June 11, 2024

Recently, I had the distinct honour of sitting down with Alfred Cahigas in a relaxed setting, far from the usual IT emergencies that bring us together. I believe that we both appreciated the change of pace! … Phew!
SF: Thank you for joining me today, Alfred. Okay, since this is not me ashamedly handing you my laptop saying ‘please fix’… let’s talk more about you. Start by introducing yourself to our readers please.
AC: I’m glad it’s not an IT emergency too! Hello, my name is Alfred Cahigas. I’ve been at St.Amant for 1 year and 2 months.
SF: Can you tell us about your career path leading to St.Amant?
AC: Sure! I have a background in computer science and have been in the IT field for over 15 years. This is my second job in Canada. My first job here was as a IT supervisor at a call center when we first moved to Canada.
SF: Where does your family hail from then?
AC: I moved to Canada from the Philippines in March 2019, mainly for my kids.
SF: Was that a huge change to get used to Winnipeg deep freeze winters?
AC: Actually, I love the winters here. I can’t stand the heat in most places, so I really enjoy the cold.
SF: *stares blankly in surprise
AC: laughs, I know, it’s unusual, but I can’t stand the heat in most places so I just love the cold and I enjoy fat biking during winters with friends. The more the snow, the more the fun is lolz.
SF: How long have you been at St.Amant and what is your current role?
AC: I’ve been here for just over a year. I was looking to move from another organization, and I was lucky enough to get a call from St.Amant. It was the best decision I’ve made. Working here is very different from the private sector. There’s a sense of fulfillment and purpose that comes from making an impact. It’s a diverse organization with great people.
SF: What does a typical day look like for you?
AC: I’m a Senior Help Desk Technician. My day-to-day involves working on IT tickets, handling hardware requests, and dealing with various issues. We’ve been particularly busy with mobile deployments recently, deploying hundreds of phones.
SF: Like the 9-1-1 for St.Amant’s IT issues.
AC: Exactly. In fact, we started this interview late because I had to assist someone.
SF: Now that we know your “what” what is your “why”? what drives your passion for St.Amant?
AC: It’s the sense of fulfillment and purpose. I enjoy contributing and making an impact here. The challenges and responsibilities, along with the collaboration with employees, make me feel valued. There’s a purpose every day.
SF: Any interesting or inspiring stories from your time at St.Amant?
AC: Every day is different in IT. There’s always something new. For example, during the last Town Hall, we were asked to set up the audio system. We had to learn and figure it out on the spot. It’s like real-life problem-solving, and that’s my inspiration.
SF: Who would you like to give a shout-out to at St.Amant?
AC: I’d like to shout out to the IT team. It’s been a pleasure working with everyone here. They help me, and we work together so well. I couldn’t ask for a better team.
SF: Thanks for your time, Alfred, and for sharing a glimpse into your role at St.Amant. It’s great to hear about your journey and passion for IT. We’re looking forward to seeing more of your work here.
AC: Thank YOU!