Riding the Skyride or crossing a swaying suspension bridge rising 70 metres above Capilano Canyon to get to work is a rite of passage for many Handsworth students and other local teenagers.
School’s out for the summer, soon enough. It’s a time for students to get outside and get to work.
Outside being the operative word.
“Being outside brings a lot of joy and happiness to people in general. Once you start working outside for a summer I don’t think you ever want to go back,” says Greg Bevan.
Bevan started working at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park when he was 15 years old. Thirteen years later, after studying at university, he’s their human resources co-ordinator and helping to train a new group of teenagers to work at the world-famous tourist attraction.
The social aspect and a flexible work schedule brought Bevan back to the bridge season after season when school let out.
“The reason that we find people come back year after year is the people,” he says. “You build these amazing relationships and friendships. You work hard and you play hard together, as the old saying goes.”
That employee culture at the Cap Bridge includes social activities and going out on “paycheque day” together to spend those easy-earned dollars.
A variety of jobs at the park are up for grabs during the summer months and year-round, from food and beverage staff, to gift shop employee, to tour guide, to musical entertainer to even working with birds of prey.
Little to no work experience? That’s no problem for some positions at the suspension bridge.
A great personality can go a long way in the interview process for a job that inherently involves working with the public. Who wants to talk to a grumpy person while they’re on vacation?
“We definitely want people that love to socialize and interact with people,” says Bevan.
Bonus: Capilano Bridge employees don’t have to worry about what to wear to work.
As it’s a Canadiana theme park, the uniform includes custom plaid jackets, shirts and sweaters.
Identical twin brothers Alex and Eric Vanagas, 18, started working at the bridge while they were at Handsworth.
“At the time I was looking for a job some of my friends were working at Cap Bridge and had good things to say about working there so they recommended I apply there,” says Eric, who works as a parking and shuttle ambassador.
It’s easy and convenient to get to work every day, adds Eric, whose resume is one of many Bevan sees from Handsworth students.
“I think their parents appreciate it too, being so close to home,” he says.
Another perk of the job is being eligible for post-secondary scholarships.
Capilano Suspension Bridge has given out seven $1,000 scholarships for the past couple of years to employees in their second season at the park.
Farther up the road, at Grouse Mountain, employment reaches new heights with a variety of jobs that both high school and university students can apply for this summer.
From working in the summer camps program, to serving guests food and drinks on an outdoor patio with views stretching to Vancouver Island, to selling maple syrup and other Canadiana in the gift shop to gardening – jobs at Grouse Mountain are pretty eclectic.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to hike the Grouse Grind to get to work – unless you want to.
“Our unique mountain setting is not your average work environment,” says Grouse Mountain human resources generalist Katie Perran. “From taking the Super Skyride to work every day to unlimited outdoor recreation, it’s so much more than just a regular summer job.”
For first-time job seekers, Grouse is looking for people with a positive friendly attitude who can project that energy to their guests.
“We can teach the skills relevant to a specific position so it’s more about being personable and friendly with an openness to learn. Oh, and if an applicant is multilingual, that’s amazing,” says Perran.
Applicants need to be 16 years old to work at Grouse, except for some positions in the food and beverage department, where you can be 15 years old in accordance with B.C.’s legal working age.
Just like the Capilano Suspension Bridge, many of Grouse’s seasonal employees do return year after year.
“We even have a number of staff that started working at Grouse Mountain for a summer job and have gone on to full-time positions after completing school, many of which have progressed through the organization,” says Perran.
Grouse’s employee roster swells to about 650 in the summer, of which 200 are seasonal employees.
You might even see a celebrity while working at one of the local attractions.
Singer Rod Stewart recently took a stroll across the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Many celebrities, meanwhile, have been spotted hiking Mother Nature’s StairMaster over the years.
