MentorAbility Experience: Rozina

Having just recently moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rozina found herself in a new country without a job or income and was feeling hopeless because she needed to support her two daughters.

MentorAbility Experience: Carter

Carter has “always been interested in being creative with [his] drawing,” so the idea of a career in the creative arts has always been appealing to him. Therefore, when the opportunity came about to be mentored by a local graphic designer – through MentorAbility and Avalon Employment – Carter jumped at the chance to learn more about the industry.

MentorAbility Experience: Nicholas

Nicholas has been interested in machinery since he was a child, as he was always fascinated with how things work and what makes them work. So, when he moved to Newfoundland in 2020, Nicholas found employment with Mr. Lube auto centre and began to think more about making mechanical work part of his future.

MentorAbility Experience: Chase

Keith, the owner of ADDvocacy, has always believed in the value of mentorship. MentorAbility was the perfect fit for him to provide support to Chase, a young man with ADHD who was looking for career and life guidance.

Through MentorAbility, Keith supported Chase in exploring his career direction. He provided Chase with valuable information and experience in facilitating workshops, public speaking and event planning.

MentorAbility Experience: Jonathan

As a tool for career exploration, MentorAbility hit the mark for Jonathan. His experience with Sarah and Louis at D2L (Desire2Learn) helped him to narrow his focus on future opportunities. It also gave him a deeper understanding how his current efforts can equip him for the realities of his future long-term role in the workforce. And he wasn’t the only one to benefit, Jonathan’s mentors at D2L walked away feeling more confident in their own roles.

MentorAbility Experience: Jason

Jason’s passion for computer and technology has been obvious since high school, and no one was surprised that he went on to excel in his Information and Communications Technology program at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
But when his IT career began, he was quickly confronted with the need for a skill set that he had never been taught – or event been told about – in any of his training. Instead of finding himself in a back office working on hardware as he had imagined and hoped, he was in an entry level role providing customer service. It wasn’t just technical skills that he needed in this role, but interpersonal skills; skills such as active listening and communication.

MentorAbility Experience: Brody

You could say that repairing things has been in Brody’s blood for a long time. While he has had an interest in mechanics since high school, Brody was hesitant to apply to any garages as he felt he didn’t have sufficient education or experience.

Through MentorAbility, Brody was matched with Ralph Van Worden Automotive Repair. This MentorAbility Experience provided him with an opportunity to shadow three mechanics and work directly on vehicles alongside each employee. Through discussion, Brody was able to explore how the mechanics chose their field of work, given their diverse backgrounds.

MentorAbility Experience: Comfort

Comfort connected with the March of Dimes to explore her interest in securing a stocking or merchandising position.

Through a MentorAbility match with Basic Packaging, she participated in a half-day mentorship. This MentorAbility Experience went so well that it led to the employer expressing an interest in hiring Comfort and training her in a position of interest. Comfort’s positive attitude and strong work ethic contributed to a ‘win-win’ for herself and the employer. She has recently completed six months of employment as a packaging clerk and is looking toward the future!

MentorAbility Experience: Chris

Already with a background in Graphic Design and Fundamental Arts, Chris was connected to MentorAbility through the PEI Council of People with Disabilities to explore what a career in screen-printing, embroidery or sign production might look like.

Chris’ MentorAbility Experience saw him matched with the Charlottetown printing business Golden Custom Clothing under the mentorship of its founder Coltin Handrahan. During this MentorAbility Experience, Chris enjoyed accumulating on-the-job experience and witnessing the day-to-day operations of a professional printing company firsthand. He especially enjoyed getting his hands dirty when learning the physical process of screen-printing and was glad he wasn’t stuck behind a computer all day.