As a young man in Hong Kong, Andy Kan's dream was to attend university in Canada. But it was a dream that had to be set aside. He began working at 15, and the immediate future was work in Hong Kong.

It was almost 25 years before life in his chosen country would be a reality for him. By then, he was a successful businessman and ready to begin the journey that he had put on hold - starting a new life with his wife and child in the country he had picked out years before.

"I wanted our second generation - my children - to have the opportunities in Canada," Mr. Kan recalls. There was also a dream to change his lifestyle from the hectic work pace of Hong Kong where 18 to 20 hour days were commonplace. Since arriving in 1987, he's had more time to spend with his family and indulge in his hobbies of fishing and golfing.

"Ontario offers plenty of opportunity."

His decision to locate in Ontario was made after building his business in Hong Kong over a 25-year period. Minerva and Associates Ltd., his small-sized construction and building company grew from 15 employees to 100, managed large construction projects in Hong Kong and China, and had revenues of about US$25 million a year. He wound up his business in Hong Kong and set up his companies under the Minerva umbrella with headquarters in Markham, north of Toronto. The businesses range from real estate project management, land investment, international import and export trade, and fostering bilateral trade between China and North America.

His best advice to prospective business immigrants is: "Remember that there is no free lunch." Success in the country of origin doesn't necessarily translate into success here. Mr. Kan emphasizes that success in business depends on hard work and careful preparation. He was in Ontario for three years before he was ready to make a substantial move into his new businesses.

"Don't expect to do business in the same old way," he advises. "The materials are different, the workforce is different and it's especially important to get to know the tax system and other differences in doing business before you set up an operation."

He adds that it's important to look ahead rather than looking back. "If it took you 10 years to establish a successful business in your old country, you should be patient enough to spend the same amount of time establishing a business here. For those willing to invest the time," he says, "Ontario offers plenty of opportunity."

Mr. Kan has never lost his thirst for knowledge. Now, he says, living in Ontario is giving him an opportunity to begin a new phase of his life. Within the next few years, he plans to go back to school and get the degree he couldn't afford to pursue as a young man in Hong Kong.

"Over the years, my first responsibility was to establish the security of my family," he says. "Now, it's my turn. Living in Ontario gives me the opportunity to do what I want to do."

In Ontario, it's never too late to pursue your dream.