You do have an option so you never have this happen again. Canada does offer full pardons, I believe it is 7 years after the charge. You can apply for it. If your record shows that you have not had any problems since they will give you the pardon without any problem.
Once you have the pardon customs, law enforcement, employers etc. can no longer treat it like a conviction since you have received a full pardon.
http://www.pardonservicescanada.com/