How To Run a Small Business & Go To University

Let’s face it… University can be rough and stressful. It can also be very expensive.

A few years ago when I first started my nursing degree I started to paint. I started off by painting little welcome signs and birdhouses, mainly for my family and some enjoyment. Little did I know that one program change later and four years, I would have made my artwork into a little business! Not only it is a great stress relief now, but it’s also helping me to save up some money!

One thing that I learned from running my own small business is that the Thunder Bay community is that they are very supportive. No matter what you are selling, if you stick a post in one of our local Buy And Sell Facebook groups, or on kijiji, you’re bound to find a lot of people interested in your product! For almost three years I sold my paintings, welcome signs, and eventually dreamcatchers on Facebook groups. I did custom orders and sizes all while I was a full time University student!

Here are my tips to you if you are looking to start a small business in Thunder Bay, and be a university student at the same time:

• make yourself a Facebook, Instagram and/or LinkedIn page and spread it. Put posters up on the bulletin boards at the University, and post your link all over social media. We are a small community and the market isn’t so saturated here, so you’re bound to find someone who is interested!
• manage your time wisely. Sometimes I would be up until 4am working on a paper after finishing up a custom order that was due to be picked up the next day.
• look into local events. If you’re selling handmade or home business items, you can sell at the hundreds of craft shows and markets we have every year (especially around Christmas). I’ll be doing a craft yard sale soon, and I’m super excited!
• build your client base. Be friendly, kind, courteous. Good customer service goes a long way.
• open up an online shop if you have the means and the inventory. About a year and a half ago I started my own Etsy shop and it’s been taking off! You’ll need to make sure you have enough inventory and be able to figure out your shipping, but it’s really not that hard. Bonus tip: the University bookstore sells stamps and shipping supplies. When I’m in a pinch, they are my go-to! Local post offices can also give you a hand.
• chat it up with people in your classes or on campus. Do you make jewelry, do nail art, or sell bath bombs? Flaunt them around campus (or at least smell nice). People are bound to ask. Make sure you keep some business cards (or even printed pieces of thick paper) with your contact information on it. You can all put your business cards up at local businesses with bulletin boards downtown.
• If you want to get super serious, try taking a few business classes – accounting and marketing could be super helpful if you want to grow. There is an entrepreneurship class that is also offered by our Business faculty!

In the end, being a small business owner and a University student is tough. It’s a lot of work but for me, I’m doing what I love – so it’s well worth it! A lot of people don’t understand that they can make a business work in such a small city. What they don’t realize is that there are so many resources here, and because we are small, our markets aren’t so saturated. Honestly, it doesn’t hurt to try. So get your name out there, do what you love, and make good money while still getting your education!

 

I Got A Full Time Job!

This year is absolutely flying by… it’s hard to believe that in just seven months I will finished my undergraduate degree and graduating from Lakehead University! This realization didn’t really hit me until I started to apply at local accounting firms here in Thunder Bay… and I got a full time position starting in May! I will be a Junior Staff Accountant at one of our local firms, and I’m still in shock. With today’s economy and job prospects, getting a job (whether you have a degree or not) can take some time. I am blessed to be able to be in a program and an industry that hires you before you graduate.

It’s definitely a huge burden off of my shoulders! Accounting firms in town tend to weigh grades pretty heavily when hiring. I’ve been busting my butt to get good grades my last four years at Lakehead. Now that I’ve been hired, a long of that stress has been lifted off of me. That being said, of course I can’t just give up and not try hard anymore. My marks are still important to me and I am so glad to know that my hard work (finally!) paid off. But now some of that edge to get a certain level of marks is off me. I feel like I can breathe again and don’t have to stress as much over exams and marks!

The awesome part about my new job is not only that it’s directly in my field of study, but that they are also paying for me to continue my education. If you know anything about being a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant), it’s a 30-month process of exams and practical experience, on top of an undergraduate degree. The exams can get very expensive, and I’ll likely actually be coming back to Lakehead University for a semester so that I can get ahead in the CPA path. The awesome part about this new job is that they are going to cover the costs of this – including costs of exams and student membership dues!

