From Server to Mentor: Adrian’s Inspiring Journey at HWTC

Adrian’s journey at HWTC is nothing short of inspiring. Starting as a server at HWTC’s Hawthorne Restaurant, he worked his way up to become a facilitator that trained and mentored participants in working at a restaurant. Over time, his skills in facilitation and training grew, leading him to take on more formalized training roles.

The pandemic brought its own set of challenges, but Adrian rose to the occasion by adapting his facilitation skills to the virtual world. He credits the resilience of the HWTC participants for inspiring him to keep pushing forward and finding new ways to support them.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Adrian has particularly moved by the stories of LGBTQ+ participants who had fled persecution in their home countries and came to Canada with little more than the clothes on their backs. Despite these challenges, they worked hard and thrived with the support of HWTC.

After eight years of dedicated service, Adrian is now moving on to open his own restaurant called Ricki & Olivia, with two other business partners who also worked with HWTC. While he may be leaving HWTC, Adrian plans to continue supporting the organization and the community through work placements and other partnerships.

We wish Adrian all the best on his new venture and thank him for his hard work and contributions to HWTC over the years. His journey serves as a reminder of the power of hard work, dedication, and perseverance in achieving one’s goals.