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Kaleigh Pitman
Home-grown Passion
Everyone was so supportive. They were just down-to-earth people who wanted to help. It seemed like they loved their jobs, and I would love to be part of that!
Kaleigh Pitman
If you're looking for one of Canada's top young hair stylists, you might not think to look in downtown
Yarmouth. But that's exactly where you'll find Kaleigh Pitman, a 2009 Cosmetology graduate. She's won so many awards, she's made history.
"I've competed in Calgary, P.E.I. and Toronto – it was an awesome experience going to school and being able to do all of this."
Kaleigh knew she wanted to be a stylist from a young age. When she finished high school, she decided to stay in her hometown and go to the Burridge Campus because of the faculty's reputation.
"I looked at different schools and found that Bonnie Williams at NSCC had so much more experience than the instructors at some of the private schools."
Kaleigh was a success as soon as she started the program.
"At Skills Nova Scotia in 2008, I won first place so I went on to Skills Canada in Calgary. I'd only been in the course a few months and I really didn't know much," says Kaleigh modestly. "But Bonnie trained me before school, after school and during weekends. We put a lot of time into it and actually ended up placing fourth in Canada!"
Later that year, Kaleigh won first place in the 'New Talent in the Maritimes' category at the Allied Beauty Association Competition in Moncton. In April 2009, she placed first again in the 'New Talent' category at the Maritime Carnival of Beauty in Halifax.
With those two big wins under her belt, it was time to get ready for her second and final chance at Skills Canada. She was determined to go for gold.
"After having a taste of it the first year and placing fourth, I wasn't going to walk away without a medal. I was at school every day from seven-thirty in the morning until ten at night. Bonnie and I were both exhausted. But we actually won a gold medal – top stylist in Canada!"
It was the first time faculty member Bonnie Williams ever had a student win gold at a national competition.
"Kaleigh is passionate, dedicated and enthusiastic," says Bonnie proudly. "She has a great work ethic and will be a leader in the hairstyling industry."
Now Kaleigh works at The Final Touch salon in her home town. Her reputation is spreading, with clients driving from as far away as Bridgetown and Halifax.
With all the awards and notoriety, why is Kaleigh in Yarmouth and not a slick cosmopolitan salon in Toronto or Vancouver?
"We're just like a big family. The salon owner, Vickie Bond Leblanc, is constantly teaching me and everyone's so helpful. You can't stop learning. You have to keep up with the trends because that's what makes a good stylist. You can't just stop at a roller set!"
The other reason she wants to stay in Yarmouth is to fulfill her true ambition – to return to the Burridge Campus and become a teacher. It's something Bonnie can easily imagine.
"I see her as an educator of colour, cutting and competition," says Bonnie. "She might just have my job when it becomes available!" says Bonnie, laughing. "I loved it there," says Kaleigh of her NSCC experience. "Everyone was so supportive. They were just down-to-earth people who wanted to help. It seemed like they loved their jobs, and I would love to be part of that!"
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