The Story of Artor Gashi, Barber & Business Owner, Victoria, BC
The Footprints We Leave: The Story of Artor Gashi, Barber & Business Owner, Victoria, BC
Artor Gashi and his family
There are moments in history that divide life into before and after. For many Kosovars in 1999, that moment came suddenly, violently, and without warning. Among those who carried both fear and hope across borders was Artor Gashi.
Today, more than two decades later, Artor is the owner of Brothers Barber Shop in Victoria, British Columbia. But his story begins long before that—before the business, before Canada.
It begins in Prishtina.
Life had structure. There were school days, family, and a future ahead.
Artor Gashi was born on February 28, 1979, in Prishtina, Kosova. He grew up alongside his older brother Visar in a hardworking family—both of his parents were employed in government roles.
He attended Dardania Elementary School and later Shtjefën Gjeçovi High School. Like many young people, his life was shaped by routine, friendships, and the expectation of building something for himself.
But as the conflict intensified, that normal life began to fade. What once felt stable became uncertain. Eventually, everything changed.
Artor and his mother in their house in ‘96
We didn’t plan to leave—circumstances forced us.
As war spread across Kosova, Artor and his family were forced to flee. Their journey took them to Macedonia, where they lived in a refugee camp among thousands of others facing the same uncertainty.
Even in those difficult conditions, Artor chose to help. He volunteered with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Red Cross, supporting other displaced families.
From there, the journey continued.
They arrived in Canada as part of the humanitarian evacuation effort—first in Kingston, Ontario, and shortly after, in Victoria, British Columbia.
When we arrived in Canada, people were extremely nice—it felt like home.
Artor arrived in Canada in June 1999 at just 20 years old. After everything he had experienced, one feeling stood out immediately: kindness.
But kindness doesn’t erase the challenges of starting over.
In Victoria, he knew very few people—only an aunt who had arrived years earlier. Everything else had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
“It was tough,” he remembers. “But slowly, I found myself surrounded by amazing people.”
First Albanian Independence Day in Victoria
I wanted to work. I wanted to build something of my own.
Artor briefly pursued college, but quickly realized he wanted to enter the workforce and become independent.
His first jobs were at a gas station and delivering pizza—small beginnings that carried big meaning.
Soon after, he found his path.
Inspired by his brother, who was already a barber, Artor enrolled in hair and esthetics school. He completed his training in the early 2000s and began working alongside his brother in the trade.
What started as a skill became a career—and eventually, a business.
First job in Victoria at the gas station
We started small—but we kept going.
Years of experience led to a turning point in 2015, when Artor and his brother opened their first barber shop.
“It started so well,” he says.
Their hard work paid off. In 2020, they opened a second location. Brothers Barber Shop became more than a business—it became a place where people gathered, connected, and built relationships.
Becoming Canadian citizens… it felt unreal, but true.
In 2003, just four years after arriving, Artor and his family became Canadian citizens.
It was a defining milestone—one that symbolized belonging, stability, and a new chapter.
But for Artor, success is not just measured by business or status.
It’s also about giving back.
Helping others has always been part of who I am.
Artor’s commitment to community began long before Canada—in the refugee camp, where he volunteered with humanitarian organizations.
In Victoria, that same spirit continued. For over a decade, he has been involved with Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, supporting families and children in need.
Looking ahead, he hopes to do even more.
“One day, we will have our own charity for families in need.”
I am Albanian from Kosova—and proud to be Canadian.
After more than 25 years in Canada, Artor carries both identities with pride.
“My identity will never change,” he says. “But I’m proud to call Canada my new home.”
It’s not about choosing one over the other. It’s about carrying both forward.
Albanian independence day in Seattle, WA
Be who you are. Don’t ever change.
When asked about the future, Artor’s message is simple but powerful:
“Respect this country and community—but always remember who you are.”
It’s advice rooted in experience—shaped by displacement, resilience, and rebuilding.
The initiative “Gjurmët” exists to document these stories - the footprints left behind by individuals who arrived with little more than courage, determination, and hope. Each journey reminds us that integration is not assimilation. It is contribution. It is the steady transformation of hardship into purpose, of displacement into belonging.
From classrooms rebuilt in unfamiliar languages to careers forged in public service, healthcare, education, business, and community leadership, these lives trace lines across continents and decades. They show that the true value of welcoming refugees cannot be measured only in the urgency of crisis. Its impact reveals itself slowly - in families raised, in institutions strengthened, in communities enriched.
Each person once crossed borders carrying uncertainty. Today, they carry responsibility. They lead teams. They serve neighbours. They build businesses. They mentor the next generation. This is not only resilience. It is renewal; It is contribution; It is legacy.
And these are the gjurmët - the footprints of lives rebuilt, and of individuals who now help others stand.