For our final edition in 2025, we are featuring Soma Sundaram, a Senior Technical Analyst for Northern Health in Terrace.

Soma Sundaram moved to Terrace from Ottawa nearly four years ago, and he speaks about the community with the kind of certainty that only comes from feeling truly settled. Originally from India, Soma came to Canada in 2019 to pursue a master’s degree after completing his bachelor’s in electronics and communications engineering. He studied at Carleton University in Ottawa, then stayed in the city to work for over a year.

In February 2022, an unexpected career opportunity brought him to Northwest BC. He joined CityWest, an internet service provider in the region, working as a video network engineer. That role took Soma to many local communities, including Prince Rupert, but when he first travelled to Terrace, Soma quickly realised that this was the place he wanted to call home. What started as a career move turned into something more lasting.

In 2024, Soma began working with Northern Health, supporting technology and implementation work connected to major projects in the region, including the new Ksyen Regional Hospital in Terrace and other health facilities across Northwest BC. It’s work that keeps him close to the practical realities of building strong services in the North, and it gives him a meaningful connection to what’s growing in the communities around him.

When Soma talks about what he loves most about living in Terrace, he doesn’t begin with the mountains or the weekend adventures, even though those are incredibly appealing to him. He starts with his community. Soma still remembers arriving on February 20, the day before Family Day, and being struck by how accommodating everyone was. Neighbours helped him get oriented, making him feel welcome in a way that has stayed with him. “Going out and mingling is easier here than a big city,” Soma explains. It was the kind of start that can shape how you see a place, and for Soma it set the tone for everything that came after.

For Soma, through involvement in his local community, that warm welcome has turned into a sense of belonging. Soma is a keen outdoorsman who loves hiking, and he spends as much time outside as he can. He also enjoys rock climbing and is passionate about cricket, a favourite pastime and a way to connect with others. Over time, Soma has also become deeply involved in the community through volunteering and local groups. He’s been active with Volunteer Terrace, the local chess club, Skeena Diversity, and he contributes to a speakers club for youth. For Soma, the social life in Terrace isn’t something you have to search for. It’s something you build by showing up.

Living in Terrace feels very different to Soma than living in a larger city like Ottawa, and the biggest difference is how easy it is to connect. In bigger places, it’s possible to be surrounded by people while still feeling separate from them. In Terrace, Soma found it simpler to meet others, mingle, and form real friendships. He also points to the diversity of the community and how welcoming people are, which made settling in feel natural rather than intimidating.

Soma has watched Terrace grow significantly since he arrived, and he sees a city that’s developing in ways that matter. “Restaurants and grocery stores are coming in and growing,” he says, while construction has also brought new developments. The new hospital project is a visible sign of investment in local healthcare facilities and a growing momentum. From Soma’s perspective, Terrace has become easier to settle into over time, including for people who are renting, because of the many new housing and construction projects. He says he’s never felt like he’s missing out on something by living here, and as the community grows, that feeling only becomes stronger.

Soma is also quick to address misconceptions. Friends from Ottawa or abroad, he explains, often assume that smaller communities in Northwest BC have fewer options for fun, and that you have to travel to other cities for anything beyond the basics, while another common assumption is that you have to drive everywhere because public transit won’t be workable.

However, Soma has found the opposite. He describes Terrace as having well-built infrastructure and transit that’s more than sufficient for everyday life. He’s also found it to be a very walkable city, in a way that surprises people who picture Northerners as automatically car-dependent. When Soma shows visiting friends around town, he enjoys busting these myths and demonstrating that his life in Terrace is just as good as it was in Ottawa.

Soma’s daily routine reflects the balance he’s found in Terrace. On weekdays, he’s up around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m., and starts work at 8. He typically finishes around 4, then heads to the aquatic centre, where he swims or works out until about 6. Some evenings include the speakers or chess club, others at Skeena Diversity, and after that it’s dinner at home and time to prepare for the next day. Weekends are a mix of time with friends, swimming, and the occasional movie rounding out his downtime.

When it comes to food, Soma genuinely enjoys cooking, so home is his favourite place to eat. That said, he has a few local spots he recommends, including Chef Abhi’s Indian Cuisine and Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse.

For nature spots, Soma enjoys frequent visits to nearby hot springs, and often makes trips out toward Rosswood with friends. For something simpler and closer to home, Soma is a fan of evening walks at Ferry Island on the Skeena River, the kind of low-effort habit that has become part of his daily life with the outdoors right on his doorstep.

If someone is considering moving to Northwest BC, Soma’s answer is simple and immediate. “Absolutely do it. And I will welcome you, especially if you love being outside.” Fishing, hiking, and exploring are easy to build into life here, says Soma, and the region offers far more variety than people expect. He also points out that while Terrace is home, the wider Northwest has its own experiences, including whale watching and visits to nearby communities like Prince Rupert and Kitimat.

But even with all of that, Soma still says what matters most to him is the Terrace community. It’s the way people form friendships quickly, and the way neighbours and community groups make you feel included. Soma describes himself as a global citizen, but in Terrace, he’s found something that feels like family. “Everyone keeps you close,” says Soma. “Everybody here feels like my own kith and kin, and that connection is what makes Terrace truly feel like home.”

All photos courtesy of Soma Sundaram.