It’s truly a blessing and I feel so happy to have gotten this position. I can chalk getting this job not only to my marks, but also to my hard work and constant networking (which is often easy to do in Thunder Bay considering our small size)! I start in May… I feel like a “big girl” now!

Here’s my five biggest tips to landing a job after (or before!) graduation:

• Network, network, network. This is important in all disciplines. The more people you know and the more connections you make, the more likely that one of those people could help you land a job! Almost all faculties are involved in our career fairs, and chatting with employers is a great way to get your name known.
• Work hard. I’m not sure about other industries, but in business, a lot of entry-level applications will ask for your transcript and/or GPA. Obviously having a high GPA shows a degree of persistence and drive, making you look good!
• Get to know your professors. I bet they know about a few open positions, and if you’re lucky they might even offer to be a reference on your resume!
• Apply early. A lot of people say “I’m only going to apply after exams when I don’t have to worry about school.” Considering that’s likely what everyone else is doing too, employers are going to be swamped with resumes come May and June. Make yourself stand out by searching for positions early and applying. They will appreciate your initiative and you’ll likely be in a much smaller pool of applicants!
• Apply to do co-op. A lot of co-ops lead to work after graduation. Make a good impression on your co-op organization and you could land a full time position there! PS – co-ops are paid too!

Across the Border: Grand Marais

A lot of people that think of Thunder Bay think that we are in the middle of no where – mainly because we are a 16 hour drive from Toronto and an 8 hour drive from Winnipeg. However, what a lot of people don’t know is that there are a lot of places to explore around Thunder Bay!
A couple weekends ago my cousin and I drove across the US border to a little town called Grand Marais (Mar-ay), which is about an hour and a half from Thunder Bay. It’s an adorable little tourist town which a population of around 1,300 people and is often busy (especially during the weekends) in the summer. My mom was camping down there for the weekend, and we decided to visit and walk around town!

The entire drive down is along Lake Superior, and Grand Marais sits on the waterfront as well. Despite the cold waters of the lake, tons of people were out fishing, boating, and swimming. We walked along the boardwalk into town and were in love with the vibe of the little town. With music playing and the smell of fresh food in the air, we hardly wanted to leave!

Because it’s a tourist town there are tons of little gift shops, bakeries, and restaurants nearby. A lot of the items are handmade! We also got to try some of the “World’s Best Donuts” there – we bought the last few of them!

Last year my cousin and I went and there was an event going on called the Fisherman’s Picnic. The streets were absolutely packed with people, there were markets and craft sales, open restaurants, log rolling (look it up!), minnow races, and more. It was such a fun event and we had a great time!
The town is affectionately called “America’s Coolest Small Town” and I’d have to agree. Between the kind patrons (my mom described it like you were on a tropical vacation because the locals are SO friendly), delicious food, and unique markets, there is always something to do and to see.

If you have a Passport (Canadian or otherwise) that allows entry into the US, I highly suggest taking the drive. The US border is only about 45 minutes from Thunder Bay, and Grand Marais is 45 minutes past that. Last year my car broke down half way there, but we didn’t let it deter us this year! And a little tip: a lot of Thunder Bay people purchase items online and ship them to Ryden’s border store on the American border. Shipping is cheaper that way, it’s only $3 for them to accept it there, and it’s a beautiful drive! Confession: sometimes I drive to the border just to buy some Vanilla Coke at the border store. #worththegas

I hope you’ll consider making the trip! I know I loved going there this summer!

Valley Fresh Buskers Festival

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend and take part in a local artisan festival downtown! I sell small paintings and dreamcatchers and was able to sell them (the spot was free!) at the festival through the Definitely Superior Art Gallery (DefSup). The event – called a yART sale – was free to sell in and free to attend. It was located downtown Port Arthur, and accompanied the 2016 Valley Fresh Buskers Festival. Nearby there was live music, local entertainment, lots of food, and people selling their handmade crafts!

