Regional Boutique to New York? Odds, Networking, etc?

I'm a Canadian looking to move to NYC, unrelated to being in investment banking, but nice that it works out that way. Currently at a regional boutique in Canada as a first year analyst, I presume my school doesn't matter anymore (just a decent Canadian university, not a target school or anything like that).

I'm fine starting off somewhere small in NYC, doesn't have to even be a BB/elite boutique, I just want to move when I can (obviously I'm still realistic).

Any ideas to which banks/boutiques would be the most receptive/what options outside of IB would consider me?
Are my odds of moving to NYC really that low coming from a Canadian boutique?
Tips on effectively networking my way through NYC when I'm physically in Canada?

Any other advice on making this move welcome!

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