Second Annual Biggs Award

Andrew Sullivan receives the second annual Biggs Award from Flowercart

By Lisa Hammett Vaughan, Coordinator, Flowercart’s Community Employment Services Program

In 2004 Flowercart introduced a new award, The Biggs Award, to point out people who've been placed in their job by Partners in Employment Outreach and who demonstrate the work skills taught and supported by our Community Employment Services program. 

The 2005 Biggs Award recipient is Andrew Sullivan. Andrew has worked at Rafuse Home Building Centre in Wolfville for the past six years. 

In 1996 Andrew Sullivan became a client of Partners in Employment Outreach.  The Annapolis Valley Work Centre referred him to Partners In Employment Outreach after completing their nine-month program including a Work Experience placement at Flowercart's bakery – Baker's Choice Fine Foods. The reference letter from AVWC said they really hoped that “somewhere there is a job that was suitable for such a nice young man who really has a desire to be useful in this hectic competitive world." 

Finding a suitable job for clients is exactly what Partners In Employment Outreach employees do.  Andrew didn't have a lot of work experience so he wasn't absolutely sure what kind of work he wanted; he did know that he wanted a part-time job and he did not want to cut his hair! At that time, Andrew wasn't very happy.  He was partying with people but he was having problems with some of the people that he hung around with; they took advantage - the way some people do - hanging out at his house, stealing from him. He knew he wanted a different life than that. He moved in with his grandmother in Wolfville. He got a cat.

Partners In Employment Outreach and Community Employment Services employees started out getting small contract jobs for Andrew.  He washed cars twice a month for the Kentville police. He did this until 1999.  He worked on a team who washed glassware at the Agricultural Centre.  He took part in Flowercart’s craft program, Hodge Podge Arts and Crafts Studio, making pet food mats and other products. In 1999, he secured two part-time jobs in Wolfville, one at the Wolfville Children's Centre, and one at Rafuse Building Supplies. Andrew remembers the training that he received from Robyn Vaughan, a student who worked as a Supportive Coworker with Community Employment Services that summer.  Robyn taught Andrew the tasks of his new job and helped him to settle in to the workplace. She checked in with him the first few days that he worked to make sure that everything was going well.  Right from the beginning, Andrew was very happy with his job at Rafuse. He commented that he really liked "working with everybody to lend a hand". The people at Rafuse really liked Andrew too, and soon began to find other tasks to add to his list of duties.

In June of 2000 Andrew resigned from his position at the Children's Centre because his hours had increased at Rafuse.  He felt his life turn around; he said he used to live for the weekends and be bored all week, and now he loved his weeks and found his weekends boring.

Over the years Community Employment Services employees have asked Andrew on occasion whether he thought at all about looking for any other kind of work in addition to the building centre.  A typical answer would be "If I ever get bored, I'll let you know." In 2003 Rafuse Building Supplies and the Wolfville Home Hardware relocated to their current building.  Andrew said that he really liked having all the people from Home Hardware in with the people from the old Rafuse location. When asked whether his job had changed, he said, “Yes - there is lots more to sweep!”

In 2005 everything is going fine in Andrew's work, and his life. He has worked at Rafuse for six years.  He enjoys the people that he works with and he's very satisfied with his job. He admits he used to hang out with some pretty tough people - now he spends quite a bit of time on his own. He just moved to a new apartment very close to his grandmother's house. He visits his grandmother every day.  On the weekends he enjoys spending time listening to music, watching videos, taking care of his apartment and hanging out with his cat, who he has had for the past nine years. Andrew has found a balance in his life.

The Biggs Award highlights workers who have cognitive disabilities and who have become excellent role models for others.  The Biggs Award makes clear to our community the kind of worker that Flowercart values.  It also gives our employer partners a way to recognize great employees. When Andrew's supervisor, Dorion MacMillan, nominated him for the award, he wrote, “Andrew consistently creates a positive attitude in the people he is in contact with.  He performs his duties with a smile and dedication.  Andrew is a pleasure to work with."

Andrew Sullivan received the second annual Biggs Award from Lisa Hammett Vaughan, Flowercart’s Community Employment Services Coordinator, at Flowercart’s 2005 Annual General Meeting.