Co-op Community Champion: Jared Braun

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — April’s Community Champion continues his journey as a servant leader, providing support to the community through his work at the Fort St. John Salvation Army.

Jared Braun says being a servant leader is no easy task, noting that he often feels like he underserves his team and wishes “there was more of me to go around” to support them.

“The work that we do, it’s a lot, and it’s full. To be acknowledged in this way means a lot to me. I’m glad I can do what I can do, but I couldn’t do what I do without the team that I have,” said Braun.

Braun says that, as a Christian, the “simple answer” for what led him to become the executive director of the local Salvation Army is God, but he has also always felt pulled toward leadership.

“[I’ve been] involved in helping and serving others for many years, and that’s been affirmed and encouraged by many other leaders that I’ve looked up to from my parents and teachers,” he said.

Looking back at his resume, Braun said experiences, such as pursuing outdoor leadership through Columbia Bible College, were formative.

“It was shaping in me what it means to work through adversity, what it means to work with so many different types of people, what it means to think creatively and to be innovative when situations change, and circumstances come that you hadn’t prepared for.”

Before starting with the Salvation Army in 2021, he was the executive director of the SCA Blueberry Ministry Centre and Bible Camp for six years, a sales member at Northern Metalic for two years, an associate pastor at the Charlie Lake Community Church for seven years, and a labourer at Pineview Vegetation Management for nine months.

“I never would have imagined that I’d be the executive director of the Salvation Army. But when I look back, it’s like, okay, it makes sense. It’s a beautiful journey, a tapestry of many different pieces that have put it together to be where I am today.”

Braun has lived in the Peace region for most of his life. He spent his early years in Fort St. John before his family moved to a small town in Saskatchewan, where he spent his elementary school years. His family moved to the Prespatou area, where his grandparents settled in the 1960s, when he was a teen, and other than a few years in Abbotsford for college, Braun has been in the area ever since.

He has been able to bring his familiarity with the area and the relationships he has built to his position with the Salvation Army.

Braun says communication is vital. From government officials and other community organizations to individuals who may be at the lowest point in their lives, he notes that the diversity of people he interacts with on a daily basis is really special.

“I love it when I get the opportunity to connect with those we serve, whether it is in the food bank or at the shelter, so people in really tough situations. And then, within a span of an hour or so, I might be sitting down with mayor and council.”

Networking and the connections in the community also help spread the word about the work the Salvation Army does, giving them more “ambassadors,” according to Braun.

“I’m only one person. We have a really good team, but the more people who are familiar with what we do, the better they can communicate our work. Of course, our work is very broad-ranging.”

“The more people that I’m able to connect with and just share about our work, the better informed they are, and the better they are able to share with their neighbours and friends.”

This also translates into more funding and overall donations as more people learn about the organization’s importance in the community and how much is needed to run everything.

Braun’s most notable achievement since joining the Salvation Army is the opening of supportive housing.

“I give credit there as well to Cameron Eggie [ the former executive director], who had a vision together with BC Housing, to get that project’s, kind of, initial idea, but then for me, I kind of parachuted into the initial stages of like, we’re making this thing happen.”

“It’s been really exciting to be a part of that, from the building to getting staffing up and running to actually getting people into the building and providing them homes in a way that they’ve maybe either never experienced or have not had for a long time.”

Negativity and misinformation can be difficult to hear for any human being interacting with individuals going through a rough time. Braun says he doesn’t take people’s opinions personally and instead tries to inform them as best he can about the organization and the people it serves.

“There’s a difficulty. Recently, I spent some time over at the Northern Centre of Hope, and just seeing people and interacting with people who are really struggling with their addiction — it’s heartbreaking. They are struggling with their health, both mental and physical.”

However, despite this and the thoughts of always wanting to provide more to those in need, Braun says they are making a difference.

“I see people come into the food bank, which is right outside my office. I observe the amount of people accessing it and get to interact with them and just hear the gratitude of those that are coming in and saying, I never would have imagined that I would need to use a service, but here it is.”

The work is hard, says Braun, but seeing how it positively impacts the community is why he and his team show up every day. The work and dedication Braun has for the community and the organization doesn’t come without some sacrifices.

“I think a lot of credit needs to be given to my wife and my kids for how strong they are — the supporters they are. Unfortunately, they sometimes get the tough side of it, where dad and husband is asked to go and do something like a night shift. That means I’m not at home, or I carry a heavy load of stress or concern.”

It’s been a challenge, but he says he continually works to ensure that his work doesn’t impact his home life.

Braun notes that the past three years have been a “wild learning journey on many fronts,” including the changing needs of the community. When Braun started his position, there were fifty employees across all departments, now, there are 80.

He says he is a long-time student of leadership but continues to research the best ways to be a servant leader by reading books, listening to podcasts, and more.

To learn more about the Fort St. John Salvation Army and its programs, click here.

Braun would like to send a huge thank you to the community for continually supporting the organization.

“We don’t take it for granted, and in a way, we couldn’t do what we do without a community around us,” said Braun.

Congratulations to Jared Braun on being named April’s Co-op Community Champion. Anyone looking to nominate a community-minded person who deserves recognition can go to Energeticcity.ca.