This week I had the chance to interview Jason Bigstone, who is my supervisor at slave lake veneer. He works as the Quality Control Supervisor, playing a key role at the mill to maintain quality standards. I was interested to learn about how his career at West Fraser had started and all the steps of growth and learning he went through to progress his career to where he is now. His story is a powerful example of how West Fraser invests in its people and promotes from within, supporting both personal growth and company success. This was able to help me get a better understanding of what my own career could look like in the future and what necessary steps I need to take to help me develop further in the forestry industry.
Jason started working at the mill as a labourer for about a year, then became the chipper operator for about 5 years, then he was the lathe operator for 1 year before he was promoted to his current role in Quality Control. Jason was able to gain lots of knowledge about the mill process and machinery through his previous roles, which helped set him up for success in quality control.
Interview questions
Q: When and how did you first get started at West Fraser?
“In 2013, I was looking for better employment opportunities, and was told about West Fraser, so I applied.”
Q: What helped you move forward in your career at West Fraser?
“I had shown initiative and leadership traits in all of the roles I had; in addition, I strive to always be the best in my field.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about living in slave lake
“I enjoy the simplicity.”
Q: What do you find most rewarding about your job in quality control?
“The rewarding feeling of solving a problem or creating an environment that which we can do better as a team.”
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the forestry industry?
“Stay open-minded and consider all your options because you never know what opportunities might come knocking at your door.
Jason’s story reflects a larger trend at West Fraser: a strong culture of internal promotion. Instead of constantly hiring from outside, the company focuses on developing talent from within. This leads to a workforce that’s highly skilled, experienced, and loyal.
That mindset not only helps workers build fulfilling careers, but it also improves plant performance, lowers turnover, and boosts long-term profitability. West Fraser invests in its people for their growth and potential. In Jason's case, he was given the opportunity to go to BCIT’s industrial wood processing program with West Fraser's support to continue to grow in his role as QC.
What I Learned as an Intern
As a student intern, it’s motivating to see a clear pathway from the floor to leadership. It shows me that with hard work, curiosity, and the right environment, a job in forestry can grow into a lifelong career. I am very grateful to have Jason as my supervisor. I have gained a lot of experience and valuable knowledge, whether it's regarding the mill processes or general life lessons.
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