I love the work. Sawdust smells like home to me. I like working in the forest industry because it is a great career that allows for workers to support a family and to be a part of the culture of B.C.

I started at Williams Lake Plywood in cleanup while I was attending university, and later started working summer production. I took every opportunity for more training and I progressed to a permanent position as the Safety Representative for my crew. I was a member of the Safety Committee for four years, representing two different crews in that time. It was through my experience as a safety rep that I developed a real passion for workplace safety and decided to pursue it as a career. Today I am training with our current Safety Resource person and I love the work.

Sawdust smells like home to me. I like working in the forest industry because it is a great career that allows for workers to support a family and to be a part of the culture of British Columbia. Multiple generations of my family have been raised on timber dollars and I am very proud of where I am and where I come from. I also enjoy working in the forest industry because there is room for personal growth and development, especially within a company like West Fraser that covers a vast amount of territory. There are positions for varying skills in the forest industry and opportunities for training to build those skills.

For women considering a career in forestry, I say do it! Too many times my friends have avoided applying for work at the mill because they feel it is a “man’s job.” I certainly would recommend plywood to women and we have a high percentage of women working at our plant. I believe if you are willing to work hard and are smart about how you do it, you can achieve it.

- Jessica Shift Coordinator/Alternate Safety Resource