Meet Eric T.

Associate Probation Officer 

Public Safety and Emergency Services - Governmenet of Alberta

Summer 2023 (16 month term)

"I would say something new AWE students should know is everyone comes from different walks of life with different experiences and perspectives. Being a Probation Officer allows you to get out of your comfort zone and meet people from all types of diverse backgrounds. There are times you'll be frustrated and times that you'll be proud of the work you do. It can be an eye-opening yet rewarding career if you are someone who knows that things will not always be perfect. From my time as a Probation Officer, I have learned that there are things people are dealing with that we can never imagine until we are told about it and there are things we take for granted or expect to be obvious that are not necessarily as obvious as we may think. Knowing that, in this career, it becomes critical to be able to see things from different perspectives. Being able to know how to handle a multitude of different situations without passing judgment based on others' circumstances is an important attribute to have to maintain integrity and respect as a Probation Officer. 

The most challenging part of my work experience term was learning all the different languages that are spoken and being able to effectively communicate with clients, stakeholders, coworkers, and others you will interact with as a Probation Officer. There is legal, street, and work jargon all of which takes place within the workplace, that you have to remember to effectively do your job. With different people, you have to speak to and approach them in different ways. Not every technique you use will work for everyone and that is something important to remember. The way to overcome this, I found, is through active listening, asking questions, and learning new techniques from others that you interact with. Learning from others' experiences, and seeing how they view and approach things allows you to create your own way. The most important thing to keep in mind to become an effective Probation Officer is that there is always something you can learn from someone regardless of who they are, so keep an open mind and take every chance you are given to grow and learn from others.”

Eric is in his 5th year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, Double Major in Psychology and Sociology. He has an unwavering dedication and an active role within the community. Oftentimes you will find him either at work as an Associate Probation Officer or at the rink in his role as a Head Coach in Hockey. He strives to learn, grow, and develop himself while helping the individuals around him do the same.