Jean-Pierre Bélanger
CM: Can you tell us about your responsibilities as a human resources supervisor?
JP: I am responsible for many things. In a way, I am the right-hand man of the management of the St Thomas sawmill. I am obviously consulted on administrative decisions, but also on operational decisions, so I have a certain amount of directive power. I also coach supervisors to help them grow and develop in their field so that they become more and more efficient and help the workers around them to grow. I am also involved in training managers and union members, particularly in relation to safety. I also do a lot of outreach to listen to workers when they give us a little "cry of alarm", I make sure to take care of them by directing them to the right resources and our assistance programs. These days, with the current climate, hiring, recruiting and retention exercises take up a lot of our time. Ultimately, a lot of information is provided to senior management to improve the company in the long run. In short, a human resources supervisor wears many hats, there is no time to be bored!
CM: Can you tell us about your career at Resolu, from production to your current position?
JP: I joined Resolu (which was Donohue at the time) in May 1993, in production, as a labourer at the La Doré plant. They didn't really want to hire me because I had a nursing diploma and they thought I would want to leave to go into my field. I wanted to experience the job market and the wood industry appealed to me. At that time, there weren't many jobs available, so it was a chance to get into that business and, gradually, opportunities arose. So I did several jobs in sawing. In early 1995, I had an opportunity as a nurse at 54, in the Chibougamau park. In fact, I spent a year in the sawmill and six months in the forestry camps in health and safety and in first aid. Then I came back to La Doré and got involved in the iso standards in the early 2000s. When we finished installing the iso 9000 and 14000 standards, a regional position opened up to manage these programs in all these mills and I got the job. Once all the mills were iso certified, I moved into a quality position (I had previously trained as an MSR grader) and became a quality supervisor for wood products. During this job, I was in charge of the entire Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and I went to do spot checks in Abitibi, Mauricie, Maniwaki and elsewhere in the Outaouais. So I held this role for ten years. Then the company offered me training to obtain a certificate in human resources management. In 2010, I started in human resources management at the Saint-Thomas sawmill. I then did a stint in Girardville and came back to Saint-Thomas. I've been working for a year now as a human resources management supervisor at the Saint-Thomas sawmill, while providing support to the PF Mauricie sawmill in La Tuque. It's a rather special path, but it's a good example of jobs that make you grow!
CM: Why did you choose to live in Lac-Saint-Jean?
JP: I was born here. I'm a guy who is rooted in my region, there was never any question of leaving it. I found the job I was looking for in my area. I applied to other factories, but I almost hoped I wouldn't be chosen because I didn't want to leave my part of the world. I was born here, I live here and I don't see myself leaving here, ever. My activities are regional and adapted to our climate, my passion is snowmobiling and going for a walk in the forest is what turns me on.
CM: What is your connection with the forest?
JP: I have a strong connection with the forest. Indeed, I am moving to the woods. It's for me, it's my place, it's my nature, it's my "home". You arrive in the woods and you don't hear anything, you don't feel anything, it's just nature!
CM: What would be the best advice to give to someone wanting to pursue a career in the forestry industry?
JP: It's go, go! I've spent my life referring people to the company and also referring people to the company. It's a beautiful environment where you're working with a natural and renewable resource.
Interview conducted by Charles Martel, intern at the Saint-Thomas sawmill of Résolu, as part of the Forest Products Association of Canada's Dream Internship program
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