CUISA Bursary Winner 2022

Hi everyone, as you all know my name is Payton Sigouin and I can’t tell you how thankful I am to be the recipient of this award. I’m sure there were many qualified candidates, and it is an honor that I was selected for this bursary.

I’ve been asked to share a little bit about myself and I thought I’d start with my involvement in the insurance industry. For the past three years I have been working at our local insurance agency in Powell River. I started as a greeter during the COVID pandemic assuring incoming clients were properly prepared, and have now worked my way up to becoming a certified driver’s licensing agent. My days at Westview Agencies and the Cooperators have been faced with a worldwide pandemic and staff shortage, which has made my customer service skills, value of hard work, and patience much stronger. In addition, calming clients, and reminding them that they can now renew their auto insurance online, if they are a single owner, who only drives for pleasure use, or to and from work, and does not want to make any changes on their policy, has become a daily activity.

With all of this in mind, I now have a much greater appreciation for the work that each and every one of you do each and every day. And to think, when I was a child, I thought my dad just sharpened pencils all day at work. Overall, my admiration for the insurance industry has greatly developed since the age of six.

I have always been a busy kid. I have spent years at soccer fields, swimming pools, gymnastics mats, dance studios, and crossfit gyms; and as I became older my passion moved to the outdoors. I find hiking in the backcountry or paddle boarding on the ocean a great way to de-stress after a chaotic week of volunteering, working, and managing my heavy academic course load. My focus has always been academic success.

I graduated with a dual diploma in French and English and I am hopeful it will continue to open many doors in my future. In September, I started attending the University of Victoria for an undergraduate degree in sciences with the hopes of one day becoming an orthodontist. I have also recently been invited to partake in UVics brand new management program, which interests me as I hope to operate my own business. This management program may also provide me with the experience required for acceptance into the demanding medical schools.

Lastly, I’d like to thank the CUISA board of directors and its members. You clearly believe in me and if all goes according to my plan, after 12 years of university, I will be available to provide you all with continued care for your beautiful and healthy smiles!