Director Interview: Radost Alexandrov

What is your name, title and how long have you been working in your current role here?

My name is Radost Alexandrov and I have been with CASS since December 2008. Currently my role at CASS is Director of Finance.

What other roles have you had with the agency?

I have held different positions over the years. I started as Accounts Payable, then became Accounting Administrator, then Accounting Manager.

What ‘frontline’ experience do you have in this sector (doesn’t necessarily need to be exclusively ‘work experience’ ex: family, friends etc.)

Even though I don’t have a direct “frontline” experience, after all these years working for CASS, I feel like I know our sector pretty well. With all of its challenges, barriers, struggles and lastly rewards, it is one of the most diversified field of Human Services.

What do you want the community to know about the people we serve?

I want the community to know that all people are important despite their differences, all of them are unique and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

What sets CASS apart from other similar organizations in your estimation?

CASS is very innovative organization. It is focused on the best interests of our clients and staff. CASS does not fix problems but delivers specific solutions based on individual needs and abilities. CASS does not use the same approach across the board because. The principle emphasis is to discover what can be done so every client can achieve the best quality of life, to experience happiness and inclusion. CASS does not make decisions for clients, just advocates and accommodates ways to embrace and enrich their lives.

Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?

My Mom – for teaching me never to quit, never to judge, to stay loyal and strong, to treat everybody with respect, to be kind and genuine.

My husband – for teaching me to emphasize on good things in life, to acquire good lessons from bad experiences, to enjoy the small things that everyday life brings to us, to stay humble and down to earth.

How does your cultural background contribute to your work here?

I come from very different background than most people at CASS. I came to this country as an immigrant in 1992, full of hopes and expectations, and at the same time full of fear of the unknown. Before coming to Canada, I used to live under communist dictatorship when almost everything that we were doing was monitored and classified. When I started to realize how free people in Canada are, how they were able to accept all kind of differences, I promised to myself that I can become a better person. When I joined CASS, all I could see around me was positivity, flexibility, acceptance, and willingness to help. The combination of what I already had like always giving my best, stay committed, work hard and constantly seek ways to improve with the new outlooks that I learned here helped me to increase my contribution for CASS.

What is one decision you wish you hadn’t made?

One of the decisions that I regret the most is not being stricter with my children when they were young.  I just was not persistent enough to push them harder to keep their parents language, to help them learn new things and be more prepared for life. They are young adults now and of course they have become themselves but I still wonder if I could have helped them be better people.

Looking back, what have you achieved here that you are most proud of?

The biggest achievement for me was coming to Canada, learn the language (number 3 for me), and successfully finish my education. It was not easy at all, and just because of this, it feels so good.

What do you like to do for fun outside of work?

Traveling is the thing I live for. I was fortunate to visit many beautiful places around the world. I hope that in the near future, I will be able to continue to travel and mesmerize the world’s beauty and perfection. My memories of each trip I have taken will be with me forever.

Reading is another passion of mine. If I could (have enough time for it) I would read all of the books that are out there.

Getting together with my family and friends is a huge part of my life. I am the happiest when I am surrounded the people that I love and cherish. I am nobody without them.