Staying Positive & Moving Forward: Oliver's Story

Oliver moved to Canada in 1994, originally settling down with his family in Quebec before coming to the West Coast in 2024, looking for a change in life. When he arrived in Vancouver, he was staying in a nearby shelter while looking for work and a permanent place to live. Life in the shelter was tough and provided little stability. "In the morning, they pack us up. In the evening, around nine, they allow us to come for the night," he shares. Despite many years of experience working in factories in Quebec, Oliver had no luck finding a job. Then, he was introduced to Mission Possible's Employment Readiness Program.

The demand for the program is high, so Oliver waited over two months to attend the three-day workshops. He was tenacious, though, and was impressed with the program from the beginning, sharing, “The system is good, like you guys are trying to build up the guys so that they could get a better job.” Once he joined the Clean Team, Oliver wasted no time and began working 3-4 shifts a week, all while maintaining perfect attendance and winning the Attendance All-Star award! After completing his six-month contract, he decided to apply for one of MP's Business Improvement Association (BIA) routes, and it was his excellent work habits that secured him the new role. 

One-on-one coaching has also played a key role in Oliver’s journey. With the high cost of living and rent, during his Clean Team contract, he was picking up extra shifts to stay afloat. But coaching helped him reflect and shift his focus to encourage more opportunities for others in the program: “You have to be cooperative and supportive, because a lot of guys are suffering over there,” he shares. Oliver has his sights set on another internal role with MP, but is open to anything that may come his way, as long as he can stay active. Recently, at our Resource Fair, he connected with a community partner that can provide him with training after his contract ends, which will further help him succeed in this challenging job market. He is also waiting to hear back from a number of other companies that he is interested in working with.

Oliver has since successfully completed his time on the Clean Team, marked by a graduation lunch where he celebrated his achievements in the program. “This was my first certificate in Vancouver,” he shares with pride. Oliver will continue to work on his BIA route until his contract expires in November, using this time to access many of the wraparound supports, including food security programming. "You go [to the community pantry] and you could pick some food you need in your room or wherever you are living. You know, sometimes we don't have the money to buy those foods," he shares. 

Overall, Oliver has felt his time at MP has helped him, and he is positive that more opportunities will come his way. “They want to help. They help people to progress, to move forward, to get a job and live a better life,” he shares. He isn't afraid to campaign the program to others as well, and frequently introduces people to the Employment Readiness Program and encourages them to apply, sharing “Your missions are possible with Mission Possible." We are proud of how far Oliver has come and look forward to seeing where his tenacity takes him!