| Blackout-spec |
K so im thinking of going to work up there on a refinery. I got a wicked job offer where they will pay most of the mortgage of a house and pay six figures. 1 week in 1 out. straight days 12 hrs.
im just wondering, what are the ups and downs to fort mac?
i know if you work on a rig you get all the rig pigs, but i dont think the refinery's are as bad.
im not raising a family, just there to make as much money as possible and get my life on the go.
the only thing holding me back a bit is my gf. we have been dating almost 4 yrs, shes going to UofA and im kinda split on finishing my schooling or just getting a job. dont want to lose her because ill be gone a week at a time, maby more! its just not worth the money.
can you guys just give me a bit of info on the place?
ive never been there so im not sure what to believe from ppl.seems like everyone i talk to has a different opinion.
some say its full of drugs and shit, others say its not so bad.
thanks guys. |
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| newred |
#1 up is there is lots of Crack.
#1 DownYou'll be a crack head in no time & will be hanging out @ 711 with all the other Crack Heads.
Hey but the money is Good :thumbup: Good Luck |
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| REDX2NV |
Well, i got 4 months left in this shithole, ive been up here for 2 1/2 years and im pulling the plug.
Insane traffic, drugs, retarded drivers, big egos, and big money is huge problems.
Although, i cant say the time i hav been here hasnt been all to bad to me, it really helped my career both finacially and skillwise.
But if your planning on buying a place better have deep pockets, average house price jumped to 600k. Dont be suprised to pay 400k+ for a mobile. |
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| RangerMan |
Lived there for 20 years, though the boom happened in the last 4 of em. Its not that bad of a place to live, make some coin providin you can afford to live there. Sure lots of drugs, but its ur choice to do em. the 5 hr highway drive from edm to fort mac kinda blows, its one lane and contractors drive like idiots.
fort mcmurray is what u make it though, even if there are only two bars. Things to expect are long line ups for tim hortons or any store pretty much, alot of newfies and i mean alot, friendly though very..
which plant u workin at? dependin on what site u workout at, expect a 14hr day if you take the bus for shift work..
McMurray is expandin crazy lately, I still miss it though, had some good times up there, i moved as Oil was not my thing, unless its
on a women
Personally id finish school if i were you (unless its an unnecessary degree like fine arts) school is better in the long run..and if ur plannin to work there a long time and havin gf here, good luck, i could never do long distance... |
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| kornsined |
| Crackmurray sucks balls. I hated that place and I was only there 5 months. Idiot tradesmen and crackheads. No one gives a shit about that town. They just want there money and run. |
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| Blackout-spec |
well to make things more clear. im currently taking power engineering at NAIT. i finished my 1st yr, am just finishing my practical and am considering even going back for the 2nd yr.i have my 4th class power engineering ticket, getting half of my 3rd and working on the steam time to finish it.
CNRL is the company that i am dealing with currently. the refinery is with the horizon project.
not looking to ever have a family up there, nor the gf. its a 5yr contract, w/ a huge signing bonus and lots of extras.
i would be a plant operator in the refinery so i wouldnt be working with crack heads or druggies. im 99% sure ill need a drug test to even be considered.
i would have 1 more year of school and i will be done. the thing is, i think i can study on my own and come out with the same thing as if i was to go to class. but instead make $200xxx+ while doing it.
im not into drugs, nor do i want to start. like most ppl, i just want the money and to get the hell out.
for housing, i was actually thinking of buying a big RV or something and staying at a campground. im not sure if that would work, but it would be much cheaper then rent or buying a house. as even a nice RV is only $200xxx
keep in mind im only 20, and have a lot of time to make money. its just i have the opportunity to make a lot of money now, but i dont know enough about fort mac to move there and buy a house bla bla bla. |
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| REDX2NV |
| 200k/year, to start. Keep dreamin bud, the only way you could even come close is 21/1 or 24/4 for a year straight. Coming from you saying you only wanted to work one week on one week off. |
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| Blackout-spec |
thats w/ all the bonus's man. not a salary, wage is prob only $40-$50/hr. they will give me 20,000$ check when im hired for moving expenses and what not, pay for a percentage of the mortgage, financing fees/lawyers, and help find a place. also possibility to fly in and out for the week off. its straight days, 7 on 7 off for the first yr. just going by what im told by them!.
to a total of 200,000$+
and with a 5/yr contract, a huge signing bonus is totally possible also.
i seen ppl get $200,000 signing bonus w/ a 3 yr contract.
i guess its all because of high demand man.
big money for the companies up their, and they need to bribe ppl to come and work! |
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| crzyone |
I'm a gas plant operator for Pengrowth near Whitecourt, have been here for 5 years now. I have also thought of going up to Fort McMurray.