Here is a photo of my little table:

It was such an amazing opportunity to not only make money, but also to engage with others in the community. I got to meet a lot of other creators and artists, and basically sit in the sun for five hours, surrounded by great people! The Buskers Festival and the yART sale are put on every year in July and it’s an event I would definitely suggest attending if you can. It helped that the weather was bearable (it’s been 30C+ degrees here the last few days) and there was a lot of locally brewed iced coffee and tea to go around!

Here are a few more photos from the sale!

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I spent most of the day at the yART sale (minus sneaking off to get a hotdog) but you can view more photos (and an awesome video!) of the Buskers Festival on their Facebook page!

PS – A “busker” is a street performer!

Downtown Thunder Bay

A lot of incoming students don’t know that Thunder Bay was once two cities; back before 1970 Thunder Bay was actually Port Arthur and Fort William. To this day we still refer to the two sides of Thunder Bay as these areas. Both have their hidden gems including the movie theater and mall, city hall, the waterfront, and downtown. Today I am going to take you around downtown Port Arthur.

So downtown Port Arthur is where you will find a lot of local shops and restaurants. The restaurant scene has really been booming here in Thunder Bay (you may have seen the Sovereign Room, which is in downtown PA, on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here!) and you’ll find a ton of great restaurants downtown. There are also a lot of local shops that showcase our heritage – from craft shops to The Finnish Bookstore, there is a little something for everyone!

I happened to be walking downtown a few days ago and decided to snap a few photos. It had just finished pouring rain so it’s not the brightest, but you can see what this part of town has to offer!

During the summertime we have a ton of activities going on downtown. Bean Fiend (pictured above) is one of my all time favourite lunch spots in Thunder Bay and has open mic nights out on their patio. At the end of July we also have the Buskers festival which is an amazing festival where all the roads are blocked off, featuring local music and art (I’ll be selling my art there!), awesome food, and some great talent. Towards the end of August we also have RibFest, which is once again where the roads are blockaded and the city comes together for some of the best ribs out there!

If you want to learn more about what happens downtown PA (our Waterfront District) you can find their website here or take a look at their Facebook page for upcoming events and photos! If you’re visiting us this summer or coming down in the fall, make sure you head down to the waterfront for some fun, sunshine, and lots of local gems!

 

Want to see more of Thunder Bay? Check out this super awesome drive-through video which starts at the Waterfront, takes you through part of downtown, and basically gives you a mini tour of the rest of our beautiful city!

Landing a Summer Job

A lot of out-of-town students decide to spend the summer in Thunder Bay, and getting a job can be a great experience and a lot of fun! I was recently speaking with someone from CPA (Chartered Professional Accounts) Canada and explained to them why our job prospects are so different up here. Because we have one university (and one college) and many, many student jobs available, getting a job in your field of education isn’t always such a battle. For example in Toronto you’re going to be completing with hundreds (if not thousands) of students from different Universities – in Thunder Bay depending on the job you might be competing with fifteen.

This year I was offered a position at MNP, a local accounting firm. As a third year accounting student this is a huge step for me. The great thing is that often these summer positions can lead to post-grad jobs and even lifetime careers. They also give you related experience that, if anything, looks great on a resume. In the past I’ve also worked at TD Bank, the Lakehead bookstore, and as a tour guide on campus.

My sister is a nursing student here at Lakehead and had no issues getting a job at a nursing home here in town. She will also be working with the hospital for several weeks this summer. Jobs in many majors are available, and we often hold career fairs with local businesses offering jobs. Jobs include those with the City of Thunder Bay, Government of Ontario, accounting firms and banks, nursing homes, Thunder Bay Police, law firms, school boards, car rental agencies, the Canadian Armed Forces, and more. A lot of these places are fighting for students like us!

It’s important to know that Lakehead also has a variety of summer positions available (which can often lead part-time into the school year).You can find these openings listed on https://mysuccess.lakeheadu.ca. If you have access to your Lakehead e-mail account you can access this site. Listings are for both on campus and off campus jobs – it’s essentially a job bank exclusive for Lakehead students! Some postings currently available include: Civil Engineering Student @ Allnorth, Web Developer, Grade 1/2 Teacher, Marketing Associate, Research Assistant for Civil Engineering, and more! As you can see there are a variety of positions open to every major.

