Saskatoon shoe store gives those suffering from addiction 'a purpose'
Icon Shoes on Broadway Avenue sells clothing and several fashion accessories, but it's more than just a place of employment to its workers.
Kierra Niessen recently started working with the company as an industrial seamstress and helps with artistic design.
"I was a heavy drinker I was very, very into the party drugs, the coke and the MDMA," she told CTV News.
Niessen has been on the path to recovery for over five years now and said she’s grateful to have employers who have her back.
"Having employers understand that, and being comprehensive of it and knowing that with that struggle and that growth that there might be some differences within that person."
Niessen isn’t the only person the company has taken in and given a second chance.
More than 60 per cent of the company’s employees are in recovery in someway or another.
Adam Volk is recovering from his crystal meth addiction and is the manager of the Icon Shoes warehouse.
"Icon has really helped me find a purpose and find something to look forward to each day," Volk said.
Icon Shoes is giving people recovering from addiction a purpose and a second chance (Tyler Barrow/CTV News).
For the company, it starts at the top, as its president, Doug Bogren, started his own recovery journey almost 30 years ago.
"We all have problems, identifying solutions from Icon’s perspective is how you behave and act within the community that's built at Icon is how you act outside of Icon," Bogren said. "We're building a network of people interested in sponsoring and teaching others how not to live that life that they were living before."
Part-owner of Icon Shoes, Wanda Brilz added, “We give people who would not find jobs other places or who are just really passionate about the purpose we have, a place to express themselves and to work.”
For Niessen, a second chance is all she needed.
"I just hope that people in their recovery can see this and see what we're doing and know that there's hope out there."
PARTNERSHIP WITH ANISHINABEK ELDERS
This past spring Icon Shoes partnered with Pelly Agency Anishinabek Elders of Kamsack to support their therapeutic on-the-land camp. The camp will be elder-led and promote their culture, language, traditions and ceremonies.
"The whole issue of the teachings of the culture, traditions, is the issue of the loss of identity of our children, the loss of our language," said Anishinabek elder, Ted Quewezance.
Icon Shoes is selling decals and pins to commemorate those affected by residential schools. The proceeds will go towards the elders to support their programs. The company's marketing division, Icon Media, will also help entrepreneurs from Kamsack and other areas market their products, to help contribute to an on-reserve economy.
"It's our responsibility as leaders, to try to fill that gap and that's why I'm really excited about this partnership," said Chief of Keeseekoose First Nation, Lee Kitchemonia.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.