A Beautiful Story of Professional and Cultural Integration
Spacekap needs no introduction. The company is now recognized as the North American leader in truck bed manufacturing.
However, this reputation would have been seriously tarnished if not for the boldness of its leaders, who, in recent years, faced a severe labour shortage and had to turn to foreign workers.
Today, Spacekap employs around fifty foreign workers, making up more than 75 percent of the technical staff in its factory. Without them, operations would be compromised, and profitability would be precarious.
Not only do they need to be recruited and brought over, but housing must also be found for them. They need assistance with bureaucratic processes, including filling out immigration forms and renewing work permits. Additionally, transportation to work must be arranged, especially for night shifts when public transport isn’t an option.
From Peru to Canada
In a previous article, we mentioned Oscar Sanchez-Silva, who in 2021 left everything behind to settle in Canada with his wife and three children.
Three years later, this Peruvian is now a production supervisor, a key position in the company.
Initially, they found housing on the Island of Montreal, but this summer, the entire Sanchez-Silva family wished to move closer to work and relocated to Montreal’s South Shore. We were able to find them a house, and they are now settled there.
Adapting to a new culture
Two of the three children in the family attend school and speak perfect French, a sign of successful integration. Alessia, 15 years old, wants to pursue a career as an aerospace engineer. Meanwhile, Stefano, 17, aims to earn a degree as a video game programmer.
The eldest of the family, Enzo, is now following in his father’s footsteps. He arrived in Canada in 2023 after earning a university degree in International Business Administration and now also works at Spacekap as an internal sales representative for the U.S. market. “We knew the values of the Sanchez family. With his degree in hand, we didn’t hesitate to create a position that would showcase his skills,” says Jack Lord, National Sales Director for the U.S. at Spacekap.
The Best Way to Learn the Language
Enzo speaks Spanish and English and has been taking French lessons for a few months.
He found a quick way to learn a new language and culture: through love! Enzo is dating Marie-Gabrielle Giguere, a young woman studying psychology at the University.
Here is a perfect example of integration: A whole family that is taking root and adapting to our culture while helping our businesses thrive. This is the Canada of tomorrow!
