A Love for Geology
Former ski bum Tecia White found her perfect career as a hydrogeologist working in aggregates
Q: What is your position and what are your responsibilities?
I am a senior hydrogeologist and president of Whitewater Hydrogeology Ltd. As the owner, I’m responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the company – from project implementation, field work, data analysis and reporting, to client and government liaison, clerical and accounting tasks.
Q: What is it about your job that other people wish they got to do?
I might be a bit biased, but I think that many people wish that they could have both the freedom of being self-employed as well as being able to do a job that they love. Most days I can wake up and decide if it’s a good day to be in the field, or if I need to put in some hours in front of the computer.
Q: What do you find most challenging in your work?
It’s the balancing act that’s required to keep myself educated on everything from new technologies to government regulations, keeping my clients informed of all changes that may impact their operations, ensuring that they always remain in compliance, and making sure I’m working with the most current information available.
Q: Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you do contributes to your company.
A typical day will either involve a day of fieldwork, office work or meetings. To bring a job to completion there are a series of steps that need to be followed. Having said that, at any given time, my day can change as I always try to accommodate my clients’ needs and ensure all projects are running smoothly.
Q: How did you get interested in this field of work?
Like many, I took a few gap years before university “to find myself ” while living the ski bum life. While living in B.C., I had the opportunity to assist a ski patrol team tracking glacier movement. This sparked my love for geology. At McMaster University I signed up for a course in karst geomorphology. The professor was one of the first educators to capture my attention and make me want to learn. I took this as a sign I was heading in the right direction!
Q: What sort of education do you have that is relevant to your job?
I graduated from McMaster University with an honour’s degree in geology. I went on to complete my master’s degree at the University of Toronto in hydrogeology while working full-time for a hydrogeological consulting firm. Hydrogeology is essentially a subfield of geology, or the study of how groundwater moves through the sub-surface. In the aggregate industry, it is fundamental to understand how the extraction of material influences the groundwater regime. With the state of science forever evolving, there’s a constant need to continue learning. For me, this includes new groundwater monitoring tools, drone technologies and computer programs.
Q: Where do you see the industry going in the next few years?
Being optimistic, I hope to see some improvements and clarity in many of the provincial regulations that the industry must abide by. Because the industry is regulated by multiple government agencies, I feel that there is significant overlap in environmental compliance requirements. If the regulations would allow for each component of the operation to be assessed to determine what threats it may or may not pose, then the industry can focus compliance on threat-based operations. A perfect example is the recent need for operators to obtain an Environmental Compliance Approval for settling ponds.
Q: What advice would you give to others looking for a career in the aggregate industry?
There is a world of opportunity in the aggregate industry. Whether it’s for working directly in the pits and quarries, in the health and safety or environmental departments, to the sale of the products. Companies want to see their employees achieve success and be fulfilled in their roles. Over my 20 years in the industry, I’ve watched new employees learn new skills that have helped them grow within their organization. It’s truly a unique industry filled with great leaders and mentors, which can be hard to find when looking for an exciting new career.