Finding a niche in Kimberley

This couple are enthusiastic about the potential of their city and about their role in it

1 of 2Grant Sharam and his wife, Jennifer Roberts, with their son, Alexander — Photo courtesy Jennifer Roberts

2 of 2The Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre is a remarkable facility. — Frida Viklund Photography

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Coming to Kimberley could not have been a better move for Australian Grant Sharam and his family—his wife, Jennifer Roberts, and four-year-old son, Alexander.

Both Sharam and Roberts have established satisfying careers for themselves. Sharam manages the Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre and Roberts is the principal of the Kimberley Independent School, a not-for-profit school catering to Kindergarten to Grade 9. The couple's son, Alexander, attends the pre-K program.

The boomerang effect

Sharam first came to Canada on a youth exchange working holiday. Following that, he worked in Europe and Australia for more than 10 years, but travelled back to Canada on almost a yearly basis. Canada was in his blood.

“In 2002, I came back to ski,” said Sharam. “I met Jen, who was teaching at the high school in Canmore (Alberta).”

The rest, as they say, is history.

The couple got married, had their son, and lived and worked happily in Canmore, but life became very busy. Sharam headed up the well-known corporate team-building company the Alberta Drum Cafe and the couple also opened a wine store, Canmore Wine Merchants, in the area. But the decision to move to Kimberley in 2009 fell into place fairly naturally. The family had always enjoyed resort towns and were often finding themselves in Kimberley visiting friends on weekends.

Everything you need—with a smile

When they moved, they said, they experienced the same amenities as they had in Canmore; they enjoyed the weather and Alexander had more space to play.

“We love the community of Kimberley; the friendliness was something that we noticed,” said Sharam. “I come from a small town of 3,000 people in Australia, so I like being able to walk down the street and say hi to everyone."

Sharam said he enjoys being involved with the community. He is on the board for the Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce, and is also a member of Rotary.

Exactly where they want to be

Sharam's business experience serves him well as the manager of Kimberley's two-year-old conference centre, which is the largest meeting facility in the East Kootenay region.

Roberts, too, has found her niche in the community. Prior to working for the Kimberley Independent School, Roberts was a substitute teacher in the area, and Sharam said she is very positive about the school system in Kimberley. Moving into administration for the school has been a natural progression for her, and Roberts, Sharam said, lives and breathes her job.

“She has absolutely found her niche,” said Sharam.

And so has he.

“The conference centre is the greatest thing that has happened to Kimberley since the mine closed,” said Sharam. “It offers fantastic economic opportunities for the city, and from Day 1, we have seen its popularity grow to a point to where we are getting very, very busy.”

Sharam said the number of conferences, conventions, meetings, trade shows and weddings is growing. He genuinely believes that the conference centre is Kimberley's greatest opportunity.

“I don’t think that there is a single entity in our midst that has more opportunity for economic growth,” said Sharam. “We are working very closely with Kevin Wilson, the Kimberley economic development officer, (as well as) Tourism Kimberley and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.”

Sharam said he is very positive about the potential of the conference centre.