Norm McBride, on Oct. 14 SA国际影视传媒� his last day of work after almost 45 years of service with the NWT Power Corporation SA国际影视传媒� told Yellowknifer about his long career, how he was celebrated, and why heSA国际影视传媒檚 finally walking away.
Could you please introduce yourself?
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 Norm McBride. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been working at the Power Corp since 1977. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 coming up to 45 years that ISA国际影视传媒檝e been here.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淥riginally, when I (came to Yellowknife), I was only going to make enough money to buy a TransAm (a muscle car) in 1977. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 45 years later and I still havenSA国际影视传媒檛 bought that TransAm. Now I guess ISA国际影视传媒檓 gonna have time to start looking for one. Hopefully I got enough money to buy one, because theySA国际影视传媒檙e way more expensive now than they were in 1977,SA国际影视传媒� McBride said.
Tell me a bit about what you do at work every day.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, my position is a plant procedures and training officer. That position entails that I develop procedures and guidelines for the operators to make sure that they get the job done safely. (I also) do training at the plant with the new employees that start, and ISA国际影视传媒檒l do some training with operators at the hydro sites.SA国际影视传媒�
What positions did you hold throughout your employment for the NWT Power Corporation?
SA国际影视传媒淢y first position back in 1977, I was a plant operator at (Jackfish Lake). I held that position for just about a year and a half.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭hen I went to systems operations, and worked as a systems operator from 1978 to 1999. (Afterward, I was) promoted to operations superintendent for the North Slave region. I did that job for two to three years and then I became the plant manager here in Yellowknife and held that position till around 2007, when I transferred back down into plant operations and hydro operations.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭hen in 2011, I took on the position of plant procedures and training officer. We needed to develop some procedures for the plants because we hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 updated our procedures in quite some time.SA国际影视传媒�
How was your long service celebrated?
SA国际影视传媒淟ast night (on Oct. 13), plant manager Dean Hendrickson, set up a retirement party. We headed up to the Explorer Hotel. A lot of employees from work showed up. The president of the Power Corporation showed up, the minister for the Power Corporation, Diane Archie, was there. I thanked her for coming out and spending some of her time there last night.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a great night. They presented me with lots of gifts. One of the things that ISA国际影视传媒檓 most proud of is that they made a bursary for me. The NWT Power Corporation is going to have my name on that, and kids can apply for that and get some funding when theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to university or college. That was really nice of them.SA国际影视传媒�
How did it feel to work for that long?
SA国际影视传媒淭he first 10 years that I workedSA国际影视传媒� kind of dragged on. Then around 1984 I got married, we started having kids and everything just sped up and the next 30-some years just flew by. I canSA国际影视传媒檛 believe that my children are (ages) 38, 35, and 32 already. Keep busy at work and time just flies by.SA国际影视传媒�
Why are you retiring now?
SA国际影视传媒淚 was planning on retiring back in 2019 or 2020, and then Covid-19 hit and then there was no way to travel anywhere or do anything, so I decided I might as well just continue to work.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 only so much runway in front of me now. YouSA国际影视传媒檝e got to get to a point where youSA国际影视传媒檙e going because the road ends right there. It was time. I have to start enjoying some of my time at the end here. Not that itSA国际影视传媒檚 the end, but hopefully itSA国际影视传媒檚 another 30 years or so.SA国际影视传媒�
Are there any other comments you would like to add?
SA国际影视传媒淚 really donSA国际影视传媒檛 have too much plannedSA国际影视传媒� WeSA国际影视传媒檙e going to go down into the States to see some of my family down there. One of my nephews works for the San Jose Sharks organization, so weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to go down to see him and watch some hockey games, (then weSA国际影视传媒檒l) take it from there.SA国际影视传媒�
