Bahare’s journey with Archway began during a time of transition, reflection, and rediscovery after immigrating to Canada.
In Iran, Bahare was an established pharmacist with years of professional experience. Upon arriving in Canada, she hoped to continue her career but soon discovered that becoming licensed in Canada required a lengthy and demanding series of exams and assessments.
Unsure whether to commit to such an intensive process, she began exploring other career options. Around that same time, life took a beautiful turn when she welcomed a new baby, naturally shifting her focus in a new direction.
However, her passion for the medical field and for helping others never faded. When she eventually resumed preparing for her licensing exams, she realized she also needed a change of scenery from spending long hours studying at home.
Wanting both a sense of purpose and a reason to step outside, she began looking for meaningful ways to reconnect with her community. That search ultimately led her to volunteer and later, work at Archway.
Help Other Immigrants Find Purpose Through Service
Discovering Archway
Back home, during her time in university, Bahare had been involved in a community program where she facilitated workshops and participated in outreach initiatives, similar to the offerings of many of the programs at Archway.
Encouraged by two friends who had previously worked at Archway, she visited the website and came across a volunteer opportunity with the Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program as an Employment Specialist Assistant.
When she first began, she wasn’t sure how much of an impact she could make.
Bahare’s main tasks involved conducting job searches across online employment platforms and gathering job leads for internationally trained professionals striving to enter the Canadian workforce.
“I used to think, if I can search online, anyone can,” said Bahare. “But I learned quickly that it’s not that simple.”
“For many clients, job searching can be overwhelming, especially when they’re still learning about Canadian systems, balancing family responsibilities, or navigating the immigration process. Some become discouraged after applying repeatedly with no success,” shared Mila Aberten, manager of Immigrant Employment Services.
Bahare’s experience in this role opened her eyes to how often internationally trained professionals are underestimated.
She saw firsthand that many newcomers possess extensive knowledge, talent, and professional experience, yet they are frequently overlooked simply because of their name, education outside of Canada, and the fact that they are still learning English.
“Being a pharmacist and working at a place like Archway both share the same moral core,” reflected Bahare. “They require you to care deeply about people.”
Seeing that care for people lead to real progress is what motivates her most.
“It’s an amazing feeling to see a client’s file close because you helped them find a job or regain a part of the life they once had!”
“It doesn’t matter where you start. You don’t have to lead a group or do something big. If you’re willing to help and you’re reliable, you’re already valuable. This is a great place to begin contributing to the community and the reward you feel could even shape your future.”
“It doesn’t matter where you start. You don’t have to lead a group or do something big. If you’re willing to help and you’re reliable, you’re already valuable. This is a great place to begin contributing to the community and the reward you feel could even shape your future.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Bahare is not only a volunteer, she is also a newly hired facilitator with the Archway Community Connections program.
In her new role, she will soon begin creating and leading workshops for immigrants and refugees, helping them adapt to their new lives in Canada.
Outside of her staff role, she has chosen to continue volunteering with the Career Paths program, reflecting her strong personal commitment to supporting newcomers in the community.