PROJECT HOPE SPEARHEADED BY IFBB PRO COMPETITOR FARZAD GHOTBI
BY SYDNEY MA
IFBB pro , CPA judge , Prep Coach , Full Police Officer , Father , Husband , Brother , Friend … you name it , he does it … and he does it all with a smile !
I first met Farzad Ghotbi at work as a police officer with the Toronto Police Service over 16 years ago and we ’ ve been great friends ever since !!
As a fellow “ Gym rat ” myself , Farzad and I began chatting and I could feel the love and passion he had for competing . Within 10 minutes of talking to him , I was convinced and I was already planning my prep for my very first competition . Anyone who talks to Farzad knows how much attention , passion , and dedication he puts into whatever he does .
His time as a police officer has been no different . Not only does Farzad run the gym at the 51 Division Station , but he also sits as a board member of the Toronto Police Amateur Athletic Association ( TPAAA ). The Toronto Police Amateur Athletic Association promotes fitness and camaraderie among members of the Toronto Police Service and other first responders .
Farzad has been a Neighborhood Community Officer for 10 years . One of his many duties includes getting to know local people , recognizing issues , and understanding that to better protect the community . In 2021 , Farzad and his partner Police Constable Mustafa Popalzai recognized the influx of Afghan refugees into Canada after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan . With his big heart and open arms , Farzad recognized the refugees would be arriving in
Canada with not much more than the clothes on their backs . This is when the duo created “ Project Hope ”.
" The reason we chose Project Hope is because as a refugee when you leave your country , you have nothing but hope ."
They felt compelled to offer assistance and launched a donation drive which began with collecting items such as clothing , toys for children , hygiene products , and anything else that would assist newcomers to the country .
Project Hope quickly grew to be more than just a donation drive . The officers are also providing information sessions addressing questions and concerns about immigrating to a brand new country . Farzad quickly identified topics of concern and their relation to Canadian law and the role of the police . Some concerns that were discussed ranged from minor traffic infractions to domestic and sexual abuse . The response has been extremely positive .
Farzad enlisted the help of several community partners who are all now involved . Those included but not limited to , were local mosques , synagogues , and churches as well as businesses such as Starbucks and Canadian Tire . The countless hours and hard work that Farzad has put into Project Hope has far exceeded the expectations of any of his superiors . As a result , Project Hope has been a huge success resulting in over $ 560,000 in donations to date .