This letter expresses the community's support for Yan Zhang. We have been informed that Ms. Zhang may not be allowed to remain in Canada permanently, through no fault of her own. We want to show Immigration Canada that removing her from Canada and separating her from her family and the life she has built here would be very difficult for her, her family, her friends, our community, and especially for her young son, Aaron.

We want to persuade Immigration Canada to consider granting Ms. Zhang permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Ms. Zhang was born and grew up in rural China. She has been associated with Canada since 2018 and has been residing primarily in Edmonton since 2022, in full compliance with all legal and immigration requirements. Throughout this period, she has conducted herself with integrity, transparency, and respect for Canadian laws and institutions.

Ever since her arrival, Ms. Zhang has been a model resident and has become an irreplaceable part of our community. She has contributed to her neighborhood, her faith communities, and the academic community. She has volunteered her time and effort to improve the lives of those around her. Canada is no longer a place where she resides. It is the place where her child was born, where her household is established, and where her daily life unfolds. It is where she has built connections, friendships, and a sense of belonging. After years of sustained presence and commitment, Canada has become her true and only home. It would be immensely hard for her to be forced to abandon her aspirations and unfulfilled potential here and return to China. We are asking that she please be allowed to stay, where she belongs, here with us, in Canada.

Requiring Ms. Zhang to leave Canada at this stage would impose severe emotional, financial, and practical hardship. It would not only disrupt her own life trajectory but would also destabilize the foundation of her family life. Removal would mean abandoning the aspirations she has carefully nurtured in Canada and severing the meaningful ties she has developed within the community. The consequences would be lasting and deeply personal.

Although Ms. Zhang possesses an impressive academic and professional background, her prospects in China are not as straightforward as they appear on paper. Having spent more than a decade outside China, she no longer maintains the professional networks and institutional connections that are often critical to securing stable, well-compensated employment. In academic and research environments, advancement is closely tied to sustained local presence and ongoing professional relationships. Ms. Zhang’s absence from China during key years of her career would significantly limit her opportunities and earning potential.

In her time here, Ms. Zhang has fallen in love with our country. Our country needs more people who are skilled and who not only cherish being part of our community but also believe in giving back to it. Please allow her to stay back to nurture and establish herself in Canada, more than she already has.

Ms. Zhang is a prime example of what Canada stands for: rich cultural diversity. She makes friends wherever she goes and knows the importance of community involvement. Her absence would be felt greatly throughout the community, and we would be worse off as a group if she were forced to leave. We are asking that she be allowed to stay, where she belongs, to continue working towards building her future in Canada, a place that she already calls home.

We support Ms. Zhang’s application for permanent residency based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Every person who has signed here joins in this request.

Thank you for your time and consideration.