Thank you Miryam St-Pierre!
This year, Emploi Québec enabled D’Arts et de rêves to welcome Miryam St-Pierre, a young woman who brilliantly met many challenges during her six months of employment.
Each and every one of us who has been in contact with Miryam has had the pleasure of discovering an intelligent, dynamic, energetic, smiling, and more than hard working woman. Miryam agreed to play along with us and answer the six following questions.
- Why work at D’Arts et de rêves?
- What was your job?
- What was your biggest challenge?
- What was your greatest learning experience?
- What will be your best memory?
- Your contract ended on December 15, 2017. Will we now be able to count on you as one of our volunteers?
Here are her answers…
1. Why work at D’Arts et de rêves?
It’s really per chance that I ended up at D’Arts et de rêves. When I arrived in Sutton in spring 2016, I noticed the cultural park at the entrance of the city and it piqued my curiosity! One morning, I went to the office of the organization to offer my services as a volunteer. I met Karina Sasseville, the coordinator, who quickly detected my interest and who also seems to have quickly recognized my skillset because she invited me to apply for a position that was to be created a few weeks later.
2. What was your job?
2. What was your job?I assisted the coordinator and was responsible for the maintenance of the park, in other words, they made me use my brains and my arms: it was a perfect balancing act!
More specifically, my focus was the organization of two important events: the Volunteer Day and the Opening of the Paths of History (photo exhibit). I also organized several working bees with volunteers and each time, I rolled up my sleeves and worked along with them.
My last big project was the “Papillons à la carte” crowdfunding campaign and I had the pleasure of collaborating with the communication committee. It was a success of which I’m rather proud!
3. What was your biggest challenge?
My contract with D’arts et de rêves was like being in school, I was constantly in learning mode: I learned how to collaborate with members of different committees; how to get involved in the community; how to work with volunteers… I also learned various aspects of management, in addition to the basic rules for maintaining a huge piece of land (the cultural park) and ensuring the maintenance of the sculptures. Believe it or not, I even learned how to build a concrete base! My training was really multidimensional because it made me call upon my mental, physical as well as social skills! My biggest challenge however was the organization of events where I had to be rigorous in thinking out every little detail…
4. What was your greatest learning experience?
As a visual artist, I had to develop a sense of discipline and rigor in records management. Karina Sasseville and Nicole Côté, the two people with whom I worked the most, kindly shared their knowledge and experience with me! I am very happy because I know that the lessons learned will influence not only my personal life but also the work I do as an artist in my studio…
5. What will be your best memory?
I have many fond memories of my six-month experience, but I think what I will always fondly remember is working in the park with volunteers. Being outdoors with people who like to work and whose good mood is contagious is always enjoyable!
6. Your contract ended on December 15, 2017. Will we now be able to count on you as one of our volunteers?
I will certainly not abandon D’Arts et de rêves because my contract is over, as a matter of fact I would like to continue on a volunteer basis, albeit occasionally, since my fine-looking teenager takes up a lot of my time. I imagine my son and I participating in working bees, that is occasional projects related to art and community: it would teach him the importance of committing to a cause, of making an effort, of meeting different people, while having fun in good company. We’ll see, but I’ll be around, that’s for sure!
Thank you Nicole and Karina for believing in me and for allowing me to enjoy six months as a D’Arts et de rêves contributor!