Hello everyone!

7 juin 2016 15:08 Published by Sydney Goward 2 commentaires

What an exciting opportunity it is to be writing to you all this summer. This is my first time blogging for FPAC and working for West Fraser so I’ll to begin by introducing myself. My name is Sydney and I am a third year student in the bachelor of Natural Resource Science program at Thompson Rivers University. I was born and raised in the beautiful community of Williams Lake and was thrilled to accept a summer work term here in my hometown with West Fraser’s Williams Lake Plywood division as a planning forestry student.

Over a life time of outdoor recreation including hunting, fishing, hiking, and riding horses, I have acquired a vast appreciation for this area of the province. My family has deep roots in the Cariboo, including my grandpa, who began contracting to Meryl-Wagner as F. LeBlanc Excavating Ltd. in the 1960’s. Meryl Wagner then became Weldwood and is now the West Fraser Plywood Plant. This is my first experience working full time in the bush, applying skills from my schooling, so I’m sure I will have plenty of learning and adventures to share. I am also looking forward to sharing my knowledge of the area and all it has to offer with you all over the next three months.

[Figure 1. Crooked Lake; one of my favourite camping spots in the Cariboo.]

It’s probably worth noting that I worked for Tolko Industries Ltd. in their sawmill and planner mill for three years, gaining valuable experience in quality control, machine operation, and finishing end economics. In Williams Lake, there is a bit of friendly competition between Tolko and West Fraser, so I’m currently experiencing some friendly banter from my new and old co-workers, but I’m happy to be moving from one great experience to another!

Well that’s a quick look into what brought me to where I am now. My work term began on May 2, 2016. That morning, I found myself sitting at a table with five other students, all looking almost as nervous and excited as me. I had been anticipating this day since the end of November and really had no idea what to expect. Right away we jumped into the first of many days (two and a half weeks) of all-encompassing, safety orientated training. So far, we have covered mapping, GPS work, compass work, migratory birds, safe driving, trailer towing, ATV operations, wildlife safety, first aid, transportation endorsement, firefighting (S100), and tours of both the West Fraser sawmill and plywood plant, just to name a few. I am impressed with the quality of training including many field days (especially fun for the ATVs!), which clearly showcases the quality of this company.

I’m also pleased to share that the overall organization of the summer student program has been nothing less than exceptional right down to our equipment handouts; even our training schedule was organized beautifully. The woods staff has quickly proved themselves to be a diverse and well-knit group of hardworking and inspiring individuals, and my crew has become quite close, all contributing a unique skill set. I am the only local on our team and I’ve already enjoyed touring my new friends around and helping them with all the little tips and tricks of the city.

This quick snapshot of my initial weeks doesn’t even begin to cover the amount of fun and learning I’ve experienced, but I’m sure you guys will see that throughout the summer! Next time I’ll get into the exciting details of all the beautiful places I’ve been working, and hopefully have some great images to share as well. Thank you for your support!

Sydney Goward