Veteran run organization, UTIMUS, focuses on getting newcomers qualifications to join the workforce
Description
Brian MacDonald is the former executive director of Aman Lara, an organization of volunteers and veterans that perform 'extractions' from Afghanistan. That began in 2021, following the collapse of the Afghan government and the return to power of the Taliban. So at first, the organization's main focus was helping Afghans escape their country. This work expanded in 2022, to helping people get out of Ukraine. Two years ago, Brian stepped away from his role at Aman Lara, to start an organization called Utimus. It has a large focus on getting newcomers to Canada the qualifications they might need to join the workforce here. Utimus is based mostly in Ontario, but the CEO and founder, Brian, is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Here's his conversation with host, Jeff Douglas.
United States
