I am Caley Gibbs, a founding student and a member of the first group of students that graduated from HNMCS, the Class of 2012. While at HNMCS, I was a competitive hockey player which was a big passion of mine growing up. With guidance from my parents, it was decided that I would end my hockey career after my grade eleven season to focus on school in order to achieve grades that would open various doors for my university selection in the upcoming grade twelve school year. I then transferred this love of the game to coaching nine and ten-year-old girls for my remaining volunteer hours in grade twelve which was such a rewarding experience.

As a student, I had the privilege of being educated by intelligent, caring and compassionate teachers who truly prepared me for the remainder of my educational journey. At graduation, I was honoured to present the salutation speech to the graduating class as well as rewarded with the Basilian Father’s Catholic student award.

I attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo achieving an Honours degree in Sociology with the business option. The business option appealed to me having worked at our family-owned business, Gib-San Pools, since the summer of 2008. It also presented the opportunity to have sociology and the business option appear on my degree.

After my undergrad, I was presented with the opportunity to work as an incentives coordinator for one of our suppliers, Zodiac Pool Systems, a global equipment manufacturer. I worked at their headquarters in San Diego, California for a seven months which was a life changing experience. Not only did it solidify my interest to remain in the industry and family business, but it also provided me a new perspective and once in a life time adventure. When I returned home April 2017, I rejoined our family business and, at the request of my dad, assisted in our marketing department. Although marketing was one of my favourite courses at Laurier, I wanted to further this passion and enrolled in a post grad, marketing management programme at Humber College’s Lakeshore campus that September (2017).

Fast forward to the present and I am working in my career in my eleventh year at Gib-San. Recently, I was nominated to be a co-chair of an industry association committee called, “Wave Young Professionals Network”. I am one of three women on this committee of ten and the only Canadian. I am also working towards an industry designation called the Society of Watershape Design (SWD). The SWD requires 150 hours with a combination of both elective and core courses. The courses are offered across the united states at various times of the year. The courses specialize in engineering, business, construction and design. I love travelling, exercise, photography and time spent with family and friends. I am forever grateful for my time spent at HNMCS and the educators who helped shape me into who I am today.