Sixth Annual Biggs Award

Mrs. Valerie Pothier receives the sixth annual Biggs Award from Flowercart

The Biggs Award is given each year to a Community Employment Services client who has demonstrated skills, work habits, and attitudes which have had a positive effect on others, and has earned a good reputation with supervisors and co-workers as an eager learner and hard worker who has met or exceeded her/his employer’s expectations.

Mrs. Valerie Pothier is this year’s Biggs Award winner. Valerie first came to Partners in Employment in August of 2005 with a long term work history and positive attitude.  Valerie described herself as a dedicated and hard worker.

Valerie could always be counted on to be reliable and follow through.  She came to meetings, returned phone calls, dressed appropriately for interviews and was always on time.

I would like to take this opportunity to take a quick look at Valerie’s inspiring journey.

After being a PIE client for less than one month, Valerie had a successful interview at Le Caveau Restaurant in Grand Pre. Valerie was given a trial shift for a seasonal, full-time dishwasher/prep cook position.  Valerie showed initiative, asked questions and stayed on task. At the end of the day she let me know that she had been hired. Valerie worked seasonally at Le Caveau for two years.

Valerie always spoke positively about her work at Le Caveau.  She enjoyed keeping busy and being part of the team.

Valerie’s Supervisor Jason Lynch referred to her as a “good worker” and nominated her for this award last year.

Valerie always wanted to do well and set a good example for her daughter Jennifer (who she constantly beamed about).  She strived to learn and grow and improve her skills.  In 2005 Valerie obtained her Emergency First Aid .  The First Aid instructor said Valerie’s practical exercises were excellent and, even though she had never taken first aid training before, she was very good at CPR.  After a suggestion by Le Caveau Valerie obtained her Food Safety Training Level 1 in April 2006 so she could continue working as a safe and conscientious employee.

Valerie was eager to keep working; during a lay-off period from Le Caveau she went to work at Stirling’s in Greenwich working on the apple grading line.  There Valerie used a situation with a difficult co-worker as an opportunity to stay on track and show her new co-workers what a positive attitude and good work ethic truly looks like.  Valerie overcame obstacles with her co-worker by speaking on her own behalf and standing up for herself.

Valerie stayed at her job until she was laid off due to shortage of work.  Hal Stirling said that “Valerie was a good worker, came on time and did a good job.”

In August of 2008 Valerie and I went to Scotia Recycling to meet Trevor Morine. Valerie started working part-time on the week-ends. In the same month Valerie had another successful interview at Jerry’s RV where Chardelle Brydon hired her on the spot as their new Cleaner.  She worked in the mornings for Jerry's RV and at Scotia Recycling on Saturdays and Sundays. Valerie really enjoyed both jobs.

Demonstrating her consistent hard work ethic during her short time at Scotia Recycling Valerie was offered full-time hours at Scotia Recycling in August. Not wanting to leave Chardelle in the lurch, Valerie gave notice for her job at Jerry’s RV – telling her she would stay on until I found a replacement.

Valerie was featured in the Flowercart newsletter this year.  (Link here to FlowercartNEWS December 2008 and the article on Scotia Recycling. The article is on page 2 of the newsletter.) This gave Valerie a chance to show others that they too could be successful at their jobs by working hard, being on time, being respectful to others and listening to feedback.

In April this year Valerie was introduced to another PIE client starting a job at Scotia Recycling. They worked together to organize a car-pooling arrangement. Valerie and her husband’s willingness to help out was very beneficial for the new employee – not only did he now have a ride to work, but it was good for him to be able to share his experiences with someone who already knew the ropes there.

The Biggs Award is to highlight employed clients who have become excellent role models for others.  It also gives our employer partners a way to recognize great employees. In his nomination of Valerie, Trevor Morine from Scotia Recycling described her as “a happy, friendly person who works well with others and possesses solid work habits and a great attendance record.” 

All of us at Community Employment Services are very proud of Valerie, and happy for her. Being the recipient of the 6th annual Biggs Award is a wonderful symbol of the positive effect that she has on other people, both at work, and among other clients of Community Employment Services.