“I came to Valemount in 2001 as a student in a college outdoor education program, and I immediately fell in love with the community.  Valemount is surrounded by mountains, with endless opportunities for hiking, biking and backcountry snowmobiling.  Valemount has an amazing vibe, is an amazing place to raise a young family and has ample opportunity for small tourism-based businesses.

 In 2006, I landed my dream job as the General Manager for the Valemount and Area Recreation Development Association (VARDA).  Working for VARDA, I manage and develop outdoor recreation opportunities for Valemount and work alongside some amazing volunteers.  I love my job because of the variety it entails and the fact that I get to spend a lot of my time working outdoors in the community, whether I’m on foot, on a bike or on a sled. Attending a tourism based college program also gave me the initial skills needed to start my own adventure business, which has been very successful.  If you are creative and hard working, there is great value in Tourism.

 The tourism industry is growing, and tourism-based jobs, especially self-employment opportunities, are all around us.  Getting an education and training around entrepreneurship and tourism through programs like the ones offered at Valemount College, is the best way to get started.  Don’t plan to be the employee – plan to be the employer!”