The city's new army reserve unit gave thanks Thursday to the office managers and business owners who pay the biggest part of their soldiers' paycheques.
The Rocky Mountain Rangers (RMR) have existed for less than two years in Prince George. They are headquartered in Kamloops but announced in 2011 the formation of B Company in P.G. Since their first recruit about a year ago, they have climbed to more than 60 part-time soldiers on the roster. Almost all of them have some other job or student duties to attend to.
Seven local employers were given awards for their exceptional commitment to the soldiers in their workplace. Each of them was nominated by the soldier or soldiers and the applications considered by senior officers of 39 Canadian Brigade Group (39CBG), who were in attendance at Prince George City Hall on Thursday to present the citations.
"The support you give them men and women here is vital," said 39CBG commander Col. Rob-Roy MacKenzie.
"There is a symbiotic relationship," added Col. Glen Richmond from the Canadian Forces Liaison Council. "Soldiers bring special skill-sets to your workplace that benefit you, and you provide that employment needed to allow them this opportunity to have a position and a role to play with the military. By allowing the military to function, and the military serving you [by building workplace skills], we work together for the country, to stand on guard for thee."
Other dignitaries who spoke included civilian Martin Cronin and Lt-Col. Cliff Jamieson, both of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council.
Just like their full-time counterparts, reservist soldiers have to rush off at the military's call. Sometimes it is on a moment's notice and sometimes for prolonged periods of time to aid in natural disasters, attend training, even deployment to theatres of conflict. Local companies and agencies who employ the part-time personnel have to put up with that uncertainty and those absences.
"Why wouldn't an employer support this? I am honoured to be here," said WorkSafeBC's manager of certification services Christine Harrison, one of those recognized at the ceremony. RMR Sgt. Daryl Mellquist works for her. "His training and experience on the military side gives us enormous benefits on the WorkSafeBC side. He operates essentially as a manager in the army, and even though that isn't his role with us he has all those skills to bring to our table. What I see us getting out of it, I don't think a lot of employers perhaps realize. I don't just 'let' him do it, it is something I'm proud of and encourage. And we all get something out of it - as Canadians."
Mellquist said that not only does WorkSafeBC's support allow him to excel in his army uniform, but it takes off levels of pressure that benefits his family unit as well. He, his wife, and their kids have lived in Prince George for five years now, and with both professional situations working together so effectively, he has no wish to move anywhere else again.
Other employers singled out at the event were the City of Prince George, Ruskin Contracting, the provincial Ministry of Forests/Lands/Natural Resource Operations, Home Depot, and two recipients from elsewhere (City of Kimberly's Aquatics Division and Elk Valley Hospital) due to those affected soldiers now residing in Prince George.
