Vlad Holmwood’s story isn’t all sunshine and roses but he is a ray of light for many Cochrane motorists.
Holmwood, who is a shaker boarder for Little Caesars, has risen to stardom in the community because of his infectious personality and jammin’ dance moves that have become the highlight of the Fifth Street and Railway Street intersection.
“The first few weeks I was just standing there awkwardly because I didn’t know what to do then I started listening to music and got into it and started dancing – now I am like the Cochrane celebrity,” Holmwood said with a laugh.
“It is really cool – I like impacting other people, I hear a lot of comments about how I make someone’s day better and make them smile. I’m the type of person that likes to make other people happy.”
The 17-year-old Cochranite explained that he has been working full-time since he dropped out of high school earlier this year so he could afford rent after moving out of his parents’ house.
“I left on not great terms but all my friends – I have a lot of great friends in Cochrane – have been amazing and supportive to me when I moved out,” Holmwood explained.
“I think I’ll go back to high school next year, I need to get more settled because I’m behind on my rent and looking for (a second) job right now.”
Despite not living a typical teenage life, friends and co-workers agree Holmwood’s positive outlook on life has not changed.
“I think he is quite inspiring, he makes the whole team smile and he is quite the talented dancer,” beemed Zee Virani, Little Caesars’ storeowner in Cochrane.
“He is a good kid and he is doing a good job ... all of Cochrane loves him, a lot of people phone me and tell me how he makes them smile.”
Holmwood has been working at the pizza store for the past two years but was only thrown onto the street as a shaker boarder this year after one of the other employees relocated.
“At first I thought of myself as being demoted but now I see it as a promotion because I get recognized more for doing what I am doing and it makes me feel happier doing it,” Holmwood said.
“There are always people watching you and you want to make a good impression on your job and your boss … you are always impacting people, I never go out there with a bad attitude and that is key.”
Since he started to shake his board, Virani said Holmwood has already received a raise and another one is in discussion. The store will also be entering Holmwood into the Little Caesars’ annual shaker boarder competition in Canada this year.
“Vlad is one of the best,” Virani explained.
Despite being recognized in Cochrane and raved about on social media, Holmwood said he has never received any official dance training but joked about maybe becoming a back-up dancer one day.
“One time I came into Starbucks and a lady recognized me and gave me a hug – it gives me a really good feeling,” Holmwood said.
“I know I’m going to make a difference in somebody’s life and I get to go out there and make a difference and make someone happy – and this is going to sound lame as well but I do it for the kids, the kids go by in the vehicles and wave at me and they are so happy and it makes me happy too.”
To check out Cochrane’s best-known shaker boarder, Holmwood is typically on the corner of Railway St. W and Fifth Ave. by the Shoppers Drug Mart after 4 p.m.
