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📍 Editor’s Note
👋 Hiya,
Money conversations will always be useful in their own right. After all, that’s what we’re all here for, right? It makes the world go round. However, talking about money in Canada has its own rules, and most newcomers figure them out slowly, sometimes at an expense. This week, we’ll be looking at how to shorten that process.
Then two immigration and study pieces: one on the program-choice decision, which is now partly an immigration strategy, and one on the co-op permit change that took effect on April 1. Both matter if you're studying or planning to.
On Abraham's List this week is a pick you are all too familiar with. It’s low-risk, with strong upside, a good place to build if you're in product or engineering. Read on to find out more…
— Dami
This week’s pick from Abraham’s List🔥
Shopify
Ottawa, ON · E-Commerce · Public (NYSE: SHOP)
Shopify is one of the most consequential technology companies Canada has ever produced. Founded in Ottawa in 2006 by Tobias Lütke and Scott Lake — originally to sell snowboards online — it became the infrastructure layer powering millions of businesses worldwide. Today, it processes more e-commerce transactions in the US than any platform except Amazon. The $100B+ valuation is not hype. It reflects what happens when a company quietly becomes the operating system of global commerce.
For newcomers building a career in Canada, Shopify matters for two reasons. First, it is genuinely one of the best places to work in the country if you are in product or engineering — well-compensated, remote-friendly, and culturally oriented toward building things that matter rather than building things that look good in a presentation. Second, it represents the kind of company that takes the long view, which means it has roles that develop people rather than just extract output.
The risk rating is low because Shopify is public, proven, and not going anywhere. The equity upside of 2-3x is realistic, not lottery-ticket territory. The $122M funding figure reflects its pre-IPO capital; it has been self-sustaining through revenue for years.
Valuation | $100B+ |
Risk | Low — public, proven success story |
Equity Upside | 2–3x |
Best Roles | Product, Engineering |
Stage | Public (NYSE: SHOP) |
Why Abraham’s List? Each week, we spotlight one Canadian startup that aligning yourself with may just get you out of the trenches
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MONEY & LIFE
Talking About Money in Canada Without Making It Weird |
Nobody tells you this before you land, but one of the quietest adjustments in Canada is learning how to talk about money — with your partner, your coworkers, your kids, your friends. Not because Canadians are secretive, but because the conversational rules are different and most newcomers spend months reading the room before saying anything. Meanwhile, Ontario has just introduced pay transparency rules for employers with 25 or more staff. The moment is right to understand how these conversations work here and how to start having them without making everyone uncomfortable. |
STUDY, WORK & IMMIGRATION
In Canada Now, What You Study Matters More Than Ever |
The plan used to feel simple: get admitted, study, graduate, get your PGWP, build Canadian experience, figure out PR from there. That version still exists but it is no longer the whole story. Canada's immigration rules now make your field of study a legal variable, not just a career preference. Your CIP code can determine your PGWP eligibility. Your program level can determine whether your spouse qualifies for a work permit. This piece is about why program choice has become part of the immigration strategy, and what to check before you pay a deposit. |
STUDY, WORK & IMMIGRATION |
Canada Quietly Removed One Big Paperwork Headache for International Students |
As of April 1, 2026, many post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit to complete required internships, practicums, and placements. Your study permit can now cover it — if you meet the eligibility conditions, which not everyone does. Secondary school students are out. Placements over 50% of your program are out. And you still need your school's letter confirming the placement is required. This piece walks through exactly who qualifies, what stays the same, and why the off-campus work cap and the placement rule are two different things that people keep mixing up. |
THIS WEEK'S HOTTEST OPPORTUNITIES |
The jobs board is live. Roles across Canada in tech, product, engineering, finance, HR, and more — curated for African newcomers who know what they're looking for. If you've been browsing and applying and getting nowhere, this is a better starting point. The listings are current, the companies are vetted, and the roles are realistic for people at different stages of their Canadian career. |
See you next week
— Dami
The New Local Team