I began my career as a ‘bush cook’ in 1981. I cooked in remote bush camp settings – fly in only and remote road access – across northern Canada seasonally on and off for over two decades. It proved a fruitful trade as it paid for much of my pre-PhD university education – not to mention a great deal of travel: a year in Europe (1985), a year in Australia (1987), 4 months in Central America (1997). I spent many mornings sipping coffee at 6:30 am on the steps of a wall tent kitchen while looking out onto a vast and deeply mythologized Canadian landscape; usually after having flipped eggs for 15 to 100 gruff looking and hard-working treeplanters or diamond drillers! Those bush cooking jobs greatly shaped my love affair with the north.
Waiting for the plane
Loading the plane
Dinner!
June 2006
Head Cook, Aurora Geosciences, Yukon
In a fly-in camp setting, responsible for all kitchen/cooking activities in a geological/drill camp setting; prepared meals for up to 20 people; ordered food and camp supplies; kitchen set-up.
June-September 1997
Head Cook, Archer Cathro and Associates, (1981) Inc., Yukon
Responsible for all kitchen/cooking activities in a geological/drill camp setting; prepared meals for up to 20 people; ordered food and camp supplies; supervised one staff person; kitchen set-up and take-down.
May-November 1996
Head Cook, Archer Cathro and Associates, (1981) Inc., Yukon
Responsible for all kitchen/cooking activities in a geological/drill camp setting; prepared meals for up to 55 people; ordered food and camp supplies; supervised two staff persons; kitchen set-up and take-down, end of season inventory. Road access and fly-in only camps.
August-September 1995
Head Cook, Fairchild Project, Yukon
In a fly-in camp setting, was responsible for all kitchen/cooking activities in a geological/drill camp setting; prepared meals for up to 35 people; ordered food and camp supplies; supervised one staff person; kitchen take-down, end of season inventory.
July-December 1991
Cook, Lakeview Resort and Marina, Marsh Lake, Yukon
Short-order cook for breakfast and lunch in a restaurant setting; replenished foodstuffs and prepared foods for the dinner cook. Ensured health and safety standards were met in an institutional setting.
May-July 1991
Head Cook, Coast Range Reforestation, Vancouver, B.C.
(work sites across Northern Ontario)
In a bush-camp setting, prepared meals for 55 treeplanters; supervised two staff persons; menu preparation; food and camp supplies orders. Responsible for project food budget, kitchen set-up and take-down.
May-July 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987
Head Cook, Brinkman and Associates Reforestation, Vancouver, B.C.
(work sites across Northern Ontario)
In a bush-camp setting, prepared meals for between 55 and 110 treeplanters; supervised up to four staff persons; menu preparation; food and camp supplies orders. Responsible for project food budget, kitchen set-up, take-down, and end of season inventory.
September 1984-April 1985
Assistant Cook, Banff Youth Hostel, Banff, Alberta
In an industrial kitchen/restaurant setting, prepared meals and served travellers and outdoor enthusiasts; assisted with food orders and monthly inventories; trained and supervised volunteer staff; ensured health and safety regulations were met; operated cash.
June-August 1981
Head Cook, Dupont Exploration, Vancouver, BC
(work sites in northern B.C. and southern Yukon)
Responsible for all kitchen/cooking activities in a geology exploration setting; prepared meals for up to 25 people; ordered food and camp supplies; kitchen set-up and take-down, end of season inventory. Road access and fly-in only camps.
July-August 1980
Head Cook, YWCA Camp Tapatoo, Parry Sound, Ontario
In an industrial kitchen/restaurant setting, prepared meals and served up to 110 children and 20 staff; assisted with food orders and monthly inventories; supervised up to three staff; ensured health and safety regulations were met in an institutional setting.