Norah Holloway: Building a Business, Designing a Lifestyle

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 3

April 19, 2012

By April Dutheil

Photo credit: Terry Lam

“It’s a whole different world when you become a business owner,” says entrepreneur Norah Holloway, founder of Norah Holloway Interiors. Launched in 2009, the growth of Norah’s design venture is among her greatest accomplishments. 

Bringing function and beauty together, Norah offers expertise during each stage of the interior design process. Norah enjoys the opportunities she has had, including providing proposals to landmark projects and working with amazing clients. Also impressive, Norah can draft an entire house plan in under eight hours! Always moving forward, her most recent projects include blogging about design trends and remodeling a Montessori daycare.

Coming into business ownership has been a transformational experience for Norah- both professionally and personally. Developing a new sense of confidence, “I’ve learned how to carry myself differently,” she says.

Reconnecting to the her Haida heritage, Norah first moved to Haida Gwaii in grade five, “I moved around a lot,” says Norah “but the islands felt like home- it was a nice small community and I made a lot of connections to the islands.” Returning to the islands exposed her to “unlimited forms of native art and culture,” she says. Haida Gwaii is where Norah discovered her roots in design.

From a young age Norah realized her interest and talent for design, “When I was younger I was constantly re-arranging furniture and choosing paint colours- I wanted to do it professionally,” she says. Nurturing her talent, Norah enrolled in the two-year Interior Design Program at Vancouver Island University. Regarded as a highly competitive program, Norah was identified as one of the top applicants. A total of 80 entrants applied. 

“Not until I was in the field did things make sense,” she says. Straight out of college Norah started working for a design and drafting firm. Although learning a lot, she was unsatisfied, “I wasn’t doing the type of work that I wanted to,” says Norah.

Forced to re-examine her worth, Norah set out to start her own firm. “It’s important to know your personal worth,” says Norah “this is part of the reason why I became an entrepreneur.”

Launching her business has not been without it’s challenges, “at the start there was no one who I could ask business questions to,” she says, “there’s often a cost behind getting support, there are hurdles that go along with the first phase of launching.”

Now beyond the start-up phase, Norah continues to strengthen her clientele and the presence of her brand. Interfacing with clients is her favorite part of the job, “I love giving clients options on how to make the most of their home,” says Norah.

Hardwired for growth and personal evolution, Norah envisions growing her venture to include an on-staff design team and a side company, which offers construction services. Clearly enjoying her journey Norah is confident with where she’s going, “there are endless possibilities of where you can put your talent- interior design is a very in-depth industry,” she says.

Age: 24

Location: Victoria BC

Philosophy: A home is a representation of the lives that people live.

Twitter: @NH_Interiors

Website: www.norahhollowayinteriors.com

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.

Passion to Politics, Supporting Sustainable Leadership

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 2

April 12, 2012

By April Dutheil

April 29, 2010, Victoria BC- Among the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Hereditary Chiefs and dignitaries of the Haida Nation, Evan Putterill gives a statement at the provincial legislature. Marking the introduction of historical decision-making legislation, this event celebrated the Haida Gwaii Reconciliation Act.

Environmental issues played a central role in Evan Putterill’s upbringing. While growing up in Sandspit, Evan’s family was involved in the political dialogue surrounding the creation of Gwaii Haanas- a controversial issue for Sandspit residents at the time.

Passionate about the environment and motivated to do the right thing, Evan ran for political office and was successfully elected to the Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District in 2009. With a focus on long-term sustainability and co-operation, “I ran in order to prevent a return to the old, unsustainable and divisive way of doing things that Sandspit experienced for many years,” says Evan.

Fully immersed in island and regional politics, Evan is the Misty Isles Economic Development Society chair, Moresby Island Management Committee chair, Sandspit Harbour Society director, Vancouver Island Regional Library Board trustee, Northwest Regional Hospital Board director, Regional District’s B.C Ferries representative and the local government representative on the Haida-Provincial-Federal Reconciliation Table. Despite a robust list of political engagements, politics isn’t Evan’s full time job- he also works at the Sandspit Airport.

Reminiscing about his time at Queen Charlotte Secondary School, “I was on student council- even their president for a year and always interested in politics- but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do” says Evan. Finding Mr. Puls’ high school geography class to be inspirational, Evan enrolled in Camosun College, obtaining an Associate Degree in Geography, “it made sense, the study of the people, environment and how they interact with one another.” Later Evan attended the University of Victoria, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and minor in Public Administration. 

