My Story: From Princess to the Patch

It was a 4×4 adventure with strangers that opened the doors to a world I never new existed. I had just finished a two-year commitment to Kelowna’s Lady of the Lake Society and was ready to ditch the princess gear for something a little more rough and tumble. The offer to work on the rigs was an easy “yes” for me and I quit my job and headed east. I had no concept of what a rig was or what my job would be. They just promised it would be fun — and it was!

Mixed in with the great field experiences were many challenging and sometimes terrifying experiences at camp. I worked in industry during the early 1990’s — before there were facilities for women. That meant showering in a man’s gang shower late at night with my driller standing guard, bunking in the same room with my four crewmates, and learning how navigate the culture.

During my time in the field, I got a lot of experience living in camps. Some were massive, others incredibly remote, but all of them were tailored for men. And I was a woman. More than that, I was a novelty. Sometimes that worked in my favour, but a lot of the time it put a target on my back and made life a little more dangerous than I was expecting. Overall, it was an incredible experience and one that has had a lasting impact on me. Here’s a few pictures!

Over the next 20 years, I went on to become a health and safety professional, earning several international certifications (CRSP, CSP, CMIOSH, MIIRSM) and pursuing my formal education, specializing in business management. My love for business led me to start two companies in entirely different industries — Bubble Hut, a cosmetics company; and Sotera Safety, a safety consultation company.

After nearly 13 years of balancing both companies, the time came when I made a commitment to health + safety. I had consulted to hundreds of businesses and was passionate about contractor management. So, when Shell offered me a role as the implementation lead for their North American contractor safety management program, it was another easy “yes.” A decade with Shell and LNG Canada breezed by.

I’ve been fortunate to work with hundreds of organizations to help them optimize their processes and profitability. Plus, I’ve worked for private, public, and governmental organizations — experience that has given me keen insight into systematic challenges facing leaders. I’ve taken on roles with multi-national scopes, led projects affecting tens of thousands of workers, and advised some of the most recognized names in industry today.

I share my journey from princess to the patch with you because it helps to explain where I’m at today and why I care so much about the work I do. As a city ambassador, I developed a real interest for people and society; and as a oil field worker, I grew to love the industry and its people. Throw in a little business management and health + safety, and the interest in mental health and psychosocial risk management seems pretty predictable.