Advancing Canada’s Digital Economy: Leveraging Decades of Software Expertise in the Era of AI

My name is Tuğrul, and I arrived in Canada under the TS2023 program with an extensive background in software development. Despite my years of experience, settling into the Canadian professional landscape presented significant challenges. Building a stable career or business from scratch in just three years is inherently difficult—and in the current economic climate, it has become even more demanding than in previous years.

However, resilience is at the core of my journey. Rather than being deterred by these hurdles, I have taken my first definitive steps toward contributing to Canada’s technological future. Currently, I work as a freelance developer specializing in AI applications. Through my platform, tugrul.net, I focus on helping Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups navigate the complex transition into the world of Artificial Intelligence. By providing these local businesses with custom AI solutions, I am helping them stay competitive in an increasingly digital global market.

In addition to my AI initiatives, I am leveraging my prior expertise in e-commerce infrastructure to develop platforms aimed at strengthening Canada’s international trade. My goal is to create digital bridges that allow Canadian products and services to reach a wider global audience.

Building these foundations requires time, but I firmly believe that bringing my decades of software experience to this country provides a unique and valuable contribution to Canada’s innovation sector. Moving to a new country and establishing a high-tech venture is not a short-term project; it is a long-term commitment.

The thought that our time here might be limited just as these initiatives are beginning to flourish is deeply concerning. I want to continue dedicating my skills to the growth of the Canadian economy and help local businesses thrive through technology. I sincerely hope for a permanent pathway that allows professionals like me to fully integrate and continue our mission of building a more innovative Canada.