‘Bridges opened my eyes’

Michelle Scurt remembers the first day of the Bridges program, the anxious feelings growing heavy at her chest as she walked along the sidewalk downtown. She imagined herself turning around, going home. Having the kind of day she usually had: washing dishes, fixing dinner, talking with her adult kids. But Michelle remembered she’d wanted to show her son and daughter that despite everything, she could do something. Even now, at this age. Forty-nine. So Michelle took one step, and then another—and there she was, on the second floor, saying good morning to Liana, then facilitator of the Bridges program.

            “She reminded me of this friend of mine. She was just bubbly and so supportive,” says Michelle. “If it weren’t for Liana and all of those women coming into my life, I don’t think I would have gone and done half of the things I’ve done.”

            ‘Those women’ are the staff at WorkBC Vernon as Michelle was guided toward various workshops. ‘Those women’ are also the dear friends Michelle first met during Bridges, an eight-week workshop that gives survivors of abuse the skills and confidence to begin a journey to employment.

            “There were eight of us and we became very close. We were there for each other. I wanted to be a part of showing those ladies, even though we’d had this past, we could do things.”

            Michelle has cerebral palsy on her right side. She is a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

            “I’ve always been struggling.”

            Before Bridges, she says, “I was shy. I didn’t have much confidence.”

            But she knew what she could do was show up. So she did that.

            “I showed up every day. I didn’t miss a day. One hundred and sixty hours,” she says, beaming. “I was early.”

            Early every day. 

            Her hope, in those first hours, was that someday she could get enough confidence and training to get some kind of job to supplement her disability income.

            Along the way, she says, “Bridges opened my eyes.”

“I’m more open minded. I see there’s a bigger picture and a bigger outlook.”

            She knows when to tell her negative self-talker to be quiet and go away. She took a computer course. Aptitude tests and her peers confirmed she was good at helping others.

Most of her adult life, she had raised kids. One of the toughest jobs out there, “but you don’t get paid.” To gain some work experience, the WorkBC team helped her get a volunteer work experience position at the Canadian Mental Health Association front desk, where Michelle greets people and takes calls three days a week.

            “I love it. I love going there. I love interacting with all of those people,” she says. “Now that I’m in this routine, I can do this.”

            On those days, when she rises early and makes herself a lunch before wishing her kids a good day, she feels a sense of pride.

            “I want to show them that even though I have a disability, I am going out there, doing what I need to do to better myself.”

            To other women considering the Bridges program, she remembers her own first day again, and then all the beautiful moments that followed.

“You might be scared coming here but you will have a great experience and great friendships. As soon as you walk through those doors, everyone makes you feel welcome.”

Are you a woman facing barriers to employment who is interested in gaining support and skills to find work? Learn more about Bridges and get in touch with the team at WorkBC Vernon