31 août 2015 14:31
It’s hard to believe that my third summer at Tolko (and as a blogger at thegreenestworkforce.ca!) is coming to close. You can probably tell that I have been very enthusiastic about my time at Tolko, and have a lot of great things to say about my job, my team, my company, my hometown and my industry. I’ve been reflecting on what made my assignments at Tolko’s corporate office so awesome,
24 août 2015 14:03
On a recent weekend daytrip to beautiful Merritt, British Columbia, I couldn’t resist the temptation to drive by Tolko’s Nicola Valley Division on the outskirts of town. After hearing so much about the operation over my three HR assignments at Tolko, I wanted to see the site for myself – I’ve included a picture of me in front of an old Tolko logging truck overlooking the Nicola Valley Division.
17 août 2015 13:33
My fellow bloggers on The Greenest Workforce suggest that #lifesbetterhere because of the great outdoor opportunities available on the doorstep of forestry communities. I’ve reiterated that I’m not a huge fan of outdoor activities, but inspired by other Green Dream Interns, I decided to go for a walk on one of Vernon’s most spectacular trails.
My time on the Grey Canal Trail was well rewarded – high above the valley on a stunningly clear Okanagan day,
6 août 2015 11:31
In my last few summers at Tolko, I have definitely learned that #lifesbetterhere at work. However, as graduation sneaks up on me, I am beginning to realize how much I really want a job after I am finished with my undergrad degree.
I sat down with two members of Tolko’s HR team to find out what jobs are available to new university graduates right out of school.
6 août 2015 11:27
I have consistently bragged about my commute (or lack thereof) here in Vernon, but I do more than go to work and home in the summer! I thought that I should share a few of the awesome places I can visit that are 30 minutes or less from Tolko’s Vernon Office.
You can be on the beach on world-famous Okanagan Lake or award-winning Kalamalka Lake in just ten minutes.
7 juillet 2015 14:34
Working in the Greenest Workforce gives employees incredible opportunities to enjoy Canada’s great outdoors both during and after work. However, opportunities in Canada’s forest products industry extend far beyond careers in the forest.
Last week, I sat down with Tolko’s Brokerage Manager, Brian Crossley. His enthusiasm for brokerage is contagious – he definitely left me excited about Tolko’s brokerage business!
22 juin 2015 12:00
There is a common misconception that life in a smaller centre like Vernon means giving up the lively culture of the city. However, spending some time back in Vernon made me realize that this city has a plethora of its own unique cultural opportunities, steeped in over 100 years of rich history. On a sunny Okanagan weekend, I drove around town to explore just a few of the historical and cultural sites around Vernon.
29 mai 2015 10:07
Hi! My name is Jeremy Woo, and I’m a human resources student at Tolko’s corporate office in Vernon, British Columbia.
I’m not exactly who you might envision as someone who landed an awesome job in the forest products industry. I’m a 20-year old business student at the University of Calgary, in the heart of oil country.
2 septembre 2014 15:06
There was a time when I thought that I would never be able to build a career at home in Vernon. I hadn’t even dreamed of coming back here to pursue a job related to my studies at the University of Calgary. I didn’t know that there were opportunities.
Last year, my final blog entry was about opportunity.
2 septembre 2014 14:54
I feel bad for my friends and family.
I’ll admit that I won’t stop talking about Tolko. Every time I see Tolko lumber wrappers passing by on the highway, or catch our product on the local train line, I have to mention it. You’ll definitely hear me gushing about our veneer too. If your house is made in part with Tolko Oriented Strand Board from our state-of-the-art operations in Meadow Lake,
22 août 2014 10:54
Have you dreamed big when it comes to home ownership? Have you ever dreamed of buying some land and building a house?
I certainly do. If you’re like me, you might dream of buying a swanky condo. Maybe sometime in the more distant future, I’d like to settle down and build a house with an attached garage, wraparound veranda and a white picket fence.
22 août 2014 10:53
This is Jeremy, and I’m dreaming big at Tolko once again!
I’m dreaming of finding affordable rent when I graduate from school, and having money left over at the end of the month to do the things that I love to do!
Right now, I’m going to school in the awesome, booming city of Calgary, just seven hours east of Vernon.
22 août 2014 10:51
This summer, I’m dreaming big about playing a role in an industry in growth mode.
I have to admit that it feels great to take part in a company that is expanding. Earlier this summer, I was proud to see the grand re-opening of Tolko’s state-of-the-art Athabasca Division which produces oriented strand board (OSB). The Athabasca Division is one of the most advanced facilities in the world and employs over 100 people in Slave Lake,
25 juillet 2014 9:36
Many of us dream big of a rewarding career, but this summer, I’m dreaming bigger with a career with perks.
As a human resources intern, I get to work at Tolko’s state-of-the-art corporate headquarters completed in 2008, surrounded by opportunities to grow my career. But I’m also surrounded with amenities like a fully-equipped exercise gym for employees with locker room facilities.
10 juin 2014 10:11
Thanks to the awesome team at Tolko, I really do love my job – but it doesn’t seem to make it any easier to pull myself out of bed on a Monday morning. I spent a little too much time dreaming big this morning – I slept right through my alarm. I got out of bed at around 7:30 AM, got myself ready and I was out the door by 7:50 AM for work at 8:00 AM.
10 juin 2014 9:28
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.
6 septembre 2013 3:32
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.
5 septembre 2013 15:27
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,
28 août 2013 13:00
21 août 2013 12:56
12 août 2013 13:24
30 juillet 2013 11:43
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.
29 juillet 2013 11:40
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,
26 juillet 2013 17:57
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,
23 juillet 2013 12:05
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,