Nathan (Labourer, Sewerage & Drainage)

What does a normal day in your role look, sound, and feel like?
My work changes daily depending on the tasks required, which mainly focuses on maintaining the City's ditch systems and making sure all drainage systems work properly throughout the City. Some of the jobs that I do is install pipe, clean and maintain garbage screens, repair ditch banks and monitor the ditches to find blockages in the system.

What is your story? How did you get to where you are now?
I graduated high school and was fortunate enough to work for the City the summer in between high school and university. I was able to finish my first year of university and take the year off to work. The City of Richmond brought me back on to work full-time for the year and I haven’t looked back. This is a great job and I haven’t regretted my decision.

What parts of your work inspire you?
What inspires me is the opportunities the City of Richmond offers me. The opportunity to move to other positions to explore different career paths and the wide variety of training the City offers further progresses my knowledge of the organization's operations, allowing me to complete my job safely and to the best of my ability.

What advice would you give your Grade 9 self?
Listen to your parents and teachers. Focus more on yourself and make sure you do your school work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek help if you need it; that’s what your teachers and counsellors are there for.

Any words of encouragement for today's Grade 9 students?
Keep your options open and realize that there are a lot of avenues to take after high school: college, university, trade school, full- or part-time work. Building a solid resume before school is finished/ends is always a good idea because it is harder to get a job without one. Getting your foot in the door with a municipality or big corporation always looks good on a resume.