Camp jobs are different. You can still live in Edmonton and they will bus you up there every week. No need to pay the outrageous house prices up there. When you are there you are fed, have a gym, Internet and most likely your own room which is like a small hotel room.
My father went to Suncor 3 years ago, he is also an operator. He makes it sound pretty good. A few of those companies are going to start flying operators in from the international to avoid the 5 hour plus bus ride.
I say try it out for 3 years. If you don't like it you can get a job anywhere. Get some experience, some cash and then make up your mind where you want to be. There will be operator jobs up there for a long time. If you don't like CNRL you can always try other plants.
I'm guessing you have your 3rd and half your 2nd? |
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| diesekiel |
| Get an education!! Be cool... stay in school... I go to NAIT too, NAIT ftw! :lol: |
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| dtjohnst |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
thats w/ all the bonus's man. not a salary, wage is prob only $40-$50/hr. they will give me 20,000$ check when im hired for moving expenses and what not, pay for a percentage of the mortgage, financing fees/lawyers, and help find a place. also possibility to fly in and out for the week off. its straight days, 7 on 7 off for the first yr. just going by what im told by them!.
to a total of 200,000$+
and with a 5/yr contract, a huge signing bonus is totally possible also.
i seen ppl get $200,000 signing bonus w/ a 3 yr contract.
i guess its all because of high demand man.
big money for the companies up their, and they need to bribe ppl to come and work!
Yeah, it might come out to $200k until you realize what your cost of living in. $200k in Fort Mac is nowhere near the same as $200k in Edmonton. And then they give you $200k to sign for 5 years, and if your gf threatens to dump you unless you come back and/or you absolutely despite up there, that $200k won't be doing much for you. |
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| jberger |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
well to make things more clear. im currently taking power engineering at NAIT. i finished my 1st yr, am just finishing my practical and am considering even going back for the 2nd yr.i have my 4th class power engineering ticket, getting half of my 3rd and working on the steam time to finish it.
CNRL is the company that i am dealing with currently. the refinery is with the horizon project.
not looking to ever have a family up there, nor the gf. its a 5yr contract, w/ a huge signing bonus and lots of extras.
i would be a plant operator in the refinery so i wouldnt be working with crack heads or druggies. im 99% sure ill need a drug test to even be considered.
i would have 1 more year of school and i will be done. the thing is, i think i can study on my own and come out with the same thing as if i was to go to class. but instead make $200xxx+ while doing it.
im not into drugs, nor do i want to start. like most ppl, i just want the money and to get the hell out.
for housing, i was actually thinking of buying a big RV or something and staying at a campground. im not sure if that would work, but it would be much cheaper then rent or buying a house. as even a nice RV is only $200xxx
keep in mind im only 20, and have a lot of time to make money. its just i have the opportunity to make a lot of money now, but i dont know enough about fort mac to move there and buy a house bla bla bla.
i didnt know cnrl had that type of money to spend, i had a contract with them early this year and they were to cheap, they are the cheapest of all plants, but if you get what you are saying thats awesome, gl |
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| TrevorK |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
i seen ppl get $200,000 signing bonus w/ a 3 yr contract.
i guess its all because of high demand man.
big money for the companies up their, and they need to bribe ppl to come and work!
Tell me what company and what occupation, I'm going to find out for myself whether this is true from the people that actually work there.
I can't imagine it being that insane to give a 200K signing bonus. |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
well to make things more clear. im currently taking power engineering at NAIT. i finished my 1st yr, am just finishing my practical and am considering even going back for the 2nd yr.i have my 4th class power engineering ticket, getting half of my 3rd and working on the steam time to finish it.
CNRL is the company that i am dealing with currently. the refinery is with the horizon project.
