Great People, Great Culture: Tales from a New Employee

Great People, Great Culture:

Tales from a New Employee

Giving back. Strengthening community events. Investing in the future of the places we live and work.

It's not a checklist—it's woven into the culture at SMS Equipment. That level of engagement begins with hiring the right people, and Gordon Shears, Journeyperson - Automotive Technician at Acheson Reman, is no exception.

Gordon started with SMS Equipment in July 2022. Within his first three months, Gordon felt embraced by the culture at the company.

"So far, my experience has been nothing short of amazing," he says.

Coming from a rich automotive and retail management background, with over 20 years at Canadian Tire, Gordon didn't know what to expect that very first day. "Coming to SMS Equipment was like stepping into the unknown, but over the short time that I have been here, I have learned lots of new skills and even put skills to use that I haven't used in such a long time," he says.

With values that naturally align with the company's, Gordon was especially eager to help promote and foster an initiative he feels particularly close to.

"The orange shirt initiative is a big deal for me," he says. "My wife of almost ten years is First Nations Nisga'a, from northern British Columbia. She is a survivor from a residential school, and most of her family went to either a residential school or a residential day school."

"I hope moving forward we can all recognize that this was a dark time in Canadian history and something that should never be repeated," he says. "The healing process has started, but much more work must be done. I am proud to be an employee of SMS Equipment and am especially proud that they have created our orange shirt program—this is how we truly become part of the places where we work."

Stripped down to its core, SMS Equipment's culture is to show how everyone cares about our colleagues, families, neighbours, and communities through meaningful action.

"This culture is why it feels like home," says Gordon. "With safety being one of the top priorities, everyone looks out for each other. It's like a big family, working together, helping each other stay safe—so we can all go home at the end of the day and continue to focus on the things we care so deeply about."

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Tales from a New Employee

We have H.E.T. career opportunities available throughout Canada and Alaska