People

Dean Nelson: Alert Bay employee values chance to educate family and friends

Dean Nelson is proud to be both a fish farmer and someone who helps members of his band on Gilford Island better understand the industry.

He enjoyed working for the Musgamaw Band’s sea lice sampling on Marine Harvest farms in 2007. After that position ended, he was interested in becoming directly involved with the company as two of his uncles had been in the past. He began at Midsummer Island as a farm technician after chatting to Jeanine Siemens at a community meeting in Alert Bay two years ago. Dean continued in this role until this summer, when he began cleaning nets at sites throughout the Broughton and teaching others how to use the equipment.

In August, Dean coordinated a tour of Gilford Island elders to Broughton area sites. The event was enjoyed and appreciated by all.

Dean values the company support shown to employees with the training that is offered so that they can do their jobs safely and effectively. He’s completed courses in fish health and forklift operation.

Dean was born in Dawson Creek, raised in Campbell River, and moved to Gilford Island in 2002. Since 2004, he’s been living in Alert Bay. Dean has been married for three years to Denise and says the most positive thing about living in Alert Bay is working for Marine Harvest.

“It’s full time and it means I can support my family and also teach the band the truth about the industry”.

He also loves the fact that his grandchildren are being taught traditional dances by his aunts.

Diana Pickwick: Loves her work at Potts Bay!

Diana Pickwick, Assistant Manager at Potts Bay, describes herself as a “down to earth, get your hands dirty kind of person”. It’s this attitude that has contributed not only to her successful career in aquaculture but to her life in general.

Born in Comox, Diana devoted 15 years of her working life to Zellers doing a variety of jobs with the department store including human resources. In 1992, she decided it was time to make a change to aquaculture. The timing proved favorable since a colleague’s husband managed the Blunden site for then Stolt Sea Farm and needed new staff. After a visit to the site, Diana was hooked. She worked at Arrow Pass and Wicklow Point and then moved into brood stock (thank you Terry Smith!), first at Whirl /Twist and now at Potts Bay.

She recalls commuting by boat between Whirl /Twist and Swanson when Whirl /Twist didn’t have staff accommodation. “We got lost in the fog a couple of times,” she said, not sorry those days are now behind her.

Diana cherishes the time she spends in her home and garden with Elliott, her four year old granddaughter, someone she affectionately calls her “little buddy”. Come January 2010, Diana will welcome another grandchild.

And by the way, remember the hand written birthday card you received with the Tim Horton’s gift certificate? Thank Diana for the card and for continuing a well-chosen tradition she brought with her from Zellers.

Duane Yates: Music lover makes data sing!

For Duane Yates, Planning and Benchmarking Analyst, his 21 years in the industry has been “music to his ears”.

The gigantic spreadsheet taped to the wall of his office clearly indicates the focus of his position. Duane is responsible for long term site planning – what is harvested and when and from which sites. He also provides a host of monthly production statistics data, including comparisons between year classes, to Senior Management and Production Managers.

“I provide marine production information that helps us to know where we currently are, where we have been, and where we’re likely headed in the future.” said Duane.

Duane was born in Stoney Creek, Ontario, and moved to Campbell River in 1987. He started in aquaculture in 1989, when one of his brothers suggested he get his dive ticket. That ultimately led to site work for NorEnt and Heritage as well as two years in Chile as a feed manager. Duane made the transition to an office based position in 2004 as Data Manager.

Music has always been a key part of Duane’s life.

He’s excited to have recently moved into a house that includes a large workshop that he’ll use as a music studio. Not only is there space for Duane to permanently set up drums and other instruments but it will be a quiet space for him to get back into writing.

The studio will also provide space for his 13 year old daughter to continue developing her music skills. Duane plays live throughout the Comox Valley and Campbell River, hosts the “jam” every Sunday at the Cumberland Hotel, and does DJ work during the summer wedding season and throughout the Christmas holidays.

Duane’s website is www.digital-sound.net

Tiffany MacWilliam: Love of animals and ocean leads to job satisfaction

Ever since Tiffany MacWilliam was in grade nine, she wanted to be a marine biologist. And here she is, combining her interest in animals and the ocean as a Fish Health Technician.

She joined Marine Harvest Canada almost three years ago, spending a year on-site as a Farm Technician before moving into the Fish Health Department. A significant amount of her time is concerned with data collection and interpretation as part of the kudoa monitoring program which began in the spring of 2008.

Her high school goal has been realized – Tiffany holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of New Brunswick. Before making the move to the aquaculture industry, she worked in Alaska as a fish observer for six months. It was an interesting job but “not the career for me”, she said.

Away from work, Tiffany enjoys downhill skiing – “for the adrenal rush” – and reading, especially books by J.J.R. Tolkien.

“I have a book buying obsession,” she laughs.

Tiffany enjoys traveling and had the chance to see Buckingham Palace and other London sights this past summer during a two week visit to England and Scotland.

A trip to Italy with her mom, who remains in Tiffany’s home town of North Bay, Ontario, involves a future plan. It will be an opportunity for her mom to show her daughter where she spent her childhood as a former Army brat.

In the past three years Tiffany said she has met many great people at MHC and enjoyed working hard on a variety of projects which have included grading at Okisollo and stress sampling this summer in Campbell River North.