What are they teaching you at NAIT? The CNRL Horizon project doesn't have a Refinery, it has an Upgrader. There are no refineries in Fort McMurray, just upgraders. If you don't know what the difference is yet, you better stay in school. |
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| bakerrrtsi |
i had a friend who worked up there..from his perspective fort mac = hell
drugs and prostitutes lol |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by bakerrrtsi
i had a friend who worked up there..from his perspective fort mac = hell
drugs and prostitutes lol
drugs, prostitutes, newfies and natives. :thumbup: |
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| Blackout-spec |
the only thing is, its a 5/yr contract. i dont think i want to be stuck working for them for 5 years. maby down the road i might want to find another place to go and work and i dont want to get screwed.
i need to find someone who will let me work for 2-3 years so i can get an idea of how it is up there. should be easy because jobs are easy to come by. |
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| Blackout-spec |
quote:
Originally posted by Inzane
What are they teaching you at NAIT? The CNRL Horizon project doesn't have a Refinery, it has an Upgrader. There are no refineries in Fort McMurray, just upgraders. If you don't know what the difference is yet, you better stay in school.
HAHA yup, i feel dumb now. sorry i meant to say upgrader but i guess refinery was just in my head. i was at work all day, and wrote that late at night. brain fart! |
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| Rabb |
i find that NAIT pumps there grads full of shit and how much they will be making ..
ture after a "FEW" years of working you can make what they say you can
I graduated back in 04 in Geological Technology .. the pay scale back then showed us grads making 100+ .. well lets just say i wasnt even making half of that when i finished !!
now its a few year later and i am making alot more but still not in the 100+k a year |
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| Blackout-spec |
way off topic but FYI ^
i got a job offer for next summer with a company which is here in edmonton that is offering more then NAIT said i would make so i dunno man. depends on where you apply.
but back to for mac. is the money up there really worth the bs? and for living accommodations, the average say condo/apartment is worth what? 500K? for fairly new that is.. |
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| bakerrrtsi |
as far as im told
the work is hard they pay is good but you have that money you make but no time to use it except to pay for an extremely expensive shit ass house haha
i have no desire to go there |
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| euro_trash |
| Just curious where you are getting your numbers from... I am guessing not from CNR directly since you say "40-50" which is quite the range. CNR pays industry average, and I have not heard of them paying for part of someones mortgage. They do have a CNR camp type thing up there which they usually let employees stay in if they can't get housing. |
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| stealth |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
HAHA yup, i feel dumb now. sorry i meant to say upgrader but i guess refinery was just in my head. i was at work all day, and wrote that late at night. brain fart!
Sorry bud. They are lying to you. I got offered a job their as a Level 6 and their is no way you will be making 200k a year.
For you they will hire you as a level 1 or 2 max... |
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| stealth |
quote:
Originally posted by jberger
i didnt know cnrl had that type of money to spend, i had a contract with them early this year and they were to cheap, they are the cheapest of all plants, but if you get what you are saying thats awesome, gl
And yes they are the cheapest of all plants...
And for the previous guy behind me. Yes they do pay for part of your mortgage, and so do most of the other plants. Not much though. |
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| bulbeck |
Your best bet is to work up here for a few year's get some experince and then get a job at one of the refinery's in Edmonton.
McMurray might not be the best place to live, but it's not the worst and a few year's isn't that bad. |
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| REDX2NV |
quote:
Originally posted by bakerrrtsi
as far as im told
the work is hard they pay is good but you have that money you make but no time to use it except to pay for an extremely expensive shit ass house haha
i have no desire to go there
Work is hard? Are you fisting me? unless you have been here first hand, dont make generalizations.
Fort mcmurray is a gravy train, with all the unions(and union based employers) mines focus more on "safety" then work being completed. |
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| Blackout-spec |
i dont know why were talking about numbers and wages, thats not important. thats just what i was told. if i get dont get what i want then i wont take the job. if you dont believe what im saying, whatever. you could be right, maby that are BS'ing me to get me to move up there then screw me over. i dont know. maby it sounds too good to be true. all i know is a friend of mine got hired and got offered a lot of money as a panel operator, so im sure its possible.
im pretty sure all refinerys, and upgraders are easy place to work. i dont think i have heard of an operator that doesnt have it good. everyone of my friends at many different plants say the same thing, work is easy!
