When Ahmed Hamza arrived in Canada in September 2024, he carried more than just a suitcase — he carried the hopes of building a new life in a new country. Like many newcomers, Ahmed was filled with ambition and professional experience, but also faced the harsh reality of systemic barriers that often stand in the way of immigrants seeking meaningful work and community belonging.
Ahmed had studied graphic design in Egypt and had begun carving out a career in his field before emigrating. But in Canada, the challenges of securing employment — even entry-level work — were steep. “It was so difficult,” he recalls. “I couldn’t work or study. I had to have Canadian referrals and certifications. I had to have Canadian experience, even to work at McDonald’s.” Despite applying to dozens of jobs and attending multiple interviews, Ahmed struggled to find a path forward.
Like many newcomers navigating unfamiliar systems, Ahmed took on precarious cash jobs simply to make ends meet. These informal positions helped cover basic expenses, but they lacked the stability, benefits, and career growth he yearned for. Isolated and unsure where to turn, Ahmed wanted not only work, but connection — a sense of belonging in his new home.
His search for connection led him to Google “the nearest food bank,” and that simple search brought him to North York Harvest Food Bank. Founded with a vision of ensuring that all community members can meet their food needs, North York Harvest serves over 30,000 people each month through food distribution, advocacy, and programs designed to support long-term well-being.
By May 2025, Ahmed had become a volunteer at North York Harvest’s Albion Community Food Space — a hub where food, resources, and compassion intersect to create community. “At Albion, they are like my brothers and sisters,” he says. “Everyone is so supportive, especially the manager, Chashma.” For Ahmed, finding this supportive environment was a turning point; he felt welcomed, seen, and part of something larger than himself.
A Program That Changes Lives
Through his volunteer work, Ahmed learned about the Leadership in Logistics program — a paid, four-week training initiative offered by North York Harvest in partnership with Canadian Tire. This workforce development program is designed to equip participants with the practical skills and certifications needed to secure stable, full-time employment in logistics and distribution.
During the training, Ahmed worked alongside peers in the North York Harvest warehouse, learning key competencies like order building for distribution and the safe operation of warehouse machinery. The experience was much more than technical training; it was a structured pathway toward dignity, confidence, and a future he thought might be out of reach. In just one month, trainees complete the program with the knowledge and credentials to launch a new career.
“The Leadership in Logistics program has brought stability, confidence, and independence,” Ahmed reflects. “I finally feel like I’m building a real life here.” This sense of empowerment — born from newfound skills, a supportive network, and real opportunity — marked a profound shift in Ahmed’s journey.
From Trainee to Full-Time Career
Ahmed’s hard work paid off: he now holds a full-time position at a Canadian Tire distribution centre, where he continues to grow and excel. Yet even as his professional life takes shape, his connection to North York Harvest remains strong. He’s not just a success story — he’s part of a community that continues to support him as he settles into Canadian life.
Over the coming year, Ahmed will have access to continued support from North York Harvest staff, guiding him toward resources like healthcare referrals, furniture access, and other essential services that help build a stable foundation outside of employment. This ongoing wraparound care reflects the organization’s holistic approach to support — acknowledging that economic security is deeply tied to broader needs like healthcare, housing, and community connection.
Looking back on his journey, Ahmed describes a profound sense of gratitude and hope: “I feel proud and grateful. It was a big step forward and gave me hope that my future in Canada was finally taking shape.” For someone who once struggled to find his footing, that hope represents more than a job — it represents belonging, resilience, and the possibility of a meaningful life in his adopted country.
More Than a Food Bank
Ahmed’s story is one of many that illustrate how institutions like North York Harvest move beyond emergency food relief to become engines of opportunity. Through training programs like Leadership in Logistics, and a community-centric approach that values connection as much as nourishment, North York Harvest is redefining what a food bank can be — a place where people find not only food but dignity, community, and pathways to thriving futures.
By focusing on long-term solutions rooted in skill building and community care, North York Harvest continues to transform lives, just as it transformed Ahmed’s — turning challenges into momentum, isolation into belonging, and uncertainty into a future full of possibilities.