Canadiana Fest

Check out our latest webinar! Whether you’re an American planning a move to Canada or a Canadian returning home after living in the United States, your real estate decisions can have significant tax and financial consequences. 

The timing of a home sale, deciding whether to keep your U.S. property as a rental, qualifying for a Canadian mortgage, and navigating an unfamiliar real estate market are just a few of the important decisions you’ll face.

Join three experienced professionals for a comprehensive webinar designed specifically for people relocating from the U.S. to Canada. 

Hosted by Canadiana Fest, this session brings together three key professionals that are involved as part of a homebuyer’s journey: a cross-border tax CPA, a Canadian real estate agent, and a Canadian mortgage broker.

Some of the topics covered include:

• The tax implications of selling your U.S. home, either before or after moving to Canada 
• The cross-border tax implications of renting out your U.S. home 
• Canadian and U.S. tax implications for your new Canadian home, including future capital gains
• Foreign buyer restrictions and taxes, property transfer taxes, and other important home purchase costs 
• Practical tips for navigating Canada’s housing market
• Qualifying for a Canadian mortgage 
• Whether your U.S. credit history can help you obtain financing in Canada
• The key differences between Canadian and U.S. mortgages

Reserve your spot today and gain the knowledge you need to make your move to Canada with confidence.

Join our LIVE Discussion and Ask Your Questions in Advance!

EVENT TIME: LIVE ZOOM Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 2PM-3PM EST (with guests from across the country we are trying to find a time that was accessible to everyone).

Please note registration ends Monday August 3 2026 at 9AM.  A Zoom link will be sent to the email you register with that night from our info@canadianafest.fun address (please ensure you have allowed access by that address or check your spam folder).

Meet the Authors and Experts: Sonya Dolguina, Karli Shih, and Shahlah Bakar

Sonya Dolguina, CPA, CPA (IL)

Sonya is a dual licensed cross-border tax advisor, and is the co-author of the best-selling book, Your Move to Canada. She has a decade of experience working with Americans and repatriating Canadians navigate one of the most complex transitions of their lives.

 She currently works as a tax consultant in cross-border wealth management, and spends her days helping clients through decisions surrounding real estate, retirement, structuring employment and businesses, and investing. Sonya is located in Vancouver, BC and works with clients across North America. 

Contact: yourmovetocanadabook@gmail.com

Karli Shih- Mortgage Consultant and Broker at Dominion Lending Centres – A Better Way

Karli has 20 years of experience as a consultant in the Canadian mortgage industry.  She works with banks, mortgage companies, alternative lenders, and reverse mortgage providers to arrange mortgage solutions tailored to her clients’ needs.  Her clients span from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors and commercial borrowers.  Her underwriting and mortgage administration team helps ensure a seamless mortgage process from application through funding.  While Karli provides her services predominantly in British Columbia, her broader team offers mortgage options across the country, including solutions for borrowers envisioning a return or a move to Canada.

Contact Information – Direct  604 992 9891  

karli@karlishih.com

http://www.karlishih.com

Shahlah Bakar, B.A., J.D. 

Shahlah is one of Vancouver’s most trusted real estate advisors and ranks in the Top 1% of Greater Vancouver Realtors. Shahlah’s education and experience as a UBC educated Lawyer sets her apart from her colleagues. Her in-depth knowledge of contracts, combined with her experience in high-stakes negotiations are invaluable assets to her clients when navigating a cross-border move with many moving parts.  Shahlah works with a broad range of clients including professionals, families, retirees, first time home buyers, and investors, and prides herself on providing personalized advice tailored to her clients’ unique needs. 

Contact Information: Direct (778) 840-6516 or email homes@shahlahbakar.com

Oakwyn Realty

Channon Russette-Mondoux

Channon is a Canadian dual citizen who moved to the U.S. 20 years ago with her 3 children, following her spouse Dan (U.S. Citizen and Canadian by descent). She is an alumnus of the University of Windsor with a degree in Psychology and Education. During her career in Windsor Ontario, she was a Program Administrator for Canada Revenue Agency for over a decade. Although she will not be addressing issues from a professional standpoint, her business and personal experience and background lend credible insight into the complexities of cross border issues.

A Canadian of primarily French, Irish/Scottish and First Nations heritage, her maternal family originated in New Brunswick but relocated to Ontario in the 1950’s after several cross-border moves. Her paternal family were Scottish immigrants who settled in Dinsmore Saskatchewan, later Toronto and now her family spans the country with a father and brother in British Columbia, sister in Ontario and distant relatives in the Maritimes.

Currently, a Chef and Culinary Instructor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo MI, she is also the creator and director of the Canadiana Fest, a grass roots organization that supports the Canadian diaspora and celebrates all things Canadian in the heart of the Midwest.

After experiencing the pandemic, she decided “If I can’t get to Canada, Canada’s coming to me” and created the flagship event The Can Am Peace Jam, the largest Canadian cultural festival south of the 47th parallel.