all summer ive been working at a plant in fort sask, and its been the easiest job ive ever been at. at work ive changed my oil, always wash/detail my car, sleep, and watch movies.
its just i know someone that got hired with CNRL and he got offered such and such money, and told me about it and said he can probably get me a job faster then if i applied on my own. so ive given them my resume and talked to HR breifly.
so now all i was wondering was whats the deal with fort mac. if the moneys good, and i can get out every 2nd week as they say then ill be happy. |
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| Flip |
| I've been working for Suncor for almost a year now and am very happy with the situation. Although I get flown in and out, charter buses with 10 people max, stay in a nice new camp, get bought pretty much everything we need to stay happy, and the works not that hard. My fort mac experience thus far is pretty good, most I've done in town is stop at the BK lounge though. |
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| stealth |
Ft. Mac is alright man. Its what you make of it.
If I were you, go and get your experience.
The reason we are telling you about the wage is because we know.
I had a phone interview with CNRL, they are one of the LOWER payers in Ft. Mac. No chance you are starting as a Panel Operator right out of school, with 0 experience.
If you're friends are telling you they are on panel, most likely they have experience, as a field operator first.
Working 1 week in and 1 week out, no chance you will make crazy money, and I mean 0% chance.
The reason your summer job is easy, is because it is just that, a summer job, it is easy, already running in steady state, and you aren't on a shut down.
Let me guess, you do rounds and water tests, thats it?
Wait until shit hits the fan, have fun. :thumbup:
CNRL isn't even a running Upgrader. They are in the process of comissioning and construction.
I am not trying to discourage you, or call you a liar. I am just telling you the truth. |
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| kornsined |
Well if you're going for an operator job then that would be easier to cope with IMO. That's only if you don't go out much.
I can believe the money you were offered because from what I recall there is a shortage of operators right now. |
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| Realistic |
quote:
Originally posted by Inzane
drugs, prostitutes, newfies and natives. :thumbup:
What the FUCK is wrong with Newfies?
if you decide to come. gimme a call, 7889110
i dont do drugs, i drink and go out, come out, and work a bunch.
cnrl is a good place man. it's far away though. they have alot of upsides about them
alot of people dont like fort mac cause they can't fit in.
i get along great with all kinds of people, it's not that bad here.
it's done alot for me and my family.
take care.
good luck
like i said, call me, and we'll go for wings or something on a wednesday |
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| Blackout-spec |
quote:
Originally posted by stealth
Ft. Mac is alright man. Its what you make of it.
If I were you, go and get your experience.
The reason we are telling you about the wage is because we know.
I had a phone interview with CNRL, they are one of the LOWER payers in Ft. Mac. No chance you are starting as a Panel Operator right out of school, with 0 experience.
If you're friends are telling you they are on panel, most likely they have experience, as a field operator first.
Working 1 week in and 1 week out, no chance you will make crazy money, and I mean 0% chance.
The reason your summer job is easy, is because it is just that, a summer job, it is easy, already running in steady state, and you aren't on a shut down.
Let me guess, you do rounds and water tests, thats it?
Wait until shit hits the fan, have fun. :thumbup:
CNRL isn't even a running Upgrader. They are in the process of comissioning and construction.
I am not trying to discourage you, or call you a liar. I am just telling you the truth.
buddy you are exactly right about most of that.
for 1, the job that i am talking about IS the upgrader that is being built. thats why its straight days, and they said its 7 in 7 out( just what i was told man). i would live up there, and they will pay me 1500$/mth for my mortgage on a condo, apartment or w/e, so no i wont be in a camp. apparently they bought a huge chunk of land and are building condos, and apartments that i will be able to buy from them. so housing shouldnt be a problem.
^ thats why it would be 100,000$+. just for the mortgage, they will pay me 18K$/yr. thats ontop of the hourly wage. im assuming i would start at around 80K/yr. add in tons of overtime, and that 18K$ and all the other bonuses, and it will be over 100K forsure, it has to be.
