Careers
Job Options Create Satisfying Career
Whether she’s behind a camera taking someone’s photo, in a kitchen teaching someone how to bake cookies, posting a reel to Instagram, or accompanying someone on a walk around the neighbourhood, Krista Petrie knows how to make someone smile.
“That’s because she’s got a heart the size of Abbotsford,” says Lisa, who manages the Community Living Program (CLP) at Communitas Supportive Care Society. “She is caring, genuine, and empathetic. She truly wants to help people fulfill their dreams.”
Krista has been with Communitas for the better part of two decades. It’s work she didn’t know she could do until she was given the opportunity to try it. She had been working in the portrait department of a local Walmart and finding it unfulfilling. A friend encouraged her to apply at Communitas, knowing that her big heart and gentle demeanor would be an asset to the organization. In 2002, she began as a Support Worker (SW) and discovered that she loved it.
“My favorite part of my job is getting to see progress in the people we serve,” she says. “Seeing them learning a new skill, when they may be scared or frustrated to start, and eventually learn to master it, that’s so satisfying.”
But after 10 years of working in one of Communitas’ homes, Krista decided to return to school to become a medical lab assistant. She completed her courses, graduating with honours, and applied for work in the field.
That’s when fate intervened.
A hiring freeze at the local lab meant she couldn’t get that work. She came back to Communitas “temporarily” working as a SW in a Communitas home managed by Louise Duck. It was Louise who changed Krista’s mind about the temporary nature of her work with the organization, encouraging her and pointing out to Krista that her people skills were excellent – both with her colleagues and the people they serve.
“Louise was so good to me that I just couldn’t quit,” Krista says.
Krista also had the opportunity to explore other opportunities within Communitas. She’s served in the areas of Community Inclusion, Personalized Supports Initiatives, and Children’s Respite. In each of these roles, she was able to support people living with disabilities to achieve their day-to-day goals.
Today Krista has two roles at Communitas: she works as a Life Skills Worker with CLP and also as the part-time Social Media Lead for Communitas and Little Sprout Café. Both roles put her people skills to best use.
Angelika Dawson is the communications manager at Communitas and oversees Krista’s social media role. Angelika notes that Krista’s expertise in this area has increased social media engagement for both Communitas and Little Sprout Café.
“She’s a natural when it comes to social media,” Angelika says. “She really knows how to engage with the people we serve and highlight their abilities in a way that also engages with our followers,” Angelika says.
Krista is simply grateful that Communitas has given her so many opportunities to explore her gifts and use them to support people. For her, it always comes back to people.
“There’s nothing quite as satisfying as being paid to support someone,” she says, with a smile. “You might think you can’t do it, but I went into the job with the only skill being a willingness to try. Now I’m blessed to be in a career that I love.”
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