More than a job: How a North Battleford restaurant is opening doors to reintegration

The uncertainty left her feeling adrift.

“When I had graduated high school, volunteering and stuff, I just felt like I didn’t really have a purpose,” she said. “I was like out of that routine.”

Today, the 21-year-old serves customers, clears tables and chats with regulars at Dejma’s Curry House in North Battleford. The job has not only provided employment, she said, but confidence, stability and a renewed sense of direction.

The opportunity that helped change her life is one reason restaurant owner Mercy George was recently recognized with the Canadian Mental Health Association Battlefords branch’s Champion of Mental Health Employer Award.

The award honours employers who create opportunities for people involved in reintegration and employment programs connected to Saskatchewan Hospital and Prairie Employment.

Mercy George of Dejma’s Curry House accepts the Champion of Mental Health Employer Award during the Canadian Mental Health Association Battlefords branch’s Champions of Mental Health awards event in North Battleford on May 9, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

For George, the recognition is appreciated, but never the reason she opened her doors.

“I’m really happy that they recognized me, but you know, I just did it for myself,” she said. “That’s my personal satisfaction.”

George opened Dejma’s Curry House in 2017 after years of serving food at community events such as the former Bridge Fest and Taste of Culture. Encouraged by customers who repeatedly asked when she would open a restaurant of her own, she eventually decided to take the leap.

When the restaurant opened, she was introduced to employment programs that connected businesses with people facing barriers to finding work.

One of her first employees was a newcomer from Turkey who spoke almost no English.

“So she used to put everything I said on the phone, Google Translate. She put it in, and that’s how we communicated,” George recalled with a laugh.

Watching employees gain confidence and independence convinced her to keep hiring through the programs.

“I felt like I did kind of change somebody’s life. So, that kept me going.”

Mercy George, left, owner of Dejma’s Curry House, and employee Mette Friggstad pose for a photo inside the restaurant in downtown North Battleford on June 6, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Over the years, George has hired numerous employees through Prairie Employment and similar programs. Her approach is simple: work alongside people, identify their strengths and help them succeed.

“One of my strengths is that I’m here almost every day,” she said. “And when I hire people, I work with them personally.”

That approach stood out to Friggstad.

“One thing that I like about Mercy is she really pays attention to strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

“She knows, like, okay, so this person can do this. I’ll get them to do more of that. They’re struggling a little bit here. Maybe I could help them a little more in there.”

The support helped Friggstad adjust to a workplace that was far less predictable than school.

“There is a lot of variability depending on how busy we get, what kind of customers we’ll get, what kind of orders we’ll be getting,” she said. “And yeah, it definitely has taught me a lot to be flexible and to expect the unexpected.”

As her confidence grew, so did her comfort interacting with customers. Serving people had once made her nervous. Now, it is one of her favourite parts of the job.

“Seeing people I know, whether they’re a regular customer or if they’re coming in occasionally or coming in for the first time, seeing their face, getting to talk to them a bit, really is one thing I love.”

One moment, in particular, remains with her.

During a busy shift, after serving customers and clearing tables, Friggstad overheard a woman quietly say something to a friend. “One lady whispered to her friend, ‘She’s so sweet.’”

It was a small comment, but a meaningful one.

The same person who once struggled to imagine herself in a customer-facing role was now earning compliments from strangers.

“Working here has really helped me with my confidence,” she said.

George has seen similar transformations before.

She recalled one young employee who initially avoided eye contact and lacked confidence. As he grew more comfortable in the workplace, she encouraged him to pursue new opportunities.

“You have to look for a better job and you can move on. You can do better,” she remembered telling him.

Today, he works full-time at Canadian Tire. “I’m really proud of that guy now,” George said.

“Another beauty is that all my staff – whoever has left – still come to see me and buy food, so I have that kind of relationship with all of them.”

For George, those success stories are what matter most.

“I feel like somebody has to do something in life to change people’s lives,” she said. “So I’m being a little bit part of it.”

“And I think that’s what every human being has to do in their level, in their capacity, whatever we can do to help other human beings to come up in life, we should do it.”

Friggstad hopes more employers will be willing to do the same.

“There is one thing that we want to do is we do want to learn,” she said. “Despite the stereotypes, we are willing, we want to learn if you would give us a chance.”

For years, she was searching for someone willing to offer that chance.

At a small North Battleford restaurant, she found one, and with it, a purpose once again.

“As long as Dejma is there, I will try to help more people; whoever comes my way, I’ll try to help them,” George said. “If the business grows big, then I can help more people.”

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

More than a job: How a North Battleford restaurant is opening doors to reintegration

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