Where are you now?
I was born and raised in Toronto, but my passion for the outdoors has always shaped where I wanted to set down roots and start my career. After graduating in 2001 with a BA in Sociology (Hons.), I didn’t entirely know what I wanted to do. I knew that I loved learning, and I was interested in possibly pursuing a PhD and becoming a Professor. I figured that studying on the West Coast would be the perfect blend of things that I loved: learning and the outdoors.
So I completed an MA in Sociology at UVIC. Turns out that I enjoyed the learning and teaching aspects of my graduate degree, but research wasn’t for me. I did some truly fantastic jobs during the summer months, like working with people with diverse needs in California and teaching North American undergrads about community development in Costa Rica. But I knew that I needed to try out a more typical job. A Co-op term in the BC Public Service (aka. government) had appeal.
I began as a Co-op student at the Ministry of Environment because I had statistical and quantitative analysis skills. Sure enough, I found out that working in public service was a great fit for me. It allowed me to live in a place that I still love (Victoria) and combined my interests in political science and public policy.
22 years later, I am still working in the BC public service, and I have had the privilege of working in 8 different ministries, including the Office of the Premier. Currently, I am an Assistant Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (sort of like a VP job in a big company), and I’ll bet that I’ll be wearing different public sector hats in the years ahead too.
How did your time at Bishop’s shape your career path or influence your journey?
Social justice became a passion of mine when I was at Bishop’s, and this was what fed my interest in public policy. Activism was never the path for me, but along the way, I learned that you can influence change a lot easier from within government than from outside. The work that I have been most proud of to lead in my career has had a lasting impact on people and shared prosperity, and I think that ties back to my undergrad experience at Bishop’s.
Do you have any tips or advice for current students?
One of the things I do to pay forward what leaders who I have respect for have done for me is to mentor young people who are just starting out their careers, and this includes Co-op students. The thing I tell them all is this: I think that about 50% of someone’s undergrad experience should be about academics, and the other 50% should be about people, establishing a network, and having a whole lot of fun. I took full advantage of “the Bishop’s experience” while I was there, and this included being a member of the ski team, playing on Ultimate touring teams, working as a Resident Assistant, dabbling with radio at CJMQ, playing intramurals, working at Doolittle’s, and of course, weekends in Montreal.
The tagline “at Bishop’s, you’re a name not a number” that was used when I chose Bishop’s was something that I bought into. Turns out it was completely true! The people I met along the way are people who I still have relationships with today.
For any current students, make sure you make the most of what a special place you are living in and enjoy the outdoors. The Eastern Townships and neighbouring New England states are full of natural beauty, and they are completely different than where I grew up in the GTA. I am so glad that I travelled as much as I could around the region when I was there.
