www.patis2poutine.com
Our Mission: Empowering Newcomers
Every human story carries courage, struggle, and hope. To enrich it is to honor where we’ve been, amplify who we are, and unlock what’s possible. By lifting voices, sharing truth, and creating access to opportunity, we transform individual journeys into collective strength—reminding the world that when human stories are seen, supported, and believed in, they have the power to change everything.
About The Author
About M. L. Reeves
M.L. Reeves is the author behind The Newcomer Rulebook to Canada and the city-specific Rulebook to Calgary—essential survival guides for anyone determined to thrive, not just survive, north of the 49th parallel. Her books don’t sugarcoat the immigrant journey; they translate it. With humour, honesty, and the occasional “please explain this weather” rant, Reeves gives newcomers the rulebook she wishes her family had.
This book wasn’t just written—it was lived.
Born in the Philippines, Reeves arrived in Calgary at the age of nine with her family, armed with hope, faith, and exactly zero wool socks. While other kids were learning long division, she was learning how to function in snow, decode unfamiliar systems, and smile politely even when she didn’t understand a single thing happening in front of her.
Her parents—proud, skilled professionals back home—soon found themselves trapped in one of immigration’s greatest paradoxes: everything they knew mattered, and somehow none of it counted. Their expertise overlooked. Their accents judged, their abilities overlooked. Their confidence quietly chipped away by the daily grind of starting over.
The Journey From Patis to Poutine
They kept smiling, pushing forward with resilience that could power a city.
But she saw the exhaustion behind their eyes—the loss, the sacrifice, the silent battles no one ever talks about.
And she carried it.
"These books are more than pages; it’s a collection of journeys—of struggles, victories, mistakes, and lessons learned. Every story of a newcomer is a roadmap, and every lesson is a beacon to thriving in Canada.”
Her family's immigrant experience, along with countless newcomers she met along the way became her fuel.
M.L. Reeves and her family didn't just survive the Canadian system; she dominated it. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Calgary, became a leader at 19, and went on to oversee massive operations, manage sensitive information, and coordinate entire regions across Western Canada.
She literally wrote the book on leadership—then realized the most important book she could write was the one her parents never had.
The Patis to Poutine concept isn’t just a catchy title; it’s M.L.Reeves' own history: the journey from the taste of home to the messy, beautiful reality of building a new one.
She has spent over 20 years in leadership, successfully managing budgets, people, and operations for major corporations and founded the IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation, which has served over 12,000 students in the Philippines with her Tools4Success program and thousands of households during Typhoon Ulysses and Covid 19 pandemic with Food4Success Program.
She understands the job market, the professional code, and how to get things done in Canada—skills she distilled into every chapter.
M.L. Reeves wrote these rulebooks as her love letter and a tribute to her parents. It’s her promise to you and every Newcomer who will follow: We will not only survive, but we will thrive.
Paying It Forward: Empowering Newcomers Through Knowledge
“This is my love letter to every newcomer who has ever felt unseen.
It is also my tribute to my parents — whose sacrifices built the path I now walk.”
Every purchase of Patis to Poutine helps fund the IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation, bringing hope and opportunity to more than 12,000 students in underserved communities across the Philippines.
More importantly, this guide exists so no newcomer has to navigate this journey alone.
Wherever you’re from — the Philippines, India, Nigeria, Ukraine, Mexico, or anywhere else — you deserve not just to survive, but to belong, succeed, and flourish.
— M. L. Reeves
Transform Your Journey
Unlock the potential of your new life in Canada with our books and resources.
Whether you need guidance or knowledge, we are here to support you.
Read What People Are Talking About
Don’t just take our word for it—see what readers are saying after surviving The Unofficial Newcomer Rulebook series.
— Ana M., Toronto
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Finally—a newcomer book that actually gets it! I laughed, I learned, and I felt seen. Every immigrant family should get a copy the moment they land at the airport.”
— Raj P., Calgary
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"This book saved me from at least 14 panic attacks and one very confusing winter storm. Practical, honest, hilarious—10/10 would recommend.”
— Samuel K., Edmonton
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Newcomer Rulebook should be required reading for every immigrant. It’s comforting, clear, and packed with tips I didn’t even know I needed.”