NORTHERN FIRE RESOURCES

HISTORY

With my grandmother at her house in Calgary. She had First Nations ancestry.

My grandfather from my mother's side, Charles Rankin. Fishing at Boom Lake, Alberta.

My grandfather from my father's side, Cpl. Arthur Samuel Cosburn.

He left for battle before dad was born. Never to return. He was killed in action at Vimy Ridge.

My great grandfather Hugh John Rankin astride the horse.

He was an officer in the Militia in Prescott, Ontario. About 1910.

PEACE RIVER COUNTRY ADVENTURES

With my brother at West Bear Flat in the Peace River Valley.

My beautiful sister Patricia Carol at the Peace River.

After trying the oil rigs with dad and then construction I started an outdoor job I really liked in the forestry industry. I was trained as a hand faller; then I ran skidder, log loader and buncher. It was a camp job in the hill country of Kakwa River, Alberta.

When the winter logging season ended I moved back to Dawson Creek to work for Reg Norman Trucking. I ran cat and drove truck and we logged in the winters. He was a great guy to work for.

Visiting mom and dad at their work. Dad was a petroleum engineer and exploration geologist.

Riding at 6 years old.

This is my first horse, Wendy. A registered Arab/Thoroughbred cross in Dawson Creek.

My mountain horse, Big Jake, a Percheron/Thoroughbred cross. Fearless of bears and trained for harness, saddle and to shoot off of.

MOVE TO MOUNTAIN COUNTRY

When the oilfields and the winter logging got slow around Dawson Creek I went to work in the mines.

Building a road with a D10N at a mine near Tumbler Ridge.

After I ran cat for a few years I started running this large track hoe.

Then I went onto this P&H 2100BLE electric cable shovel.

BACK IN THE OILFIELDS

When I returned to the oilfields I drove low bed.

This is an off-highway load on winter roads.

Working in winter is challenging and fun.

I drove this particular truck off the lot brand new and it was my home on wheels.

Here I am pulling a legal 64,000 kg. gross weight load on 7 axles onto the Alaska Highway near Pink Mountain.

On the job as road construction/maintenance supervisor. The Laprise 100 man camp behind me was my home base for 10 years.

TIME OFF

Hiking along the Sikanni Chief River after a long day in the field.

A nice boar grizzly.

Sikanni River grizzly bear.

Backcountry skiing on Mt. Reesor.

This is my favourite way to spend a day off in the Rockies.

Hiking up on Cougar Cliffs.

Canoeing the Peace River.

I took this picture at Charlie Lake. A team of Percherons, four in hand.

Charlie Lake at sunset.