I understand there is no way that i would be a panel operator, i actually applied for a field position and only expected to get that. im not that experienced, but i learned a lot over the summer, and have a pretty good understanding of the basics of how plants are run. i know how to run a water treatment plant and understand how everything works. because i worked in the process part of the plant for the majority of the summer on my own, i also learned a lot.
as for my summer job, no it was not just rounds and water tests. i actually was trained like any normal new operator, and after 3 weeks of following an operator around i was working in the field on my own. i had to know what to do if shit hit the fan. and yah, most of the time everything ran fine, but i still had to run out into the plant a few times to do something.
there was actually a small plant shut down this summer also, so i got to help take the whole plant down and bring it back up with other guys. I also signed permits and made work orders. it was wicked because i got to look into a lot of the stuff and see what it actually looks like inside. really made it easy to understand how things work.
Also i actually asked if i could work in utilities because it would be a huge help to my education. thats the only reason i had to do water tests and such.
The only reason i cant stay there is because they wont hire anyone w/o their 3rd. im writing my first 2 papers sept 5 and just waiting on steam time for the last 2. they gave me a job for when i have my 3rd, but thats really no good to me now. |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by Realistic
What the FUCK is wrong with Newfies?
:lol:
Struck a nerve there? Let me guess, you're a Newfoundlander?
Townie, or no? |
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| Realistic |
quote:
Originally posted by Inzane
:lol:
Struck a nerve there? Let me guess, you're a Newfoundlander?
Townie, or no?
West Coast.
No Baywop here. |
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| Inzane |
I wonder where the drug addicts, johns (or whores) and natives are to also chime in with
"What the FUCK is wrong with _____?"
:p |
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| Realistic |
| they know whats wrong |
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| MAPEX |
quote:
Originally posted by stealth
Sorry bud. They are lying to you. I got offered a job their as a Level 6 and their is no way you will be making 200k a year.
For you they will hire you as a level 1 or 2 max...
theres some people making 200k man like engineer with less experience but those expert they more than that... |
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| tokes |
quote:
Originally posted by MAPEX
theres some people making 200k man like engineer with less experience but those expert they more than that...
And a P. Eng with 4 years of schooling and 2 years of professional practice is a bit different than a guy with his ticket and a year of nait under his belt! |
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| jberger |
| 200g for salary is lots, but contract thats average up in fort mac |
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| Blackout-spec |
well they called me back this mornin. going to set up a day and fly me into ft mac for another interview and to see the site and discuss everything.
so to the guys that actually work/live in ft mac... you say its not that bad? im not really worried about living up there as i will only be staying there while im working. on my week off im coming back to edmonton to spend time with my gf.
if the only shitty thing about ft mac is drugs, line ups and any other bullshit then i dont think it will be so bad. |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by tokes
And a P. Eng with 4 years of schooling and 2 years of professional practice is a bit different than a guy with his ticket and a year of nait under his belt!
I'm a P. Eng and while I don't live in Fort Mac anymore, I still know lots of colleagues up there I don't know anyone making $200k with only 2 years out of school.
If anything, Operators get paid MORE than we do. Generally speaking Engineers don't get the shift premiums and the overtime, etc. |
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| stealth |
Blackout
You are right about the mortgage and housing that they are developing that is all true. It helps.
Just if you want to make good money, expect to work your 1 week off.
If you stay away from the bars and going out you will be good.
I just work, eat, sleep. THATS IT! |
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| nismokutz |
| good company to work for. my gf is there everyday at the horizn project, she's a flight attendent and they fly people there every other day. maybe u'll be on her flight. she works for north cariboo air...lol. but its boring there. if u stay at camp the rooms are soooo small. but gl man |
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| Lukesky |
Dude.. as for your gf.. it depends what kind of relationship she wants. If she wants to see you 1 week and not the next and then back again, that'll have to be something you guys talk about. . . Some chicks would be fine, some chicks want there boyfriends around.
As for Fort Mac.. It does have ups, it does have downs. It's what you make of the place.. Your best bet would be to work a shitload, go home and sleep, get up the next day and work. Go out once in awhile, just don't get caught up in all the shit. |
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| kornsined |
quote:
Originally posted by Lukesky
Dude.. as for your gf.. it depends what kind of relationship she wants. If she wants to see you 1 week and not the next and then back again, that'll have to be something you guys talk about. . . Some chicks would be fine, some chicks want there boyfriends around.
