Small Business
An Ojibway from Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba, Kelly was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
At age seventeen and having obtained Grade 10, he joined the Army for three years. Then he joined the rest of his family (brothers and father) working for CN Rail as a labourer and machine operator.
Kelly was married at the age of 23 and the father of two by the age of 26. After having their children, Kelly and his wife moved to Brandon, Manitoba so she could attend college to obtain her Business Diploma.
Initially Kelly worked in Brandon for a small appliance place/moving business doing the deliveries and although the job didn’t work out (but Kelly enjoyed the work) so, he took the risk and started doing moving on his own with a ó ton truck. After a few weeks a friend asked about developing the moving service into a small business and pointed Kelly and his wife in the right direction by providing information on doing business plans and applying for grant money to start the business.
By the time Kelly was 28, Strong Movers was fully established.
When Kelly was 33 he was in a serious car accident (was t-boned by another car). Kelly wasn’t sure if he would be able to continue with the Moving business. But with the support of his family and determination he bounced back and re-established the business. Kelly says, “ it was like starting from scratch again, but it was my dream and I couldn’t give up on it. My family depends on me, my kids look up to me and I need to be a good role model for them and never give up.”
Strong Movers is once again in full swing and has been for the past five years.
The full story can be found in Issue 61 – Economic Development, now available through our SAY Magazine APP or our webstore.
