Mardi Getty

For 10 years, British Columbia-native, Mardi Getty has made Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo her home. She is the Vice Chair for The Centre of Hope, a very active volunteer, and a Media Marketing Consultant with Harvard Media. YMM: What is the most rewarding part of your career? MG: Helping and watching my businesses, the owners and the managers grow. Good Deeds and Mix on a Mission are my favourite programs. I connect a business with a not-for-profit and through that connection, we do a variety of good deeds for the not-for-profit including bringing awareness, filling pantries, collecting coats or raising funds. I absolutely LOVE these campaigns! YMM: What motivates you? MG: I am motivated by helping others and watching them grow. I love being asked for advice and I love educating people so that they can help make better decisions in their lives. I am motivated by my children and my husband as they help me become a better person. YMM: What is the biggest challenge you’ve taken on this year? MG: This year has had many roller coaster moments. Earlier in the year, I made a decision to change my career.  I have worked in the advertising/sales industry for most of my adult life, however, I chose to pivot and go back to my roots working in the retail industry. Things didn’t pan out exactly as I had hoped, or planned, which was a surprise to me, and led me back to my path in sales. This transition was challenging for me, as I took a risk and it didn’t work out the way I thought it would. Throughout that transitional time, I had to reach out to friends and family for their support, guidance and helpful reminders that I was loved no matter what risks I took which was very humbling. YMM: What do you consider the best thing about our community? MG: I love the area that I live in, and my neighbours are all wonderful people. I have a strong connection to the community, the business owners and the places I volunteer with. I have developed incredible friendships over the years and we have helped raise our children together. The best thing about the community is that there is a collective group of people and businesses that are consistently trying to improve and grow activities, connections and livelihoods. YMM: Who is your hero, and why? MG: My hero is my husband. He is so kind and never has a bad thing to say about anyone. He is supportive and almost always in a good mood. He has a great group of friends and he has always supported me and my decisions throughout the years. He is a great partner and a wonderful person to look up to. He works hard and always tries to create a better environment for everyone that he meets. YMM: What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? MG: Moving to Fort McMurray was a very big deal. I always imagined that I would live next door to my sister, and my kids would go to the same schools that I went to. Leaving my family, my career and my friends was a very big deal…and I have travelled all over Europe and Thailand, walked on hot coals, jumped off cliffs and slept in a cave. YMM: What does community mean to you? MG: Community is a place where neighbours look out for one another, where people are willing to lend a helping hand, work and grow together. YMM: What are you most grateful for? MG: I am most grateful for my perspective in life. I see beauty everywhere I look and in the people that I meet. I am very self-aware and I enjoy observing and learning.