Sharing well-earned wisdom
Cam Baker taps into his broad knowledge of geoscience on a daily basis
Q: What is your position and what are your responsibilities?
A: I’m a senior geologist with Matrix Solutions Inc. I’m involved with all aspects of business development, project design and management. This includes liaising with current and prospective clients and, when opportunities arise, developing proposals and work plans. For active projects I ensure work is on track with regard to time and budget. As projects move to completion, I review and comment on technical findings and conclusions. Also, as I have more grey hair than most of my office colleagues, I feel obliged to pass on my wisdom – whether they ask for it or not!
Q: What is it about your job that other people wish they got to do?
A: Getting out of the office and spending time in the field, especially when the work is in rural areas. It’s an opportunity to be in undeveloped areas surrounded by a natural environment. You can’t beat being at a drill site and having a visit from wild turkeys or getting close to a young moose. Of course, not everyone may see being outside as a plus when it’s pouring rain or below freezing.
Q: What do you find most challenging in your work?
A: Implementing a work plan that meets a client’s needs or the demands of regulators only to have to rethink and retool things on the fly due to a change affecting the program. This reset can result from any number of things. The information that’s uncovered demands that you go in a different direction, a change in what is deemed an acceptable outcome or pressure from an outside group. While it’s aggravating, these situations make life more interesting.
Q: Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you do contributes to your company.
A: Most days I arrive at the office and start with a review of emails. If it’s good day I can work on what I’d planned – report writing, research, contacting clients. More frequently, however, a phone call, last-minute meeting or some urgent matter takes me a different direction. Given my background, the role I play in most projects is supplying geoscience knowledge. This is critical in that many of our projects involve a multi-disciplinary team approach.
Q: How did you get interested in this work?
A: My interest in geology and the earth sciences started in high school as a result of an inspirational geography teacher, and this, in turn, led me to major in geology in university. While at school I was fortunate to have a number of summer jobs on geology field crews in various parts of the province. The nature of the work, comradery of field crews, and the opportunity to learn how to piece together observations to discern what’s below the surface cemented my choice of profession. As my interest was sparked in school, I take every opportunity to speak on earth sciences to junior and senior grades at schools. If a fraction of the kids translate the enthusiasm they show for rocks in class into a career, we’re assured of a multitude of future geologists.
Q: What sort of education do you have that is relevant to your job?
A: I completed a Bachelor of Science in geology at Brock University and a Master of Science at the University of Waterloo where I specialized in quaternary studies as I had an interest in glacial history. My education led to a series of jobs involving surficial mapping and the development of conceptual geologic models. On-the-job learning was also a great teacher as I became involved with aggregate resource evaluations, terrain assessments and aquifer mapping. The combination of “book and street” learning has given me a broad background that’s useful on a wide range of projects.
Q: Where do you see the industry going in the next few years?
A: I can’t help but think of the saying “May you live in interesting times.” Unfortunately, I can’t see any lessening of the regulatory and development hurdles that the industry faces. There will be a continued need to make the case for the economic and societal value of aggregates. I have no doubt, however, that the industry will adapt to any and all pressures, including those related to the environment. As close to market supplies are depleted, a discussion will arise in coming years on how aggregate is shipped to major markets in the province.
Q: What advice would you give to others looking for a career in the aggregate industry?
A: Follow your interests. The opportunities and range of positions within or associated with the aggregate industry are so broad that that there’s a niche for just about everyone. Start by obtaining the training and, if possible, some experience, in a professional or technical field that you wish to work in. Then it’s a matter of persistence in finding a job with an OSSGA active or associate member.