I grew up in Burnaby, and despite spending some years in Toronto and Montreal, I returned to put down roots in the region that feels like home. Vancouver can be a hard place to feel comfortable; coming from an immigrant family, I’m familiar with many difficulties of being a newcomer in this city. But I also love being a small part of the many different cultures this city holds.

Part of my parents’ immigration journey from the USSR was bringing their dog with them, something that helped spark my lifelong love of animals. That dog served as a third parent to my brother and me, always making sure we were safe, and sitting between us on road trips to stop us from fighting. Today, I am the proud owner of a wonderful and occasionally grumpy cat (pictures available upon request).

As a young person, I consistently engaged in theatre and improvised comedy, developing my commitment to active listening, storytelling, play, and overcoming self-doubt. As a teenager, I became involved in team sports, which helped me learn more deeply about resilience and cooperation. As a young adult I focused on travel, exploring countries like Spain, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia, Italy and more. I love learning about different cultures, almost as much as I love exploring different foods and cuisines.

In 2020, shortly after the start of the pandemic, I started working at a temporary shelter set up at Coal Harbour Community Centre. I discovered my skills for connecting with people and building relationships were effective in a mental health context, which led me to become increasingly interested in a career in counselling. In September of 2025, I graduated from City University in Canada’s Master of Counselling program, and became certified as a Registered Clinical Counsellor shortly thereafter.

In my downtime, I enjoy seeing local comedy shows, spending time in nature, and trying to appease my cat.