Jennifer Mann, Job Seeker

I had retired in July of 2023 from a 16 year job with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a potato inspector. Part of the reason I left was that it was getting harder to do my job because of my osteoarthritis. Going into cold warehouses and doing inspections was getting to be very uncomfortable and I knew eventually the arthritis was going to get the better of me. I have always worked and I figured I could get another job serving people because I had so much customer service experience. I’d work something out. Reality was now telling me that I wasn’t going to be able to work in a restaurant or store because I couldn’t be on my feet the way I had done before. “So what are you going to do Jennifer?” played in my head. I didn’t have any administrative training although I had done some administrative work in my job with the government. I knew I could work somewhere but I just didn’t know where.

I contacted Service Canada to see if I could set up a meeting with someone to see what kind of help was available to me. A gentleman from BC called me back and basically told me that I should look to my province for help and that I should apply for the Canada Disability Pension. This pension, however, takes 4 months to be evaluated and sometime 3 months before you get a payment assuming you are approved. I did apply through Access Ability PEI but I was not approved, which surprised me because I had recently been approved for the Federal Disability Tax Credit. I didn’t feel I was permanently disabled. Yes, I can’t do the work I did before, but I know I can do something. I have strong customer service skills, and I have a strong desire to help people. So, I applied for a few jobs where I knew I could be seated but I couldn’t seem to make anything work or find a direction. And then after much struggle and yes, feelings of despair, I took my son to a job fair at the Delta Hotel. That’s when everything changed.

I spoke with Career Services PEI about my situation and asked if they knew someone who could help. They said I should talk with the woman at the CCRW booth. They weren’t sure if they could do anything but it was worth a shot. That’s when I met my CCRW Employment Coach. She said CCRW could help me and that she would set up a meeting with me. After meeting with CCRW’s staff I felt so much more hopeful.

They had an action plan for me and tracked all the places I applied for work. They encouraged me and suggested places I could apply.

What I especially like about CCRW is that they will work with a potential employer to provide accommodations. I very much appreciate that they offered to buy some groceries for me at a time when I just didn’t know where I was going to find the money and I was barely hanging on. Knowing that someone was there, on my side, truly helped me get through one of the darkest times of my life.

My CCRW Employment Coach called me recently about a job with the PEI Co. Store. She said they were willing to accommodate me by providing a chair so I could sit down periodically and that I should apply. CCRW’s staff went with me to meet the store manager and the next day I had a job! They also followed up with me about how things have been going. I am so happy to be working again!

CCRW is an extremely valuable resource and should be promoted and funded even more in my opinion. It provides light in darkness to a person with a disability.