There's something special about businesses in the Bow Valley. Of course, many of them are locally owned and community-minded, but there's one more thing: most companies in the Bow Valley employ passionate folks who have travelled from around the world to call this place home.
En Vogue is a hair salon in Banff that opened its doors over 30 years ago. A true Bow Valley institution, the salon has welcomed visitors and locals alike to its chairs since the '80s. More recently, the salon has been taken over by Paul Kyriacou and Frederick Belanger (Freddy). Hailing originally from London, now settled in Banff, Paul brings an impressive resume that boasts opening several salons, and working for prominent brands, including Toni & Guy, among many others.
We spoke to Paul to learn more about him, his salon, and his team. And, of course, we dove into his experience as an employer of international employees. Paul knows he's got a special business on his hands because it's been a staple in the Bow Valley's hair scene for so long. He even inherited one of his long-time employees with the salon. She's been there about 40 years and brings incredible knowledge and mastery of the styles long-time clients have been getting for years. "Our salon is like a little plug into the past," said Paul.
There are three employees apart from Paul and his partner Freddy. One is an Alberta local, one is British, and one is Australian. Supporting the goals and long-term success of international employees is a value Paul holds close. "I myself was an international employee. That's how I started here," he told us. Not only is it hugely helpful to stylists who are hoping to settle down in Canada long-term, but "it's great to have stylists that are trained in a different environment and has a slightly different skill set," said Paul. "Although we're all doing the same thing, I find that everyone has a little area that they enjoy the most and excel at."
"Without foreign employees, we would be really, really short-staffed," Paul reflected. "It's really helped to be able to hire keen and talented people, no matter where they're from."
Having been in the Bow Valley for ten years now, Paul spoke to the fact that spending time with people who are new to Banff is "a good reminder. As long-time locals, we can get a bit jaded and begin to take the place for granted." He noted that "when international employees are able to have stable employment and have an employer who's willing to vouch for them to stay, they're so grateful and happy just to be in this beautiful place and be able to make a living here."
Beyond that, Paul loves to watch visitors-turned-locals get "plugged right into the community" and take advantage of all the wonderful things the Bow Valley has to offer.
While Paul is a huge advocate for hiring international employees, he did encounter some speed bumps along the way. From having to build a case for why the international hire was necessary to expiration dates and inconsistent messaging, it can be a struggle from both employee and employer perspectives.
During this period of struggle, Paul got in touch with Leann at Foothills Immigration for support. "Leann was lovely. She is brilliant, has so much knowledge, and stayed cool and calm while helping us over our many stumbling blocks. I have nothing but good things to say!"
Paul was sure to mention that it's absolutely worth getting support from an immigration expert as either a business or an individual. There are so many moving parts when it comes to visas, residency, and citizenship. If you want to ensure you're set up for success, be sure to chat with an expert.
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you Foothills Immigration Inc. for helping to expand local news coverage in the Bow Valley. Learn more.
