Meet Shirley Hockey! Shirley was born in Coquitlam but moved to Kamloops in 2014. She is an adventurous woman who loves spending time with her daughter and working with fabrics.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kamloops?
Grew up in Coquitlam and moved here in 2014.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My daughter Nikki because she is Potential Realized and I am always amazed at how brilliant, wise, funny and playful she still is as an adult.
What is your favourite local store in Kamloops and why?
Right now its Fabricland. I have a fetish for beautiful fabric.
Describe yourself in one word.
Adventurous.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Vietnam to eat their street food.
What is your favourite activity in Kamloops?
Chilling in my backyard with a beer and a joint. I am a homebody.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
My personal mantra is 'laugh at yourself first before others do' sometimes we are all clowns!
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I would have to say meeting Terry and Louise at WorkBC and Carmen, Julie and Nicky at Community Futures who listened and guided me into actualizing my dream of owning and operating my own Business here in Kamloops. They inspired me to push through the fear and strive for present/future success.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
My grandparents lived in North Bend and my sister and I would spend time there in the summer. I remember it being stinking hot and the highlight of our day was scooting under the smelly crease oil trains in the station running to the hotel and walking across the chilly marble floor to the pop machine for a cold, cold coke. Then we would slide up the boiling white sandhill in our bare feet to the swimming pool and swim until exhausted and hungry. Best childhood memories!
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I've been busy with working and learning my trade plus setting up my Upholstery business but I have reached out to a couple of places in town and hope to start giving over the winter when business slows down.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I think ending poverty is important. Hungry children cannot learn and reach their potential and they and society suffer.
Where would you sneak away to in Kamloops to spend some time alone?
I'd like to hike at Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kamloops and why?
The Homeless population has increased here over the last three years I would like to see more shelters and programs for addictions and mental health issues. One can measure the healith of the community by how they treat the disenfranchised.
What do you think makes Kamloops great?
The beautiful landscape.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) To get lessons and play the Spoons in a band.
2) Trick out my Singer sewing machine and make it four-wheel drive and then repair tarps of the Homeless along the Rivers.
3) To be successful enough to buy a small trailer...I am really sore and tired of sleeping in a tent while camping!!
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
That I studied Behavioral psychology to inform my Art based on comparative Mythology. My younger nerd years.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media?
The usual Facebook and Instagram but you can Google Shirley Hockey and find my pictures of my sewing and crochet.
What is the name of your business/organization?
The REupholstress.
Why did you get into/start this business?
I have been a professional sewist for 20 yrs but laid off every 4 yrs or so. Having my own business means I can control the flow of work and therefore be more stable financially.
What is the goal of your business?
To provide a service that makes people happy, that keep useable material out of the landfill.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
Being too empathic or of porous skin. It is not healthy to feel everyone's negative emotions.
What do you always find yourself saying?
This too will pass.
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Show up to your Life. Be present, dream big...write stuff down. Make goals and work every day towards them. Smile.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Clarissa Pinkola Estes an American poet and storyteller who wrote 'Woman Who Run with Wolves' a book that changed my life direction after I saw her in a tiny church downtown Vancouver in the mid-'90s.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Feeding families over wealthy corporations mainly.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Surviving raising my 3 children. My oldest son was hit by a car 2 times, my youngest son is Deaf and my daughter had an accident that severed her hand in half. Yup I am happy those days are over and they are happy functioning adults now.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
My ex-coworker Jamy Atkinson who is a brilliant sewist and has heaps of kindness in her heart.
My choice for the KamloopsBCNow In Focus spotlight is:
Jamy Atkinson.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kamloops.
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great!
