Meet some “NEW” people: recruitment specialist and employment counsellor K.C. Waran
BY REMA AL NADER
K.C. Waran helped more than 1,000 women find work during the eight years he ran an employment program for rural women in Chennai, India. But there’s one young woman he especially remembers. She had physical challenges, hadn’t been working, and her parents were struggling to support the family. “I was able to help her find a job, which lifted her family from poverty,” he recalls. “They went from struggling to afford one meal a day, to being able to feed their family. It was an emotional moment for us all when she got the job. It is one of my proudest achievements because my purpose in life is to help others.”
He brings that same passion and focus to his work with clients at Newcomer Women’s Services as a recruitment specialist and employment counsellor. Waran joined NEW in October 2019, and he’s proud of the work he and co-workers on the employment team do for the community. “I live by that quote that “a friend in need is a friend indeed,’” he says, adding, “That’s what’s so great about an organization like ours. We contribute to the growth of our clients by helping them find meaningful work and education.
"Ultimately this plants a seed for long-term community building. I want to help communities who are suffering. It’s so important to look out for each other—now more than ever.”
K.C. Waran
Waran appreciates the importance of community—especially for newcomers—because he knows what it’s like to arrive in a country and have to create a new life. “When I arrived in Toronto in January 2018, I had to start from scratch in every sense of the word,” he explains. “When I was in India, I was surrounded by friends and family, but I wanted to get out of my shell and place myself in uncomfortable situations—like moving to a new country!”
Even though he was initially told the chances of him acquiring a Canadian student visa might be difficult, that didn’t deter him. (As a former professional badminton player he knows that discipline and hard work eventually pay off.) Undaunted, he pressed on and was accepted at York University to do a Human Resources Post Graduate Certificate program. (Waran completed his masters in Human Resource Development at Anna University in India where he was awarded the outstanding alumni award in 2016.)
Top: Waran is pictured collecting the “International Peace Award” for Newcomer Women’s Services’ work supporting refugees and immigrants. The Peace Awards are sponsored by the Gandhian Initiative for the Development of Support Services. During the federal elections,
Waran and his wife participated with the Liberal party of Canada for Team Sven, Member of Parliament, Lakeshore Constituency. There he had the opportunity to meet Chrystia Freeland deputy prime minister and Canada’s first female finance minister.
In India, Waran was awarded a staff achievement award for placing more than 1,000 new engineering graduates in a multinational corporation in 2012. He also won a corporate excellence award for innovative practices in the training industry in 2014 and an outstanding alumni award by Anna University, India, in 2016.
In his early days living in Toronto, there were many times when he was definitely living outside his comfort zone. To support himself, Waran had to find night-shift jobs—including being a gas station attendant—so that he could attend school during the day.
"Hardships give us perspective and a newfound appreciation for what we have."
K.C. Waran
“If I had chosen to stay within my comfort zone in India, I wouldn’t have gained the sense of independence I had always wanted. Also, I wouldn’t have understood the value of having international experience.” Still, there have been poignant moments when he’s reminded that his independence has not been without its costs.
Earlier this year, his grandmother passed away from COVID-19. When he received the news, it was a moment when Waran acutely felt the distance between his life in Canada and theirs. “When she passed away, it was a major turning point in my life as it made me realize the importance of not taking things for granted,” he says. “My grandmother was very active and socially aware. She taught me the value of service and helping others without expecting anything in return. Because of her, I want to lead a life of public service; in any way, I can.”
Are you looking for work?
Register with NEW Employment Services
Check out Newcomer Women’s Services Job Board.
Sign up for some of our upcoming employment-themed webinars.
Meet some of the other NEW Team members:
English teacher Shereen Gharseldin
Youth employment specialist Gersom Rodriguez
Youth employment specialist Latoya Dell