Midhun Syriac, owner and operator of JMJ Driving School in Greenwood, was a nurse for 10 years while living in Southern India. Outside of work, he taught friends and family how to drive and realized it was his true passion.

In 2016, Midhun moved to Canada, noticed a multicultural population where immigrants often struggling to learn how to drive. He also noticed that where he lives in Kingston, NS there were no driving schools nearby. He wanted to help.

First, he decided to teach his wife how to drive, to make sure he had enough patience to do the job. After his wife got her license during the first attempt, he knew he was ready to start this new chapter of his life.

“On November 4^th, 2021, I got my business license,” Midhun explains. “I am very happy to teach driving. This is my passion.”

Before starting the business, Midhun knew he needed a loan to get started. He approached two banks, and one bank manager gave him a name at CBDC Hants-Kings. He worked with a CBDC business advisor and secured a small business loan.

“In one month, I got the money I needed to start the business,” he remembers. “The experience was 10 out of 10 – Andre at CBDC gave me all of the information I needed!”

In 2022 alone, JMJ Driving had 223 students. “I couldn’t believe it!” Midhun remembers. In October of 2023, the business was incorporated.

Today, there are two full-time driving instructors working for Midhun. His wife also works for the business as an office administrator. In October of 2023, JMJ Driving has opened a branch in Halifax with one car on the road and in February, started offering driving lessons in Bridgewater one day a week.

“The best part of this job is the teaching,” Midhun says. “I just want to make enough money to feed my family and to help people.”