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Tammy Sloan: Building a stronger community

Tammy Sloan has incredible drive. She’s a go-getter who sets her sights high and then works hard to achieve her goals. She’s not sure where that passion comes from. Her mother and father are hard-working people, but Tammy’s drive to succeed far exceeds even their expectations.

Although Tammy spent much of her growing up years in Surrey, her early, formative years were spent in Dawson Creek, a small, historical community in northern B.C. that is best known as the Alaska Highway Mile ‘0’ site. This is where Tammy first developed her strong sense of community. “I have always wanted to be the best that I can be for my family, my friends and my community. Community is something that is very important to me,” she emphasized.

While living in northern British Columbia, Tammy’s father had an excavating business and the family lived on a hobby farm. “We had chickens and a pig, from what I remember. We basically farmed for ourselves,” she explained.

As a youngster, Tammy was known as the ‘Queen of the Roller-skates.’ “I lived in those things and did everything in them too including skipping rope and riding horses,” she laughed. She also played volleyball and soccer but aside from that she had her heart set on becoming an accountant.

Eventually, the family moved to Surrey and her father became a truck driver. Tammy visited Dawson Creek each summer where she was able to stay connected with family and friends.

After high school, she went to Kwantlen College and took a two-year, business management program. With her certificate in hand, she was quickly hired by the Bank of Montreal and remained with them for the next seven years. “My first branch was the one on Broadway and Willow in Vancouver although I did move around to where I was needed most,” she said.

Tammy thoroughly enjoyed working at the bank and gained a lot of valuable, financial experience. However, after 11 robberies, she decided that she’d had enough. “All of the robberies were not at the same branch,” she clarified with a chuckle. “Nonetheless, it became trying after a while. I clearly remember what would be my last experience. It was Christmas Eve and we were robbed at 11 in the morning and then again at two in the afternoon.  I was the teller that they robbed in the afternoon and that was it for me. It was time to move on.”

After leaving the bank, Tammy decided to explore a variety of things. “I managed a hotel that had two bars and a liquor store; I’ve done retail, did some bartending, worked with the RCMP as a 911 operator for three years, I now own my own concession trailer and put on the Little Rascals Kids Market events at Heritage Park. I’m busy and have always liked to try new things. One of my greatest accomplishments, though, is my role as a mother and wife. I have three children and I want to be a good example to them. I want them to know that you can do anything that you set your mind to. Dream it, work hard and you can achieve it if you really want it,” she said, in a most determined manner.

In the future, Tammy would like to pursue event management. As for down time, she just laughs and suggests that she’s too busy for that at the moment.