Steven came a long way in his
Business Management studies at CNC; literally and figuratively speaking. About nine years
ago, he moved from Northern Manitoba to Prince George to resume his training with CN Rail after layoffs in his home community. “I’ve always done boots-on-the-ground physical labour but unfortunately, I am no longer physically able to do
the work that I loved so much”, Steven explains.
“The Business Management program is my steppingstone to what I want: work for myself and mentor others. I’ve built so much confidence and interpersonal skills since last year.” Steven laughs reflecting on his time in class. “From
someone who wasn’t talking much, I’ve grown into someone who now realizes he’s talking too much and needs to create space to let others speak.”
Inspired by family
With a welding and electrical certificate in his pocket, Steven initially stepped into his grandfather’s footsteps into blue-collar jobs. “I did grunt work until my body couldn’t take it anymore.”
“I’m Cree and my aunties are Residential School Survivors. They all have careers in business management. One of them has always encouraged me that there is a different route for me to take. She always used to say that it’s better to
use knowledge than our hands.”
Steven’s decision to enroll at CNC was informed by Sheldon Bjorklund, a close friend that attended CNC. “I consider him more family than friend; I call him my uncle. He told me about the instructors, how welcome the College was and how
he enjoyed his time on campus. Hearing that from someone who decided to go back to school later in life was a big positive for me. And the fact that I could do the program in Prince George meant that I could stay close to my family and kids.”
Top-notch cheeseburger
Steven is working to graduate in June with a Business Management diploma. What is the future holding next for him? “I noticed that Prince George is missing a good place for cheeseburgers. Coming from Winnipeg, I think we have the best in Canada
or perhaps even the world. I want to start a food truck so I can share a piece of my home to the locals who welcomed me in their homes and community. I might also explore
CNC’s Professional Cook program to further develop
my culinary skills.”
The variety of courses and commitment of instructors in the Business Management program has given Steven a good head start. “It’s very well-rounded with a mix of technical information and soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem
solving. They teach you anything from financials and leadership skills to marketing and customer service. I’ve also learned how to develop a business plan from scratch—a big first step towards owning my own business in the future.”
According to Steven, his instructors have been nothing but supportive and compassionate. “They’ve always made time to break things down for me and go over where I was making my mistakes, which was helpful with some of the tougher subjects.
The instructors have also been really great with making necessary adjustments for me to hand in paperwork or assignments. They know we’re all here to learn and understand the material together.”
Steven hopes his future business can serve as a hands-on learning school for youth that find themselves struggling along a path that is not for them. “I would love to set up a work-integrated learning program so they can get some credentials and
a sense of the possibilities that the future holds for them.”