A few years ago, Tanner moved back to Rosthern looking for stability and a sense of purpose. “I had moved back for a couple of reasons,” he said. “One of them being how difficult it can be to find, let alone keep, work in Saskatoon. The job market can be rather tricky, and city life tends to have a high cost. Truth be told, after that time in my life, I was a little bit lost. I didn’t have much structure, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever find a job I could really excel at.”
Rosthern may be a small town, but it is a close-knit and caring community. Many youth in the region, particularly Métis and Non-Status Indigenous youth who identify as neurodivergent or as having intellectual disabilities, face barriers to finding and keeping work. Transportation, limited job-readiness skills, and a lack of local support often make it difficult to get started. The Building Blocks Program, created with support from Ready, Willing and Able (RWA), was developed to fill this gap by providing hands-on support, job preparation, and direct connections with inclusive employers.
Through the program, Tanner was connected with Friesen’s Bigway, the local grocery store that quickly became more than just a workplace. He started as a grocery store clerk with fewer than eight hours a week, stocking shelves, unloading deliveries, and organizing the backroom. Over time, as he became more confident and comfortable, his hours increased to more than twenty a week.
“The best support has honestly been my co-workers,” Tanner said. “They correct me when I don’t quite understand something, but they never get mean or personal. They’re open with praise when I’ve done my job well, making the shelves look great, getting stock where it needs to be, all that. Knowing I have a team that’s happy to see me come to work makes me really happy to come back and do my best.”
That sense of belonging has made a difference. Tanner describes his life now as more structured and balanced. “My confidence has gone up, and people say I’m getting stronger,” he said with a smile. “I’ll let them be the judge of that.”
Known for his reliability and strong work ethic, Tanner rarely misses a shift. He is already thinking ahead to what’s next. “I’m hoping to get a promotion and work as a supervisor in the back with the stock and materials.”
When asked what he would tell someone thinking about joining a similar program, Tanner’s answer was simple: “It worked out pretty good for me.”
For Tanner, initiatives like the Building Blocks project create meaningful change and embolden local communities to foster rich opportunities that reflect their values and uplift youth.