Sometimes the best opportunities can be found right in your backyard.
That was the case for Taylor Hulley, the Site Logistics Coordinator at K2 Wind.
Making Connections With Coffee
It all started when she worked at Tim Hortons as a student.
“I really enjoyed working there,” she says. “One of the best parts of the job was interacting with customers. We had regulars come in who loved it when we remembered their orders and they were just great people to talk to. It was also great working with people who ended up becoming my friends.”
Moving Away to the Nation’s Capital
She grew up in the Goderich area but moved to Ottawa to go to Carleton University for Public Affairs and Policy Management, specializing in International Relations.
“I kind of wanted to get into international development, strategic policy, and national defence, but I also wanted to be closer to home. But it’s not easy to find a job in that field in Goderich,” says Taylor.
Taylor moved back home after university and ended up finding a job that combined her love of talking to people with some elements of her education.
Finding Success Back Home
“I started at Pattern Energy in November 2018. The first Christmas party I went to was less than a month after I started here. But I have never felt so welcomed at an event before, and that goes for Pattern as a whole. Everyone was so kind, welcoming, and they made me feel like part of the team. I didn’t expect to move back home, but it all worked out in the end. I definitely use some of my education in what I’m doing now,” she says.
These days, she spends her workday connecting with landowners and the local community, supporting events and organizations with sponsorships and grants, and is even helping out Henvey Inlet Wind while their Site Logistics Coordinator is on maternity leave.
“It’s really interesting to see how Pattern has worked with their partners there like Nigig Power Corporation and Henvey Inlet First Nation. It’s a busy site—there’s always something happening,” Taylor says.
There’s No Place Like Home
Working with the community is one of Taylor’s favourite things to do, especially when it comes to sponsoring local events like Music in the Fields.
“It’s cool that a town like Lucknow with a population of 500 can host this event for 10,000 and they get big-name country artists to come. All the proceeds go back to organizations like the hospital and Cystic Fibrosis Canada,” she explains.
After reconnecting with the community after moving away, Taylor says she has learned so much more about the area where she grew up.
“The Goderich area is a great place to live. There’s a lot more diversity now, new restaurants with amazing food, more people are moving here, and it’s good to see some change,” she says.
A Word of Advice
If you’re like Taylor and considering moving back to your hometown, she has some advice:
“If you have a career in mind, I suggest you follow that first and come back when you’re ready. There might not be opportunities here now, but that might change with the ability to work remotely. But if you’re open to other opportunities and being closer to friends and family, I recommend it,” she says.
When it comes to the Goderich area, Taylor says one of the best parts about living there is the view over Lake Huron.
“We’re so lucky with the beautiful sunsets we get here. When the sun sets over Lake Huron, the view is just perfect.”