As for Fort Mac.. It does have ups, it does have downs. It's what you make of the place.. Your best bet would be to work a shitload, go home and sleep, get up the next day and work. Go out once in awhile, just don't get caught up in all the shit.
Pretty much summed it up. Just keep in mind 5 years is long. |
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| Realistic |
i moved here planning on keeping my gf.
didnt werk at all.. and i wish it did
money is money....
love is a much more different wealth
im over that now..and fort mac is alright |
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| BananaBoy |
I was up in Ft Mac for 5 years, some in camp, some at the Towers, here's my take, I'll keep it short.
Too much "cheap" cash. Some guys get, into drugs, gambling or worse. Look, if you have a level head, your fine. If you know you have problems with temptation, just don't go there.
Ft Mac has lots of heathy things to get into, drive in any direction 5 mins and your in the forest. If you like to fish, there are places all over. The Shinny hockey club is pretty cool.
The only thing is I think I't not a heathy place to raise kids.
As for your GF, well, that's a personal issue that has nothing that has to do with Ft Mac. Some relationships/people need to be together all the time. Others seem to do better with more time apart. I know Military families that love the time apart, they worry about the danger, but they each have roles and they depend on each other.
I used my cash to make the down payment on my house 2 years ago. |
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| Blackout-spec |
well im totally not into any drugs or even gambling. i dont drink much(did way to much in high school) and really i just want to get my steam time and make some really quick buck to get a nice place.
once i get a place, i would move back to edmonton or where ever and start a normal life close to home. as for the gf, shes going to UofA and wont even have a lot of time to see me anyways. shes totally ok with it, shes actually pushing for me to get it since it would be a really good opportunity to learn.. shes very honest and i told her, no amount of money is worth losing you. so hopefully i dont fuck up. :)
as for the 5 years of working up there. apparently i dont have to sign a contract, but in order to make xxx amount of money off the house and all the bonuses, it will take 5 yrs. and if i quit before 2 years, i have to pay back a percentage of the bonuses.
all the tips and info you guys have given me have been extremely helpful. like i said, ive never been there and all i knew was what ppl told me. it good to get some real info from the ppl that have worked/ lived outside of a camp. |
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| crazyrx7 |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
well im totally not into any drugs or even gambling. i dont drink much(did way to much in high school) and really i just want to get my steam time and make some really quick buck to get a nice place.
once i get a place, i would move back to edmonton or where ever and start a normal life close to home. as for the gf, shes going to UofA and wont even have a lot of time to see me anyways. shes totally ok with it, shes actually pushing for me to get it since it would be a really good opportunity to learn.. shes very honest and i told her, no amount of money is worth losing you. so hopefully i dont fuck up. :)
as for the 5 years of working up there. apparently i dont have to sign a contract, but in order to make xxx amount of money off the house and all the bonuses, it will take 5 yrs. and if i quit before 2 years, i have to pay back a percentage of the bonuses.
all the tips and info you guys have given me have been extremely helpful. like i said, ive never been there and all i knew was what ppl told me. it good to get some real info from the ppl that have worked/ lived outside of a camp.
You are kind of in the same boat I was. As soon as my wife finished nursing school and got her RN I was back in Edmonton. I made enough money to put a downpayment on the house and to start a life here. I sure don't miss the Mack but I really miss the money. Oh well you can't have both.
R.K. |
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| Lukesky |
Well you have an insanely beautiful fd... :hitit:
What are you doing now that your not in Fort Mac? |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by Lukesky
What are you doing now that your not in Fort Mac?
Actually spending time with his family would be my guess. ;) |
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| Lukesky |
| Talking about for work :P |
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| 93vg30e |
I work on both CNRL and Albian Sands as a field mechanic for one of the many construction firms up there. I stay in the athabasca PTI camp most of the time and its actually pretty nice (for a camp) and never have any probs.
The one thing is to keep yourself occupied when your bored, i fire up the nitro rc and head out to the local quarry, but i seriously recommend a dirt bike or atv to head out on the pipe line roads and what not, it will keep you occupied and out of trouble.
My shirft is 2 weeks on 1 off, the money is the ONLY REASON i am up there, so work eat sleep and stay the hell outa trouble. |
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| Blackout-spec |
| yah im only going for the money too. my plan is to try and save as much as i can so i can get out as soon as i can. those nitro rc cars are such a good idea! cheap and tons of fun. |
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| Blackout-spec |
ok so now i need some opinions/answers from ppl please.
i have 2 job offers.
1)if i go to ft mac, i can make a lot of money, but i wont get my steam time to get my 3rd class ticket.
2)i can work with a company local, make a lot less money then in ft mac, but i will get my steam time to be able to write my 3rd class papers in may.
now for the guys working in the plants or ppl that are at least knowledgeable:
if i only have my 4th class, are there really any companies that hire 4th class operators?
the reason i ask, is because if i go to ft mac, ill make the money, but when i come back for a normal job in a year or two, i will only have my 4th.
if nobody or little to no plants will hire a 4th class operator, then i have to find a place that will get me steam time. job offer 2)
so yah. basically its either: lots of money vs. steam time |
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| Invalid Zero |
| Thats a no-brainer. Stay here, get your time. The money will come once you are better qualified, and you'll be able to have a normal life here. |
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| dance_of_curse |
| im going up on tuesday as a 1st year steamfitter. the only shitty thing is its sub. but i know a few people and i may be able to stay for free...ill be making more money then my friend whos a 4th year just because of sub:thumbup: |
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| stealth |
I know of some places in Ft. Sask that will hire you as a 4th.
Its your decision.
You get better experience up here at the bigger Upgraders, vs. a Utility Plant if that is what you will be running. |
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| crazyrx7 |
Over time you will all realize that shift work licks nuts and will want out. The only problom is that you will be addicted to the money and won't be able to leave. Also once you get married and have kids its a totally different situation. It will take a bigger man to leave that. For me its especially hard because my wife works shift work as a RN. I'm trying to convince her to go to straight days.
R.K. |
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| stealth |
Shift work does blow major ass. Takes years off of your life, and like Rad said, your personal life is greatly affected.
Can't you get your steam time at CNRL once it is commissioned? |
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| Blackout-spec |
if i got to CNRL, they said they wont be up and running for at least another year. + i have to work there for at least 3 years to keep all my bonuses.
i dont want to be stuck up there for more then 3 years because what good is the money if i have no life? gf would prob leave me, friends ditch me, then all i got is tons of money haha.
ill prob just stay here so i can keep getting my steam time and move up the ladder. that way i can get out of shift work faster. |
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| POX |
| get your steam time man, its worth it in the long run |
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| stealth |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackout-spec
i dont want to be stuck up there for more then 3 years because what good is the money if i have no life? gf would prob leave me, friends ditch me, then all i got is tons of money haha.
Thats when you take up Cocaine as a hobby. Then you won't need any of the others.:thumbup:
But honestly do, what makes you feel good.
You can work for CNRL, and only take home your bonuses pro-rated for the time you were their.
Start-up & Comissioning is Gold on your resume, and it is only 1 year, which you will be sacrificing. In that time you can study for your 3rd Class Papers.
BTW which plant is the one locally? |
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| Blackout-spec |
Agrium in fort saskatchewan. its a 1st class plant so i will be able to get all the steam time i need there.
thats some really good points that i never would have thought of. all i need is 8mths steam time to get my 3rd.
im just worried that if i dont get my 3rd up there, that when i come back with only my 4th, i wont be able to get a job in town since that hardly bare minimum to work in a plant. |
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| stealth |
| Thats were you have to make the commitment to stay in Ft. Mac until you get boilers running, then get the time. |
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| komptek |
| Lived in Fort Mac for over 20 years. It's what you make of it. Edmonton and Calgary are no differant, just more do. Cost fo living is higher than Edmonton, $0.20 extra for XL coffee from Tim's but it's ok. Yah drugs are an issue but were are they not? As for drivers, Don't get me started on the rest of theprovince. But hell were in Alberta hasn't the boom made things crazy. You can make a lot of cash up here, The $200K you talk about is probalbe gross, I've been working for about 9years in the plants and I'll be making around 160+k gross this year, with very little OT. There are a lot a great people up here as well as a lot of jerks. But you weed out the jerks and find good people. I'f you like the outdoors you'll liek it, lots fo that. Housing does cost a lot, as do camp grounds, If your gonna do the RV thing, start phoneing for a site, they are taken up fast. |
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