Hello and welcome! I'd like to tell you a bit about myself and my role with Community Futures West Yellowhead.
My background
In the late 1990’s, I was a graduate student in Newfoundland and Labrador. I worked with women displaced by the fishery crisis in the province. I travelled the Newfoundland and southern Labrador coastline to meet women who were unemployed from the fishery closures.
Women’s experiences in the fishery crisis were unique and different from men’s as they held different roles. Women worked as mothers, wives, and daughters in the household and as fish plant workers and harvesters in the fishery industry.
Our conversations focused on what they thought their futures would look like along with the future of their rural fishing communities. Based on the information collected, I wrote a thesis entitled “Images and Realities: Women’s Experiences in the Newfoundland and Labrador Fishery Crisis”.
I moved to Jasper in 1997. I had only planned to stay for the summer but stayed for about 6 years that first time. I taught Sociology and Women’s Studies at Grande Prairie Regional College and initially came to CFWY as a project coordinator for the Leadership West Yellowhead program. That job turned into the General Manager position which I have held since September 2012.
My role
I often get asked what my job is. One friend told me, “I don’t know what you do, but you talk to a lot of politicians”; while another asked me, “you work for the federal government, right?”. Well… no to both. Yes, I do talk to a lot of people, including politicians, small business owners, and regional partners. Networking with the business community, at all levels, is a huge part of my job as we often tailor our programming based on our region’s particular needs.
I don’t work for the federal government directly however our funding does come from PrairiesCan which used to be Western Economic Diversification. We are a non-profit organization, funded by the Government of Canada, and governed by municipal councillors. I guess I should have said yes!
One of the things I like about my job is the variety. No two days are the same. For example, this week I prepared for Lemonade Day, wrote this blog post, and worked on implementing a new loan program. The list of things to do in economic development is endless.
Although we don’t know what the future will bring and we don’t know what a future with COVID-19 looks like, business and economic development will remain constant as the foundation of the work we do. Our work is important to our rural communities and hopefully, we are making a difference!
Check out our website to find out more about our programs and services, or give us a call at (780) 865-1224. We'd love to hear from you!
