#WeAreWesley – Aimee’s Story

Aimee’s Story: Turning Personal Experience into Lifelines for Newcomers  

Meet Aimee, a Program Worker in Wesley’s Asylum Seekers Assistance Program (ASAP). For her, helping others is not only her job but also a key part of her personality and purpose. Aimee’s motivation is strong, and her care shines each and every day as she supports clients during their first days in Canada. Her role involves helping with temporary accommodations, connecting clients with essential services like Ontario Works, legal aid, and food banks, booking medical exams, assisting with various applications, and so much more. 

Like all Wesley employees, Aimee’s passion is essential to her role. Unlike some employees, Aimee has lived experience that helps guide her work and provides a different kind of client connection. 

Aimee arrived in Canada from Rwanda, where she and her two younger siblings were born and raised in a refugee camp. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, her parents were forced to flee alongside many others due to unsafe living conditions of conflict, dread of violence, and persecution. In the camp, Aimee worked as a refugee guidance counsellor, helping people on similar journeys to the one she and her family would soon embark on. They relocated to Canada when her grandfather developed an aggressive and rare skin cancer that required specialized immunotherapy that was not accessible in Rwanda. Wesley was able to help navigate Canada’s healthcare system to access the treatment he needed. 

Arriving in Canada as a refugee, Aimee experienced firsthand the struggles faced by newcomers, on top of being the only English-speaking member of her family and helping them navigate constant appointments. Despite these hardships, she remained hopeful and determined to build a new life. “It wasn’t easy,” she recalls, “Some of my friends told me I could get paid for doing what I was doing, but this was my family, and I was committed to taking care of them.”  

Balancing her responsibilities also led Aimee to an important realization: the need for self-love. “I learned to take time for myself— I learned to take time for myself—whether it is starting a fitness routine or skincare journey,” she says. Regular self-care allowed her to better support her family while maintaining her own well-being. 

Being helped by Wesley’s programs showed her how Wesley’s services provided a lifeline to newcomers. For Aimee, working with Wesley was more than a professional interest. She had a personal investment in the cause, and she had all the right qualifications and drive to help others. She needed to wait a year before applying to Wesley due to her status as a client but couldn’t wait to jump in to help. “When I started, I felt a deep connection to the clients because I had been in their shoes. I understood their fears and hopes because I had lived them.” Aimee shows clients what is possible as a newcomer, an inspiring example. 

As part of the Wesley team, Aimee has witnessed the profound impact their programs have on clients’ lives. “Many of the people we work with are in vulnerable situations. They are very unsure about how to build a life in a new country.” In particular, housing stands out as a critical area of need. “The housing market in Hamilton is becoming more expensive every day,” Aimee explains. “But when we secure housing for clients—even if it’s just a shared room—they feel safe. They have a place to call home, and that changes everything.” 

Aimee is grateful for the ASAP team that has built a supportive and collaborative work environment. She was one of the first two employees in the program and after working hard to help it grow and develop, she brings a calming presence to help mentor new colleagues and provide encouragement in stressful situations.  

The feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive and is a great reminder of the importance of the work being done. “We receive messages from people who tell us how much they appreciate our support. It reminds me why I do this work. Every case is unique, and every success story shows how even small actions can make a big impact on someone’s life.” 

Aimee’s vision for the future is built from her experiences and aspirations. “My goal is to build a long career in the newcomer space. I want to deepen my understanding of immigration systems within Canada through further education and gain skills to make an even greater impact.” 

She also dreams of expanding programs like ASAP to other cities. “The housing market in Hamilton is tough, and resources are stretched thin, but my hope is to see programs like ASAP become more accessible, not just in Hamilton but in other cities like Toronto, Ottawa, or Vancouver. Many newcomers in other regions don’t have access to these kinds of resources, and they need support just as much as the people here.” 

For Aimee, working at Wesley is more than a job—it’s a mission. “This work requires resilience, patience, and a commitment to diversity. Every day is a learning experience, and every client brings a unique story and new challenges. Wesley is a place of growth and opportunity. If you’re committed to helping others and ready to work in a fast-paced, diverse environment, Wesley is the place for you.” 

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Interested in a career at Wesley? Visit https://wesley.ca/careers/ to learn more!