Canadians find a home in Macau with a thriving community despite the pandemic

Howard Stribbell, CanCham president

Despite its small size, the special administrative region of Macau has long been home to a thriving Canadian expatriate community.

From educators to entertainment professionals and business leaders, Canadians have carved out a unique niche in this bustling SAR.

Speaking at the “True North Splendour: Celebrating Canada Day in Style” event, Howard Stribbell, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Macao (CanCham Macao) said, “We’re a small but mighty group.”

“While Canadians aren’t always the most boisterous bunch, we’ve made important contributions across various industries here,” Stribbell told the Times.

The International School of Macao (TIS), which uses a Canadian curriculum and employs many Canadian teachers, serves as a cornerstone of the community.

“The school has really helped keep our population steady, even through the challenges of the pandemic,” the CanCham president noted.

Beyond education, Canadians have also left their mark on Macau’s entertainment scene.

Many artists and technicians from Cirque du Soleil’s former Macau operations have put down roots in the city, getting involved in local theatrical productions like the “House of Dancing Water,” which closed during the pandemic but is set to restart later this year.

Canadian companies have also played key behind-the-scenes roles, such as designing the water park systems for the Galaxy Water Park and providing technical systems for the Studio City Water Park, the chamber president said.

Despite some pandemic-related departures, the Canadian community in Macau has proven remarkably resilient. CanCham is now focused on fostering connections, supporting educational initiatives, and nurturing the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs in the city.

According to Stribbell, the city’s Canadian community has made a significant recovery, reaching approximately 90% of the pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

While the pandemic affected all foreigners in Macau, the Canadian population was relatively less impacted due to the presence of TIS which constitutes the largest group.

However, there is still a decline of around 10% compared to the pre-pandemic levels.

“Macau may be small, but the opportunities here are huge,” Stribbell said.

“We’re excited to see what the future holds for Canadians in this vibrant, multicultural hub.”

Looking ahead, the chamber is focusing its efforts on three key priorities: facilitating networking and connections between Canadians and other expatriate communities, supporting education through initiatives, and nurturing the next generation of young entrepreneurs in Macau.

“One priority is networking, allowing people to connect together. The chamber is lucky to have a great community in Macau, and they work closely with the British chamber [of commerce], the Australian chamber, and the French chamber to dovetail on lots of events.”

Secondly, the chamber focuses on education in Macau because of the Canadian international school by organizing events, like hosting the university fair at TIS.

“The third priority is focusing on the younger generation, the young entrepreneurs that are starting up in Macau. As a former head of school, the speaker gets excited to see TIS alumni graduate, go overseas, and then come back to Macau. Whether they are employed in Macau or they start their own businesses, the chamber wants to find ways to support them,” said the president. Howard Tong