Laurin lines up 35 years work for ATCO Electric

Richard Froese
Smoky River Express

f Victor Laurin of ATCO Electric in Falher is among 84 ATCO Electric employees honoured for long-time service. Laurin was recognized for 35 years of service during the 60th annual Service Recognition Awards on April 14 in Edmonton. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 35 years,” says Laurin, currently a serviceman who began his career as a groundman with head office construction. He quickly moved to a lineman position and then switched to service work in 1977. Planning to retire “It’s gone by fast, when I look at it,” says Laurin, who plans to retire early next year. “I work most of the time in Peace River so it keeps me hopping.” He actually began his career even before he completed Grade 12 in high school. While looking for a job at Canada Manpower in High Prairie, one of the woman at the office informed him that Northland Utilities was looking for workers. “When I walked into the Northland Utilities office, they asked if I could start the next day, but I told them I had to finish writing my Grade-12 exams at school,” says Laurin. “In those days, we didn’t have telephones, so NU Falher manager Jim Himer came to my house and told me to go to Edmonton for a job interview.” “I went to Edmonton on the bus and Northern Utilities assigned me to work at Grande Cache where I helped construct a line between Grande Cache and Grande Prairie,” says Laurin. From that humble start, he quickly loved his job working with customers. “It’s an exciting job, and the best part of it is dealing with customers face-to-face,” says Laurin. “Now we don’t have that personal touch.” More than 200 guests, staff, and vice-pres- idents of companies celebrated the long-service at Sutton Hotel. “In one way or another, each one of these individuals has contributed to the success of our companies,” says Sett Policicchio, president of ATCO Electric. “This year also marks a significant achievement in ATCO Electric’s history – our 80th year of providing service to Albertans.” ATCO Electric – part of ATCO Group – delivers electric energy to customers throughout northern and east-central Alberta. ATCO Group is an Alberta-based worldwide organization of companies with more than 7,000 employees actively engaged in Power Generation, Utilities and Global Enterprises.