Ever since Tiffany MacWilliam was in grade nine,she wanted to be a marine biologist. And here she is,combining her interest in animals and the ocean as a Fish Health Technician.
She joined Marine Harvest Canada almost three years ago, spending a year on-site as a Farm Technician before moving into the Fish Health Department. A significant amount of her time is concerned with data collection and interpretation as part of the kudoa monitoring program which began in the spring of 2008.
Her high school goal has been realized – Tiffany holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of New Brunswick. Before making the move to the aquaculture industry, she worked in Alaska as a fish observer for six months. It was an interesting job but “not the career for me”, she said.
Away from work, Tiffany enjoys downhill skiing – “for the adrenal rush” – and reading, especially books by J.J.R. Tolkien.
“I have a book buying obsession,” she laughs.
Tiffany enjoys traveling and had the chance to see Buckingham Palace and other London sights this past summer during a two week visit to England and Scotland.
A trip to Italy with her mom, who remains in Tiffany’s home town of North Bay, Ontario, involves a future plan. It will be an opportunity for her mom to show her daughter where she spent her childhood as a former Army brat.
In the past three years Tiffany said she has met many great people at MHC and enjoyed working hard on a variety of projects which have included grading at Okisollo and stress sampling this summer in Campbell River North.
By Gina Forsyth