I am Tiffany Wapass from Thunderchild First Nations, I am an independent millennial mother of two. I always knew about Trade Winds; in 2014 I came to an info session but didn’t pursue it at that time, because I knew I wasn’t ready for the commitment to a trade yet. Fast forward to 2023 I was scrolling through Instagram and seen the welding program was going to start the same time my contract was coming to an end. At the time I wasn’t sure if I wanted to renew or move on, but I took that post as a sign to go for it. I wanted something different; I worked frontline human services all my life. I realized I was still young enough to change careers and old enough to stay focused.
I was working for BearPaw Media and Education, a great organization that produces and distributes free multimedia resources about the law for Indigenous People in Alberta. I oversaw the Instagram for the Connections App. I was scrolling through Instagram that day when I seen the TWTS post about the welding program.
I expected it to be easy breezy. The program itself wasn’t so hard, but the life lessons outside of the program really made it challenging. I knew I was old enough to stay focused and not let my life lessons and hardships get in the way of my goal to finish.
My biggest challenge was the financial strain. As a single mother of two, I went from earning a steady, decent salary to barely making enough to cover my rent. Throughout the program, I struggled to stay afloat while managing car payments, rent, insurance, household bills, and providing for my children. But deep down, I knew the struggle wouldn’t last forever.
I picked myself up, found a part-time job, and relied on food banks when needed. My lender informed me about a program that allowed me to pause my car payments for eight weeks while I completed my apprenticeship. I searched for ways to cut costs and reached out to various organizations for support with my other bills.
The most rewarding moment was receiving my blue book and watching my confidence skyrocket. Every day in my welding booth, I’d ask myself, “What the F** did I get myself into?”* But then I’d think about the Eagle Healing workshop, which we took at the beginning of the program—it reignited my excitement and gave me the momentum to keep pushing toward the finish line.
Trade Winds to Success helped me realize my full potential. I have a bright future ahead in a career I love, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. This experience showed me what I’m truly capable of, and I will forever be grateful to Trade Winds, Eagle Healing, and CLAC Career Development College for their support.
To young people considering this program—do it. Don’t let life hold you back. I could write a book about the obstacles I faced: family losses, relationship struggles, financial hardship, car trouble, babysitter issues, sick kids, low confidence, and even addiction. But I persevered, and today, life is so much better. If I can do it, so can you.
Because of this experience I am on a brand-new career path, I love my job and the work I do. I am the first welder in my family, I feel like this experience has brought me closer to my family. I am in a new space financially and mentally.
I do recommend this program to everyone. If you’re ready to make a change in your life and you are serious about the change.
“Keep on keeping on, hard times don’t last forever.”
