Bonny Johannson began her career with the DDRC in 1997 as a Community Resource Worker (CRW). After working in several different departments within the agency, Johannson decided to try her hand at retirement in September 2014. Now, just over one year later, she is once again supporting clients on the front-line as a CRW with the South Team. Here’s what she has to say about her 17 years of experience with the agency, and why she just couldn’t stay away!
How did you first come to the DDRC?
I’d been working in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities for two and a half years when my partner and I decided to move from Red Deer to Calgary. Because I’d had such a positive experience working for this agency in Red Deer I really thought that’s what I wanted to do when I came to Calgary.
I came to the DDRC in 1997. I liked the agency from the beginning, and thought, “I want to be part of that.”
What positions have you held within the agency?
I began as a CRW and moved in to a Team Leader position. After about 4-5 years as a Team Leader, the agency received funding for a social marketing initiative (that was the beginning of the everyone belongs™ campaign), so I moved in to a role in Community Development. Later, there was a position open in Training and Development, and I thought I would be interested, so I joined the Human Resources team.
I don’t know that there are very many organizations where you can start in direct service, move to Communications, then to HR, and then back to direct service!
Why did you decide to leave?
My partner was retiring so I played around with the idea, too. Like lots of people, I knew that I might not retire and then “that’s it.” Many people retire in stages, and I thought that trying it could be fun and interesting.
What did you do during your year off?
It was fun! My partner and I left Calgary in early November, spent a couple of weeks in the Columbia Valley area and in Kelowna. Then we booked a flight to Vancouver Island; we were there for a couple of months.
We said that by January the 18th (I don’t even know what was significant about January the 18th) we were going to make a decision: are we moving to Victoria, or are we staying in Calgary? We decided to stay in Calgary. So we came back here and enjoyed the spring (I’m crazy about gardening) and summer.
Why did you decide to come back to the DDRC?
I thought, “we’re in Calgary, and I have good work available, so I think I should work.” I had said when I left that if I was going to look for work again, I would come here first. I liked my work here, and I respect the organization. There was an opening, so I signed on for the second time!
You came to the agency as a CRW in 1997, and now again in 2015. Have you noticed any big changes?
The thing that has stood out to me the most is how many clients carry personal communication devices (like smart phones). They have immediate access to all of the decision makers in their lives, and lots of information that they need or want. That’s cool!
The interest and the enthusiasm of the teams and of the agency is the same; that hasn’t changed at all. The faces have changed, there are some familiar and some new, but the spirit of the place is still the same. It’s still very positive.
Why the DDRC?
I think it’s the everyone belongs vision that ties me here the strongest. I’ve never worked in another agency, so I can’t say that other agencies don’t have a similar vision, but the DDRC was a leader at the time [that the vision was created], and I’m expecting that the DDRC will continue to be a leader in other areas. I’m a little bit curious about what the DDRC will do next, given that we have been on the edge of innovation in service provision. That, primarily, is the reason that I wanted to come back.