With deep roots in the community, Kayla Kernick, Spring Creek’s Director of Business Development and Branding, is the future of the heart of Canmore
Kayla is the fourth generation of Kernicks in the valley – and raising the fifth generation here. Their family history in Canmore dates back to Kayla’s great-grandparents who started a dairy farm in 1927 at Spring Creek. As a teenager, Kayla worked for her grandfather Jack at Spring Creek’s mobile park tending the front desk and cleaning cabins. He told his staff not to treat this young Kernick any different. She worked her tail off, and that experience lit the entrepreneurial spark in her.
As Kayla steps back into the family business today, she is excited to carry on her father Frank Kernick’s vision and help build the legacy of a place she’s so passionate about. Kayla manages the growth, sustainability and development of Spring Creek’s values and brand. Her aim is to make sure this neighbourhood in the heart of Canmore exceeds the expectations of residents, customers and business partners.
“It’s nice to be back working at Spring Creek. Even though I’m overseeing many busy parts of development, I feel a wonderful balance here. We have such a great team and the whole company feels like a family. That’s hard to find, but when you do, it doesn’t feel like work.”
The path to Canmore
“My family moved back to Canmore when I was about two years old after my dad worked in Calgary briefly. Canmore was home until I attended Lethbridge College for Fashion Design. Once completed I went on to take business courses in Calgary while searching for a location to open up a clothing boutique. When an opportunity arose to own a Main Street retail store at 21, I knew it was meant to be. Fittingly “Just Be” was born”.
The pull of Canmore
I am a fourth-generation Canmore Kernick and I couldn’t imagine raising my kids anywhere else. Those 10 years of running my retail business were busy! I got married to Braiden, built a house and had two great kids. After closing the store, we thought about a change. We looked at many other places, but nothing checked all the boxes for our family like Canmore.”
The path to Spring Creek
“Running my store gave me real-life experiences. I did my own accounting, hired and trained my staff, did all the buying and merchandising for the store. I discovered I was really good at organizing and marketing. When an opportunity came up to work at Spring Creek and use these same skills, it just seemed like the next right step.”
The pull of Spring Creek
“Being on my family’s land, Spring Creek is such a big part of my heart. I love my dad’s vision for Spring Creek as a caring, friendly and vibrant neighbourhood where people come first. I see that the same passion in the Spring Creek staff, too. The people I work with here are passionate, professional and in it for the long term. I’m looking forward to building that legacy, too.”
