Careers
Becoming a Support Worker
It was the great outdoors that brought Saori Kaihatsu to Canada, it was the people who compelled her to stay.
Being in the outdoors was a big part of Saori’s life in her home country of Japan. She worked as a golf caddy year-round and would go snowboarding on her days off. She also took advantage of a unique working-holiday visa for people under the age of 30, working in Australia when she was younger. But as her 30th birthday approached, she considered taking advantage of this opportunity once more and applied to come to Canada – with snowboarding being a major motivator.
So in 1999, Saori came to Canada and fulfilled her dream of snowboarding. A souvenir shop sponsored her to get a working visa so that she could stay in Canada longer. She eventually married and moved to Powell River in 2004. When her spouse wanted to change his career, they came to Campbell River and Saori found work at KOTO’s Japanese restaurant where she worked for over a decade. Eventually, Campbell River captured Saori’s heart.
“The island has more opportunities of everything I love,” Saori says. “The nature, where I love to go mushroom picking, the ocean and all the fresh seafood, the mountain for snowboarding, and other towns and cities within easy access.”
But when her marriage came to an end, Saori wasn’t sure if she could stay in a country with no family close by. Over time, she became more confident living alone and started thinking about changing careers. Knowing that the restaurant would close when the owner retired, she considered her options. A friend recommended working in the social services field and so Saori decided to explore her options.
“I felt that I needed a job that was more secure, where I could work for a long time but also something that would teach me new skills,” Saori says. “I felt like this job would be a good fit.”
Lindsay Morris is the administrative assistant at Communitas Supportive Care Society. She clearly remembers when Saori came to the office to apply for a job as a support worker.
“I recognized her from the restaurant and I remembered her as always being so friendly and full of joy,” Lindsay says. “I knew those qualities would make her a great support worker. We could teach her the hard skills if she was willing to learn.”
Turns out that despite being nervous, Saori was more than willing. She has been working for Communitas as a support worker since 2019 and has found that it is work that she loves. Saori particularly enjoys being part of a supportive team in the home where she serves. She has also come to deeply appreciate the people who live there.
“The people I serve teach me kindness, patience, and tolerance,” Saori says. “I think I am learning every day.”
Julia Ryan manages the home where Saori works and says Saori brings many gifts to the table.
“She demonstrates a calm, strong work ethic that thrives under pressure,” Julia says. “Saori is always willing and eager to learn and her dependability is unmeasurable.”
Julia calls Saori the “silent seamstress” of the home, noting that if something needs to be repaired (by sewing) Saori simply does it, without waiting to be asked. Julia also appreciates Saori’s humility.
“She never asks for recognition,” Julia says. “She is a superstar and an absolute pleasure to have on the team.”
For her part, Saori is not motivated by praise but rather by satisfaction of a job well done. She is grateful for the opportunity to share in the lives of her teammates and the people she serves.
When she reflects back on her journey to Communitas, she remembers how hesitant she was to stay in Canada and then to start a new career. Today, she marvels at how far she has come. It was all about having the courage to take that first step.
“I hope that my story helps someone who wants a career change but thinks they don’t have enough skills, so they don’t even apply,” Saori says. “If you are willing to learn, this is a great place to work.”
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