Age 30
Upon graduating from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Critical Indigenous Studies, Matt Ward began looking for a next step that would make the most impact for the queer Indigenous community.
Ward wanted to return from his hometown Slave Lake to Edmonton, the city that had embraced him as a 14-year-old. Ward zeroed in on Homeward Trust, a non-profit that supports people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton.
“I sent as many annoying résumés as possible to Homeward Trust until they hired me,” says Ward. “It was a space where I felt I could really learn a lot and hopefully, help inform, too.”
Included in Ward’s time there, was one-and-a-half years as senior executive advisor. Ward coordinated the community engagement on five supportive housing projects due to open this year.
“Getting to drive by those buildings and know there’s 200-plus units of additional supportive housing for people who require that in order to stay housed, is really exciting for me. I will always feel a connection to those sites and that work and the impact of that.”
Still striving for impact, Ward recently joined pipikwan pêhtâkwan, an Indigenous-owned and led public relations firm. Outside work, Ward likes hanging out with fiance and their cat, Mr. Business, e-scooting around Edmonton and playing Cree & D, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
He supports indigenous people and businesses
This article appears in the November 2022 issue of Edify
