Prince Rupert Port Authority recruits nationwide

After working as a policy advisor to a Calgary city councillor, Halie Osmar was looking to make a change, but the positions available in her hometown seemed to her unduly narrow in their focus. Then she spotted an ad for a job with the Prince Rupert Port Authority that appeared to offer a lot more potential for professional growth.

“I just saw so much opportunity,” says Osmar, a government relations associate with the northern B.C. seaport. “I’m getting hands-on experience. I’m learning a completely new role and about the marine trade. It’s been really amazing.”

The Prince Rupert Port Authority is a relatively small organization, but it oversees operation of one of the top five ports in Canada. Between 23 million and 30 million tonnes of cargo, worth some $60 billion, flow through the port annually.

“We’ve got six deep-sea terminals, including Canada’s second largest container terminal, three bulk terminals handling grain, coal and biofuel and we’ve got cruise ship facilities,” says Shaun Stevenson, president and CEO. “We have an expansion underway to accommodate a logistics facility and an energy complex to facilitate trade with the Asia Pacific.”

The organization employs a wide range of professionals in order to manage such large, complex port. “Our field services team maintains our assets,” says Stevenson. “We have an engineering team that’s involved in project development. We have an ambitious environmental stewardship program. We’ve got finance roles, business development roles and positions in maritime safety and security.”

Many new recruits come from other parts of the country and the port authority helps them get acclimatized through its new-hires buddy program. “They pair you with a colleague,” says Osmar. “I was paired with someone in a similar role. She was close to my age and had a wealth of knowledge about the port. Now that department is hiring and I’m going to be the new-hire buddy.”

The port authority promotes professional development at all levels. “I’m a perfect example of that,” says Stevenson. “I joined the organization 27 years ago, shortly after finishing university. I started as a junior marketing and communications officer. I’ve had the opportunity to take on successive roles with more and more responsibility.”

Osmar has taken advantage of the organization’s generous tuition support program. Shortly after starting, she registered for a course offered by the International Association of Public Professionals. She says she acquired skills that will serve her well throughout her career. She’s now planning to take a business course through the departments of continuing education at either UBC or the University of Calgary.

Each year, the port authority also hires about 20 summer students and puts them to work in various departments. “It gives them an opportunity to get some experience, and it allows us to benefit from their diverse perspectives,” says Stevenson.

Employees can adjust their daily hours of work under the port authority’s FlexTime Work Life Balance program, or they can work from home part-time. They can also work remotely for up to 10 days a month. “I go home to Calgary for two weeks at a time,” says Osmar. “It actually helps because I have a lot of meetings there with our stakeholders.”

There is a personal benefit as well. “Having the ability to do my job remotely provides greater balance and helps me stay connected with friends and family.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's BC’s Top Employers winners, published February 11, 2025 in the Vancouver Sun. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.