The Company
Blue Collar Group services the forestry, energy, mining and resource sectors in Western Canada with Blue Collar Silviculture, Blue Collar Camps and the First Nations Youth Training Program.
Blue Collar Silviculture Ltd. has been operating in British Columbia and Alberta since 1983. While the company became rooted in the reforestation industry through treeplanting activities, it has since expanded its business operations to include a variety of silviculture based services from stand tending to contract implementation and administration, surveys and planting site preparations. In 2009, Blue Collar launched the First Nations Youth Training Program providing skills and training for Aboriginal youth to gain employment in the natural resource sectors. In 2012, Blue Collar formed a partnership providing for the subsequent award of the WorkBC contract in Quesnel, B.C. under the operating name Quesnel Employment Services. Blue Collar continued to grow and expand the business to include a construction based business in the forestry, mining, and oil and gas sectors, Blue Collar Camps.
Amongst all of this development and change, Blue Collar remains firmly planted in its northern industrial communities where it maintains a corporate office and headquarters.
Blue Collar Silviculture Ltd. has been operating in British Columbia and Alberta since 1983. While the company became rooted in the reforestation industry through treeplanting activities, it has since expanded its business operations to include a variety of silviculture based services from stand tending to contract implementation and administration, surveys and planting site preparations. In 2009, Blue Collar launched the First Nations Youth Training Program providing skills and training for Aboriginal youth to gain employment in the natural resource sectors. In 2012, Blue Collar formed a partnership providing for the subsequent award of the WorkBC contract in Quesnel, B.C. under the operating name Quesnel Employment Services. Blue Collar continued to grow and expand the business to include a construction based business in the forestry, mining, and oil and gas sectors, Blue Collar Camps.
Amongst all of this development and change, Blue Collar remains firmly planted in its northern industrial communities where it maintains a corporate office and headquarters.
The Team
Mark Courtney, Owner
Mark has been with Blue Collar since 1989, and owner and President since 2006. In the last five years under Mark’s leadership, the company has had steady growth and solid profitability. Blue Collar annually employs 250 people through the many services the company offers. Blue Collar began in 1983 as a reforestation company and through the years, Mark has overseen the diversification of company operations into other areas including Camp installation services, firefighting, and training; both through Quesnel Employment Services and the First Nations Youth Training Program.
David Newton, Owner
David has a long history in the forest industry, across Canada and in Australia. He began his career tree planting in Prince George in 1981. He founded Outland Reforestation, which started in 1985 and was recently acquired by Carillion Group, a publicly funded, global infrastructure organization, based in the UK. David has a Bachelor of Commerce, is former President of the Whistler Ski Club and Dave Murray National Training Centre and has served as business advisor to private companies in countless industries. In addition to working on Finance and Corporate Strategy at Blue Collar, he manages a real estate portfolio of both residential and commercial properties.
Rita Rief, CPA, CGA Owner
Rita has been handling Finance, Accounting, Corporate Strategy and Project Management for Blue Collar since 2008. She became a Certified General Accountant in 2005 and has extensive experience in Finance and Accounting in the forestry sector. During her time at Blue Collar, she assisted in managing the company’s expansion from reforestation to include camp installation and training services. Rita also oversees all accounting activities and Health and Safety and is a BCCSA qualified COR Internal Auditor, and is integral to all of Blue Collar’s divisions.
Simon Charlebois, Owner & Operations Manager, Silviculture Division
Simon graduated from the CEGEP de la Gaspesie et des Iles and has worked with Blue Collar since 2008. During that time, he has supervised several large tree planting contracts and helped to create project management and contract administration systems specifically for Blue Collar’s projects. He has worked in industries which focus on high quality and safety standards and where a strong attention to detail is mandatory.
Jeff Lutes, Owner & Operations Manager, Silviculture Division
Jeff has over 25 years of experience in the silviculture industry and has been a project manager with the company since 1995. As his career with Blue Collar has grown, he has transitioned from an operational supervisor in 2000 to Operations Manager at Blue Collar in 2007. Jeff’s extensive background and experience in the industry and in business management specifically has enhanced his role as Operations Manager.