Jodi S. – Alberta – Junior IT Analyst – 2022 Graduate
Jodi spoke at our national graduation ceremony – check out her speech by clicking the video below!
At 50 years old, Jodi found herself needing to start a new career. While Jodi had been trying her luck with entrepreneurship, living in a rural area posed challenges for agricultural ventures. She was looking for new employment opportunities, but didn’t know where to start.
When Jodi learnt about NPower Canada, she was drawn to the doors that tech skills could open for her. A digitally-enabled role would allow Jodi to stay in her rural community. As a proud member of the Metis Nation of Alberta, living east of Pincher Creek, Alberta, the Treaty 7 lands of the Blackfoot, Jodi was hoping to stay local. She enrolled in our programs and began to learn new tech skills.
Jodi definitely felt out of her comfort zone, but pushed herself to work hard. She was also appreciative of the Indigenous supports that NPower Canada offered and invited her to participate in. “I participated in much-needed Indigenous Sharing Circles, and was able to smudge, which in Blackfoot is part of Aatsimoyihkaan,” Jodi shared.
Shortly before graduating from the program, Jodi secured a role with Westland Insurance, a role that has allowed her to stay in her community. She was selected as Alberta’s graduate speaker, and at graduation, shared her hopes for NPower Canada to continue to provide opportunities for individuals in rural and remote areas:
“If I can advocate for anything, IT education and NPower Canada can really help rural Canada. As industry dies out here, and commuting costs grow, IT allows us to stay close to home, stay rural. It can also help a generation of older Canadians lost in their careers- those that have a lot of amazing soft skills, but not necessarily the tech skills to secure ‘the job’.”
We are incredibly proud of Jodi, and cannot wait to be in her corner as she succeeds in this new industry.
