Alumni Business Owner Profile

"I knew I wanted to try new things, meet different people, and live a life I didn’t feel like I needed a vacation from.”

With so many interesting programs to choose from, choosing a major can be a bit daunting for some students, but open electives can help guide the way. Such was the case for Tanna Dietrich, CPR’12 BHJ’15, and owner of Regina’s Balloon Bar YQR.

“I’ve always been fascinated by different programs and learning skills that can be used across a variety of work environments,” Dietrich says. “I have an I can-do-anything attitude, so I used my electives as strategically as possible.

“Looking back, I see what a gift my education and program have been. I may not have learned to do a specific role, but I’ve learned to think critically, problem solve and analyze information in a variety of areas.”

Starting in the Faculty of Arts, Dietrich dove into electives like Film and Linguistics, and says she was immersed in “a new world every semester” where she would gain experiences, and develop skills that would inspire her to transition into new roles and drive her quest for life-long learning.

After gaining valuable writing and business skills from a Public Relations certificate earned through the U of R’s Centre for Continuing Education, Dietrich choose Human Justice as her major, thinking she might work in law or policing, but as she completed more courses and practicum placements, she realized how many different professions are possible with a Human Justice Degree and more broadly, with a liberal arts education.

After she selected a home faculty, Dietrich, like many students, drew inspiration from her professors. Dr. Nick Jones of the Human Justice department gave her a motto that serves her to this day: “Do the best you can with the time you have”. A true pearl of wisdom for Dietrich, she took this to heart and continues to apply it to her work as a professional, a business owner, and leader.

Following graduation, Dietrich worked in corrections and justice, developed her skills, learned a lot, and waited for opportunities. In time, she started with the Regina Community Corrections office, which enabled her to see herself more clearly and recognize what kind of leader she wanted to be.

At the same time, she became aware of the weight and responsibilities of the position. “Unfortunately, this role was really hard some days, and I was looking for a creative outlet to focus on outside of work,” she says.

When her popular balloon décor company was born, it was originally a fun side-hustle for Dietrich and her sister. “From here, things grew rapidly, and trying to run a business while working full time as a probation officer was no longer sustainable,” she says. “I moved into a flexible part-time role as an addictions counsellor and ran Balloon Bar YQR in earnest.”

Eight years later, Balloon Bar YQR is now fully staffed, always busy, and continuously growing. Balloon décor focuses on smaller scale events like birthdays, anniversaries, or milestones, and offers large, impactful, Pinterest-worthy balloon installations for events, galas, and public displays — including the green and gold arches at U of R convocation and eye-catching installations at the Inspiring Leadership Forum.

Balloon Bar has made giving back to the community one of its core pillars. The company supports women, women-owned businesses, front line services, and LGBTQ2S+ advocacy, including events and organizations such as Dress for Success; Walk a Mile (with YWCA); RaiseHER; The Comeback Society; Community Fridges; CC REZQ; LGBTQ2S+ Pride; Lulu’s Lodge; the MacKenzie Art Gallery; and the Globe Theatre.

After all of these years of success and giving back, Dietrich often recalls the words of another inspiring U of R professor who impressed upon her the importance of the human element. A U of R Justice Studies professor and department head at the time, Dr. Hirsch Greenberg (now retired) encouraged his students to get to know their peers and co-workers outside of their professional roles. “He told me, ’People hire who they know and who they like,’” she says.

Dietrich keeps those words in mind as she continues to build community and relationships. “In every role I’ve had, I’ve learned that connection is at the core of everything we do,” she says. “Being able to connect, be vulnerable, and share ourselves authentically is a quality that should never be diminished, regardless of the work you do.”

Want to learn more about other amazing alumni-owned businesses? Visit our Alumni Business Directory!