International student-turned-YouTube star has advice for others coming to Canada

Gursahib Singh would do a few things differently if he could do it all over again.

Singh, 30,moved to Canada from New Delhi in 2018 to study at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ont.

He was already a workingengineer back home, but wanted to start a life in Canada. However, for a few years, hegot caught up in what he thought his new Canadian lifeshould look like.

Now, through his popular social media channels some of his Hindi language YouTube videos have been viewednearly 400,000 timeshe offers advice to prospective students in Indiato help them avoid the same mistakes.

"Everybody flaunts on social media,like they have a big car or a very expensive gadget," said Singh, who became a permanent resident of Canadaearlier this year. "So when other international students come to Canada, they think, 'Oh, it is very easy to afford all these things in Canada.'

"Students who think that way end up in debt within months of arriving,"he said.

"I got into that trap when I completed my studies, but now I'm out of it. I'm really happy about it."

They see other international students already in Canada and they see their pictures. Everybody flaunts on social media. So they think it's very easy to afford all these things in Canada.- Gursahib Singh, YouTuber, former international student

Singh was working for an engineering firm in London, Ont., before recently taking a job with a company in Waterloo called Molex. Singhand his partner, who joined him in Canada in 2019, planto move to Waterloo in the near future.

The couple is now saving for a down payment on a home.

"My motive is to make a good career, and buy a good house and make my parents proud," he said.

Advice on jobs, shopping,housing

Based on Canadian post-secondary school enrolment numbers, Singh's videos have a potentially huge market.

According to Statistics Canada, from2018/2019to2019/2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a13.7 per cent risein international student enrolments, while Canadian student enrolments declined by0.9 per cent.

During his downtime from his job, Singh produces two to three YouTube and Instagram videos a week,offeringadvice on everything from grocery shopping, to finding a part-time job and how much to expect to pay for clothes.

"There are so many music videos back in my home country," he said. "In those music videos, the lead wouldwearexpensive brands, brands like Armani or Gucci.And the students who are planningto study in Canada, they think,'Oh, it is very easy to afford these brands as well.'"

In a recent video, Singhvisits a mall in Londonand demonstrateshow much you can actually buy with $100.

Although being roommateswith other international students has benefits, he warns it comes with challenges.

"Everybody gets busy and all the household work like comes to a halt. Nobody's cleaning the dishes because they have exams. Nobody's cleaning the house. Nobody is doing nothing."

And that can leadto conflicts, he said.

Singh's social media offerings have had far-reaching impact, including on his followers.

"I used to watch videos from Gursahib's YouTube channel," said Prince Sain, 32,who moved to Brampton, Ont., in April to study at Algoma University. "I have been watching since I was in India."

Sain admittedit was difficult finding accommodation when he first settled in Brampton. It also took time for him to adjustto public transit in Canada.

But he said that through Singh's videos,he learned how to deal with challenges and gained practical information aboutwhat to expect once he arrived.