Aditi Kumar immigrated to Canada after her wedding and joined her husband in Kingston in 2004. When Aditi arrived, she was unsure what she would do for employment.
To keep busy and meet people as she integrated into Kingston, Aditi volunteered in the physiotherapy department at Providence Manor long-term care home.
“This was my first real connection with the Kingston community,” she said. “The residents and therapy staff at Providence Manor were so kind and appreciative of my time and help. So, I decided to take on physiotherapy as a career and always practiced in geriatrics since.”
Working in the physiotherapy field required a degree. Since she already lived in Kingston, she applied and was accepted into the Master of Science in Physiotherapy program at Queen’s University. She graduated in 2008 and started working in physiotherapy in local care homes shortly after.
Within a few years, Aditi built up her local expertise and connections. While she was on parental leave with her first child, trouble started brewing as provincial funding was reduced for physiotherapy in care homes.
Aditi’s husband had encouraged her to open her own business and the couple decided this was the right time to pursue that dream.
“I decided I would fill this gap in the community that the government had created,” she said.
She incorporated Repute Homecare in 2013.
Within a few short years, the company grew to 25 employees and contractors, and had developed relationships from Napanee to Smiths Falls and to Glenburnie. They currently serve 200 clients a year.
The reviews from satisfied clients are a big boost to her team’s confidence. In their offices, you cannot miss the testimonials and letters of gratitude from clients on the walls. Aditi enjoys working with all clients, but there is a particular segment that she holds near and dear to her heart.
“Every now and then, I get to serve a client that has influenced the community in a huge way,” Aditi said. “Working with such clients and serving them makes me proud.”
She also gets a sense of pride by hiring newcomers, such as internationally trained nurses and helping them integrate into a diverse Kingston community.
When she is not directly working with clients, Aditi is interviewing more professionals to join the team, preparing wheelchair and walker prescriptions and completing paperwork. She is often on the road travelling Repute’s catchment area.
It was not Aditi’s plan to stay in Kingston long-term but once she found work, she realized Kingston was the right place for her and a home for her family.
In 2019, she received another sign that Kingston was the right city for her family: a nomination as Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce.
“The nomination reassured me that my team is doing the right things and our efforts are valued by the Kingston community,” she said.
She has been especially grateful for the assistance her family received since immigrating.
“Canada is so supportive of immigrants,” she said.
“You welcome us with open arms and support us whether it is as simple as learning the language or building your business. If you have to pick a place to move, Canada should be your first choice. I wouldn’t want to be in any other country.”
