Maniwaki sawmill intern Francis Perron’s first blogpost
Hi all,
My name is Francis Perron and I’m a student-athlete at the University of Ottawa in mechanical engineering. I’m in my third year of university as well as my fourth year in the Gee-Gees football program. I had the opportunity to do my first internship in the forest products industry as a mechanical Engineering trainee at Resolute Forest Products in Maniwaki. The facility is in fact a sawmill. Maniwaki, which is about an hour and a half’s drive from Gatineau and Ottawa, is a charming town that is ideal for aficionados of hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. I’ll talk more about my experience at Resolute and in my new town in future blogposts.
I’d like to start by telling you a little more about my journey. I’m from a small village called Martinville, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. So it wasn’t too hard for me to adapt to Maniwaki! I come from a family that works mainly in the mechanical field and the agriculture industry, so it goes without saying that I’m especially attracted to these areas. That’s the main reason why, after high school, I took industrial maintenance technology at the Cégep de Sherbrooke, combining sports with my studies. For those who are curious, I’m 23 years old and I’ve been playing football since age 12. I usually live in an apartment in Gatineau, but for my internship I’ve rented a basement apartment in Maniwaki, very close to the sawmill. In addition to sports, which take up a lot of my time, I enjoy outdoor activities and spending time with friends and family.
Throughout my adventure at Resolute, I’ll be sharing my experience of a rural environment and I’ll explain my role as well as the main tasks that my internship involves, all with the goal of encouraging you to explore the industry as well as to discover the features and benefits that the region offers.
On that note, I’ll see you soon with my next blogpost! Stay tuned and stay safe!
Francis P.
