LIFE's STORIES, ADVENTURES & TRAVELS

DRIVING FOR A LIVING.

After many years working in Alberta’s oil industry since 1977, the federal National Energy Program (NEP), introduced 1981 and eventually ended by 1985 contributed to a severe economic downturn and skyrocketing unemployment in Alberta’s oil industry. [In a separate post I will explain in more detail my own experiences working in the oil industry from 1977 until 1988]. The corporate decisions and government policies from 1977 to 1988 weren’t just abstract economic shifts or headlines; they were a direct hit to families, careers, and the communities built around the patch. I myself lost my home and family, by 1987 driving east to Ontario like thousands of Albertans, to find work. In my case computer systems development, hardware and software conversions, as well as programming, and related technical contract work. In fact, tech and government contracting became a lifeline for displaced industrial workers.

I had fixed up my old Dodge 1974 farm truck and went on the road to Ottawa. It’s a long drive from Bragg Creek (south west of Calgary) to Ottawa. Arriving in Ottawa, I soon started on several systems contracts offered by: Ottawa Cablevision, (a historical cable television provider in Ottawa, Ontario, that was acquired by Maclean Hunter in 1989 and later integrated into Rogers operations), and the Royal Canadian Mint. The Ottawa Cablevision contract had been for a hardware & software conversion. This was strictly a Request For Proposal to convert the current VAX machine configuration to either a DEC or a VAX Powerhouse environment. The other contract was for a Royal Canadian Mint project. Because of my horses background, these nice folks invited me to visit the stables of the RCMP. [The Royal Canadian Mint and the RCMP Musical Ride Stables are two famous Ottawa attractions located about a 15-minute drive apart from each other.] I never forget to visit with those beautiful black horses. Ottawa is a special city with many heritage buildings. In winter we had mountains of snow, the summers were lovely, riding a bicycle along the over 200km long Rideau Canal. It links Ottawa to Kingston. I had rented a suite in Nepean, a residential area bordered by the Ottawa River. During the summer volunteering at The Old Log Farm (thelogfarm.com). Fun stuff. Also spending several weekends driving up to Wakefield, Quebec, a lovely historical village in the municipality of La Pêche, 35 km NW of Ottawa.

During my contract work I went home to Alberta twice, over 3,500 km. In my old truck, with no air conditioning and automatic transmission. No easy driving. Four days solid, and daily close to 20 hours drive. Stopping along the Trans Canada highway, sleeping in the truck. Always choose to park near a large semi truck or freighter for security. The second time I returned from Bragg Creek, my truck engine blew a hole in the oil pan. At that time my son had been with me. We were forced to make a detour of 200 km up North near the great lakes to find a garage for replacement parts. However, arriving in Ottawa I still needed to buy a new engine block. But – all in all the old truck held out. During that summer 1987 we also made several trips to Quebec City – among others celebrating my 50th birthday in Quebec City. These are wonderful memories. My contract work ended later in 1987. Home to Alberta again.

After my return from Ottawa later in Fall, I started a new contract in the Athabasca Oil Sands at Fort McMurray in Alberta, North of Edmonton, by the Athabasca River. Still driving my old Dodge truck from my home in Bragg Creek (one hour south west of Calgary). Highway 2 north runs past Edmonton towards Athabasca highway 63, up to Fort McMurray, a lonely isolated artery of highway. One cannot afford an accident, even now. But then, not even cell phone service. A drive of 435 km from Edmonton through northern Boreal forest, 5 hours drive from Calgary. Again, because of the distance from home I had to rent a room somewhere when arriving at Fort Mac. It was late in the year and already very cold. Tough to find housing with so many contractors working for the big oil companies up there. Arriving at the town site. I parked my truck to go to sleep in it for the night near some residents’ backyard. I was lucky, a nice lady came out to me inviting me inside to have something to eat and a place to sleep in their home for the night. Next day I found a place to stay and rent for a while. My computer contract was for Suncor Energy Inc. This company has massive oil sands mining, extraction, and in-situ production facilities near Fort McMurray to produce crude oil. [Interesting is also that Petro-Canada network is owned and operated by Suncor Energy.] The facilities at the oil sands are huge and not really comfortable. Many contractors in those factory-like office complexes were still heavy smokers and the whole atmosphere surrounding the Oil Sands operations was depressing, to say the least. As a non-smoker I was forced to sit in a drafty outside corridor. In the short time I was there I still made some friends, because – let’s face it, we were all in the same boat.

During a couple of free days I drove around the area surrounding the town site. Interesting history. Especially the Fort McMurray Heritage Shipyard, home to among others the RADIUM SCOUT, a 1946 Diesel tug boat used for carrying uranium from the North West Territories in Canada to the rail head in Alberta during and after World War II. Material that was used for the Manhattan Project. [Research project led by America during WWII. Purpose to develop nuclear weapons, which by August 1945 were used in the bombings of Japan.]. The SCOUT boat was decommissioned in 1976 and moved to the newly-established heritage ship yard by 1977. During the time I was up there, I also noted that sections of the Athabasca river itself were contaminated with oil slicks. [NOTE. The situation may be different now.]

Being that all this is a large industrial environment, accidents can happen. Like explosions somewhere. In October of that year 1987, not long after I had started my contract, a massive fire had broken out at Suncor’s sole upgrader facility. Which may have caused leaking of some chemicals involving PVC cables. Because of safety and environmental concerns Suncor Energy in conjunction with provincial regulations decided to let contract personnel go. I guess, most of us were glad to leave.

Talking about winter driving in Alberta. In deep winter temperatures could dip to at least -30C and most highways were affected, because not only of heavy snowfall, drifting snow, but also surface ice. My later contract was for Canadian Utilities Ltd (ATCO group of companies) in Edmonton for several years. It started May 1988, shortly after the 1988 Winter Olympics Calgary came to an end. [I like to also show some photos of the Olympics that year.] During those years CUL needed massive upgrades to their existing computer systems converting to Software AG’s ADABAS and NATURAL platforms. Lots of programming work.

Because of the distance from home, I had rented a room in Edmonton during the week. It was a lot of commuting each weekend, about 400 km on highway 2 from Edmonton to Calgary, and then another hour to south west of Calgary. Leaving downtown Edmonton Friday late afternoon, driving home to my then 40-acre ranch near Millarville, Forestry Trunk Road, and returning to Edmonton by Sunday night. More than 4 hours driving. The car I drove at that time was a leased 1985 Chevrolet Beretta (a front-wheel-drive coupe built on General Motors’ L-body platform). Never had an accident, but passed many cars and large trucks in the ditches, inside out and upside down. Leaving Edmonton afternoons, it was a lonely drive on this highway, it felt like driving on the moon, with blowing snow, ice on some patches of road. When arriving at my home near Millarville, lots of snow had piled up during the week, I often found my gate was closed and the driveway going uphill all snowed in. So leaving my car by the road and walking uphill when arriving at my home, the locks of the big wooden entrance door were frozen. Spending the night in my car was the only solution. All in all, I made it !