June 10, 2014 9:28 am
Hello! My name is Jeremy Woo, and I am a business student at the University of Calgary. Last year, I served as a human resources intern at Tolko Industries in my beautiful hometown of Vernon, British Columbia. I am incredibly excited to be back at Tolko’s corporate human resources department again, this time working with the compensation and benefits team on exciting new projects.
September 6, 2013 3:32 am
Opportunity: Whether you are a senior manager, a skilled tradesperson, a new graduate, or someone looking for a new career path, we all seek opportunity at one time or another.
My experience at Tolko and in the forest products industry has been defined by opportunity. Initially, my internship at Tolko was an opportunity to pursue my passion for people.
September 5, 2013 3:27 pm
Apparently, the name “Mr. Thorlakson” doesn’t fly with Tolko’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
This was just one of the many useful facts that I learned when I sat down with the unassuming, approachable man behind the Vernon-based forest product empire.
Each quarter, Brad Thorlakson meets with ten employees at random in the Vernon Office for a frank,
August 28, 2013 1:00 pm
August 21, 2013 12:56 pm
August 12, 2013 1:24 pm
July 30, 2013 11:43 am
Fact: There is no way to prove this definitively, as the variety of positions is incredible. We can say that Tolko offers competitive wages in our wide range of careers.
However, when you’re ready to settle down after making money by working on the rigs, living in temporary housing or commuting each week, we hope that you will think of us first.
July 29, 2013 11:40 am
Fact: The forestry industry changing quickly. New markets are opening rapidly in the booming Asia-Pacific region. An insatiable thirst for building material has quickly opened once-unthinkable gateways. The economy is picking up again in more established domestic markets. New, innovative products are propelling sales, and consumers are more conscious than ever about using renewable resources. Bio-fuels, bio-plastics, pharmaceuticals,
July 26, 2013 5:57 pm
Tolko takes co-ops and interns seriously. This isn’t your father’s forestry.
Working in human resources, I realize that the numbers don’t lie: forestry’s aging workforce is an unavoidable challenge for the industry for the next decade.
Luckily, Tolko has taken notice of the issue. An era of increased retirements has come to stay. In response, Tolko has overhauled its approach in recruiting youth and students,
July 23, 2013 12:05 pm
Fact: Quite the contrary! Tolko’s mills are all located in towns. This means that you can actually live in the city or town of your operation. Five of Tolko’s mills are located 20 minutes from Vernon. Here in Vernon, we have all of the amenities you might expect and more – department stores, malls, restaurants, shopping, supermarkets, movie theatres,
July 18, 2013 12:29 pm
Fact: With forestry, this is definitely false. Vernon may be a small town, but thanks to Tolko, there are big opportunities in the private sector with plenty of room for advancement.
Tolko’s towering corporate office is located in Vernon, a small city of about 30 000 people. Plenty of corporate opportunities exist, including the ability to perform meaningful,
July 17, 2013 11:44 am
It’s no secret – there are a lot of stigmas and stereotypes about working in the forestry industry and living in smaller centres like Vernon, where Tolko is based. Contrary to popular belief, my co-workers are not the axe-wielding, plaid-wearing lumberjacks of yesteryear; rather, Tolko’s workforce is comprised of a diverse array of professionals, tradespeople, and skilled workers.
It’s myths like these that need some busting.
July 16, 2013 3:46 pm
Who says you can’t go home?
As a business student, I truly believed that advancing my career would likely require relocation, away from my comfortable surroundings in the tranquil Okanagan Valley. I was under the impression that climbing the corporate ladder would require at least a few years in a big bustling city, like Calgary, Vancouver or Toronto.
July 16, 2013 3:39 pm
Picture this: a group of Canada’s largest forest product companies and prominent environmental groups sit down at a table.
The unlikely duo talks for a while. Surprisingly, the two groups walk away shaking hands, proudly holding an agreement that promises a better environmental future for all Canadians.
I am proud to say that my employer, Tolko Industries,
June 13, 2013 11:10 am
Would you like to work for a company that believes in operating in a stewardly manner? Where renewing the forest resource for the future is a key focus?
Given today’s socially conscious workforce, it’s no wonder that many of us are thinking about the impact our employers have on the environment and the implications of our career choices.