ATEC support helps launch Bigfoot Bannock

Jamie and Wydell Rain – Culinary Arts Program, Thompson Rivers University

 

In July 2026, Jamie and Wydell Rain achieved a goal more than a decade in the making when they opened Bigfoot Bannock, a Kamloops-based catering company specializing in Bannock-inspired meals.

“When we moved to Kamloops about 10 years ago, we wanted to put down roots for our kids while also working toward a goal that was important to us,” Jamie said. “We have always had a passion for food and bringing people together, and we knew that we wanted to operate our own food business one day.”

Recognizing that education would help turn their vision into a reality, Jamie and Wydell both enrolled in Thompson Rivers University’s Culinary Arts Program in 2018 and completed Levels 1 and 2 with support from the Aboriginal Training and Education Centre (ATEC)’s Skills Development Program.

ATEC administers funding through the Service Canada Indigenous Skills Employment & Training (ISET) Program for the central interior, helping Indigenous people throughout the Secwépemc and Nlaka’pamux Nations access training, develop skills, and connect to meaningful employment opportunities.

After completing the two-year program at TRU, Jamie and Wydell gained hands-on experience working in high-end dining restaurants.

“Those experiences helped build our skills, confidence and understanding of the food industry,” Wydell said.

While their culinary training provided a strong foundation, they knew running a successful business would require additional skills.

Wydell recently completed an accounting program while Jamie completed a Business Management program at Sprott Shaw College supported by ATEC funding that helped them gain the qualifications needed to move closer to their goal of operating their own buisness.

“One of our biggest challenges was balancing education, employment, raising our children, and trying to build a stable life in a new community,” Jamie said. “It took a lot of commitment and perseverance to continue going to school while supporting our family, but we always kept our bigger goal in mind.”

Over the years, they continued building experience, with Wydell working as an accountant and Jamie taking on administrative roles that strengthened their business knowledge.

“All of these different experiences, from culinary and customer service to accounting and business management, have now come together as we pursue our original dream of building and operating Bigfoot Bannock,” Jamie said.

They both agreed that the support and funding they received from ATEC helped create opportunities that brought their long-term goal within reach.

“Our journey didn’t happen overnight,” Wydell said. “It has been years of education, work experience, raising a family and staying focused on our long-term goal. Today, all those experiences have come together to help us build Bigfoot Bannock.”

Their journey reflects how education, perseverance and community support can help turn long-term goals into reality.

To learn more, follow Bigfoot Bannock Catering on Instagram @bigfootbannock.

For more information about ATEC’s programs and services, visit https://atec-training-employment.com.