Meet the family of engineers: Farid, Nahid and their twin daughters Kimia and Kamand. They came to Penticton from Iran’s capital city, Tehran. With a population of over 10 million, the shift from Tehran to a small city was dramatic. But the family welcomed that change, seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth.
“I believe that life has its ups and downs, depending on how you perceive difficulties or problems. When you change your mindset to see life as mostly problems that need solving, you will find joy in solving those problems,” says Farid.
His passion has always been in water preservation systems. Thus, he became an engineer in water management and irrigation. He joined a company called Ghods Niroo Engineering right after university. It was here that he met Nahid, his future wife, who joined the company as a water resource engineer. Fast forward several years and their twin daughters received their BA’s in Industrial Engineering and Energy Engineering, respectively.
Opening a Business
During this time, Farid came to realize that his role in conventional projects felt limiting, and he wanted to explore new ideas. He decided to start his own business.
“I knew I could do more. My passion was to help others use water efficiency systems for water management and Irrigation. Similar to South Okanagan, the amount of annual precipitation in my home country is very small – around 250 millilitres on average. So, water preservation and efficient irrigation is very important,” shares Farid.
After over 25 years, 800 projects and satisfied clients, Farid began looking for new challenges – and that is how the family ended up in Canada. Through the BC Provincial Nominee Regional Pilot, Farid applied as an entrepreneur to start a business in Penticton, and successfully passed the vigorous selection process.
“It was very exciting, but also very challenging. Starting over in the new country was daunting – everything was new and unfamiliar,” says Farid.
A Move to Penticton
With so many wineries, vineyards and orchards in the South Okanagan that could use Farid’s services, as well as the limited precipitation that requires preservation, Penticton was an easy choice. Once they arrived, Farid and Nahid started off by connecting with the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS) to improve their language skills and establish new connections. Their children are thriving. Nahid is currently working in her field, and their daughters are exploring new exciting avenues. Kimia is working on event planning and design, and Kamand on digital marketing, before they both pursue graduate programs in engineering.
Farid has now started his business WaterMatic Systems, offering smart irrigation systems, creating water features (e.g. fountains, ponds), landscaping and more for clients both locally island in the Vancouver area. The business is getting busy. A recent project involved developing a treatment system for the pool at Penticton Lakeside Resort. He’s also working with multiple vineyards to enhance sprinkler irrigation systems and automation, sharing the results for research and development. A short-term contract with Agriculture Canada’s Research Station in Summerland, will be focusing on irrigation and automation for cover crops in vineyards from Kelowna to Osoyoos.
“Many wineries and orchards have equipment for automated irrigation but don’t use them because they think it’s difficult to use. But it’s not! If you’re watering your vineyard or home 2-3 times a week for 4-5 hours each time, most of the water is wasted because in the sandy and loamy soil in the region, more watering is out of reach of the roots. Drip irrigation is 98% efficient, and sprinkler systems are 86-89 per cent efficient. Plus, setting up the automated watering for early mornings and for shorter periods allows for low evaporation, and with some sensors, ensures water goes directly to the roots,” Farid shares.
He believes that clients’ trust is the most important aspect of any business, and the most effective advertisement is conveyed by the happy customers via word of mouth.
“The key to achieving success is making sound decisions and being in the right environment,” adds Farid. “Penticton has been a community of supportive and friendly individuals who are willing to lend a helping hand and support our advancement. Thanks to this attitude, I was able to secure my first project in March through a referral. In larger cities, this kind of support and atmosphere is often lacking.”
Enjoying the Penticton Lifestyle
The new residents of Penticton are full of hope. They love their new hometown. Farid enjoys being active and one of his favourite pastimes is running along the beach at Okanagan or Skaha early in the morning
“It energizes me and sets a peaceful tone for the day. In the afternoons, I enjoy leisurely walks with my family. I’m also passionate about tennis, biking, and skiing.” Nahid enjoys yoga. The girls go to the gym and explore their creativity in design and marketing. The family enjoys getting together with friends for dinner.
“People are very kind and friendly in this community. They help each other, and this is something that is very important for newcomers. We hope to grow together here as a family for a better future,” Farid says with a smile. “If you were successful in your home country, you can be successful in another country. Every day you should have a plan and solve at least one problem. It is like a chess game — you need to plan each move, and your next move depends on your previous one. You just need to keep going, one step at a time.”
Are you new to Canada? Find out more about SOICS.
This profile is a part of the Community Champions campaign of the South Okanagan-Similkameen Local Immigration Partnership (SOSLIP). The Partnership project is led by the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS), which provides a range of services for newcomers to the region. This article, written by Elmira Galiyeva, was previously published on Castanet. Updates have been made since original publishing.
