UBC brought me from Panama to Canada

I'm Panamanian and worked at the Panama Canal as an engineering geologist. While there, I met a Canadian consultant and we stayed in touch. I asked him two years later where I should apply for a Master's in Canada. He said, Apply to UBC; you'll freeze anywhere else. The head of the Geological Engineering department said I didn't qualify because my Bachelor's was not in engineering. I wrote him a letter of my experience and they let me come. I am now a Professional Engineer in Vancouver.