Rosie Smith makes a difference in the community

Credit to Author: Ramya Ramanathan| Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:31:58 +0000

Originally from Jamaica, Rosie Smith relocated to Canada in 2008. Since then, she has been working as director of adult services with Epilepsy Toronto, a nonprofit organization offering support services to those living with epilepsy. She is also the community epilepsy liaison for Toronto Western Hospital and Neurology Centre of Toronto, and a hub member of Epilepsy ECHO. A registered psychotherapist, Smith has a master’s degree in counselling psychology.

When she is not working, Smith volunteers with the compassion and community outreach ministry of her local church. She also enjoys baking and travelling.

What brought you to Toronto?
Many people ask if I came to Canada seeking a better life and are surprised when I tell them I actually had a pretty good life back in my home country. My sister and brother lived here for many years, and I have always visited. After my husband passed away and I felt I had somewhat ‘peaked’ in my career, I felt I needed a change of scenery, so I chose Canada.

How is today’s Toronto different from when you first came here?
Over the past 15 years, Toronto has certainly changed. It has definitely become more diverse, and I no longer stick out like a sore thumb every time I attend a conference or a meeting because I am the only person of colour there. I also came in the middle of the 2008 economic recession so things were difficult, and I must admit at times I considered moving back home.

And I think many changes have been made to make the transition to life in Canada easier for immigrants such as implementation of bridging programs for various internationally trained professionals; offering credit cards for new immigrants to build their credit history; more immigrant and refugee services to assist with system navigation and so on.

What were a couple of challenges you faced then and how did you overcome them?
Employment: Having had my qualifications and work experience put through such intense scrutiny prior to getting here, I believed it would be easy to get a job. Imagine my shock when I learned there was a thing called “Canadian experience” and that I needed to apply for entry-level jobs in order to gain this experience. Having left Jamaica where I had a managerial position, it was not easy to go to job fairs where the only positions available were in factories and assembly lines.

Transportation: I came to Canada with an excellent driving record. Another shocker was learning that it didn’t matter. Unless you came from the USA, you were considered a new driver which means going back to driving school, getting a G1 license and paying an exorbitant insurance rate. By the time I started working, I became an expert in navigating buses, subways and GO Trains. Needless to say, getting lost became a fun experience.

Housing: After staying with family for a few months, it was time to find a place of my own. But you needed credit history and references from past landlords (never rented before). No one wanted to give you a credit card because you had no credit history in the country, and you cannot have a credit history without being able to access credit. That has changed now, thankfully.

Perseverance, confidence, self-advocacy and being open to new experiences and not being afraid to try, helped me overcome some of these challenges.

Tell us about your work.
I currently work at Epilepsy Toronto, developing and implementing programs for adults living with epilepsy and seizure disorders, providing therapy, facilitating support and treatment groups, educating those newly diagnosed with epilepsy as well as advocating on behalf of my clients. Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Being told you are diagnosed with this condition is difficult to say the least. Having seizures can put one at risk for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Sometimes clients have challenges adjusting to the many changes to their lives (employment, relationships, independence). Through my work at Epilepsy Toronto, I have the privilege of supporting clients from diagnosis to a point where they can live well with their diagnosis.

What do you find most fulfilling about your work?
I have always known that my calling was helping people, which is what led me into nursing then social work. I believe I was put on this earth to make a difference in people’s lives, especially those who are needy, struggling or bombarded by the challenges of life. I am at my best when I am helping or empowering others. I recall when I first saw the job posting for Epilepsy Toronto and thought “that is me.” In this role, I get to do all the things I enjoy and find fulfilling — counselling, educating, empowering through self-management and seeing people go from helpless and being overwhelmed to being empowered.

What is your advice for newcomers and immigrants, especially those facing health challenges?
Do not allow your fears and inhibitions to stop you from accessing the care you need. There are many community agencies that are there to help you navigate what is a difficult health care and social welfare system – seek them out. Use your networks and do your research until you find what you need. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself; to speak up and be seen. As an immigrant, you are not just here because you need something from Canada; you bring a lot of international experience that can make Canada better, so don’t sell yourself short.

You can learn more about Epilepsy Toronto here.

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