Issue link: http://georgiancollege.uberflip.com/i/419610
Mike Maurice was willing to go to the ends of the earth for his dream job. Literally. He is stationed at the Environment Canada Weather Station in Eureka, Nunavut in his role as an Arctic Research Technologist for Dalhousie University, deployed under the Canadian Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Change (CANDAC). It is the third- northernmost permanent research community globally with the lowest annual average temperature of any weather station in Canada. Mike says the cold is a small price to pay to be able to work in a field he is passionate about. Providing data to government and educational institutions about atmospheric composition and climate is work that is vital to policy makers and the future health of the planet. Mike was a mature student at Georgian, having graduated from university with a degree in geography and environmental studies. He said he knew it was time for him to have laser focus on achieving his goals and an advanced diploma gave him the practical, hands-on skills he desired. "I treated college like it was my job and my faculty were my professional mentors. I took advantage of every opportunity to network," he said. Spending eight weeks at a time living at the weather station with only eight other Environment Canada employees, he maintains consistent operations of the network of the three CANDAC atmospheric observatories. While life at the station is low-key, there are some workplace hazards. "I'm six feet five which might have helped me the day I had a standoff with a 300-pound muskox — it's fairly barren land and there are few people, but there is definitely wildlife. Luckily for me, he walked away," he said. "It's an exceptional lifestyle that few would choose but I feel quite at home, and I can say I have followed my career dream and found it in the Arctic." EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE: BEING STATIONED AT THE END OF THE EARTH I can say I have followed my career dream and found it in the Arctic. Mike Maurice on working as an Arctic Research Technologist MIKE MAURICE Environmental Technology, 2013 GEORGIANVIEW 2014 12 ALUMNI HAVING EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES