Coffee with ... Bradley Hurley

Aside from providing a curbside recycling service to residents of Gander, VON Broadening Horizons offers employment opportunities for those who otherwise may have a hard time getting their foot in the door to begin with.

The term 'intellectual disability' may carry with it some unwanted baggage, giving some the impression that an individual may be incapable of completing work tasks. Broadening Horizons aims to squish that myth by providing its clients with meaningful employment.

Bradley Hurley has been working out of Broadening Horizon's recycling facility since September 2007, and it does not take long to learn he enjoys his job. The Gander Collegiate graduate tried on other jobs for size prior to taking on his roll of sorting through oodles of recyclable good, and found none of them as rewarding as where he finds himself today.

Cory Abbott, the program manager for Broadening Horizons' recycling service, sat in with Mr. Hurley for his interview with The Beacon.

Q: Where did you go to school?

Mr. Hurley: Here in Gander at Gander Collegiate. It was 2005 when I graduated.

Q: What were your plans when you finished school?

Mr. Hurley: I wanted to try and find a job somewhere.

Q: What were your prospects? Was there anything you were thinking of particularly?

Mr. Hurley: I mostly wanted to work here (in Gander).

Q: Did you have any idea of what sort of work you wanted to do?

Mr. Hurley: Not really. Recycling has been my favourite thing of all.

Q: Was this the first job you got out of school?

Mr. Hurley: No. I had a few jobs (through the Gambo and Area Employment Corporation.

Mr. Abbott: They supply job coaches for people with disabilities, so I think he was on a couple of different jobs with them - the church and other summer jobs. Bradley found us through Special Olympics.

Q: What sort of sports do you take part in for Special Olympics?

Mr. Hurley: I take part in four different kinds of events. I do floor hockey, track and field, boating and snowshoeing.

Q: What do you like best about it?

Mr. Hurley: It's challenging [laughs]. I like all of them.

Q: What did you think of Broadening Horizons when you first learned about their recycling program?

Mr. Hurley: I loved it. It was something new and challenging.

Q: How did you find your first few days here? Was there anything you noticed?

Mr. Hurley: I found it hard at first. It was pretty hard getting used to the staff and the clients here, and working with people.

Q: How did you find it as you went along and got to know the people better?

Mr. Hurley: Not too bad, I guess. I know Scott (Pittman), because he's in Special Olympics with me, and I'm used to him. I know Lance (Kennedy) and those guys.

Q: And your supervisor is Keith Loveys. How do you get along with him?

Mr. Hurley: Not too bad I guess.

Q: What sort of things do you do here at the depot?

Mr. Hurley: I do cardboard, whatever comes in off the truck, and I do paper. Those are two of my favourite hobbies here. I ride in the truck once in awhile.

Q: I guess handling a lot of the recyclables you get from people, you get to know the habits of what people do. Is there any common mistakes you notice people make with their recyclables?

Mr. Hurley: They put out containers in the bags when there's no need of it [laughs].

Q: How has getting this job changed your own life?

Mr. Hurley: I've learned stuff that I haven't done in my life. I'd never used a baler (for cardboard recycling) in my life. It's different, and I enjoy it.

Mr. Abbott: And, you've got your own money now.

Mr. Hurley: Yes, that's what I like [laughs]. I've got my own bank card that I didn't have before. I have my own bank account.

Q: Are you learning to be responsible with my money.

Mr. Hurley: I enjoy being a bit more independent, somewhat.

Q: What's your favourite part of your job?

Mr. Hurley: Just doing the work here. Whatever comes off the truck, I get used to it. It's an important job.

Mr. Abbott: You have a few laughs here too.

Mr. Hurley: Oh yes! Ian Blackmore (a driver) tries to come in and fight me all the time. He comes in at dinner time and scares me.

Q: Is there anything that has happened here sticks out in your mind?

Mr. Hurley: The new building is pretty good. It's bigger than what we had. I feel more comfortable than when were working (at the old location). It's a lot bigger, and there's more room for cardboard.

Q: Does that make your job easier?

Mr. Hurley: It does, yeah.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like to see happen here in the future?

Mr. Hurley: Recycle more stuff, different kinds of stuff. Whatever we can, down the road.

Q: Do you find there's different challenges with the job each day, or do you find you're comfortable with what you do?

Mr. Hurley: I'm comfortable with what I do everyday.

Q: Does that also apply to life away from work?

Mr. Hurley: I've got Special Olympics three times a week. I've got about 97 medals on my wall in my room.

Q: You'll probably have to build another wall.

Mr. Hurley: Probably [laughs].

Q: Are there any other fun things you do outside of work?

Mr. Hurley: Mostly, I'm at home on Facebook. I used to paint rocks - that was my biggest hobby of all. I'd put ladybugs on them.

Q: What would you say to people who may at one time have been unsure of taking on a job like this, based on your experience?

Mr. Hurley: I'd recommend (my job) to other people.

Q: There has been some uncertainty about VON with the new waste management group eventually coming on for recycling. How would you feel if this program eventually wasn't happening?

Mr. Hurley: If I heard that, I'd be pissed off. I really want to work here, and I don't want to quit just for them. There's no need for it. This place needs to stay here. I enjoy it.

Q: What sort of jobs specifically did you have before you came here?

Mr. Hurley: I used to work in two different churches around Gander. I did the Town Square onetime as a summer job. I'd clean the sidewalk and paint the road. Water flower, mow lawns and stuff like that. I enjoyed it, but then I found myself here.

Q: Is there anything else you want to add?

Mr. Hurley: I want people in Gander to keep recycling their stuff - put it in the driveway. Don't throw it in the dump.

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