Angela is an educator, counselor, and career coach with 16 years of experience working in residential settings and educational institutions. Initially a volunteer in Immigrant Services Calgary's (ISC) tutor program for elementary school children, Angela subsequently started volunteering as a career coach with newcomer clients. As a volunteer career coach, she always finds the time to support newcomers who are struggling with their resumes and job search. Her dedication and expertise have made a huge impact on our clients who were left feeling confident and empowered about their careers after consulting with Angela. We are truly grateful to Angela for the positive difference she has made in the lives of newcomers! This is her story:

“For the past 13 years, I have worked for the Calgary Board of Education with high school students in several areas, including career development and mental health. I have 5 years of experience coaching adult clients (adults with disabilities and newcomers) with the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary. I am currently a casual career coach with Bow Valley College and a volunteer career coach with Immigrant Services of Calgary.

I relocated to Alberta in late 2005 from eastern Canada to pursue potential employment opportunities shortly after completing my Bachelor of Arts degree. A defining life moment occurred during an uncertain phase of my career. I was recommended to meet with an employment coach at the Youth Employment Center in Calgary.  As a result, I realized that one of my strengths was connecting with people and my goal was to build upon these skillsets and knowledge by acquiring training in career development and social work. Over the years, I have completed training in several employment coaching programs in areas including job search strategies, resume and cover letter optimization, and interviewing skills. I am a current member of the Career Professionals of Canada.

ISC has an excellent reputation in the Calgary community for providing several supports to refugees, newcomers, and new Canadian citizens in the areas of family support services, settlement, career services, and much more. My favorite aspect of volunteering is connecting with and supporting newcomers from various countries and professional backgrounds, hearing their stories, and advising them through employment coaching. I plan to continue volunteering as a career coach with ISC.

I am honoured to be nominated as the volunteer of the month with your organization. Thank you so much.”

Congratulations Angela!