CN is one of North America’s leading freight railroads and is widely seen as the continent’s most efficient rail carrier. It’s the only railroad that delivers all kinds of freight across Canada and Mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico. The job’s not easy. It requires the passion and teamwork of all CN employees. And that’s why CN makes it a priority to develop employee passion and teamwork in the best way possible: by supporting local communities.
CN Railroader in the Community, Brendan Hosfield, (that's him in the photo to your left) is one such example of a young CN employee going above and beyond for his community. Countless teens have benefited from the tireless generosity of volunteer coaches, yet most don’t give it a second thought. But Hosfield has proven to be the exception to the rule.
Brendan, a switchman and conductor who joined CN in October 2010, spent three seasons as a wide receiver for Winnipeg’s River East Collegiate Football Club. Today, at the ripe old age of 19, he’s repaying the very coaches who supported him as a young athlete.
“I wanted to give back to my coaches, since they spent so much time and energy on me and my teammates even though they all had full-time jobs elsewhere,” explains Brendan, a proud fifth-generation railroader. “I just thought coaching would be a good experience for me, and I never thought I’d enjoy it this much, or have as much fun as I’m having.”
For the second year, Brendan is a receivers coach for players aged 15 to 17. He spends about nine hours volunteering at three practices a week, plus he helps out at all the games between May and mid-November. In recognition of his devotion to the team, Brendan’s charitable organization recently received a CN Railroaders in the Community grant — a CN charitable program that recognizes employees’ contributions in countless volunteering hours by providing grants to the charitable organizations they serve. “Some of our kids can’t even afford to play football, because it costs about $300, so this grant goes a long way to help give them that chance,” says Brendan.
Being not much older than his players makes Brendan an ideal role model, says head coach, Robin Mead. “Brendan is easygoing, friendly, and competent, and we’re lucky to have him as a coach,” says Robin. “Brendan runs individual practice time with many drills and skill development techniques. He also makes sure that his receivers’ timing, blocking, and route running are spot-on. During games, Brendan is in charge of watching the opponents’ defence, looking for weaknesses, coverage schemes, and changes that may occur during the course of a game. He’s a valuable member of our team.”
As you can see, corporate social responsibility is a big deal at CN, and this is just one of many examples where CN employees have taken the initiative to make a real difference in their community. More impressive, each year CN and its employees collect and donate millions of dollars to charitable organizations of all kinds.
Interested in a career with CN? Then you’re in luck. A combination of retirements and new market opportunities means CN is focusing on replenishing its workforce with a new generation of railroaders who will carry the company well into the 21st century. In fact, last year CN added almost 3,000 people to its employee ranks. From train crews, to engineers, to IT specialists, CN has many positions available for professionals just like yourself!
CN offers well paying jobs and health benefits, a diverse, inclusive, and positive work environment, locations in most Canadian provinces and parts of the US, regular training and development programs, and the opportunity to build a career in a strong, growing, and innovative company. It’s no surprise so many employees make CN their long-term career.
Sponsored by CN.