As Chip McCrimmon (BA \u201918) embraces a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he is drawing on a reliable source of inspiration to chart his next steps.<\/p>\n
This spring and summer, McCrimmon has been chosen to take part in the Next 36 program, which brings together selected young entrepreneurs from across Canada to help them build their companies and leadership skills.\u00a0While there, the 26-year-old graduate of Brock University\u2019s Political Science program hopes to grow HeroHub, a company he created to connect interested individuals with charities and not-for-profit organizations.<\/p>\n
But McCrimmon, a member of the Deninu K\u2019ue First Nation, says he could not have made it to the program, finished his degree, won the University\u2019s Spirit of Brock award or completed a master of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen\u2019s University without support from Brock\u2019s Aboriginal Student Services (AbSS) team.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of his first year at Brock, McCrimmon\u2019s mother encouraged him to speak with Sandra Wong, Brock\u2019s Director of AbSS. The conversation they had laid a foundation for years of encouragement and support.<\/p>\n
\u201cA week before school started, my mom introduced me to Sandra Wong, and I was blown away that the University had this service for Indigenous students,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom that day on, I started using all of the resources from AbSS to better my university experience and prepare for my professional life.\u201d<\/p>\n
From that first meeting until even today, Wong said the change in McCrimmon was gradual but constant as he became more and more involved in AbSS activities and eventually also worked in the office.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t always that smooth transition,\u201d she said. \u201cThere were ups and downs, but he persevered with some constant reinforcement, and we helped guide him to success and did our best to help with employment. Students like Chip need to develop those skills while they are in university so they can go out and be successful in their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having gone to high school in the United States to play lacrosse, McCrimmon had little job experience to help get his foot in the door when it came to employment; however, an opening for a summer position with AbSS gave him the chance to explore his own potential while also sharing lessons with younger students he led on a trip in northern Ontario.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried to instill leadership and mentorship skills into the Indigenous students we took up there,\u201d he said. \u201cI was raised in northern Saskatchewan, and it was nice to get up north and feel like I was returning to my roots. It was also good to learn how to mentor the students and pass on knowledge I had learned in my personal and professional life.\u201d<\/p>\n
On that trip and through continuing support from Wong, the desire to mentor others has become a constant for McCrimmon, who hopes to gain new entrepreneurial wisdom in the Next 36 program that he can share with other Indigenous students while also continuing to HeroHub.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur personal teachings about mentorship and wisdom are so important, and I am seeking to get that wisdom from people in the business community,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to then pay that forward by helping current students personally, professionally and academically.\u201d<\/p>\n
A key step in realizing his mentorship goal will see McCrimmon taking the lead on a Facebook group for past and current AbSS students.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a role model,\u201d said Wong. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing to have these success stories and that Chip has always stayed connected with us. Now he can help us with other students to get the same type of nurturing and support he had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wong said she tries to provide the same support for all students that come into AbSS.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to protect our kids,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s a responsibility that\u2019s within our culture, and we want to make sure they are taken care of and respected just as much as anybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he prepares to take in a wealth of knowledge from some of Canada\u2019s premier business leaders, McCrimmon said there is another wise voice he will also be continuing to pay close attention to.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not be where I am without AbSS and Sandra,\u201d he said. \u201cI call her my Brock mom and she always made sure I was getting my work done and doing what I needed to be successful. It has been a crazy journey so far, but Sandra has always been there to help.\u201d<\/p>\n