Real Work. Right Fit. How a Regina Gift Shop Rethought Hiring and Found a Perfect Match Through 4to40
From a Regina basement, Kyle and Danelle Moffatt grew Sticks & Doodles into a busy local brand, producing over 100,000 pieces and building a close-knit team of 12. They hand-make personalized gifts from scratch so every order feels specific to the person it’s for. Recently, they moved into their new East Regina location and, as orders grew, the team was stretched thin on detail-heavy jobs.
“All of a sudden we got to the point where our team was not able to keep up with painting, staining, prepping wood, very like high detailed work,” Kyle said.
That’s when Kyle realized he had the perfect opportunity for a 4to40 hire.
Run through a collaborative partnership of Creative Options Regina and the University of Regina Campus For All program, 4to40 is an inclusive employment initiative that connects employers with job seekers who experience intellectual disabilities.
“The work we do isn’t about creating a job or offering charity,” explained Donna Flaman-Johnson, Inclusive Employment Broker at 4to40.“It’s about identifying real work that needs to be done and matching that with someone’s real potential.”
Hiring with Intention
Kyle connected with Donna, and she immediately saw a strong fit and shared two candidates, preparing them carefully for interviews.
“Sticks & Doodles was accommodating right from the start,” Donna recalled. “They were willing to provide me with the questions in advance and they were also willing to have me present at the interview as well with both candidates.”
When Mik Deiana came through the door, the connection was instant.
“This was a kid that just seemed genuinely excited about the idea of working here,” said Kyle. “And it was an opportunity to bring somebody in who may be super qualified for a role that we maybe just wouldn’t have been exposed to.”
A True Role – Not a Make-Work One
From the very beginning, Mik proved to be a natural fit.
“Mik’s got a great attention to detail. He’s not afraid to ask questions. He likes to learn. Those are all qualities that are important across the board,” Kyle added.
On the shop floor, Mik takes on the detail-heavy production tasks that once slowed the team down: painting, staining, peeling acrylic, taping boards, and prepping frames. It’s steady, hands-on work—and it suits him.
“One year I helped with my dad building our deck, so I’m pretty good with tools and pretty good with my hands,” Mik said.
As he settled in, he started picking up the technical side of the craft. “I didn’t know that there’s so many different types of wood and different types of paints and stuff. So, it was pretty cool. Now I know a lot.”
On his favourite part of the job, Mik said: “Seeing what I made, and then seeing that someone buys it— and that they’re happy.”
To make the transition smooth, 4to40 provided a job coach, working alongside Mik until he was fully confident and independent in his role.
“The work that Mik is doing is very routine, but it’s very important work, because pretty much anything that goes out of that store, Mik likely touched,” Donna said.
The Difference One Hire Can Make
For Kyle, Mik’s addition was a win on every level. “Mik’s had a great impact on us, just like everybody else,” he said.
That impact extends beyond the shop floor.
“The training we do with Mik is the training we should do with all our staff,” Kyle reflected. “He’s made us better managers.”
“It really did kind of force that idea of being more empathetic, being more responsible – taking responsibility as a manager for the work of your team members because if we don’t tell somebody new what to do properly, they won’t do a good job,” he added.
And while some employers worry about costs or added complexity, Kyle said the support from 4to40 made all the difference.
Donna helped take the fear and uncertainty out of the process. From their first call, she addressed his questions head-on — from time commitments to fit — and reassured him that 4to40’s approach was flexible, supportive, and collaborative. By handling the details and guiding him through each step, she turned what once felt daunting into a confidence-building experience.
“The cool thing is that hiring is hard, and the idea that somebody else comes out and finds somebody for you as an employer is awesome,” he said.
Not a Diversity Hire. Just the Right Hire.
Kyle is clear on one point: “This wasn’t a diversity hire. It was just a great hire.”
Looking ahead, Kyle said they’ll weigh future roles with the same lens: “I do want us to be in a position where, as we grow, every time we look at a position, we look at it through the lens of, is this something that we’d want to go to 4to40 through?”
The experience itself has been straightforward and human. “And honestly, I’ve never felt anything other than this is a great experience,” added Kyle.
On the floor, the result is a team that fits. As Mik put it: “We’re pretty much like a family, I would say, so it’s pretty nice.”
Learn More About 4to40
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). We’re sharing local stories that show what inclusive employment looks like in practice.
To learn more about inclusive employment and the 4to40 program, visit https://4to40.ca/.
