"Miigwech" - From Roots to Rise: Jessica's Journey to Career Success.

I’m a proud Indigenous woman and a single mother. I faced six months of unemployment and had to rely on Income Assistance just to get by. That time in my life, things were not easy. I encountered multiple barriers. Affordable housing was out of reach, I was raising my child on a single income, I had little knowledge of the job market, no formal training or education, and I struggled with things like reliable transportation, food security, and writing a proper resume. I also had no idea where to even begin when it came to accessing the right resources.

Despite these challenges, I never gave up on finding a sustainable job that would provide both me and my child with a decent living wage. When I received the IA referral to WorkBC, I saw it as: A huge opportunity to chase my dreams, our dreams! My employment counsellor was knowledgeable, genuinely empathetic, an attentive listener, and deeply dedicated. They informed me of the services I could access to support my journey toward employment.

Through WorkBC Centre Newton, I received help with wage subsidy, financial support for transportation and food, workshops, community resources, guidance in navigating the job market based on my skills and experience, and help to overcome my barriers and succeed in ways I never imagined. Today, I’m wholeheartedly employed full-time in community services. I have stable employment, a livable wage, and I’m growing both personally and professionally. 

Miigwech -thank you- to WorkBC Centre Newton for believing in me and helping me build the life I knew was possible!