Humans of goeasy: Angela Kelly
“I'm a proud Tahitian who moved to Canada when I was four. When we came here, my mother started a Polynesian dance school, and I watched her teenage students grow into a professional dance troupe. These roots are a part of me, a tradition I embraced and even showcased at an exhibition. While I enjoyed life in Canada, I always wondered what it would be like to move back to Tahiti with my own family.?
In 2003, my family and I fulfilled this dream, and we moved back to Tahiti, living simply, in a house, with no running water or electricity. It was an idyllic fantasy, but the reality of an economy dependent on tourism and the challenges of remote island living—where the bank and post office visit just once a month—truly taught us resilience and simplicity. I was determined to make the most out of our circumstance and even started making caramel popcorn to sell on the island (it was a hit!), later expanding our business to make enough money to sustain ourselves.
The biggest challenge I've faced was in Tahiti, where we went through a difficult season of grief. That pain put everything into perspective. Despite the heartache, I wouldn't trade our time in Tahiti; it brought my family closer together. The bond between my sons, I believe, is stronger because of what we went through. That year shaped us indelibly and contributed to who we are as a family. Experiencing the growth that followed has been profoundly important to me in my journey. The resilience I learned during this difficult time shaped me into the person I am today and impacts how I show up for my family, coworkers, and friends.
I now carry the lessons I learned from that time into how I approach my work at goeasy with both my colleagues and customers. My experiences in life help me navigate heartbreaking situations with customers and extend empathy and care to them when they need it. One that stands out involved explaining to a customer that they were being scammed with a fake online romance. It's moments like these where we make a real difference, providing not just financial services but genuine care and support.
What I cherish most about working here are the people. I've built lasting relationships and have been supported in numerous ways, regardless of tenure or position. That is why if I had to describe goeasy in one word, it would be "belonging." Part of what contributes to this sense of belonging is the relationships I’ve built with the incredible women who are involved in WIL (Women In Leadership), an Employee Resource Group at goeasy. I've been here since its inception, starting with a support role and gradually becoming a mentor, focusing on events and the bi-annual WIL summit. This year at the Summit I had the honour of being the recipient of the Fearless Female Award, and I could not be more appreciative of this recognition. I often get asked by women for advice and my advice to women is clear: don't apologize for taking up space. I've observed too many women prefacing their questions with apologies.
If there's one thing I'd want anyone reading my story to resonate with, it's the power of perseverance and the importance of community—both at home and at goeasy. This is who I am, and these are the values I carry with me every single day.” - Angela Kelly