I think that getting a job locally is a great option, especially if you plan to stay in Thunder Bay. Because we are a close-knit community, summer jobs and networking can create great experiences and lead you to a full career!

Worth A Read…

Check the blog post written by Alexis Sharp (a medical student here at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine at Lakehead) on Student Life Network,

“What Happens When You Choose the Right School, Not the Biggest School”

A super helpful guide on “why Lakehead?”, as well as some tips for University!

Walking Around This Hockey Town

The US has football, China has basketball, Europe has soccer. Here in Canada, our passion is hockey. And considering Thunder Bay has the highest per capita number of NHL players in Canada, it’s safe to stay that we are a huge hockey town.
Unlike some larger Canadian cities though, our home team is our University team. There is no missing the energy of walking into the Fort William Arena for another Thunderwolves game.

I won two tickets for the game last Friday night (against the Waterloo Warriors!), and we had a blast!

And what’s the hockey game without a little popcorn?!

Because our home team is our University team, you’ll find not only University students at the game, but also kids with their parents, seniors, teenagers having a fun night out! Oh, and did I mention I somehow managed to pick up a new boyfriend at the game? He’s a little hairy, and he kind of just sat beside me and put his arm around me… but who doesn’t love Wolfie?!

(is it just me or does his jersey look a little tight?! Maybe it’s all that popcorn…)

GO WOLVES! We won, 5-2. I’ll be honest… I’m not even a huge sports fan… but if there is any sport I love to watch, it’s live hockey. There is something so exhilarating about seeing your team score a goal right in front of you!

Student prices for a single-game ticket are just $8 (or $79.99 for full season) – I try to go to at least a game every year! It’s a lot of fun to go out to them, grab a bite to eat, and cheer on your local team! We always go out for appetizers after, and considering most games are on Friday and Thursday nights, it’s a great wind down to the week. I highly suggest going to see a Thunderwolves game – you won’t regret it!

Volunteering at the Humane Society

I have always loved animals and this summer when I found myself with a bit more time on my hands, I decided to head over to the local Humane Society to volunteer! I think that volunteering is not only a great way to update your resume but it is also a very rewarding experience, especially when it involves animals (at least for me).

I started going at the end of July and since then have gone about 8-10 times. Though it is a little bit out of the way (it is past the airport) I still find myself going at least once a week. A few of my friends have started going too!

Volunteering at the Humane Society is very easy. On Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm they have a short, fifteen minute orientation where you fill out some simple paperwork, get a tour, and are told about all the things you can do there. After that, you can come anytime during business hours. One of my all time favourite things to do is cuddle the cats – there are two cat rooms with literally just ten cats in them, and when you go in, they meow and roll all over you, wanting attention. The other day I went with a good friend of mine and an adorable cat named Samoa practically mauled me (lovingly).

There are also rooms with kittens and cats in cages that you can take into a seperate room and play with. Usually we play with them, brush them, and clean up any messes in the room. I think the best feeling about volunteering there is returning a week later and seeing cats and dogs no longer there; the Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, and thus any pet that is missing has been adopted out (yay!). My friend and I had two (what we called) “project cats” that will were working on getting adopted and making more comfortable… we returned last week only to find that they were both adopted! I almost wanted to cry! There is nothing better than that feeling.

If you aren’t a cat or kitten person, there are also many dogs at the Humane Society! A lot of the times I go with a friend or two and we walk the dogs up the road and back. They literally stand with their noses at the cages wanting to be walked, and I always feel so happy when I take them out! It’s awesome when you’ve got a friend with you too as you can just chat as you walk along. Some of the small dogs will try to roll in the mud, too, so I’ve had to bath a few a few times. The other day I went to the Humane Society and they had the most adorable puppies! Here is a picture of Bella, one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met, and the most gentle walker! If I could I would take every animal home (sorry, mom)! Right now there are even two little guinea pigs (Hog and Harley) at the front reception desk!

Other than that, I try to help as much as I can with clean-up there. Don’t worry, it’s nothing gross. A lot of the time the animal care attendants are wrapped up in caring for the animals that they don’t have time to clean. I usually do simple things like sweeping/mopping, washing and folding laundry, and re-filling the water bowls.

