Today, we have a guest post from InterNations, an online social network for expats and immigrants:

With a growing economy and an annual intake of over 200,000 immigrants, Canada welcomes expatriates.

However, due to the country’s size and diversity, it can be challenging for newcomers to decide where to move. And as with relocating to any foreign country, it can be difficult to connect with people who’ve gone through a similar adjustment to new surroundings and a new culture.

That’s where the online social network InterNations can help.

InterNations’ goal is to assist expats in finding other like-minded people, preferably also expats, in their new “home away from home.” With over 277,000 active members in more than 250 Communities across the globe, InterNations offers forums for expats to exchange information and organizes Events so that expats can make personal connections as well.

In this increasingly digital world, many members find these Events especially valuable. By meeting up with other expats, you can share funny anecdotes, sort out language mishaps, find out which supermarkets offer fresher produce, and most importantly have someone to lean on when you feel lonely and miss home.

Since 2008, InterNations has hosted events ranging from bar evenings and brunches, to concerts, snow-tubing, and everything in between. InterNations appoints at least one Ambassador in each Community who organizes these Events, invites all the Community members, and makes sure that members feel comfortable and have fun.

“The monthly events are such a great idea!” says one delighted member. “Not only do I look forward to checking out another new location in Toronto, but I meet a new interesting person every time I go to an event!” With 2,046 members in the Toronto Community, new faces show up regularly.

The InterNations Canada Community now includes groups in Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, with 4,899 members nationwide. And this number continues to grow!

InterNations takes its members’ privacy very seriously, and membership is granted by invitation only. As InterNations caters mainly to expats in professional fields, many members not only make friends, but work out business partnerships as well.

InterNations members can also sign up as Local Scouts for their area to share their special knowledge of the city or of a hobby, such as history, hiking, biking, museums, cuisine, or nightlife. If you have just arrived in Montréal, for example, and would like to find good Indian restaurants, you can see if a Local Scout for Montréal can help. Or, if you enjoy biking and would like to get to know other expats who share your passion, you may become a Local Scout for biking in your city. Just one more way that InterNations can help you adjust to your new Canadian community!

To apply for a free InterNations membership or to learn more, visit InterNations.org.

InterNations is hosting a social event in Toronto this Friday, June 24, 2011 at 8 p.m. at the Royal Ontario Museum. Go to InterNations.org for more details.

Photos courtesy of InterNations.