No I don't conflate refugees and immigrants.  My parents WERE refugees, and fled for fear of their lives and chose Canada (refugees do often get to choose).   Meanwhile, immigrants submit applications and leave their homelands in a civilized fashion.  However, they still have much in common.  It's a huge thing to uproot yourself from the country you've lived in all your life.  You do it because it's become too dangerous or because you want to build a better life than possible in the land of your birth, a form of flight in itself.  

You're lucky your experience has been so pleasant.  Many people's aren't, or even if okay, there's a always a void in their hearts.  My brother-in-law is Nigerian, he's built a great life for himself here, is proud to be Canadian, but I know he's never felt quite at 'home'.  And I know many other people like him.  Unless you're from the UK or another English speaking country, coming to Canada can be a tough adjustment.