How the BARST program helped Jesse Bierman build a career in community transformation

Jesse Bierman BARST ’17

What motivated you to return to school as a mature student, and how did your previous work experience shape your approach to the BARST program?

I discovered the BARST program while working evenings and weekends as a building supervisor at the YMCA/YWCA. Although I was grateful for the opportunity to grow from lifeguarding to supervising all programs, I wanted a more balanced lifestyle, ideally a Monday-to-Friday schedule in a coordinator or manager role. I realized I had plateaued in the recreation field and needed a program that could help me advance. BARST offered that opportunity by aligning with my experience and aspirations. My previous work gave me clarity on where I wanted to take my career and shaped my approach to the program by focusing on applying what I learned directly to community development.

You used the flexibility of the BARST program to earn additional certifications. What courses did you take, and how did those courses influence your career direction and opportunities?

Early in the program, I recognized the value of elective flexibility and pursued two certificates: Indigenous Governance and Partnerships and Indigenous Sport and Recreation. These aligned with my interests and had overlapping coursework, allowing me to complete both efficiently. As a mature student with field experience, I appreciated that many courses were offered in the summer, enabling me to finish most of my degree in three years and return to work. The program helped me bridge Indigenous studies with recreation practice, which became a defining theme in my career.

For my practicum, I joined Play Around the World and chose to stay in Canada, completing my placement in Fort Providence, N.W.T. This decision allowed me to network locally and led to a job in the neighbouring hamlet of Behchokǫ̀, where I managed a new $22-million recreation facility. I leaned heavily on both my past experience and new academic knowledge to hire, train and implement community programs.

You quickly advanced to managing a $20-million facility in Behchokǫ̀ and later designed 20 parks for Tsawwassen First Nation. Could you tell me a bit more about those projects and some of the most valuable lessons you learned from those experiences?

In Behchokǫ̀, I oversaw the reopening of the Kò Gocho Centre, a major infrastructure milestone following the signing of the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s treaty. I managed a $2-million annual budget, supervised 20 staff and coordinated events that revitalized community recreation. Later, with Tsawwassen First Nation, I led the creation of a 22-park master plan and advised on the development of an $8-million youth centre. These projects taught me the importance of listening closely to community needs, respecting cultural protocols and integrating Indigenous perspectives into planning. They also reinforced the value of strategic partnerships and long-term visioning.