She shares her time and talents with CIWA’s Seniors Sewing and Craft Groups, stitching creativity, friendship, and community into every project.
Lida and her spouse relocated to Calgary in 2024 from Iran, joining their daughter, who had settled in Canada several years earlier. With each visit before the move, Calgary began to feel more like home. They soon knew it was the right place to start again, plant new roots, and embrace a fresh chapter of life.
For 30 years, Lida worked as an elementary school teacher in Iran, guiding children with patience, warmth, and devotion. After her retirement, she followed a long-held passion for fashion and opened a small boutique featuring women’s clothing, an entrepreneurial step that allowed her creativity and personal style to shine in a new way.
Encouraged by friends, Lida connected with CIWA and enrolled in several programs. What started as a journey to improve her English quickly became something deeper. CIWA became a place where she could find community, discover new opportunities, nurture her well-being, and ease the transition into life after retirement. When she discovered the volunteer-led sewing and craft groups, she felt a familiar spark return. Creating again, alongside others who share her passions, brought her back to a source of joy, confidence, and connection that had always been part of who she is.
Lida began volunteering earlier this year, joining the Wednesday sewing circle and Thursday craft group. From the very start, she gave more than her time: she brought dedication, initiative, artistry, and care. Her presence quickly became essential to the rhythm of the craft room. She is admired not only for what she creates, but for the kindness in how she supports others, the leadership in how she anticipates needs, and the joy she brings to every shared project.
She lights up when speaking about volunteering. It has strengthened her well-being, sharpened her English, and opened the door to friendships that make Calgary feel more connected, welcoming, and truly her own.
Her love of sewing has followed her through life’s milestones. She proudly recalls designing and sewing her own wedding dress, a moment of craftsmanship and personal pride that still warms her heart today. Returning to sewing and knitting now, after many years away, feels to her like reclaiming a piece of her story, one stitch at a time.
Together, the group that Lida is part of recently created a quilt featuring CIWA’s newly rebranded logo: a symbolic and stunning piece that blends skill, identity, and shared ownership. For Lida, this project reflects far more than craft. It reflects belonging, collaboration, and a community that builds, creates, and uplifts itself together.
CIWA staff highlight that Lida’s enthusiasm is contagious. She approaches each new project with curiosity, positivity, and thoughtful attention to detail. She welcomes challenges with a smile and generously shares her experience, skills, and creative insight, often encouraging others to try something new or guiding them through their own ideas. Her artistic talent and care elevate the beauty, intention, and impact of every piece she touches.
One of her most outstanding qualities is her instinctive willingness to offer a helping hand even before being asked. Whether she is assisting with setup or stepping in wherever support is needed, she consistently stays ahead of the curve, ready to contribute in every way she can. Her proactive spirit inspires others and nurtures a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and shared purpose within CIWA’s craft groups.
Lida expresses deep gratitude for the welcoming environment at CIWA, where staff met her learning journey with patience, encouragement, and genuine warmth. Their support has made both learning and volunteering feel energizing, meaningful, and joyful. CIWA has become a space where she can give back, grow forward, and feel at home while doing both.
Beyond the craft circles, Lida carries a heart full of passions. She loves cooking, painting, crocheting, reading, and sharing calm evenings playing backgammon with her spouse—a Persian board game tradition that has followed them across borders and brings them closer together. Volunteering has now become one more treasured thread in her everyday life, weaving creativity, newfound purpose, and human connection into each passing week.
Her story is a testament to the transformative power of community. It shows how creativity can rekindle identity, how giving time can reshape confidence, and how volunteering can help newcomers build something far greater than a new address: an infused, meaningful life, rich with belonging, friendship, and shared purpose.
Want to learn more about how you can make an impact? Click here to see volunteer opportunities at CIWA