TIMMINS, ON:  Fiona Bird’s mission in life is simple, she wants to save the world one person at a time.

Hailing from Peawanuck, Bird is a second year Social Service Worker student at Northern College with big dreams, rooted in her experiences as an Indigenous woman and a genuine vision for helping others.

“There are people suffering from homelessness, mental health issues, and addictions. Inter-generational trauma is one of the main roots for a lot of Indigenous peoples suffering,” said Bird.  “The trauma is deep, it goes way back, and once we’re able to break those cycles the healing journey will accelerate.”

For Bird, choosing to attend Northern College was her first step in breaking that cycle, gaining the skills she needs to help others, especially those she sees so commonly in and around the community.

“I want to help the vulnerable populations, the ones who are dealing with different social problems,” said Bird. “I’m specifically focused on the Indigenous population, because those are the people that I often see around in the downtown area of Timmins.”

“I feel that if people were educated on what these people are going through, there would be more reasons to create resources for them, to support them,” added Bird.

For Bird, Northern was a natural fit, a place she felt she would feel not only comfortable as a student, but culturally supported as she undertakes her studies.

“It’s not just because the program is great – and the program is great – I chose Northern because there was no other choice for me, but to come here,” said Bird. “I’ve always wanted to come here; I’ve always wanted to be a student here at Northern. I feel like Northern cares about me, not just me, but Indigenous peoples, there is an inclusive feeling, I feel great about it, I feel included.”

Hands on, practical education, experienced faculty and solid interpersonal relationships played a large role in Bird’s choice to attend Northern.

“I know who my classmates are, with less than 25 students in my classes, it’s a very genuine experience, a genuine connection with my classmates, with my teachers and if you’re having issues, you can talk to your classmates, because you already have that familiarity.”

With plans to earn her diploma, attend University and gain her masters, Bird is looking ahead with a doctorate in mind – for her, education is the key to making her dreams come true.

“Education is everything, it is the key to playing a role in making the changes I’d like to see in the world,” said Bird. “If I can lift myself up, then I can help uplift others – it won’t be easy, but you have to hold that in your mind, how can I help these people, how can I provide them with opportunity and a future.”

“Where else are they going to go? “When you are at your lowest point, the only way out is up. I know this from my own life experiences.” added Bird. “Together we can create lasting change and make sure no one is forgotten by society.”

 

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About Northern College of Applied Arts & Technology

Established in 1967, Northern College leads the province in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It holds the top ranking in the graduate employment rate category in the province of Ontario. It has the highest employer satisfaction score for Northern College alums compared to all English-speaking colleges in Ontario (2023). The College has four main campuses in Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Timmins, and many Access Centres, providing post-secondary education and academic upgrading to Indigenous learners in remote communities along the James Bay coast. Northern College is a highly respected community and regional partner with nearly 50,000 graduates, including the Haileybury School of Mines (est. 1912); the College is critical in the region’s economic development and global mining influence. Northern College serves the educational needs of post-secondary, apprenticeship, and contract training, both on-site and through remote learning, as well as delivering academic upgrading and employment services. Its catchment area covers 160,000 square kilometres, roughly the size of France, and includes over 65 communities – 18 First Nations.

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