It was hard to tell who enjoyed themselves more - the children playing on big machines or their parents getting to show the children what they do for work.
The longest-running mill in Barriere, Gilbert Smith Forest Products, held a first-of-its-kind family day on Saturday, Sept. 21.
“We wanted to welcome our families,” said Darcey Woods, who is the safety coordinator at the mill. “All too often, we get asked what we do at work - it’s easier to show than tell. This was the perfect opportunity to show our families just that. It was also a thank you, to the families who lend us their loved ones each day for eight hours.”
Duncan MacInnes, the mill’s chairman of the safety committee, said his daughter is the one who inspired him to make an event like this happen for the mill.
“Being a mechanic, I am always fooling around at home with something,” said MacInnes. “There are times when I need a certain tool, so I will take her down to the shop and soon as we get there, she wants to touch this and that.”
MacInnes thought if he were to donate a day of his time, he could bring his daughter to work but so could everybody else.
“The company decided to take that idea and make it bigger,” said MacInnes. “They opened up the entire mill so families could see where their loved one worked.”
The event ran from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. featuring a variety of activities for the children such as tours of the facility and a cedar-made minigolf course. A fleet of heavy-duty equipment was lined up for the kids to go inside, climb and pretend like their parents.
“On top of the tour, we were able to take our families to our distinct stations within the mill,” said MacInnes. “For example, say a gentleman works at the packing press, he could take his kids to that station, show them where he spends his day and what he does.”
The mill has been around since 1955 and is one of the largest employers in the town. MacInnes said for it being such a small town, he is used to seeing everyone on a daily basis but it’s always business.
“That’s what our area is like,” said Kathy Cooper, the plant manager. “We are all loggers or saw millers.”
The event also had an educational component to it - workplace safety. The employees were dressed in protective gear to give the children an idea of what is required at work.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Cooper. “We do a lot with our safety program, but for the employees.”
Throughout the mill, safety signage was showcased as well as information booths.
“When the children see their parents in the gear, it reassures them their parent is safe,” said Cooper. “The kids seem like they really enjoyed this. They now have an idea what their parent does.”
Now, with the event’s groundwork laid out, mill employees might be able to expect it to become an annual event but next year, for the entire community and not just employees.