How Sylvie built a career from a creative spark

Whether you’re looking to connect with people, rekindle your sense of adventure or be at the centre of the action, a career in tourism will take you anywhere you want to go.

Before entering the Tourism Management Program at the Université de Saint-Boniface, Sylvie Foidart wasn’t aware that a role like hers existed. As Tourism Coordinator for the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), Sylvie works with bilingual entrepreneurs and municipalities to develop tourism products and experiences that reflect the culture and heritage of Francophones and Métis in Manitoba.

Sometimes people don’t realize there are long-lasting careers in tourism,” says Sylvie. “It's one of the biggest industries in Manitoba and with tourism under your belt, you can travel for work, you can stay in the province or you can go elsewhere.

For Sylvie, the program felt like a five-year head start. Her first practicum with Travel Manitoba gave her hands-on experience and valuable connections, and her coursework included projects similar to what she’d later take on in her role as Tourism Coordinator.

“They're giving you the real tools, it's not just a concept,” says Sylvie. “I had this tool, this resource guide on how to price out a tour. I adapted it, but still use it today.”

Sylvie stresses that, while the program is a great option for recent high school graduates to explore, it also provides career options for anyone looking for a dynamic career.

“You have to be innovative and you have to be creative [to work in tourism] and by having that confidence and those tools it's a huge help in the right direction,” says Sylvie.

While Sylvie helps develop new ideas and projects to promote Manitoba’s bilingual culture, she’s also seeing the real effects and outcomes of those ideas.

From strategy to actually working with entrepreneurs, you see a new product come to launch and now they're selling it year after year after year and people are talking about it,” she says. “It's really rewarding when you see ideas or concepts come to life.

Tourism is forever growing and changing, which means it requires a lot of agility on Sylvie’s part — something the program prepared her for.

It's never boring,” she says. “You're always learning something new, even ten years down the line. There's so much creativity involved, so much to learn, and so much to do, and I'm meeting new people almost monthly. There are so many moving components and partnerships, and I think that's what I'm most attracted to.

For those new to the industry, Sylvie’s advice is, simply, to just go for it.

“Don't be afraid to reach out — we're all in it with the same goal, so it’s all a big partnership. Just lean on those resources and keep growing.”

Learn more about tourism education programs here or watch the video below.