This summer marks 20 years of employment with Quint for our Executive Director, Kristen Thoms.

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Kristen for 13 of those 20 years, and over that time I’ve seen firsthand the impact she’s had not just on our programs, but on the people and culture that make Quint what it is.

Kristen joined Quint in July of 2006 as an employment coordinator with the Core neighbourhoods at work program and often jokes that she was a “second pick” after interviewing with Laverne. As it turns out, Quint has had a pretty good track record with second picks ever since.

She quickly stepped into leadership within CNAW and helped shape the program into what it is today. Under her guidance, the program continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of the community through expanded supports, stronger employer relationships, and new opportunities that made employment services more accessible in the core neighbourhoods.

Kristen was never interested in maintaining the status quo. Whether it was CNAW 20 years ago or Quint as a whole today, she has always been asking how we can do better and who still isn’t being reached in the ways they need.

Since first becoming Director of Operations and now Executive Director, there isn’t a single program at Quint that hasn’t benefited from her ideas, input, and thoughtful approach. Many of us have heard her say some version of, “Well, my nose is in it now and I’m invested in figuring this out.” Whether we 100% appreciated hearing it in that moment or not, it almost always meant a better process, a stronger policy, or a solution that would make things work better long term.

Kristen is one of the most detail-oriented people I know. She sees connections, identifies risks, and ask questions the rest of us haven’t thought to ask yet. Many of us have walked into her office thinking we had something completely figured out, only to leave with 6 questions we hadn’t considered yet and 4 new things on our to do list. Anyone who has seen my desk has seen my sticky note to do list, most of which is Kristen generated…

This commitment to doing things well has helped create stability across the organization and has positioned Quint to continue growing while staying true to its mission.

One of Kristen’s greatest strengths as a leader is her ability to see potential in people, often before they see it in themselves. Over the years she has helped countless staff to grow within their own positions, or into new opportunities and leadership roles. Myself included. She has consistently invested her time and energy into helping the people around her succeed.

I’ve personally benefited from that for the last 16 years since we first worked together back in 2010. Quint was my first job out of university. And although we only worked together for 6 months after she returned from Maternity leave and before I moved to Vancouver, the friendship remained.

When we were considering moving back to Saskatoon, Kristen asked if I would ever come back to Quint. Obviously she was pretty convincing, because here I am 12 years later.

And all these years later, I’m still benefiting from her guidance and support. I can confidently say that I would not be the leader, or the person, I am today without her belief in me. And I know I’m far from the only person in this room who feels that way.

Kristen leads by example. She trusts people to take on challenges, step outside their comfort zones, and try new things because she’s always been willing to do the same herself.

She doesn’t ask people to do things she wouldn’t do herself- even including networking at an event, which anyone who knows Kristen is a true act of leadership. And she’s willing to admit when she’s wrong, although honestly it doesn’t seem to happen very often! She has high expectations, but realistic ones, because she believes the people around her are capable of meeting them. And we usually do.

I can remember many times sitting in meetings, frantically taking notes while Kristen was simply talking through a difficult situation or problem-solving a challenging conversation. I wasn’t taking notes because it was a meeting—I was taking notes because I was thinking, “Remember what she’s saying and how she’s saying it. That’s the kind of leader I want to be someday.”

Even now, as Director of Operations, I still have those moments regularly.

Beyond programs and processes, Kristen has had an enormous influence on the culture of Quint.

The organization we experience today didn’t happen by accident.

Kristen believes deeply in transparency. She values accountability, both for herself and for others. She isn’t afraid to have difficult conversations or critically reflect on her own decisions or the practices of the organization, and challenges those around her to do the same.

She also has a gift for helping people understand complicated situations through analogies. Whether she’s talking about the elephant in the room or trying to let the air out of a balloon, or one of the many other analogies she’s used over the years, she manages to find a way to make things make sense.

Strong relationships have always been the foundation of Kristens work, both within Quint and out in the community. She shows up for people, has built friendships that have lasted long after people have left Quint, and I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent in her office over the years seeking advice; not just about work, but about life.

She brings humour into the workplace and consistently reminds us why our work matters.

And perhaps the ultimate example of Kristen’s commitment to Quint culture: many years ago she came back from a work trip with several CNAW staff members sporting matching Quint tattoos. If you ask nicely later, maybe she’ll show you hers.

What strikes me most is that while Kristen’s role has changed many times over the last twenty years, who she is has remained remarkably consistent.

When Kristen stepped into the Executive Director role, she brought fresh energy and a willingness to think differently and combined that with a deep respect and understanding of Quint’s past and roots. In all the growth she has brough to Quint, especially over her last 3 years as ED, she never lost sight of who and what Quint is.

She is deeply values-driven. She continually pushes us to evolve and try new things while staying grounded in Quint’s mission. You can see that throughout Quint today – from the move of Pleasant Hill Place and the Youth Lodge to Avenue T, to the growth and stability of our social enterprises, new community partnerships, and the work we’re doing to explore community impact through real estate- to name a few.

She has spent twenty years helping define what it means to be part of this organization.

And honestly, if someone asked me to describe the definition of a Quinter, Kristen would be the first person that comes to mind. So, Kristen, thank you for your leadership, your wisdom, your humour, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.

And while twenty years is certainly worth celebrating, I want to be clear that this isn’t a farewell. It’s an opportunity to recognize the work you’ve done to shape Quint into the organization it is today, and the foundation you’ve built for the future.

So here’s to twenty years, and hopefully many more.

Julia McCormick

Quint AGM, June 23, 2026