The Holzinger Family
For Sonja, living near the ocean, surrounded by the beauty of nature feels like freedom. “The landscapes, animals, oceans and lakes are so beautiful, it’s not easy to find just one favourite thing,” says Sonja.
When something feels right, it’s best to trust your instincts. For the Holzinger family, Cape Breton just felt right. In the summer of 2016, the family was vacationing and enjoying the beauty of the Island when they fell in love with their surroundings. In 2017, they made the move from Austria to Point Michaud.
While they appreciated their new surroundings, adapting to their new lives took some time. Sonja Holzinger says “when you and your family want to move to a different continent, some things are different and can be really challenging in the beginning.” Sonja and her husband, Daniel, explain that finding a job that matches the requirements for immigration, and the road to obtaining permanent residency can be a tough one. That said, their journey was worth it.
The family bought farm land, dug a well and built a house. They lived in a camper for four months with then three-year-old, Noah. When the house was built, they didn’t have power for the first weeks so meals were cooked on their woodstove. Their hard work paid off. They received their permanent residency and, in 2021, their beautiful daughter, Anna, was born.
For Sonja, living near the ocean, surrounded by the beauty of nature feels like freedom. “The landscapes, animals, oceans and lakes are so beautiful, it’s not easy to find just one favourite thing,” says Sonja.
The family is particularly grateful for the warm welcome Noah received when he enrolled in school. He proved to be a fast learner and began speaking English in record time. They continue to build their lives here on their chosen Island, and have opened up their own carpentry business, DANSCON LTD.
When asked about advice she would give others who may be contemplating a move, Sonja suggested gathering all the information they might need about buying property and about the immigration process. She says they did learn a few things the hard way, but have also had a lot of wonderful times and adventures along the way.
From Sonja’s perspective, the smell of the fresh ocean breeze in the summer is one of the best feelings ever.
We hope those ocean breezes continue to embrace your family for many years to come!
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