When I leave there, I always leave with a smile on my face. It’s so nice to know that you are making a difference in an animal’s life, many of which are just waiting for their forever home! Like I mentioned, it is an extremely rewarding experience so if you are an animal lover like I am, I highly suggest volunteering here!

You can find more information about the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society here: http://tbdhs.ca/
And the City of Thunder Bay Animals Services Center, which also takes some volunteers, here: http://www.thunderbay.ca/Living/Animal_Services.htm

And now I shall spam you with a few photos, because hey, who doesn’t love to look at cute dogs and cats?!

Dorie, a really adorable cat in one of the cat rooms!

Samoa yet again being playful, two dogs we walked named Dixie and Patches (adopted, yay!) and fluffy grey Smokey!

Kittens! I think they are all adopted now, or close to it! They were so tiny!

Lastly, I would also like to mention that if you are planning to stay in Thunder Bay for a long time and want to get an animal, please consider adopting from a shelter. Or consider adopting in your hometown! Not only are you often saving an animal from being cooped in a cage, you will find that they are the sweetest, most loving animals. I firmly believe that they always remember where they came from and as a result, they truly do love you. We got our dog, Cruiser, from Animal Services over 6 years ago! As you can see, he is a real suck.

Anyways, I hope that you are all excited for the new school year and are looking forward to some back-to-school posts coming up!

Take care!

My Favourite Place To Be

If you’ve heard anything about Thunder Bay, you’ve probably heard about the Sleeping Giant. Or persians (which by the way, are cinnamon bun-like donuts will pink icing you can only get here). If you haven’t heard about the Sleeping Giant, you’ve come to the right place! This beautiful rock formation has been a prominent part of my summer since I can remember, and I’d love to share my experiences with you.

The Sleeping Giant is a beautiful rock formation visible from many different spots in Thunder Bay, including some buildings on Lakehead campus, like the ATAC. It’s nestled amongst the waves of Lake Superior and is a huge tourist attraction here.

(To the immediate left is the head of the Giant, then the arms folded over the chest, and then the legs going towards the right side)

Every time I take a prospective or incoming student on a tour, I take them up to the fourth floor of the ATAC, where there is a nearly perfect view of the Giant. And then I tell them a short version of the legend of Nanabijou (you can read the entire story here): Nanabijou (“The Sleeping Giant”), the Spirit of the Deep Sea Water, rewarded the Ojibway people for their loyalty to the Gods with a grand silver mine. He, however, explained that they could not divulge its whereabouts or its riches to the white man, or He would take it away. One day, one of the young Ojibway men went to trade with the white man, he used the silver from the mine as a trade. The white man soon discovered the silver mine, and Nanabijou, hurt by his people’s betrayal, laid down upon the mine and turned to stone. To this day, any individual that tries to mine the area for silver usually gets flooded out, solidifying this Aboriginal legend. It’s a beautiful story and a huge part of our Thunder Bay and Aboriginal culture here.

Other than looking positively beautiful, the Sleeping Giant offers many different attractions. First of all, you can hike the Giant (usually the feet). Beyond the Giant is also Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, which is where I go every summer with my family. I cannot speak highly enough about their campground there, the hiking trails, the swimming (which is in Mary Louise Lake, not icy Lake Superior), and the vast amount of wildlife. Usually at the beginning of the year, Residence has a bus that takes students to the park for the day. If you get the chance, I highly suggest going. I get so excited every summer to go out there, and always dread coming back into what I call “the real world”. There is such peace out there.

Here is a photo of me at the dock in the campground. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is actually on the other side of the Giant, not actually on top of it, and you can view it closer from many different spots.

You can even feed the deer and ducks there from your hand!

I can’t speak highly enough about the Sleeping Giant – not only is it a great place to camp, hike, and see wildlife, but because it’s a huge icon of our city. When you’re driving through Thunder Bay, make sure you look to the south and look for the Giant. Or, if you’re just exploring, go up to the fourth floor of the ATAC and look out the massive windows. You won’t miss it!