Challenges, success, family spirit and community involvement
Yasmine : Hello Jocelyn, thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. I look forward to learning more about your background and your experience at DAWCO.
Jocelyn : My pleasure, Yasmine. Let's go!
Yasmine : Can you tell us a little about your career path?
Jocelyn : I joined DAWCO a few years ago after seeing an advertisement for a supervisor position. I already knew DAWCO by reputation, but I'd never had a direct link before. It was Richard Desforges, Director of Electrical Services and Special Projects, who hired me. Before DAWCO, I was working as a project manager for another company. I'm an electrician by trade, with a DEP in electro and another in electricity. I also recently completed an AEC in instrumentation and control.
Yasmine : You certainly have an advantage in the field with these diplomas. It's a great diversity of complementary skills in your expertise. Could you tell us about a particular project you've been working on recently?
Jocelyn : Of course! One of the most important/particular projects I've worked on recently is the Starpax biopharma project. It was a great challenge, lasting about a year. I took over from a colleague due to family circumstances. The project was unique in that the work had to be carried out in a cleanroom (a controlled contamination environment). Our assignment was an electrical installation for a highly technical pharmaceutical process. We were manufacturing a kind of radioactive bacterium, used to target cancer cells. This was a major project in terms of electrical services. Its budget soared by over 200% from its initial figure.
Yasmine : Wow, that's fascinating! Working on such an innovative project. What do you like most about being a supervisor?
Jocelyn : What I like most is the contact with the young people. I explain safety rules to them and accompany them in the field. We're a small team in the Electrical Services and Special Projects department, so there's a real family spirit. I love passing on my knowledge and watching them grow. We're like a family here at DAWCO.
Yasmine : It's really nice to see this family spirit and this transmission of knowledge at DAWCO. The human aspect is at the heart of the way you work. What are the main challenges you face in your role?
Jocelyn : The biggest challenge is time. Our projects are often short, and you have to be very well organized. Sometimes, we have one or two days to complete a job. If I mess up the planning, it can affect the end result. We also often have to deal with last-minute supplies, which makes things even more complicated.
Yasmine : It must be a real race against time! Dealing with the unexpected and tight deadlines requires a great deal of adaptability on the part of you, the procurement department and our suppliers.
Jocelyn : Exactly, every minute counts, and you have to know how to improvise when necessary.
Yasmine : Do you have a particular memory of you and your team overcoming a major challenge?
Jocelyn : Yes, I remember a project for Véolia, which was my first assignment with DAWCO. We installed cabling in a filtration system for water towers in extremely tight workspaces. The 53-foot trailers were cluttered with filters, leaving very little room inside, turning the space into a kind of automated mini-factory. We worked for six months in these difficult conditions. It was a real challenge, but we succeeded thanks to the team's collaboration and a great deal of patience.
Yasmine : It must have been pretty stifling at times! But what a satisfaction to see the work accomplished. You must be very proud of this achievement. Moving on to something lighter and more relaxed; outside of work, what do you like to do to relax?
Jocelyn : I fish and go quad biking. I also spend a lot of time with my family. I have twin 14-year-old daughters and a 10-year-old son. We love going to the cottage and enjoying nature together. My daughters are involved in the Sea Cadets, which started when they were 12 and now they're up to Cadet 4. They take part in a lot of parade competitions. It's a very strict and demanding environment, but they love it because they do so many activities. This summer, they spent two weeks at the Bagotville military base in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, and recently had the opportunity to visit a brand-new icebreaker. They've also been sailing and rafting, and will soon be getting their boating licenses. It's an incredible experience for them.
What's more, I was lucky enough to obtain a bursary from DAWCO, to support the activities of the Rivière-des-Prairies Sea Cadets. This bursary benefits all the young cadets, including my daughters, and I'm very proud to contribute to their development through DAWCO.
Yasmine : That's great! The cadets give them unique experiences, and it's great to see that you and DAWCO are involved in supporting our young people. To conclude, if you had to choose one word to sum up your experience at DAWCO, what would it be?
Jocelyn : I would choose the word “Family”. That's really the spirit here. I've worked in more impersonal companies in the past, but at DAWCO there's this warm, caring atmosphere. We all know each other and work together in a respectful, good-humored atmosphere.
Yasmine : That's nice to hear. This notion of family is often a key factor in the loyalty and commitment of our people. Thank you, Jocelyn, for this inspiring interview and sincere sharing.
Jocelyn : Thank you, Yasmine. It was a pleasure.