Meet the Team
Matthew McDonald
Matthew began his career in education: teaching ESL, literature, and writing in Canadian universities and international high schools (France and Macedonia). He also spent three years as a university/college admissions counsellor, helping high school students pursue their educational aspirations in Canada, the United States, Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East.
Upon his return to Canada, he shifted to international student advising, for which he obtained his RCIC designation. He opened his boutique immigration consulting practice in 2016 while elevating his international student services/recruitment/admissions expertise at Humber College and Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
Matthew was not always a city boy, nor did he expect to spend so much of his time working with people in finance and accounting, as he did at Rotman before shifting to full-time immigration work in 2023. He grew up on a farm in rural Manitoba, completed his undergraduate degree in English/French at Brandon University (Manitoba), and then his graduate work in English Literature at the University of Ottawa. He understands firsthand that people often want to change location, countries, and careers—editing their stories away from the plot of their birthplace.
Igor Lazarevski
Igor is a seasoned project manager who sharpened his skills at a Fortune 500 company. In 2022, as demand for Matthew’s immigration services grew, he offered to take over business operations so that Matthew could spend more time with clients. In August 2023, he joined Matthew full time. Much of his work is behind the scenes, but clients will also communicate with Igor on non-legal matters.
Igor’s Canadian story began in 2010 when he met Matthew in his hometown: Skopje, Macedonia. He had returned to Macedonia after completing his undergraduate education in Chicago, USA, with a focus on teaching ESL. He also taught university-level classes in writing and translation in Macedonia.
After being approved for permanent residency and moving to Toronto with Matthew in 2013, he began to shift his career path, working in educational administration on examination practices for regulatory bodies. After completing a certificate in Project Management from the University of Toronto, he shifted into project management and process improvement. He has also completed a Master’s of Education in Adult Education & Workplace Learning from the University of Toronto.
As a newcomer to Canada, he also understands the challenges involved in revising one’s life story.