POWER ERG is pleased to share the third and final installment of the Sonepar Spotlight series, which aims to highlight women who make daily contributions and inspire others in our industry, we invite you to read the story below.
Q: Your background is extremely varied; can you briefly trace your journey for us?
A: Initially I wanted to go into policing. I applied but the RCMP recruiters told me I needed more life experience. I remember being upset about that, but now I realize they were right.
I moved away from home, to another province. I ended up getting into industrial welding on oil field rigs, I loved it and I was good at it. Then I was in a car accident. I had serious rehabilitation issues, but the employer at the time (20ish years ago) just wasn’t that accommodating – where we are now is so different.
During that rehab I saw a poster for healthcare paid training, so I switched into that. I went to school and got a diploma in continuing caring, which eventually included union work, OH&S and teaching transitioning personnel. I did that for 15 ½ years, and I ran my own business on the side.
Now I am here, and it has gone by so fast.
Q: Tell me a little bit about your personality: never hesitating to dive into a male-dominated environment and diving into the unknown. Are these typical for you?
A: No, that’s not how I would put it. My perspective is more like “Why? Why can’t I do it?” I'm always asking how can I do it, rather than should I.
From a young age, my mom worked long shift work, so my brother and I were with my dad a lot. We had a family farm. I had to be self-reliant. We didn’t live there but we were there often to experience how farm life was, and there was always work. It didn’t matter that I was a girl, it had to get done. My dad always had the attitude of, ok you want something done, you have to work for it.
Q: At Sonepar, we are in a male dominated industry here. Do you feel any sort of discrepancy?
A: Well, Humboldt is tiny. The customers here, will go on the Humboldt Facebook page by preference, and not on the Gescan website. We still have garage sale boards. Notices are still physically pinned to an actual community board. At the beginning, some of the older men were a bit hesitant to deal with me, but now that they all know me, they are really accepting. I kept asking questions – what is this? what is it used for? It goes back to being unafraid to ask questions no matter what the result might be. Now they are great.
Q: What about Sonepar in general, and your colleagues, how are you finding that?
A: I got some advice early on: when you are in a male dominated place, especially a suit and tie environment, have a firm handshake, and look people in the eye. It opens up conversation. It makes people want to ask questions, regardless of gender. If you look scared and are hiding in a corner, it’s not very inviting. Dive in there and do it. Even if some people look intimidating.
I did not know a lot of people, but I got to meet the president of the company. It’s a big deal, he’s a big deal, and he’s great. In other meetings later, he remembered me. Turns out he was so kind and so nice; I had nothing to be worried about.
That same technique got me to talk to people who I might never have connected with.
Q: What is a challenge that you have overcome that you are particularly proud of?
A: When I initially was going to start my business, there were lots of challenges. Just navigating the process of opening a children’s clothing store was difficult. It was a lot of research and planning, making a business plan, all the duties of managing and running the business
Eventually, I was selected in the women’s indigenous entrepreneurship, and I was featured in a poster. Metis Nation were very helpful with direction and guiding me through the whole process. Just bringing that dream to life was amazing.
Q: You are from a Metis background, and you say you are very proud of it. Can you tell me what that means to you, and how it has formed who you are?
A: The town I grew up in is only a couple of hours from Humbolt, but it is very different. There were a lot of people from many different backgrounds. From a young age, I was friends with everyone.
My Dad is Metis, but my mother is white. Difference was just something that was normal for us. Sometimes you could see the exclusion, but that was never my case. I would always include anyone because for me everyone was the same. This was equally true throughout my adult life in all situations.
I have 3 children. They are a girl of 15, a boy of 13, and a girl of 8. My youngest is very dark skinned, despite my husband and I being quite pale. I guess it just comes from our genes. I do know my great grandmother was quite dark. I notice that people hesitate because of the color of my daughter’s skin.
What this has left me with though, is the belief that everyone should be treated equally. That seems obvious to me.
Q: So in terms of your day-to-day culture, what kind of things do you participate in?
A: We try as much as possible to keep the kids connected to their culture. Once a month, they will get a package in the mail from the Metis Nation with puzzles and coloring books. They also participate in school events and culture days and represent the community.
Growing up there was a residential school where my dad grew up, but he doesn’t talk about it a lot. My uncle is a bit more open. My Uncle and my cousin are involved in community events sometimes, particularly the Metis Red River Group. Their involvement sparked my interest, and now I am a part too.
My dad trapped, and we lived off the land growing up. My oldest hunts with her dad and grand fathers. We eat game that my dad brings and what ever my husband and daughter are able to harvest. My son is less into hunting, and that’s fine too.
We still garden and also make pickles and jams in the traditional way.
I am still learning about my culture everyday, and it is important to preserve it.