As a Financial Services Representative at our Annex Branch, Evan tells us about the value of team work and his passion for the local music scene.

I grew up in Antigonish, NS and moved to Halifax after high school to study journalism at the University of King’s College.

During my 2^nd year of journalism school, I opted to take a gap year and began working full time instead.  That gap year turned into 10 years working in retail where I moved into a management role covering two departments.

One of my closest friends had studied finance and now works in banking as an advisor.  They have always been very adamant about how important financial knowledge is and have taught me a lot over the years.  They knew I was looking for a change in careers for a long time and pushed me to explore banking as an option, and I knew it was something that would also teach me many skills I could use in my everyday life.

I joined CUA in May 2023, and have been a Financial Services Representative in my time here.  However, I have recently started learning about other roles within the company as I begin to find my path here; a major draw for me joining CUA was the potential for growth within the company.

My workday starts with working on daily reports and helping prepare the Branch for opening.  I then focus a lot on helping meet our members’ needs and finding solutions for those that need them and assisting my colleagues in their work.

The best part of my job is working in a team that’s supportive of each other and our members.  I have always found it rewarding to be able to spend my day finding solutions for people and my colleagues make it even easier to do this every day.

The most valuable thing I have learned in my role at CUA is that it is highly important to build savings, but that it’s also never too late to start – even if it’s a little bit at a time.

If you are trying to pay off multiple credit cards or loans, focus on the highest interest rate first and make minimum payments on the others.  It’s motivating to see the balance decrease by taking this approach.

My favourite activity outside of my professional life is to attend local shows. The music scene in Halifax is amazing and there are so many great artists here that are not known enough.  Being able to see a lot of my favourite artists often, and without having to travel, is something I will always enjoy.

I volunteer with the board for The Pavilion Youth Association, which focuses on fostering and growing the all-ages music scene in Halifax.  They are a long-standing local non-profit that believe in making concerts safe and accessible so youth can enjoy live music and be inspired to start their own musical journey.  There was nothing like this in my hometown when I was growing up, so I have always appreciated the work they do, as it really helps the younger generation discover a love for music.  We recently concluded a four round Battle of the Bands at the Light House Arts Centre where youth artists were able to showcase their music to a panel of judges from the local music industry using professional sound and lighting.

I also run a page promoting local music called “Inside the Scene HFX”.  I originally began studying journalism so that I could pursue a career in music journalism and promotions, and while I did not continue with my degree, I have built many friendships within the local music scene with some great people over the years and recently began pursuing this venture in my free time.  I have always loved to share music, especially when I’m able to experience someone discovering their new favourite artist, and this allows me to start doing this on a broader scale while also promoting local artists.

11. What is your favourite meal to cook at home or order at a restaurant?

My favourite meal to cook at home is breakfast - I always spend my mornings over the weekend making myself a large spread with a bit of everything, but if I’m ordering at a restaurant, you can never go wrong with chicken parmesan.

Meet the CUA Team