While his education and experience has offered many opportunities for off island employment, Evan is committed to working on island and continuing with local community development, “it is very rewarding getting things done for your community.”

Since being elected Evan has learned many lessons, including that “most things don’t happen quickly in politics- they come together slowly.” Although fortunate to learn from his colleagues, Evan doesn’t aspire to be like any particular politician, “I want to be myself,” he concludes.

An advocate for collaboration and envisioning the long-term, Evan’s motivation to serve the public is refreshing. He talks passionately about the need for political processes to become more cooperative and inclusive, “I’m of the view that the fractured nature of political institutions on island is structurally incompatible with meaningful and cooperative governance that brings together all communities.” Echoing the informal conversations that have been taking place Evan notes, “People are coming to realize that we need to break free from the silos which inform our politics and develop a more organic regional government on island.”

Cautiously optimistic, Evan acknowledges the need to consider future generations during decision-making processes, “I think we should be doing more long-term planning and have a vision for the next 100 years; unfortunately, our communities are in economic crisis- we have to focus on that first.”

Demonstrating how issues trump age, Evan says that his status as a young professional hasn’t been an issue during his time in local government. “Most board members will want to debate ideas and merits,” although there has been the odd time when “I’m three times your age” has been the opener for vocalizing political dissent.

Age: 25

Location: Sandspit

Philosophy: Above all, I believe the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.

Twitter: @EvanPutterill

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.

Returning to Our Roots: New Energy in the North

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 1

Tlell, Haida Gwaii CANADA- March 22, 2012

by April Dutheil

July 2010, Rouen France- Dressed in regalia Dana Bellis leaves city hall with other summer students after meeting with the mayor of Rouen. Complementing her Masters program, this two week course at the University of Rouen in France brought Dana together with indigenous people from all over the world to study the Position of Indigenous People in International law.

“One of the best things about me is being from Haida Gwaii” says Dana Bellis who recently returned from the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Vancouver. Jaad Gudangaa ‘laas (Happy Lady), also know as Dana Bellis attended George M. Dawson High School in Masset, learning determination and hard work from an early age, “I always felt I had the support of the teachers and the community, but I also had to do it myself.” The islands have given Dana incredible gifts, “the islands foster an independent, creative and confident determination”, and for this she pays tribute to the Haida community and the island people.

Immersed in the field of consulting in policy development and community-engagement, Dana has been fortunate to work with Indigenous health and government organizations, energy companies, and the aboriginally owned and operated Indigenuity Consulting Group. Energized by the opportunity to work and engage with the community, “I am continually in awe of the people from Haida Gwaii, they have the innate ability to shape the world, making it how they want it to be”.

While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Women’s studies from the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, Dana played rugby with the UNBC Women’s Rugby Team. As part of the team’s community involvement, Dana coached the UNBC Girls Mini Rugby Team and helped to inspire confidence and healthy living among the young girls she coached. Dana later traveled to Kenya, learning about community development first-hand and Finland, studying circumpolar history.  

Exploring the islands as a child and visiting Europe at age 8, Dana’s curiosity recently took her to Norway. At Tromsø University, the only university in the world above the Arctic circle, Dana studied reindeer herding history and it’s relation to gender and policy, obtaining a Masters degree in the Philosophy of Indigenous studies. Along with an offer to publish her research, Dana considers this to be one opportunity, among many which have shaped where she is today.  

But you won’t find her biggest accomplishments on her resume. Named Jaad Gudangaa ‘laas, Dana considers striving for happiness to be central to a good life. Working from Haida Gwaii fosters a work-life balance like none-other, “I can work during the day, then relax with friends and family, baking cookies for the Masset soup kitchen and sewing quilts for charity”. Dana also notes the career benefits of being on island, “Where else in the world can you be mentored by such amazing professionals? Here you can literally look up someone’s name in the phone book and be talking to a top negotiator or business leader in Canada, and they want to talk to you, where else can you do that?”

When asked about what’s next, Dana has a list full of things that excite and energize, among that list is assisting with organizing the upcoming Potlatch for the Residential School Survivor Totem Pole Raising in Masset, attending the 2012 Aboriginal Opportunities Forum in Vancouver and contributing to conversations on ways to improve community access to energy, social value and opportunity in the North. Inspired by the confidence of Haida Gwaii and curiosity  “I love to see where things go, where a good idea can take you”, says Dana.

Age: 27

Current location: Masset

Philosophy: Work hard, be honest, and when in doubt be kind.

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.