Laying the Foundation for the Future: Celebrating Our First Rising Star

This summer at Star Building Materials, we had the privilege of welcoming our very first summer student through the Rising Star Internship Program; a partnership we’ve forged with Supply Build Canada to help support and uplift the next generation of talent in the home building industry. As the inaugural intern of this program in Edmonton, Enam Pobee has truly set the bar high, leaving a lasting imprint on our team and proving exactly why this initiative is so important.

Enam joined us as a Sheeter in our busy truss plant. There, his job required precision, patience, and skill. He worked hands-on fitting plywood onto trusses, carefully stapling the pieces into place, and using a router to ensure smooth and pristine edges. But this opportunity wasn’t just a summer job, it was an immersive introduction into the world of carpentry that Enam had been seeking.

This year, Enam will take the next step in his career journey, heading to NAIT to formally pursue carpentry. As he shared in a reflective interview, the time he spent at Star cemented this decision for him, helping him expand on existing skills, and develop new ones.

“Working here has really helped me gain confidence using power tools” he explained, also citing teamwork as a core skill he was able to build on through his internship at Star.

“Working as a team is really helpful around here, especially when you’re lifting trusses, you really need communication.”

This is precisely the kind of transformational growth that the Rising Star Internship Program is designed to foster. By giving students the chance to work in the industry they aspire to join, students learn technical skills and gain invaluable experience working in real-world settings.

Beyond the skills and the career insights, one of the things that stood out to Enam most was the camaraderie among his coworkers. Early mornings can be tough, but as Enam shared, it was the smiles and energy of the team that made this experience so enjoyable for him.

“I enjoy the company of the other guys. I feel like when I come into work…normally I’m tired, I’ll be honest, but when I come in and see these guys with a good smile on their faces, it really brings me up” he said.

It’s a reminder that any workplace is only as strong as its culture, and here at Star, fostering a welcoming and uplifting environment is something we value deeply.

The Rising Star Internship Program is a joint initiative created by Star Building Materials and Supply Build Canada. This program offers young, ambitious students like Enam the opportunity to experience the home-building industry firsthand. Through hands-on work and real-world exposure, interns gain valuable insight into the craftsmanship, teamwork, and innovation that drive the sector forward.

At its core, this program is about more than just providing job opportunities, it’s about creating a future for our industry. By connecting students to the tools, training, and relationships they need to succeed, initiatives like this have the power to shape not just careers, but lives.

Supply Build Canada, the national association for the building supply industry, has been instrumental in making this program a reality. Through advocacy, connections, and resources, they’re paving the way for independent retailers, suppliers, and distributors nationwide to thrive, while fostering the next wave of talent that will sustain Canada’s building industry for generations to come.

As Star Edmonton’s first intern, Enam has proven exactly why the Rising Star Internship Program matters. We’re proud to have been part of Enam’s journey, and we can’t wait to see where his carpentry career takes him.