" >
At Safeway, our fellow store employees are more than just our colleagues – they’re our friends, our teammates, and our families. Each and every day, we support each other in taking risks, making bold moves, and striving for personal and professional greatness. We caught up with the team at Safeway Sherwood Park who knows just how much we can achieve when we support each other.
Cayden Wiens, who joined Safeway in 2014 as a cashier and is now a Management Trainee at 8924, saw an opportunity to empower his colleagues to be the best version of themselves and gathered his Safeway team to start something amazing. After much hard work and determination, Safeway “Safe Toasts” Toastmaster Club was born! We asked Cayden to tell us a little bit more about Safe Toasts and why it’s so important to him.
Tell us a little bit about Toastmasters
At Toastmasters, we strive to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. To achieve this, our club provides a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop these skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. We are all students, and we grow together. Our club mentors provide valuable advice and information from their years of experience with Toastmasters.
What inspired your team to start a Toastmasters club at Safeway?
Our club President, Kimberly, along with our VP of Education, Margery, started the club with development in mind. As previous Toastmasters students, and with the help of our dedicated committee, we saw a clear opportunity to help strengthen our Safeway team. Club meetings also present a unique opportunity to network with our colleagues across the city on a regular basis.
Why is Toastmaters important?
Though we use communication skills in every aspect of our lives, our careers in the service industry lead us to interact with hundreds of people throughout our day. The skills we learn in Toastmasters not only help us communicate with our colleagues, but also enhance the service level we provide our customers.
What kind of support have you received from your store team?
Support from our store at 8924, other stores in the city, and our DOs has been overwhelming! We have received valuable support from everyone. Dave Chizen, Store Manager at 8924, provides us with our venue (the community room) for every meeting. Other Safeway stores and their teams actively encourage staff to join our club and donate some of the supplies we need to operate. Our DOs across the city have provided us with the time and resources we need to make the club happen. Our recent open house was an inspiring event as we saw numerous Store Managers, DOs, and our VP of Operations, Scott Chollak, coming down to show their support, see our progress, and offer their encouragement.
What would you say to someone who may be nervous or hesitant to join Toastmasters?
The biggest misconception I have seen is that Toastmasters is a class. In reality, every member is both a student and a teacher. We learn from each other, and support our collective development by taking on different roles each meeting. We accommodate every skill and comfort level in communication. Everyone I have ever met starts off nervous about public speaking. Toastmasters is not just about the technicals of communication, our main goal is to foster comfort and confidence in your ability to communicate.
How can employees get involved?
Employees can reach out to myself at sf8924adm@sobeys.com, our club president Kim at Kimberley.kwok@sobeys.com, or just drop by one of our meetings! Our doors are always open. We operate in Sherwood Park, Alberta, with mostly Edmonton and surrounding area members. We would be happy to provide our experience and expertise to anyone interested in starting a club in their area!
I also want to thank our committee as they have all put their free time and hard work into making the program a reality:
As well put by Jim Cochrane, District Operator of D1 Edmonton, “your experience in Toastmasters will pay dividends throughout your entire career. By taking the first step in joining, you have already passed the hardest step.”
If you’re interested in starting an employee club of your own, speak to your Store Manager for more information.
