By Kristy Strauss
James Melville is well on his way to a career in mechanical engineering and he attributes Carleton University’s co-op program to his success.
Melville, 21, has landed a 16-month contract with Husky Energy to help conduct inspections on a northern Alberta plant that will eventually extract oil.
“I’m basically an assistant project manager, so it’s paved the way to get into a junior project manager role as soon as I graduate,” he says.
Every two weeks, Melville flies to Calgary where he is then chartered up to Fort Mackay – roughly 60 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
On the job, he works closely with Husky Energy’s team and conducts building inspections.
“I didn’t want to be in a cubicle,” Melville says. “I wanted to be out in the field and working with people. And co-op set the way for that.”
While he was registering for Carleton, he decided to enroll in the co-op program because he knew it would help build a foundation for his career in engineering.
His first co-op placement was at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre – working in the maintenance department on fire suppression systems.
That placement paved the way for his current job, he says.
“It meant a lot to get the job with Husky Energy,” Melville says. “It really put a value on my degree. All of a sudden, the work I was doing actually meant something to people out there.”
Gary LeBlanc, who has been a mentor to Melville at Husky, says the Carleton student has adapted well to the job.
“James has a strong work ethic, which was quickly recognized in the field,” he says, adding that Melville has also performed well in the variable conditions that come with working in the field.
“Cabin fever (and) home sickness are real things, and the impact can be devastating,” says LeBlanc. “James has adapted well to this change in his lifestyle, and is able to keep his mind on task.”
While Melville is busy at work, he’s also earning a construction management certificate online and even spends time in the town as a volunteer firefighter.
Additionally, he’s learning a new language – adding Italian to his French and English skills.
“You have to think outside the box,” Melville says. “The more willingness you have to move, the better. Willingness to travel, languages, and being a good communicator are huge.”
His experiences outside the classroom will help him in his career endeavours when he graduates in 2015, he says.
“I can’t say enough good things about choosing co-op. I owe everything to them. I wouldn’t have gotten this experience without them.”
