HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-06-17, Page 4Page A4 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Photos by Dominique Milburn,
contributed
On the catwalk
Patrons had the chance to experi-
ence the innovation of local fash-
ion designer, Jen Scholten during
her fashion event "jenElle" at The
Livery on Friday. The licensed cat-
walk cabaret was accessorized
with the 40's to 60's musical stylin'
of The Pastels. It featured 26 piec-
es of clothing designed and cre-
ated by Scholten, a 17 -year-old
Goderich resident who will be
attending Ryerson University in
the fall for Fashion Design. L -R;
Pastel .1layers Karen Weber and
Wes MaGVicar. Two of the models
who showed off original jeElle cre-
at.ons. Proceeds from the event
wi'I go towards The Livery's
2009/2010 season.
I remember my first summer job ...
A peek into the past of some of Goderich's hardest workers
Everyone remethbers their first summer
job; the freedom that comes with earning
your own money and the responsibility of
holding down a job.
The Signal -Star caught up to some of God-
erich's gainfully employed to see how they
started out in the rat race.
INSPECTOR DAN GRANT
OPP DETACHMENT
COMMANDER
Inspector Dan Grant
got started the way
many boys do - cutting
lawns - and worked his
way up to top cop in Hu-
ron County. From the sweat .
of his brow he not only learned
the value of a dollar earned, but to take the
good with the bad and think about the bigger
picture.
'Well, my first paid summer job was prob-
ably cutting lawns and then graduated to
painting the exterior of houses," Grant said. "I
started lawns when I was 8 to 10 years old"
He said his work wasn't so much that of an
entrepreneur as a hint from his parents.
"I was given the ultimatum," he laughed.
"Go out and do something."
At age 16, hesought a "real" job, getting
hired at a local grocery store. He said while'
his first boss may have been something of a
tyrar>t,Zt was nevertheless an educational ex-
perience.
"He was one of those individuals who
would take advantage of you unless you stood
up to him," he recalled. "That in, itself was a
learning experience."
He said his early work experience was a
lesson about work ethic, the importance of
-quality work and interacting with people.
At the grocery store, Grant said he was
making good money for the times - about
$1.40 an hour.
He offers the following advice for youth
looking to enter the summer work force.
"Be very open-minded. Be willing to take
on any type of job for experience. Over the
years, I worked m a lot of unpleasant jobs and
it made me appreciate the good jobs I have
had," he said. "Beyond.that, work hard and His advice'?
do a good job no matter what you're doing" "Don't be fussy and get your foot in the
And just one more thing... door. Do a good job and just be thankful you
"Make sure when you're carrying an open have a job in this environment," he said. "If
bucket of paint you have a good idea of what you got a job, it's easy to find another one.
you're doing at all times or you're going to You've always got to be working at some -
end up wearing it." thing."
• DORAN LOVE
SCOT1ABANK
BRANCH MANAGER
Another man who
pull -started his career
with a lawn mower,
Scotiabank manager;
Doran Love was an early
disciple of prudent invest-
nient, beginning at age 12
when he began cutting grass at about $2 a pop.
"I had 16 lawn customers in the business,"
he said. "I kept my own books and the whole
nine yards... Maybe that's why I became a
banker."
It was hard work, and he saved what he
made and invested that back into his business,
buying his very own lawn mower.
"I remember it had a Briggs and Stratton
motor," he said. "It cost $93 bucks... It was a
good one."
Hig motivator for joining the world of
work was to have his own spending money.
Coming from a large family, it wasn't always
available.
"My parents never had a lot to hand out,"
he said. "I never asked for allowance. I al-
ways had my own money."
June was the "crazy" time of year for him,
balancing 16 lawns to cut and going to school.
But, by doing the bulk on weekends, he was
able to balance it out.
"Can you imagine cutting 16 lawns in a
week?" he joked.
Love said there are many sources of help
for, students looking for. their first summer
jobs that didn't exist when he was out mow-
ing grass. _
Between student employment centres and
federal grant programs, he said the govern-
ment has done much in the way of helping
youth get jobs.
s.+
ELLIE BREWSTER
REGISTERED NURSE/
HEALTHY HEARTS
A registered
nurse and program
director for the
Healthy Hearts car-
diac rehabilitation pro-
gram, Ellie Brewster has
made a career out of helping
people feel better.
Her first job was working for the Minis-
try of Natural Resources as a junior forest
ranger at age 17.
"It was hard work," she said. "But you
got to do a lot of things."
Living in a camp in the northern part of
the province, she said a large part of the
job was planting trees.
"It was fun," she said. "You lived all
summer with about 20 other girls and you
got free room and board."
Brewster said when she started, mini-
mum wage was $2.50 an hour. •
"We got paid at the end of the summer,"
she said. "That was an awfully long time
ago."
Brewster said she learned a lot about
being away from home and working with
people from all different walks of life - in-
cluding entomophobics.
"My roommate hated bugs and sprayed
the room with bug spray every night," she
said. "It drove me nuts."
She said her first work experience was
great... when there weren't too many
black flies. A hard-hat and work boots
preceeded nurse's scrubs for her.
She said youth looking for work need
to take advantage ofwhat's available.
Any experience, no matter what the
field, adds up.
"There is lots of opportunity out there,"
she said. "Even if it is in different fields
or learning new skills. Leadership skills or
people skills - no matter what profession
you pick - are going to help you out on your
resume."
SUSAN ARMSTRONG
MANAGER
Being next to the
stage has always been
a part of Susan Arm-
strong's work history.
The BIA manager and •
arts enthusiast said she got her start at Ontario
Place as a hostess. •
"I loved my first summer job," said BIA
manager Susan Armstrong. "You know the
big pod that looks like a golf ball? I took peo-
ple on tours there."
She said the experience she gained work-
ing with people from all over the world was
amazing, especially at age 15.
Drawing a parallell between her past and
present, Armstrong said her job at Ontario
Place was all about tourism and here in God-
erich, it's all about welcoming new people to
downtown.
Working at Ontario Place gave her the op-
portunity to see many live shows and she said
that kindled a love of the stage.
"The best part really was being able to see
those concerts," she said. "Just being at a live
concert and being able to be on the stage...
and wear a really cool uniform."
Armstrong said youth looking for jobs need
to keep in mind that for most employers, what
they see is what they get.
"My biggest advice is that first impressions
are really important," she said. "Look people
in the eye, shake their hands and smile. Peo-
ple make up their minds within the first few
seconds"
She said it's important too that youth look
for something they love to do. With prepara-
tion, hard work and a positive attitude, any-
thing is possible. •