It took me three years to do the paperwork, endless hours of studying with full-time work and unfamiliar regulations that I found challenging.
During this time, I also worked as a relief pharmacist in Edmonton and realized the connection I made with my patients in a rural town is totally different from the city. They didn’t feel like a number to be served.
When I was finally ready to open my own pharmacy, my husband and I visited multiple locations in rural Alberta.
We wanted a community with all basic amenities and close to the city if needed for a day trip. Mayerthorpe, Alta., a town just north of Evansburg and about 130 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, ticked all the boxes.
Patel, wearing a scarf made by a patient, poses with the Grinch during Mayerthorpe’s Christmas Lite-Up Night in December 2023. (Submitted by Satya Patel)
Mayerthorpe Value Drug Mart opened in December 2019.
Many people were surprised that I knew their names when they came to my store and my patients started referring their friends and family. My lifelong superpower of remembering names clearly paid off.
The community welcomed me into their fold. During my second Christmas in Mayerthorpe, as pandemic lockdowns kept most people inside, my wonderful clients dropped off gifts like crochet socks, table runners, earrings, candles, soaps, plants and flowers.
Patel holds a business card holder made of deer antlers — a gift from a patient at her pharmacy in Mayerthorpe, Alta. (Submitted by Satya Patel )
One of my patients dropped off fresh apples and asked me, “Do you know how to make pie?”
“Not at all,” I said and laughed. The next Monday, I had three pies at the store to share with my staff, thanks to that kind patient.
I am thankful to everyone in the town of Mayerthorpe for accepting me with an open heart.
Nilufa Virji, the Superstore customer who I was reluctant to give my phone number to, is now my close friend. I called her after every pharmacy exam I passed. We often meet in Edmonton, and after I moved to Mayerthorpe, we stay in touch over phone calls and texts.
Rural communities are frequently overlooked by bigger institutions. But in my opinion, they are the heart of Canada and the reason I’m still here and plan to be for a long time to come.
Mayerthorpe is now home and it feels like everyone knows my name.
Do you have a compelling personal story that can bring understanding or help others? We want to hear from you. Here’s more info on how to pitch to us.
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Pearce and Nathan Saliba scored in the second half — the first goals of their careers — and CF Montreal rallied for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and above all, more connected,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “It was a great second half of resilience and fighting spirit. Nathan and Sam were impressive.
“Impressive in covering the gaps and compensating for the teammates, and the individual defending – yes it’s true, it is a lot of weight on their shoulders, but that’s the job.”
New England (8-16-4) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on Bobby Wood’s third goal of the season. Teenage defender Peyton Miller notched his first assist in his fourth career start and sixth appearance and Carles Gil picked up his ninth of the season. Peyton, at 16 years, 315 days old, is the eighth youngest player in league history to record his first assist.
The Revolution took a two-goal lead in the 35th minute and held it through halftime when 19-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic took a pass from Gil and scored his third goal of the season and career in his first full season in the league. It was the 73rd regular-season assist in Gil’s career, tying him with Steve Ralston for the most in club history.
Montreal (7-12-10) pulled within a goal in the 54th minute when Pearce scored off a free kick after defender George Campbell drew a foul on New England’s Mark-Anthony Kaye. It was the first goal for Pearce in his third career start and fourth appearance.
“Playoffs are the goal. Maybe it wasn’t in the best form, but in the end, we are picking up a point,” Pearce said. “We came into this game confident, ready to play our own game. Everyone tries their best, whenever the players are called on, we are always ready, and we are always giving it our best.”
Montreal scored the equalizer in the 68th minute on the first career goal by Saliba, a 20-year-old midfielder. Saliba has made 34 starts and 48 appearances with Montreal in his two seasons in the league. Campbell snagged his second assist of the season and the third of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a goal I’ve been waiting for a long time. I’m extremely happy that I was able to score it and that it can help the team take this important point on the road,” Saliba said. “Pearce’s first goal gave us really good momentum and we kept up the pressure to go for a second goal. We got more solid defensively, and we came back ready after halftime, to push for these 3 points.”
Aljaz Ivacic finished with four saves in goal for the Revolution.
Jonathan Sirois stopped four shots for Montreal.
New England beat Montreal 5-0 on the road on Aug. 24.
New England leads the all-time series 16-13-4. Montreal improves to 5-8-2 on the road against the Revs.
The Revolution travel to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday. Montreal returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, Cody Bradford pitched seven strong innings after the worst start of his career, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The win kept the defending World Series-champion Rangers alive in the AL West race, trailing first-place Houston by 10 games with 10 to play.
García launched an inside sinker over the left-field wall off Toronto starter Bowden Francis (8-5) after Wyatt Langford singled.
“He swings hard, he swings a lot,” Francis said of García. “I guess the velo was dropping during that time.”
Bradford (6-3) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six.
The seven shutout innings are the most in a game during his two-year career. He was knocked out of his previous start after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and homers (three) in 3 2/3 innings in a 14-4 loss at Arizona.
“Throughout the week, you’ve got to try and digest what happened, see where I can make adjustments, whether it was just game plan went wrong or just poor execution, or a little bit of both,” Bradford said. “Then you flush it.”
Bradford was perfect through four innings before Alejandro Kirk opened the fifth with a smash back to the mound that caromed off Bradford’s left foot and rolled into right field for a single. It extended Kirk’s hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Spencer Horwitz’s double to left-center put runners on second and third with no outs before Bradford retired the next three batters.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider credited Bradford’s “deceptive fastball.”
“When you’re throwing 89, 92, you’ve got to have pretty good deception with that at this level,” Schneider said. “Kept us off balance.”
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
Francis, who took no-hitters into the ninth inning in two of his previous four starts, allowed a double to Marcus Semien, the Rangers’ first hitter of the game. He gave up five hits and one walk in six innings.
Francis has a 1.96 ERA in nine starts with 54 strikeouts and seven walks since being moved back into the starting rotation in late July.
“I don’t even want to get complacent, on cruise control,” Francis said. “Just keep attacking.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with a right middle finger contusion suffered during infield practice. Schneider said the team will get back x-rays on Thursday. Bichette was activated Tuesday following a calf injury and played for the first time in two months, going 2 for 5 with one RBI at the plate. … INF Will Wagner (left knee inflammation) will have the knee scoped on Thursday. Schneider said Wagner should be ready to start spring training. Wagner, son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner, was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline.
UP NEXT
Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his home debut against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02) in the series finale. Rocker allowed one run in four innings at Seattle last Thursday in his major league debut.
