Blog
Gerald Courtoreille | Employee Spotlight
We have a great team in Calgary, and we want you to meet them! Next up, Gerald Courtoreille.
Meet Gerald Courtoreille
Title: Utility Tree Worker (UTW)
Team Member Since: January 2020
Education, Certifications, Training: Firetack Crew Leader Certification
Industry Organizations: Gift Lake Métis Settlement
Career Path
Q: Describe your career path. How did you get into what you do now?
A: I started in this industry in 1987 when there were very few safety precautions. My experience in wildfire fighting consists of being a crew leader and task force leader. During winters from 1984 to 1999, I served as a lead cutter in oilfield exploration or location intelligence solutions (LIS).
Working on a mountain pine beetle project in 2006 is where my path started to intersect with my current occupant. In January 2020, I saw an advertisement on Indeed for chainsaw operators on a pine beetle project. Once the project was wrapped up, I believe my conduct and work ethic motivated Wright Tree to invite me to join their utility program. Once I started working on the utility side of the program my previous experience with another utility tree company (2018-19) proved valuable.
Q: Explain your position. Describe your role with the company.
A: I am currently working as a UTW (crew supervisor) which entails tree assessments and proper planning, then employing proper strategies and tactics to meet our daily objectives. I mentor and guide new employees toward opportunities to grow within the company.
Life at Wright Tree Service of Canada & ArborCare®
Q: What is your favourite part about your job / working for the company?
A: My greatest source of pride is teaching new employees safe and proper job procedures.
Q: What are you most passionate about professionally? What excites you most about your work?
A: The three most satisfying parts of my job are:
- Getting everyone home safely.
- Looking at the quality of work we as a team have accomplished.
- Seeing new employees grasping concepts and gaining knowledge in working around and near conductors.
Q: Who has played an influential part during your time with the company & why?
A: Four individuals come to mind:
- Frank Laboucan, UTW, encouraged me to get my verification.
- Dustin Brandon, Project Manager, is always extremely professional in his dealings with me.
- Paul Barnes, General Foreperson, who is close to my generation and sees things from my perspective, and shows a positive outlook.
- Last but not least Ashton Martin, Project Manager, who is very professional and supportive through projects and always tries his best to ensure seamless continuity of projects.
Q: What are some words you would use to describe Wright Tree Service of Canada or ArborCare?
A: Wright Tree Service (ArborCare) believes in inclusion and equal opportunity for all types of people. It is an organization, in my belief, that endorses the importance of the inclusion of people from different ethnic backgrounds, beliefs and preferences. I also have a strong faith that Wright Tree Service will not in any way, shape, or form, support any negative words, actions, or ideas to any people of different groups.
Hobbies, Interests & Influences
Q: What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
A: I play slo pitch which requires teamwork to succeed much like work. Fishing, jogging, and spending time with family and grandchildren.
Q: Who was the most influential person in your life?
A: Myself, not to sound vain but I took from each person as I grew up to guide my person and direction through life.
Q: What’s something about you that not many people know?
A: I write poetry and maybe donate to an unknown community in another part of the world.
Q: What is a value statement or quote you live by?
A: My mantra is, “To be the best I can be and better than thee.” It speaks of my own personal goal to challenge myself and it does not mean any other individual. We must constantly strive to improve and not stagnate.
Q: Do you and/or your family have a favorite tradition?
A: We had a family slo pitch team. We lived traditionally trapping, hunting, and fishing. We also gathered some herbs and were taught about the sanctity of nature.