August 18th, 2022
Commissionaires Nova Scotia isn’t everyone’s first choice place of employment. Such was the case for Bill Gould, but he still chose the company – twice.
Cmre William ‘Bill’ Gould thought all his working days would be spent in the military. But when things didn’t pan out the way he’d hoped, he knew it was time to figure out Plan B.
He initially tried working in Alberta’s oil patch, but the boom-and-bust cycle of the industry took a toll on him. He decided to move his family back to Nova Scotia.
“I joined Commissionaires for the first time in the late ‘80s. It was the only employer who would give me a guarantee of employment so I could move my family back to Nova Scotia from Alberta,” said Bill.
He says his nearly eight years as a driver and heavy equipment operator in the military were “instrumental” in his decision to join Commissionaires, the largest private sector employer of veterans in Canada.
Bill stayed with the company for three years, working at the transmitter site at Folly Lake, the ski hill at Wentworth, and the underground bunker in Debert. His career gave him the stability he needed to eventually get back to driving large vehicles as a trucker.
“I retired from trucking in 2014 and my wife and I were doing not too badly on our pensions. That is, until Covid came along and drove grocery prices and other costs through the roof,” said Bill.
“I’ve been volunteering with Colchester Ground Search and Rescue during my retirement, but it’s not easy to find paid employment at age 71. Once again, the Corps of Commissionaires came to my rescue.”
Bill joined Commissionaires for his second time in December 2021. He can be found working shifts at Colchester East Hants Health Centre, the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, and Home Hardware in Debert.