In 2006, Kateryna Chaura moved to Canada with her parents, leaving Ukraine at 19. In 2010, she joined RBC and was the first person interviewed for this special team dedicated to newcomers. After studying immigration, she had planned to leave RBC to work for the government in her field, but circumstances (our dear friend COVID-19) led her to stay at RBC and act on this calling that’s been on her mind for several years.
“I’m on the team because I speak Ukrainian and Russian. I’ve always worked in a Russian-speaking environment. That’s why I can meet the needs of communities in all of the post-Soviet countries. I’m entrusted with people who want to open a bank account,” said Kateryna.
Harir Rabeie feels that Montreal “has helped shape who she is.” She said she wouldn’t be the same person if she’d grown up in her home country of Iran.
“Because I come from a country like Iran, where women aren’t given the same opportunities as men, it gave me an appreciation to have grown up here where I can pursue my dreams and ambitions freely and build a confidence to be my authentic self in all aspects of my life. I try to pass that confidence on to newcomers,” she said.
As a child of first-generation immigrants who came to Canada in the hope of a better life, she understands the difficulties and barriers that first-generation immigrants face. She says she can understand their journey and how hard it can be to integrate into a new workplace. Since 2017, Harir has explored various divisions at RBC, including fraud management and advisory services. Prior to becoming a Business Development Newcomer Specialist, she served as Assistant Branch Manager.
Paola Mazzara was born in Venezuela. In 1992, her family moved to Canada, seeking a brighter future for their children in a safe country.
“My parents are my idols. Thanks to them, my brother and I got the chance to learn new languages and become who we are today. Canada has a wonderful culture and endless opportunities. We were lucky enough to arrive as permanent residents and be welcomed with open arms, which helped us get settled and for which we are eternally grateful.”
From a very young age, as Paola saw her parents flourish in Canada, she knew that she would one day help newcomers integrate into her adopted country.
“Some people leave their families behind, but not us. Of course, we left something behind, but we built a new life. That’s what I want to pass on to newcomers. I tell them that it isn’t easy, but to have a better life, you have to take the leap. You can have it all here. You have the opportunity to work and to get an education, and I had those privileges.”
Since 2012, she quickly made a name for herself in her approach with clients and excelled in several roles at RBC, including as an Expert Advisor, Banking Advisor, Assistant Branch Manager, Team Manager and Advice Centre Coach. She is also active in the newcomer community, which led to her becoming a Business Development Newcomer Specialist.
“This role lets me implement my vision and work with colleagues and partners who share a passion for helping newcomers establish themselves in Canada and guiding them in each stage of their lives.