Standing in front of her peers and being presented the award for Best Youth-Owned Business was a great boost for Shae Doiron, and proof positive she’s on the right path.

Doiron, who turned 33 the day we caught up with her, is a proud member of the Tseshaht First Nation who had to overcome a number of hurdles to get to where she is.

“I’ve been painting for about five years,” she explained, adding that three years ago she was granted a loan that got Shae Doiron Painting & Decorating off the ground.

“I didn’t really know it but in those first two years I was building my reputation. I had no idea people were talking about me in such a good way… at the time when I went to NEDC I had everything I needed to paint the interior of a house; they helped me with all the exterior stuff.”

And since 75-80 percent her spring and summer jobs are exterior work, “it’s a big part of what I do.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without their help.”

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council had a hand in the early going as well, and were the first people to give her a chance.

She also credits her parents for their help.

Doiron was in Ucluelet the day before her birthday, up to her neck in a Reno and in the middle of a misunderstanding between the bylaw officer and her client regarding the work ordered.

All part and parcel for her trade.

“There’s always something — you have to learn to give and take… do what needs to be done,” she said easily, pointing out that when the going gets tough she reminds herself how far she’s come.

“I was in a pretty dark place for a while there,” she concedes, adding “I found myself with pretty heavy addictions to drugs and alcohol.”

“I was 25 years old going in and out of the hospital,” she said when asked about the crossroad in her life.

Her son Kayden, the centre of her universe, was five when she decided she was “sick and tired of all the lies I had to keep telling my child.”

Fast forward to today, and Shae is working on seven-and-a-half years clean and sober.

“I’m in a much healthier place now.”

So committed to the good life, she goes around the community sharing her story and is now part of a program called Transformations.

In the meantime, the journey continues.

“It’s all good. I don’t pretend do be better then anybody else,” she said. “I just strive to be better then who I was yesterday.”

You can find Shae on Facebook here.

Share