ROFL@ my mental image of Chum . Too funny. I love the sound myself but it would certainly sound strange to a dog.
Is your nephew's girlfriend already in Canada? If so, if it's serious then a sad situation in a way for whoever leaves their country, but good luck to them. I don't know if I could have done it. Oh, of course I could, what did our ancestors do ? And they came here when it was really inhospitable.