When Yasin Alhomsi arrived in Canada from Syria in 2015, his focus wasn’t on career paths, promotions, or leadership roles. He was simply hoping for safety, stability, and a new beginning.
It was a difficult transition, but with the help of government employment services, Alhomsi got his first job in Canada as a warehouse assistant at City Electric Supply (CES) just three months after his arrival. Today, he’s the district manager of the Vancouver Island district at CES — proof that a strong support system, determination, and hard work can help reshape your future.
Difficult circumstances
In 2001, everything changed for Alhomsi. His father, former independent Syrian MP Mamon Alhomsi, was arrested and imprisoned for five years for human rights activism. After his release, his father fled the country for his own safety and made his way to Canada. Alhomsi didn’t see his father for nearly 15 years.
Over the next few years, Yasin Alhomsi endured abuse and imprisonment simply for being his father’s son. When his refugee application was approved in 2015, he moved to Canada to join his family again and begin a new life.
Finding opportunity and growth at CES
Through a government employment services program, Alhomsi found a job as a warehouse assistant at the CES Richmond branch in British Columbia.
“I’ve been lucky to have mentors like Amit Thakur, who originally hired me,” Alhomsi recalled. “I worked as a counter warehouse assistant for about a year and a half, and then in outside sales as an account manager for two and a half years.”
“From the moment Yasin joined our team in early 2016, his resilience, strong work ethic, and commitment to excellence were evident,” said Branch Manager Amit Thakur. “What I saw in him from the beginning — a driven individual, ready to build a new life and career in Canada — has only grown stronger, and we’re proud to call him one of ours.”
One thing Alhomsi quickly learned about CES was its strong culture of promoting from within. With a desire to grow and build a strong future, Alhomsi spent long hours in intensive English training and took every course available to him through CES’s training platform, CES University.
He credits his belief that hard work pays off, along with his father’s support and example, with keeping him going. “I owe so much to my dad for literally and figuratively driving me toward my goals. He taught me to always do what’s best for the business, thinking about it as an owner and not just as an employee,” said Alhomsi.
Looking back, Alhomsi realized he’s the only person from his employment services cohort who’s still with the same company.
“CES values people who put in the work, and that’s why I didn’t think about leaving,” he said. “I saw a path for myself here. I trusted CES, and they trusted me. That trust made it easy to build on, and it’s one of the things I love most about working here.”
Growing a career at CES
That trust followed him as he was promoted from account manager at CES Richmond to branch manager at CES Courtenay, a move that came with both opportunity and personal sacrifice.
CES Richmond and CES Courtenay are more than 200 kilometers apart, with over four hours of travel time between them. After 15 long years apart from his family, the decision wasn’t an easy one to make.
“I had finally reunited with my dad and my family in Richmond, so making the decision to leave again was really hard,” Alhomsi said. “But my wife is amazing — she moved from coast to coast with me to support my dream.”
The leap of faith paid off. Alhomsi helped grow CES Courtenay into one of Canada’s best-performing CES branches, ranking among the top 15 locations.
Then came a moment Alhomsi would never forget — a call from Vice President of Operations Sean Whittaker telling him he’d been chosen as the new district manager.
“Everyone who applied for this role was incredible. When Sean told me I got the position, I couldn’t believe it. I needed time to really process it,” he shared.
“Yasin’s growth shows just how hard he pushes himself and how much potential he’s always had,” said Whittaker. “As a trusted part of our Canadian management team, he leads with heart, humility, and a real commitment to his people.”
Today, Alhomsi leads the Vancouver Island district, supporting teams across multiple branches and continuing to focus on growth — both in numbers and in people.
Looking ahead, with perspective
Now two years into his role as district manager, Alhomsi looks back on his journey in a broader light.
“I’ve met many people with similar stories who started as drivers or sales representatives and worked their way up. It’s all part of the culture,” said Alhomsi. “I’m learning something new every year and getting to know more about our industry, and I’m not ready to stop anytime soon.”
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Yasin’s journey,” shared Whittaker. “Starting over in a new country and building a life and a career from the ground up takes courage, focus, and resilience. Seeing what he’s achieved is something I’m personally proud of and lucky to witness.”
Alhomsi’s story is a reminder that — even after great loss — hard work, perseverance, and a network of support can rebuild a life and create something meaningful in the process.