b'CAREER PROFILEMATT BERTRAMCONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 I knew growing up that I Q: What do you find most challenging in your work? wanted to be involved in There are a number of challenges involved in my work. On any typical day this could include lack of communication or action from a review agency, having to educate an operator on how theirthe industry and am glad goals cant be met from a technical perspective, or dealing with complaints from landowners. At the end of the day, its my jobI figured out a career path as a consultant to help our clients meet their end goals, while also protecting the public and the environment, and meeting thethat has let me do that. Im approval requirements of the various agencies. We arent always able to achieve every one of our clients objectives, but we do our best to meet their needs and work within the requirementsstill a big kid every time andregulations.Im out on-sitefascinated Q: Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you do contributes to your company.watching equipment work, There really is no typical day for me, which some days is a good thing, and some days is a bad thing! I spend a number of days inonly now I see equipment the field visiting sites throughout the year, either for meetings/walkthroughs,reviewingissuesthatoperatorsneedassistance with, Compliance Assessment Reports (CARs), or looking at newworking to follow the site application or amendment sites. My days can also include site plan design/drafting, technical report writing, mentoring other staff,plans that I designedand liaising with other consultants involved in application files to ensure projects are moving forward. I also spend time networking with new clients and preparing proposals for new work.Q: How did you get interested in this work? Q: Where do you see the industry going in the next few years?I have a long family history in the construction industrywe goMy hope is well see improvements to the review and approval back four generations as contractors, so its definitely in my genes.process. Despite the challenges the industry has faced at times My family owned a small sand pit near our house where I grewwith the new process, Im excited that everyone will be under up, so we were lucky enough to play with Tonka toys at homethesameprocessacrosstheprovince.Itsbeenaninteresting and have the real machines just down the road. My dad exposedperiod navigating a new approval process in the midst of a global me to heavy equipment at a very young age and taught me howpandemic, but Im hopeful that as we continue to work through machines work together on-site to take the material out of thethe technical and logistical challenges of designing and licensing ground and use it to build something. I knew growing up that Isites, we can also go through a more streamlined and efficient wanted to be involved in the industry and am glad I figured out aprocess to help producers reach their end goals.career path that has let me do that. Im still a big kid every timeQ: What advice would you give to others looking for a career Im out on-sitefascinated watching equipment work, only nowin the aggregate industry?I see equipment working to follow the site plans that I designed. I would say if youre interested, pursue it any way you can. Reach Q:What sort of education do you have that is relevant toout to operators in your area and see if they would give you a tour yourjob? of their sitewhat better way to get on the ground knowledge than IhaveaBachelorofEngineeringScience(Civil)degreefromgoing right to the source? Learn about whats actually involved in the University of Western Ontario, which included courses insite operations, not just taking material out of the ground but geotechnical and environmental engineering, hydrology, geologyalso how water is managed or wildlife is protected. Most of all, be andprojectmanagementallcoursesthatprovidedsomeopen-minded to the opportunity that may be there for you. This fundamentals for working in this industry. I was also fortunateis a great industry to be a part of, with a real sense of camaraderie tocompletetwocooptermsatSkeltonBrumwell,soIwasamongst the operators and consultants. Everyone is dealing with able to get exposure to aggregates while still in school, and thenthe same challenges and is working towards the common goal tailor some of my elective courses towards this field. Today Iof successful operations while being good stewards of the land. take advantage of whatever continuing education opportunitiesThe demographics of this industry are shifting substantially and areouttherecourses,webinarsornetworkingwithotherthere is tremendous opportunity for the younger generation to consultants are all great ways to keep up to date with changes inget involved at the ground level and work your way up quickly if the industry, which as we know is constantly evolving. you put in the time and effort. 24 AVENUESWINTER 2022'