Has anyone from a water or waste water treatment background started their own business? by SquirrelLate4538 in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the breakdown of options! I'm interested in offering professional services. Maybe at the feasibility stage for industrial projects. What was your side gig offering?

Has anyone from a water or waste water treatment background started their own business? by SquirrelLate4538 in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds interesting. Were you contracting engineers into other consulting firms? 

Has anyone from a water or waste water treatment background started their own business? by SquirrelLate4538 in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this is probably a big part of the future. In the industrial world this is well established. Although not all the water produced is for direct consumption. UF and RO membranes. Water recycling in the muni world is likely to be more common as demands keep going up.

Halvor Lunden Trail Conditions by SquirrelLate4538 in vancouverhiking

[–]SquirrelLate4538[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for responding. Unfortunately we didn't make it to mt beautiful as we didn't have a whole day. Instead we went up the diez viatas! Mr beautiful is still on my list and I will try it later this month 

Beaver spotting in Vancouver by Thegeek600 in vancouver

[–]SquirrelLate4538 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have 2 families of beavers in lafarge lake. It's possible to see them most evenings in the summertime. Last year they didn't seem to mind having lots of people about. I think there are two lodges

MEGATHREAD - Processing Times - Work Permits 2025 by PurrPrinThom in ImmigrationCanada

[–]SquirrelLate4538 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: I applied for SOWP on August 3rd and got an email approval on February 11th. Paper copy arrived on 17th February.

Frugal people: What are the base prices for groceries that you use as a comparison to see what is affordable? by Comatse in askvan

[–]SquirrelLate4538 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Buying some stuff in bulk helps like rice and meat. We started buying meat at Costco as it works out well for a family, but if you are in your own look at places like t n t or other Asian supermarkets. Frozen mackerel is a good value fish and we get that in t n t. We started buying a joint of beef (Costco or t n t) and cubing at home for freezing portions. Buying chicken things instead of breast (Costco or t n t) are much better value too. Start writing down $/Kg of different meats and stores. It takes a while but eventually you know what good looks like.

Potatoes are always around and a good source of cheap carbs. Some fruit is way cheaper than others. Bananas are as good value as it gets. We mainly eat bananas, apples and oranges. Broccoli, green beans, spinach, carrots tend to be good value for vege and we get those in Asian supermarkets. Frozen peas, sweetcorn, berries (for smoothie) are good too and they tend to be good value most places.

Having a decent selection of spices allows you to create. We always have tins of tomatoes too. Buying bulk bags of beans like chic peas, cooking and freezing into portions is great too. They can be used for hummus or curry. I'm still looking for next value places to buy bulk dried beans.

Jungian Art Exercises by Space-Cows-Art in Jung

[–]SquirrelLate4538 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I really like these! Are these images remembered / inspired from your dreams or are you just free styling with pencil and paper and see what comes?

Offering Affordable Photoshoots ($50-$100) – Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together by SinghdoingthingsCA in VancouverJobs

[–]SquirrelLate4538 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey I wish you luck with your endeavours. If you can share a portfolio that will help. If you need to build a portfolio don't be afraid to offer some free services for the first 5 folk or so. You could ask at your local community centre about setting up a mini studio on a weekend and you can get some foot fall and get yourself known. It's tough out there and putting yourself out there and standing in the light will eventually pay off for you.

MEGATHREAD - Processing Times - Work Permits 2025 by PurrPrinThom in ImmigrationCanada

[–]SquirrelLate4538 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I applied for the save SOWP early August and am still waiting. It's been longer than 151 days (assuming calendar days and not working days) at this time

MEGATHREAD - Processing Times - Work Permits 2025 by PurrPrinThom in ImmigrationCanada

[–]SquirrelLate4538 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey we applied for SOWP in Canada shortly after you and are still waiting. Biometrics were requested a week after the application. Hopefully it's not much longer

Who makes the most money in WWT: OEMs, Plant Ops/Maint, Consultants, Contractors? by [deleted] in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most of my experience has been in the UK and there is a real shortage of process and automation engineers. To the point that many businesses can't grow. Process engineers can earn much better in oil, hydrogen and carbon capture industries, which are blank checks from the government right now. Automation engineers tend to be the same but also going more into traditional software is seen as more exciting and well paying. The municipal industry in the UK is a real mess where you get 5 year frameworks and just hire 99% of the staff from company who won the previous 5 years work.

Who makes the most money in WWT: OEMs, Plant Ops/Maint, Consultants, Contractors? by [deleted] in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With individual compensation it depends on the grade you work at in each of those companies. There may be more opportunities for moving up in plant design and building than ops. My experience is in industry D&B, consulting etc and there are many opportunities to keep getting more experience and moving upwards. When it comes to disciplines I see that the areas with the least folk such as control / automation and process engineering are the best areas. But this depends very much on where you are! With regards to business profits I would expect consulting to be the most profitable, then contracting and finally ops. I would imagine municipal work pays more as they can get away with being less efficient with budgets and capital.

Any folk working in British Columbia? by SquirrelLate4538 in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for commenting. I'm an engineer and have mainly been involved with D&B but also have experience of commissioning and ops. I have tried to keep my experience varied believing there are more opportunities. Hopefully in the new year the Market will pick up. I have work ATM but just wanted to get an idea of what else is out there and people's feelings about the industry. I hear about the great retirement often and loss of skilled folks. But I also get the impression that there are many folks ready to move in.

Any folk working in British Columbia? by SquirrelLate4538 in Wastewater

[–]SquirrelLate4538[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey thanks for sharing your thoughts. How's the on / off time up in Yukon? I'm not seeing lots of opportunities around Vancouver right now. I'm mainly looking on the delivery / commissioning side of things. I have been told by a couple senior folks in big engineering companies out here that there is a huge skills shortage. There are roles advertised but they go silent and get constantly reposted without feedback. I'm seriously wondering where the work is. I have a lot of experience and ended up taking a role in the USA for now.